Chapter 199: Chapter 199: He’s My Future Brother-in-Law

"Who knows? I can’t read your mind. Anyway, I’m not going to believe you."

Tristan Lawson had indeed set the stage, waiting for Hugo Sterling to walk into his trap. But since Hugo refused to take the bait, Tristan had no choice but to find another way.

Just as they were talking, Adrian Grant arrived.

Tristan Lawson’s expression darkened instantly. When Noelle Sutton was just Noelle Sutton, things weren’t nearly this complicated.

But with Noelle Sutton being Hailey Sterling, things had become much more complicated.

Case in point, here was her fiancé.

Mr. Sterling and Mr. Grant had been comrades-in-arms, and their two families were friends for generations. Their bond was incredibly strong...

Tristan Lawson pinched the bridge of his nose. It felt as if a cold drizzle was falling in his heart, leaving a damp chill that seeped through him.

"Tristan, I found you a movie. Here’s the file."

Adrian Grant sat down next to Hugo Sterling, holding two files in his hand. He passed one to Tristan Lawson. "It’s a film by a renowned local director. They aren’t looking for investors, so I had to be pretty shameless to get this for you. Take a look. If it seems okay, you can have your people contact them."

"Alright."

Hugo Sterling asked curiously, "What kind of amazing script is this? Good enough for even Tristan to want to invest?"

"It’s because Smith chose Noelle Sutton over Sophie Hughes. Tristan’s worried Sophie will be upset, so he’s scrambling to find a promising movie for her."

Hugo Sterling’s face darkened, and he remarked sarcastically, "Some people... not only are they a dog in the manger, but they also try to ride two boats at once. They deserve to get dumped."

Adrian Grant started to laugh. "Are you talking trash about Tristan?"

He said, glancing over at Tristan Lawson.

But Tristan Lawson didn’t get angry in the slightest. Adrian Grant seemed a bit put out. "Tristan, why are you so patient with Brother Hugo?"

’He’s my future brother-in-law, after all.’

’It’s a good thing he doesn’t know.’

’If he found out, a few sarcastic remarks would be the least of my worries.’

Hugo Sterling continued, "What’s there for him to be angry about? I’m not making things up; I’m just stating facts."

Adrian Grant then said, "Don’t be so serious about it. With Tristan’s status, forget two boats—he could probably sail ten at the same time, and as long as his technique is good, he wouldn’t capsize."

Tristan Lawson shot a cold glare at Adrian Grant. "Whose side are you on, his or mine?"

Adrian Grant immediately draped an arm over Hugo Sterling’s shoulder and grinned. "Of course I’m on his side. Our connection is a little deeper than ours. He’s my future brother-in-law, after all."

He and the youngest Miss Sterling had been betrothed since childhood, so he was telling the truth.

Tristan Lawson’s fingers tightened into a fist, then relaxed, then tightened again.

This whole situation had started promisingly, but now it was taking a nosedive. The tables were turning against him.

But he had to turn things around, no matter what.

"’Future brother-in-law’? I thought you didn’t want to marry her. Last time you said you would definitely break off the engagement if she was ever found. What century are we in? Who still does childhood betrothals?"

Tristan Lawson shot back.

"Well, it hasn’t been called off yet, has it? So until it is, Brother Hugo is my future brother-in-law." Adrian Grant leaned even closer to Hugo Sterling, showing off how close they were. He didn’t forget to add, "Isn’t that right, Brother Hugo?"

Hugo Sterling nodded. "Adrian’s right. We’re practically family. With you, it’s just friendship."

Tristan Lawson’s expression remained mild, but his eyes were piercingly sharp. ’Sooner or later, he would make Hugo Sterling understand that *he* was the one who was actually family.’

’He was the one with the real family connection, yet he couldn’t speak the truth.’

It was perhaps in this moment that he began to understand the hardship of being unable to speak.

’Does Noelle Sutton feel this way often?’

’Having something on your mind but being unable to express it.’

’She could use sign language, or even write, of course.’

’But speaking is instantaneous. For someone who can’t, by the time they form the words, the emotion might have passed, the situation might have changed. The impulse to say something might just vanish.’

’No wonder Tessa Lawson said people who can’t speak think too much and have sensitive hearts.’

’He’d always thought that because he understood sign language, they could communicate without issue, even if Noelle couldn’t speak.’

’Thinking about it now, he realized he had neglected her far too much and hadn’t considered her feelings.’

’She couldn’t speak, but she had a mind of her own; she was flesh and blood.’

’He really hadn’t been attentive enough.’

’I’ll do better from now on.’

Adrian Grant let go of Hugo Sterling and studied Tristan Lawson. "Tristan, what are you thinking about? You seem a million miles away."

Tristan Lawson looked up and said, "I’ve been helping Hugo look for his sister recently, and I have a feeling there’s a good chance we’ll find her. You said you didn’t want to be so old-fashioned, right? So why not take this opportunity, before she’s back, to call off the arranged marriage with the Sterling Family?"

"I’d love to, but my dad won’t agree. He says that since I still haven’t met anyone I want to marry, he’ll only agree to call it off when I’m ready to get married to someone else, and only if Hailey still hasn’t been found by then."

Tristan Lawson said, "Then why don’t you hurry up and find someone to marry?"

Adrian Grant frowned. "You think finding someone to marry is that easy?"

"If you wanted to, wouldn’t there be plenty of women willing to marry you?"

"That’s true, but I don’t want to just settle. I can’t just find a random person to marry for the sake of calling off the betrothal. That’s a bad deal, and I won’t do it. At the very least, I need to find someone I’m willing to marry, who is also willing to marry me."

Even Hugo Sterling couldn’t help but laugh.

’His younger sister had been missing for so many years that his family didn’t really take the betrothal seriously anymore. His mother had even mentioned to Mrs. Grant that they should just call it off. But the Grant Family’s thinking was that since Adrian wasn’t married yet, they might as well wait. What if the girl was found, after all?’

’His parents felt terrible holding up Adrian’s marital prospects. The ideal scenario was just as Adrian had described: if he found a girlfriend he wanted to marry, the betrothal would be voided.’

’So, the Grant Family’s position was that as long as Adrian remained unmarried, the betrothal was still in effect.’

’The two families had wanted to become in-laws for years, and they were still stubbornly trying to make it happen.’

Tristan Lawson pressed him, "And what if the youngest Miss Sterling is found before you get married?"

"First, I’d have to put up a good fight. But if my family forced me to marry her, well, my hands would be tied in the end."

Tristan Lawson was extremely dissatisfied with that answer. He felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

He didn’t dare press the issue any further. After all, Hugo Sterling was exceptionally sharp; the more he said, the more he risked revealing.

Tristan Lawson picked up his cigarette case, pulled one out, and offered it to Adrian Grant. "Must be tough, being stuck in that betrothal."

"Tell me about it." Adrian Grant took the cigarette and said to Hugo Sterling next to him, "You’ll have to help me out when the time comes. I mean, what century is this? No one does that arranged marriage thing anymore."

Hugo Sterling gave Adrian Grant a light shove. "What are you so smug about? My sister didn’t even want to ’marry’ you when you two played house as kids. For all you know, she’ll come back and be the one to call it off with you."

Adrian Grant nodded in satisfaction. "That would be perfect."

Tristan Lawson thought so, too.

Then, Adrian Grant’s playful expression vanished. He took out the other file in his hand and said seriously, "Tristan, I have another movie here. I think this one has massive potential, but the production phase is already funded. I’m looking to be the exclusive investor for the marketing and distribution. Could you take a look for me?"