Chapter 198: Chapter 198: You Dug a Trap and Were Waiting for Me, Weren’t You?

So much time had passed, and Tristan, figuring she still had plenty of cash on hand, had put the matter on the back burner.

"Okay, I’ll get it done as soon as possible."

Tristan hung up and looked at the words Noelle had written on his phone.

Suddenly, he didn’t regret his decision one bit. She was so determined to get a divorce.

She didn’t want him or their son. If she returned to the Sterling family, it would be even harder to keep her.

That was why he had to keep it a secret for a while longer.

When the court date arrived, she would have no choice but to come find him.

Once everything was settled, he would personally take her back to the Sterling family so she could officially rejoin them.

Tessa waited for a while, but when Tristan didn’t text back, she called him directly.

Tristan answered.

"Tristan, I saw her today and apologized, but she still had that attitude. You’d better not blame me for it next time."

"You’d better keep it that way."

Tessa’s eyelids twitched in surprise. "She wrote all that nonsense, and you’re not angry?"

"No."

’There’s nothing to be angry about. Everything she wrote was the truth.’

"You... you’ve fallen for her?"

"Do you think I’d marry someone I hate?"

Tessa had to agree with that. It was just like that first time at the fabric market; she hadn’t gotten a clear look, but she’d still dared to slander Noelle for being with Wyatt Yates.

After all, she was the woman Tristan had chosen to marry. They’d been married for seven years and had a son; there were bound to be some feelings involved.

"Then what about Sophie Hughes? What are your plans for her?"

No one in the Lawson family liked to talk about it.

Tessa was looking for some reassurance.

"I’m a married man. What could possibly happen between us? Don’t let your imagination run wild."

"If that’s the case, then why did you let her stay at The Orchidelle? Dressing so provocatively that night... was she trying to taint Mom’s Orchidelle?"

Tristan frowned. "No matter what, she’s still our grandparents’ adopted daughter. Don’t use such ugly language."

"I’m just stating the facts. If I hadn’t shown up that night, have you thought about the consequences?" After saying that, Tessa suddenly realized something. "You say there’s nothing between you two, but that night, why were you pinning her down, about to kiss her? Tristan, are you going to lie to your own sister?"

"I was drunk. I thought she was Noelle."

"Don’t lie to me. You can’t even recognize your own wife? I don’t buy it. I’m warning you, if you don’t want a divorce, then keep your distance from Sophie. A person who can’t speak is bound to be sensitive. Since Noelle can’t express herself, she’s going to overthink things."

Tristan knew Tessa didn’t like Sophie, but what happened in the past wasn’t Sophie’s fault.

"I know what I’m doing."

"Know what you’re doing?" Tessa sneered. "I haven’t seen you act with any discretion. And neither has she."

"Enough. Let’s not talk about this anymore." Tristan cut her off, adding one last reminder. "Be nicer to Noelle from now on."

Noelle was Hailey Sterling, and they had all played together as children.

Tessa had been very fond of her, too.

"I know."

「Three days later.」

Hugo Sterling returned to the country and went to the Lawson Group to meet with Tristan.

Tristan handed the partnership agreement directly to Hugo.

Hugo opened the agreement and glanced over the contents. He eyed Tristan thoughtfully. "I get the feeling there’s a catch to this agreement."

"You’re the one who built the station. Is it a trap just because I’m giving you a bigger cut of the profits?"

Hugo chuckled. "We’re both businessmen. You think I can’t see through this? There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Your patent, your AI, your subsequent investment and operations... and you’re giving me an eighty-percent stake? This is clearly a trap you’ve dug for me. If you’re still mad about me stabbing you in the back, just say so."

"You weren’t wrong. You did a great job stabbing me. In fact, one stab was too light. You should have stabbed me twice."

Tristan took a cigarette from its case, lit it, and took a drag.

Hugo gave him a strange look. "Did you hit your head in that car accident?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. I’m perfectly lucid."

Hugo closed the agreement and tossed it in front of Tristan. "Look, I feel like there’s a catch. If you don’t explain yourself, I’d rather give you the station for free than sign this."

Tristan blew a smoke ring, studying Hugo.

’He really is sharp.’

’If he knew Noelle was Hailey, it would be a huge mess.’

"You really don’t trust me that much?"

Tristan’s refined features flickered in and out of view through the curling smoke.

Hugo scoffed. "Who do you think you are? You’re Tristan Lawson. Trust you? Yeah, right. Whatever this trap is, I’m not falling for it."

Tristan sat up straight, his long fingers gently tapping the ash from his cigarette. "You’re overthinking it. If you’re that worried, you can be in charge of the entire project. I’ll provide the technical staff and the funding."

Hugo shot him a look, his smile widening. "You’re just digging the trap deeper. Let me tell you something, only greedy people fall for this stuff, and I’m not a greedy person. I don’t want this project."

From the start, Hugo had planned to give the power station he’d built to Tristan for free anyway.

So even though he knew he was giving up a huge profit by rejecting the agreement, Hugo didn’t feel like he was losing out.

It was just that his logical mind, combined with a sensitivity honed by years in the business world, told him something was fishy.

Tristan picked up the document with one hand and looked at Hugo seriously. "You’re sure you don’t want it?"

Hugo’s tone was firm. "I don’t."

Tristan set the document down.

Hugo leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk, his gaze intensifying as he stared at Tristan. "Did you do something to wrong me? Is your conscience guilty, so you’re trying to give me all this money for free?"

"By that logic, shouldn’t I suspect you have a guilty conscience for offering me the completed power station?"

"Of course I have a guilty conscience. I wronged you by building that power station before you could, and now I need your help finding my little sister. I have to show enough sincerity."

Tristan pressed his thin, sharp-edged lips together.

"You’ve never been one for hiding things."

"We’re old friends, what’s there to hide? You, on the other hand, are being hypocritical. So, out with it. What did you do to wrong me? Tell me, and maybe I won’t even be angry. I might even forgive you."

Tristan’s cigarette had burned down, almost scorching his fingertips. He stubbed it out.

"Brother Hugo."

Tristan called him Brother Hugo again.

The smile on Hugo’s face froze.

It would be a lie to say he felt nothing.

That title, "Brother Hugo," represented Tristan’s respect for him and the bond between them.

Tristan said slowly, "It’s just to thank you for taking care of Noelle recently. Why are you so suspicious? If I were setting a trap for you, what could I possibly gain from it?"