Chapter 95: Chapter 95: How Could She Tolerate Noelle Sutton Stealing Her Career

Tessa shot back, "Aren’t you a Lawson?"

After she spoke, Tristan bent down, picked up the cane, and handed it to Old Master Lawson. He then tried to soothe him, "Grandpa, please don’t be angry."

Old Master Lawson’s brow was furrowed, the deep-set wrinkles on his aged face seeming to carve even deeper into his skin.

Just then, Noelle pushed Tristan’s hand away, crouched down, and began gathering the money scattered all over the floor.

Tessa’s lips curled in a sneer. "Tristan, just look at her. What do you think she’s doing? Is she really that obsessed with money?"

A complex, hard look entered Tristan’s eyes.

He had stepped forward to back her up, but she completely ignored him.

Old Master Lawson snorted. "Tristan, just look at that attitude of hers. Are all of us less important than that little bit of money?"

Tristan had thought that after he’d conceded to so many of her demands, she would come home and live peacefully for this one month, at least. He’d hoped their lives could go back to the way they were.

But judging by the current situation, it seemed he had been too optimistic.

Noelle didn’t seem to understand his intentions at all.

’She just has to stir up trouble in this house.’

Just then, Joshua got out of bed.

Hearing the voices at the front door, he walked over.

Noelle had already packed all the money into the case.

"Great-Grandpa, Auntie, you’re here! Quick, come in and sit down. Why is everyone standing in the doorway?"

Noelle picked up the case of money, ready to leave.

"Mommy."

Joshua called out to her. "Grandpa and Auntie are here. Aren’t you going to make breakfast? I want your fragrant rice porridge. I haven’t had it in so long! Can you make extra today? Sophie wants to try some too."

Sophie had left in the middle of the night, but Joshua didn’t know that yet.

Noelle glanced at Joshua, her eyes cold. A suffocating pain tightened in her chest.

A moment later, she looked away and walked out the door.

She completely ignored every single Lawson in the room.

Old Master Lawson was so furious he stomped his cane. "This is absolute anarchy! Forgetting her child, abandoning her husband? Is money all you want? Noelle, you stop right there!"

Noelle didn’t even look back.

Tessa frowned. "Tristan, are you just going to let Noelle treat everyone like this? I don’t expect her to cook for me, but what about Joshua? He just said he hasn’t had her porridge in ages, and she just ignored him. No wonder Joshua is getting so close to..."

’Sophie Hughes is no good, either.’

Tessa didn’t want Joshua getting close to Sophie, so she bit her tongue and stopped herself.

Joshua bit his lip as he watched Noelle’s retreating figure, a sour feeling growing in his heart.

Just the other day, he had told Sophie that when his mommy came back, he would ask her to make fragrant rice porridge for her to try. But now, his mommy was running away again.

’I’m so mad.’

Tessa changed the subject. "Tristan, why did you give Noelle all that money?"

"That’s her own money, not mine. Come in and sit down."

’What’s with everyone just standing in the doorway?’

The family sat down in the living room. "Tristan, stop defending Noelle," Tessa said. "She’s never worked a day in her life, and she’s a mute. Where would she get that kind of money?"

Tristan’s face darkened. "Do you call her a mute to her face, too?"

"She is a mute. It’s not like I’m wrong."

"Tessa, that’s enough."

Seeing the dark look on Tristan’s face, Old Master Lawson rebuked Tessa. He then turned to Tristan. "Tristan, I was out of line just now. I heard from Tessa that Noelle bit you so badly you fainted from blood loss. I rushed over this morning to see you, but then she gave me that attitude... I lost my temper for a moment. Did Grandpa hurt you?"

Old Master Lawson wasn’t about to have a falling out with Tristan over something so minor.

Tristan met his grandfather’s gaze with cold eyes. "I’m a man; I’m tough. But what if you had hit her?"

Tristan couldn’t help but picture Noelle’s fair, delicate skin. In bed, even the slightest pressure would leave a mark.

His brow furrowed even tighter, his thoughts a chaotic mess.

Old Master Lawson was at a loss for words.

Tessa’s expression turned cold. "Tristan, what’s gotten into you? You’re questioning Grandpa over a mute? He hit her, so what? Grandpa is an elder. What’s wrong with him disciplining his granddaughter-in-law?"

"Tessa!" Old Master Lawson cut her off again. "Be quiet."

"Grandpa."

Tessa’s lips trembled with anger. Just as she was about to speak again, Old Master Lawson shot her a warning glance. She pouted but kept her mouth shut.

A dark light filled the depths of Tristan’s eyes.

’No wonder Noelle said she didn’t want to attend any events related to me, especially family gatherings.’

His cold, deep voice filled the room. "Westhill Villa is my private property. In the future, it would be best if you didn’t show up uninvited. Sister, take Grandpa home."

With that, Tristan stood up and walked toward the bedroom.

"Tristan!"

Tessa wanted to stop him.

He didn’t break his stride, walking directly into the master bedroom.

Old Master Lawson motioned for Tessa to keep quiet. He spoke with Joshua for a little while before they left Westhill Villa.

Tessa was still fuming. "Grandpa, did you see Tristan’s attitude toward you? It’s infuriating!"

But Old Master Lawson just smiled. "It doesn’t matter. Didn’t you see? He still cares about Noelle a great deal. If he’s willing to stick up for her, what do I have to be angry about? In fact, I couldn’t be happier."

「Noelle went to a real estate agency.」

Since she would be living alone, her requirements weren’t high. She quickly found and bought a small, fully furnished apartment.

The price wasn’t too high—just over a million yuan.

It was move-in ready.

She had spent all last night thinking about her agreement with Tristan.

It only listed the seven conditions she had proposed.

Those seven conditions didn’t explicitly state that she had to live at home.

She had originally thought that since Tristan had agreed to her terms, she could endure one more month at Westhill Villa in peace.

But in truth, she couldn’t bear it.

The moment she got the money, her first priority was to leave him.

With the money in her possession, there was no way he could force her to return.

Later, she would go to the Lawson Corporation, get the notarized receipt, and then she would never return to Westhill Villa again.

She wasn’t comfortable leaving such a large amount of cash at home, however. Carrying the case of money, she first went to Director Ford’s studio.

Director Ford was delighted to see her and immediately pulled her into the office.

"Noelle, I have some good news for you! Director Smith is coming to the country the day after tomorrow. He contacted me and said he wants to meet you."

Noelle’s eyelids fluttered. She set down the case of money and quickly began to sign, "But didn’t I already turn that down?"

Director Ford laughed. "You refused me, but I haven’t refused Smith yet. Listen, he has a role that he’s taken to numerous production companies, but none of them have been able to produce the effect he wants. He’s a perfectionist with extremely high standards. He saw your work, and because of that, he has great confidence in you. He wants you to try out for the role."

Noelle didn’t know what to say.

She only had six months. It was impossible for her to get involved in a production with an international director.

Those weren’t projects that could be finished in six months or even a year.

Noelle signed, a pained expression on her face. "Mentor, the thing is, six months from now, I have something very important I have to do. I’ll need to leave for a while. That’s why I didn’t dare to accept your offer before. I can’t just abandon a project halfway through."

Director Ford’s eyes flew wide. "That’s the reason you turned me down?"

Noelle nodded.

"You silly girl, why didn’t you tell me sooner? Director Smith’s role is important, but it’s not a huge part. At the quickest, it could be done in three months; at the slowest, six months at most. If you can work with Director Smith this time, it will open up so many more opportunities for you in the future. He’s coming here on business and also wants to see if he can find a producer in the country. My dear Noelle, please don’t miss this chance again, okay?"

Director Ford had such high expectations for her.

Noelle really couldn’t bear to refuse her again.

Besides, she herself was tempted.

If, in the final stretch of her life, she could leave behind a classic work of her own, it would be a way to repay Director Ford for believing in her.

She was willing.

Noelle nodded in agreement.

Sophie came to Director Ford’s studio to report for work today. The director’s assistant pointed her toward the office, and as she approached the door, she happened to overhear the last part of Director Ford’s conversation with Noelle.

Her expression faltered.

She had participated in Director Smith’s productions before.

She had also submitted a proposal for Director Smith’s new film, but she hadn’t been chosen.

Director Ford’s prized protégé was Noelle.

’If Noelle also manages to win over Director Smith...’

’...then my future in the animation world will forever be overshadowed by her!’

Sophie clenched her fists.

’Noelle stole the man I love most.’

’How can I let her steal my career too?’

Sophie stepped out of the studio and dialed Tristan Lawson’s number.