Chapter 88: Chapter 88: If I Don’t Come For You, You Won’t Come Back On Your Own?

The color drained from Hugo Sterling’s face in shock.

No wonder Tristan Lawson showed up uninvited. Noelle Sutton was the wife he had hidden for seven years!

Before Tristan Lawson could even speak, Hugo Sterling stood up and reprimanded Kyle Sawyer. "She’s Tristan’s wife. How can you keep calling her a mute? I know you’re close with Sophie Hughes and want to stick up for her, but back then, when the wedding with Tristan fell through, wasn’t she the one who backed out first? How can you blame Tristan for that?"

Although Hugo Sterling had launched the shared power station project two years ago, his goal was to benefit the Sterling Group, not to have a complete falling out with Tristan Lawson.

Besides, he needed to ask Tristan Lawson for help now.

They had all been good friends in the past.

After speaking, Hugo Sterling turned to Noelle Sutton to explain. "Miss Sutton—oh, no, I should call you Mrs. Lawson. Kyle is just like that. He speaks without thinking. Don’t take it to heart."

Sophie Hughes also pulled Kyle Sawyer back. "Calm down. Noelle is Tristan’s wife. Even if you disregard everything else, you have to at least show some respect for Tristan’s sake."

From beginning to end, Noelle Sutton watched it all with cold eyes.

Everyone had their own agenda.

And she, who should have been an outsider, was passively dragged into the middle of it.

But she wouldn’t let her heart get entangled with them again.

’I have to leave Tristan Lawson.’

A moment ago, when Hugo Sterling had stood up, he had placed the file in his hands on the coffee table.

Tristan Lawson, who had yet to make a sound, reached out and picked up the file.

The look in his eyes was deep and hazy. He lifted the file slightly, his gaze sharp as he looked at Hugo Sterling. "I’ll take the project."

The private room fell instantly silent.

No matter how insensitive Kyle Sawyer was, he could see what Tristan Lawson’s willingness to accept the shared power station project at this moment meant.

It was equivalent to accepting Hugo Sterling’s olive branch.

It seemed this mute wife was not so disposable to Tristan Lawson after all. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Kyle Sawyer saw the disappointment on Sophie Hughes’s face and felt a surge of frustration. In the end, he couldn’t hold it in. He looked at Noelle Sutton provocatively and said, "Hey, you, the mute. How do you know Hugo..."

Before the words had even left his mouth,

There was a sudden CRASH.

Tristan Lawson had picked up a wineglass from the table and smashed it forcefully on the floor.

Shards of glass flew everywhere, mixing with the spilled red wine in a chaotic mess.

The room was once again dead silent.

Tristan Lawson’s cold, sharp eyes flashed with an unidentifiable rage.

He rose gracefully, shoved the project file into Noelle Sutton’s hands, and suddenly swept the still-startled woman into his arms.

Standing, he possessed an even more commanding and imposing presence.

"Since someone here seems to have a problem with my wife being mute, this wine has lost its taste. We’re leaving."

If you didn’t parse his words carefully, his gentle tone would have hidden the fact that he was angry.

"Tristan!"

Sophie Hughes called out to him. "Kyle, he..."

Tristan Lawson turned his handsome face to the side, giving Sophie Hughes no chance to explain. "You all have a good time catching up."

Tristan Lawson carried Noelle Sutton in his arms, his steps steady and strong, yet he was cloaked in a layer of icy frost.

After Tristan Lawson left, Adrian Grant clapped Kyle Sawyer on the shoulder. "Buddy, we came to watch sparks fly between Tristan and Hugo. How did you end up being the one sparking a fight with Tristan?"

"Hmph."

Kyle Sawyer rolled his eyes. "This is boring. I’m out!"

He also stormed out angrily.

At this point, Sophie Hughes was very embarrassed. She stood up in a fluster and said, "I’m worried about Kyle. I’ll go see him off."

She rushed out, her mind a complete mess.

’Tristan just confirmed Noelle’s identity in front of his best friends.’

Adrian Grant glanced at Hugo Sterling. "They’re all gone. Are you still drinking?"

Hugo Sterling raised his glass. "The person in a bad mood left. I’m in a good mood, so why not drink? Care to join me?"

He was his brother-in-law, in name at least, so some face had to be given.

Adrian Grant raised his glass and clinked it against Hugo Sterling’s.

Hugo Sterling put down his glass. "Did you mention it to Tristan?"

"I did. He didn’t refuse, but he didn’t agree either. Still, by taking your project, he’s basically given his tacit approval. You’re pretty lucky. Tristan’s wife showed up at just the right time tonight. By the way, how do you know her?"

"My old man likes to collect paper-cuttings. To make the old guy happy, the owner of a mounting shop introduced me to Tristan’s wife."

"So, you asked her here to buy her paper-cuttings? And you met in a place like this?"

Adrian Grant swirled the red wine in his glass.

"I had a meeting with a client earlier and then had to meet you guys. I couldn’t get away. She seemed to be in a real hurry to sell, so I had the shop owner bring her here directly. But, to be honest with you, the skill level of Tristan’s wife’s paper-cutting... you might only find someone like that once in a century."

Adrian Grant chuckled lightly. "Such high praise. It’s not because she’s Tristan’s wife, is it? Are you exaggerating a little?"

"Hardly. My old man isn’t someone you can fool with ordinary stuff. I’ve spent the better part of the year hunting down paper-cutting crafts; my eye for them is almost at a professional level."

Adrian Grant wondered, ’Why is Tristan’s wife in such a hurry to sell?’

’This is getting more and more interesting...’

Noelle Sutton was carried into the elevator by Tristan Lawson before she finally came to her senses and struggled to get down.

Tristan Lawson paid her no mind at all.

When they reached the car, Secretary Shaw came over and opened the door. Tristan Lawson shoved Noelle Sutton inside and instructed Secretary Shaw to drive back to Westhill Villa.

The entire way, Noelle Sutton stared out the window.

Tristan Lawson didn’t say a single word either.

The atmosphere in the car was white-hot. Secretary Shaw felt like he was sitting on pins and needles as he drove.

After finally making it to Westhill Villa, he parked the car and quickly hurried away.

Noelle Sutton pushed open the car door.

Tristan Lawson got out after her.

Unexpectedly, Noelle Sutton started walking toward the villa’s main gate.

Tristan Lawson pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek.

He closed the car door, caught up to Noelle Sutton’s stubborn stride, and grabbed her slender, swinging wrist, pulling her back.

Noelle Sutton’s eyes were cold. She tried to shake him off, but he gripped her shoulders tightly, holding her in place.

The man’s eyelids opened slightly. He then gazed at her deeply, the coldness in his eyes receding and transforming into a profound, thick intensity.

"If I hadn’t come looking for you, would you really have never come back on your own? Even if you were penniless with nowhere to go?"

In the small space between them, Noelle Sutton raised her hand. "Even if you came looking for me, I wouldn’t come back. Tristan Lawson, I want a divorce."

Tristan Lawson’s eyes instantly became a glittering darkness. He sneered, "So, you couldn’t count on that Wyatt Yates, so you went to find Hugo Sterling instead. I never knew you paid so much attention to me, enough to know that Hugo has the guts to go against me."

The man’s grip loosened slightly. Noelle Sutton immediately pushed his hands away and signed, "You’re overthinking it."

Tristan Lawson stood there, the outdoor lights of the villa courtyard casting a heart-stoppingly handsome reflection on his face.

But Noelle Sutton’s heart would not be moved again.

"Fine. I was overthinking it. So tell me, what were you looking for Hugo Sterling for?"

"My business is none of your concern."

Noelle Sutton knew very well that if Tristan Lawson found out she was trying to sell her paper-cuttings, he would surely continue to cut off all her escape routes.

And that Hugo Sterling seemed to know him well; he could probably find out just by asking casually.

But she still didn’t want to tell him.

Just then, a pair of blinding headlights shone over them.