Chapter 193: Chapter 193: The Paternity Test Results Are Out

Hugo Sterling pressed his lips together. "I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you right now."

"Why not?"

Old Mrs. Hughes didn’t understand.

"For one, I can’t say anything without her permission. For another, she’s filing a lawsuit. If I say anything beforehand, it’s like letting Tristan know about the evidence she plans to submit in court. What if Tristan’s lawyer comes up with a counter-strategy and she loses the case? If you want to know, the results will be clear once the lawsuit is over."

Since Hugo Sterling had put it that way, the elderly Hughes couple couldn’t press him further.

After sitting in the Sterling home for a little longer, the elderly couple prepared to leave.

Hugo Sterling rose to see them to the door. As their car drove off into the distance, his brow furrowed tightly.

He felt despicable.

’Even though I knew Noelle desperately wanted a divorce, I still gave Tristan a heads-up at the hospital that day, essentially giving him a chance to prepare.’

’Although I have a good impression of Noelle Sutton, I can also see that Tristan still has feelings for her.’

’As a friend for many years, Tristan has always treated me well. On top of that, our families are close. I can’t just completely disregard Tristan’s feelings.’

He was conflicted.

Torn between worrying about Noelle and wanting to accommodate Tristan’s wishes.

’Noelle trusts me so much. If she finds out in the future that I also warned Tristan, will she ever trust me again?’

Hugo Sterling pinched the bridge of his nose.

’Compared to Wyatt Yates, my little crush on Noelle really doesn’t amount to much.’

The matter of Noelle and Tristan’s marriage had always been a thorny issue.

Unless Tristan was willing to let her go.

’Even if Tristan refuses to let go, his lawyer could have come up with the same solution I suggested.’

’All I did was give Tristan a favor that cost me nothing, making it look like I was helping him when things were already headed that way.’

He knew full well that if Tristan flatly denied the evidence provided by Noelle, claimed it was all a misunderstanding, and submitted some counter-evidence, it would be very difficult for the judge to rule. After all, Sophie Hughes was also his adopted aunt.

The only piece of evidence that would guarantee the judge would grant a divorce was Tristan’s assault on Noelle that night.

It was such a shameful matter. Forget the Lawson family being unwilling to discuss it openly...

Noelle herself probably wouldn’t be willing to present that evidence in court.

This was the only way to force Noelle to burn her boats and truly secure the divorce.

At the same time, it was a gamble on what Tristan would choose to do.

If he still had it in him to care for Noelle, he would grant her freedom.

On the way back, the elderly Hughes couple discussed Tristan and Noelle’s situation the entire time. Hugo Sterling wouldn’t tell them anything, Tristan was tight-lipped, and as for Tessa, she believed Noelle would never find a better man if she left Tristan. With her scatterbrained personality, she certainly wouldn’t know why Noelle wanted a divorce.

Hugo Sterling had mentioned evidence. It seemed Tristan’s actions toward Noelle must have been a long list of misdeeds.

A young woman with no family or connections, who was also unable to speak, married into a prestigious and powerful family like the Lawsons... she must be suffering in silence, powerless to fight back. It was far too difficult for her.

Old Mrs. Hughes consulted with Old Mr. Hughes. "Why don’t we try to find a way to talk to Tristan? Get them to negotiate a divorce and be done with it."

"Didn’t we just ask? He refuses to divorce, and Tessa doesn’t agree to it either. He even told us not to interfere in his business. What other way is there for us to get him to negotiate a divorce?"

"No, I’m going to talk to Tristan again when we get back."

Old Mrs. Hughes’s heart ached.

When they returned home, however, Tristan wasn’t there.

Sophie Hughes, however, was home alone. Seeing that Old Mrs. Hughes looked upset, she came over and helped her to a seat. "Mom, you and Dad left in high spirits. Why do you look so unhappy now that you’re back?"

"Sophie, you were in Glenwater for a while, weren’t you? Do you know what’s going on between Tristan and Noelle?"

"It’s not really my place to talk about the Lawsons’ affairs. You’ve seen it yourselves—Tessa dislikes her for being a mute, and the rest of the Lawson family..."

Sophie Hughes’s hint was enough for Old Mrs. Hughes to get the general idea.

"It seems the Lawsons still look down on her because she can’t speak. But Tristan was the one who wanted to marry her. And them... honestly! Does the Lawson family really need Tristan to marry the heiress of some other wealthy family for an alliance? They finally got married, and instead of helping the young couple maintain their relationship, they create all this unnecessary trouble. Don’t they understand the wisdom in choosing a virtuous wife, that a good wife brings fortune to the family?"

"Dear, I’m a bit tired. Help me back to the room to rest."

Sophie Hughes quickly stood up and said, "Dad, let me help you."

"No, that’s alright. Your mom can help me."

Old Mrs. Hughes and Old Mr. Hughes had been a loving couple their whole lives, so she naturally doted on her husband and accompanied him back to the bedroom.

After Old Mr. Hughes closed the door, he pulled Old Mrs. Hughes out onto the bedroom balcony and whispered, "Sophie was in Glenwater for a while. Could it be that Noelle found out about Tristan and Sophie’s past and that’s why she’s insisting on a divorce?"

Old Mrs. Hughes paused for a moment. "That can’t be it. They broke things off completely seven years ago. Their relationship has been perfectly normal all these years. Neither of them is unreasonable; they wouldn’t let old feelings linger."

"It’s hard to say. Old Man Lawson called me about this before, telling me to keep an eye on Sophie and not let her get too close to Tristan, to avoid affecting his marriage."

Old Mrs. Hughes frowned. "The Lawsons don’t treat their granddaughter-in-law well, yet they’re blaming others. From what I’ve seen these past few days, Tristan and Sophie have been deliberately keeping their distance."

"Well, women can be perceptive. Maybe she discovered something and can’t accept it, which would be understandable. How about this? We’ll drag our old bones back to our hometown in Glenwater and see what’s going on."

Tristan Lawson was twenty-nine this year, and the old couple were both seventy-five. They were in their twilight years. It was one thing to stay put, but traveling was hard on their old bodies; they couldn’t take it like young people could.

But things had come to this, and they felt they had no choice but to make the trip.

Their only daughter had left behind two children.

Tristan was doing alright; he had started his own family.

But Tessa was nearly thirty and still refused to get married.

The elderly couple still worried about the two of them.

And so, the two of them decided to return to Glenwater.

That night, Tristan Lawson returned rather late.

The elderly couple was already asleep, so they didn’t get a chance to ask him anything.

The next morning at breakfast, the elderly Hughes couple asked Tristan when he was returning to the country, saying they wanted to go back and visit relatives as well.

Tristan said it would be in the next day or two.

Since the elderly couple wanted to go home as well, Tristan decided to charter a plane.

He called Secretary Shaw and had him arrange the charter flight.

After the meal, Tristan went out for a smoke, leaving his phone on the dining table.

Sophie Hughes was preparing the after-meal fruit when she suddenly saw Tristan’s phone screen light up with a text message notification.

[The results of the paternity test you requested are ready...]