Chapter 105: Chapter 105: What Are You Arguing About?

Hugo Sterling slowly rose and walked over to Noelle Sutton’s side.

The slim-fitting, pale gold evening gown not only made her skin look fairer and more radiant, but it also accentuated her exquisite figure.

Her long hair was loosely pinned up, revealing a slender, sensual neck. The elegant aura she exuded was in no way inferior to that of the young ladies from prominent, wealthy families.

Noelle Sutton had never dressed up so meticulously before. She took out her phone and typed a line of text, "Dressed like this, do I look too flashy?"

After marrying Tristan Lawson, she had secretly studied banquet etiquette, not wanting to embarrass him when they were together in the future.

Who would have thought her studies would be for naught? Tristan Lawson had never taken her to any public events, let alone a banquet.

This was Noelle Sutton’s first time attending a banquet, and she found it completely different from her studies. She still couldn’t help but feel a little unaccustomed to being so elaborately dressed and made up.

Hugo Sterling quickly said, "This is already very low-key. The ladies attending the banquet are the ones who are truly flashy."

After all, besides being a banquet, it was also an occasion for women to compete in splendor.

Hugo Sterling still had a sense of propriety in how he handled things.

Noelle Sutton was Tristan Lawson’s wife, so naturally, he didn’t dare arrange an overly ostentatious gown for her. He had chosen one with wide lace straps, her smooth shoulders wrapped in the same color as the dress. The neckline was a shallow V, with a small cutout on the back. It was dignified yet bright and sensual, a perfect match for her appearance and temperament.

Noelle Sutton knew that among the ladies attending the evening banquet, the unmarried ones wanted to be dazzling, while the married ones couldn’t afford to embarrass their husbands. They would all inevitably be dressed to the nines.

Her own attire was a rather modest and proper style, so she wasn’t as worried anymore.

What she didn’t know was that she herself was very beautiful.

With just a little dressing up, she was stunning enough to captivate the entire room.

Hugo Sterling glanced at his watch and said, "It’s about time. Let’s get ready to go."

As they were leaving, Noelle Sutton sent a message to the owner of the framing shop to arrange for delivery.

This way, the birthday gift would arrive in time for Old Master Sterling.

The car drove into the Sterling Villa.

The parking area was already filled with quite a few cars.

It looked like a great many people had come to celebrate the birthday. For a birthday banquet like this, being able to host guests in a villa with its own banquet hall was a testament to the Sterling Family’s power.

The entire villa estate, while not as large as the Lawson family’s old residence at a glance, was still one of the top-tier manors in all of Glenwater. The villa’s style had a very vintage character, which suggested that Old Master Sterling was likely a very nostalgic person.

’A person like that should be a bit gentler, probably easier to get along with than the Lawson family’s old master.’

Although Hugo Sterling and Tristan Lawson had some minor friction between them, the fact that they had grown up together was still there.

Noelle Sutton was his friend’s wife, so Hugo Sterling was even more disinclined to neglect her, opening the car door for her like a true gentleman.

A flashy convertible sports car pulled up beside them.

Tessa Lawson stepped out of the car, wearing a deep red spaghetti-strap evening gown and a high-end white fur cape.

Tessa Lawson’s brightly painted red lips curled into a smirk. "Well, well, Hugo Sterling. Who did you bring to Grandpa Sterling’s birthday banquet?"

The words had barely left her mouth when Noelle Sutton got out of the car.

Tessa Lawson almost didn’t recognize her.

When she took a closer look and realized it was Noelle Sutton, her expression instantly darkened.

Hugo Sterling smiled faintly. "Your sister-in-law."

Tessa Lawson strode up to them, pulled Noelle Sutton aside with a frosty expression, and said in a low voice, "What do you think you’re doing? Is this the kind of place you can come to?"

Hugo Sterling’s smile vanished. He walked over. "Tessa, why can’t she be here?"

Tessa Lawson glared at Hugo Sterling with cold eyes. "Don’t tell me you don’t know she’s a mute."

Hugo Sterling’s expression grew heavy. ’So what if she was mute?’ He didn’t look down on Noelle Sutton for it. On the contrary, he found her to be quite exceptional.

’A woman who can’t speak but can create such lifelike paper-cut art must have put in far more effort than the average person.’

He admired her greatly.

"Is it her fault she can’t speak? Do you think she wants to be unable to talk? Tessa Lawson, you’ve been arrogant and domineering since you were a child. It’s one thing to treat others that way, but Noelle is the wife of your own twin brother. How can you speak to her like that?"

Hugo Sterling was usually smooth and diplomatic with people, but he had never indulged Tessa Lawson’s "princess" attitude. As a result, they had often bickered whenever they met, ever since they were children.

Tessa Lawson sneered, not wanting to waste time arguing with Hugo Sterling.

The people attending the Sterling Family’s birthday banquet today were all friends, relatives, and prominent figures from the political and business worlds within their circle.

If people found out that Tristan had married a mute, it would seriously damage his image.

Tessa Lawson’s eyes filled with mockery as she stared at Noelle Sutton. "You’ve got some skills, don’t you? Getting Hugo Sterling to speak up for you. And look at you, all tarted up. Are you trying to completely disgrace Tristan? Get out of here right now. Don’t make a fool of yourself."

Hugo Sterling pulled Noelle Sutton behind him, his gentle face now tinged with anger. "No wonder she wants a divorce. Is this how everyone in the Lawson Family treats her?"

Tessa Lawson’s pupils constricted as she said coldly, "Hugo Sterling, aren’t you overstepping a bit? She is a mute. I didn’t say anything wrong. Did she tell you she wants a divorce?"

Noelle Sutton emerged from behind Hugo Sterling, typed a line of text on her phone, and held it up for Tessa Lawson to see.

"I am indeed divorcing Tristan Lawson. Also, please stop harassing me. I’m not going back today."

’I won’t compromise my life for anyone in the Lawson Family anymore.’

’Old Master Sterling likes my paper-cuttings, and Hugo Sterling dares to stand up to the Lawson siblings. I want to hold on to this connection.’

She was definitely going to attend this birthday banquet.

Tessa Lawson was furious. "You’re not leaving? Do you want everyone to know you’re Tristan’s wife?"

Noelle Sutton quickly typed another line: "I’m about to divorce him. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about our relationship."

Tessa Lawson nodded in frustration. "Fine. So you refuse to leave, is that it? Should I call Tristan right now?"

Tessa Lawson pulled out her phone, but Hugo Sterling said unhappily, "Calling Tristan won’t do any good. She didn’t come here as Mrs. Lawson. She is here today as a guest my grandfather cordially invited."

Tessa Lawson lowered her phone.

"I haven’t even asked how you two know each other. How could she possibly know your grandfather? Hugo Sterling, stop trying to fool me. I remember you double-crossed Tristan before, and he didn’t even bother to settle the score. Did you meet Noelle Sutton, find out she’s a mute, and then deliberately come up with all these excuses to bring her to your family’s banquet, just to smear Tristan’s name and let everyone know he married a mute?"

Hugo Sterling said in a cold, heavy voice, "How exactly does a Mrs. Lawson who can’t speak smear his name?"

"What are you arguing about?"

A cold, deep, and familiar voice drifted over.