Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Deeply Unsettled

"Yeah, I won’t let him know."

Today, Hugo Sterling had witnessed Tristan Lawson’s way of thinking firsthand.

He actually said that a genius doesn’t need to compete with others.

’He just doesn’t know that Noelle Sutton is the one who invested in the film. If he knew, wouldn’t he just say the same thing? That with Noelle’s abilities, she doesn’t need this movie, and that it would be better for him to take over all the final investments?’

’How ridiculous.’

"Thank you."

Noelle Sutton thanked Hugo Sterling again.

Hugo asked her to send him Christopher Grant’s contact information.

After the call ended, Noelle sent Christopher’s phone number to Hugo.

Then she replied to Christopher, telling him not to worry and that a man named Hugo Sterling would be contacting him.

Hugo contacted Christopher, then left his company and went to Christopher’s studio. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Walking into the studio, Hugo was utterly shocked.

The studio was ordinary and very basic.

Inside were several dozen people, and all of them were mute.

The entire studio was dead silent, with only the sounds of clicking mice and tapping keyboards.

Everyone was busy with their own work.

This time, to make communication easier, Hugo had specifically brought along a sign language interpreter.

Although Christopher Grant couldn’t speak, he was very enthusiastic and invited Hugo into his office.

Hugo stated the purpose of his visit.

Knowing he was the person sent by Noelle, Christopher explained the current situation using sign language.

Hugo said, "Don’t worry about Grant Pictures. Your film will definitely get a theatrical release. Noelle will cover all the later promotional and distribution investments herself. Don’t tell anyone that Noelle invested in the movie. Just say I’m the investor. I’ll take over and be fully responsible for all subsequent issues."

When Christopher learned he was the president of the Sterling Group, he was finally able to relax.

Now, he wouldn’t have to look for anyone else.

After they had settled all the arrangements for the later stages, Hugo walked out of the studio. He glanced back one last time before getting into his car and calling his secretary.

"Prepare a studio that can accommodate a hundred people as soon as possible. Hire two receptionists, two janitors, two HR staff, and one office manager. They must know sign language! All the computers need to be high-spec, and equip the studio with the best possible break room."

Closing his phone, Hugo couldn’t calm his turbulent emotions for a long time.

Only after a long while did he tell the driver to head to the Grant Group.

He arrived at the entrance to Adrian Grant’s office.

Adrian’s assistant was giving him a report.

"President Grant, they’ve replied. They said they’ve already found an investor."

"They’d rather not get a theatrical release than choose Grant Pictures?"

The assistant lowered his head and mumbled in agreement.

Adrian irritably tossed a file onto his desk and leaned back into his office chair, clearly furious.

In the film industry, no one had ever dared to offend him like this.

"What are you so angry about?"

Hugo Sterling strode in.

Adrian waved his hand, dismissing the assistant.

Hugo sat down across from him.

Adrian said, "I heard that director is mute. I really don’t know how someone like him dared to refuse me."

"You were already planning to give the film to Tristan Lawson to invest in, so why bother getting angry."

"Me giving it to Tristan is one thing, but being rejected so bluntly is another. That’s what pisses me off."

Hugo consoled him in a placating tone, "Don’t be angry. They refused you because I beat you to it. I’ve already provided all the funds."

Adrian suddenly sat bolt upright. "Are you crazy?"

"How am I crazy?"

"You knew Tristan wanted it, and you still stuck your nose in?"

Hugo started to laugh. "It’s not the first time I’ve done something like this, anyway. You and he are both so optimistic about it, so I figure it’s a sure thing. I feel like making some money, you know?"

"Bullshit." Adrian stared at Hugo. "It’ll make money, sure, but even I didn’t care. I was willing to let Tristan have it. You’d care about this little bit of cash? You’re doing this on purpose to piss him off, aren’t you? You were pretty unhappy this morning. So, you don’t want him to take over this film and put Sophie Hughes’s name on it?"

Hugo gave Adrian a thumbs-up. "Smart man."

Adrian shook his head. "You really know how to get on Tristan’s nerves. I see him tolerating you most of the time, but I’m not sure if he can tolerate this."

"Who cares if he can tolerate it or not? It’s not like I’m afraid of him being angry."

Suddenly, the office door opened, and both Hugo and Adrian looked toward the entrance.

Tristan Lawson rolled in in his wheelchair.

His expression was cold and grim as his wheelchair came to a stop beside Hugo.

"Was it worth it?"

Tristan knew that Noelle Sutton was Hugo Sterling’s biological sister, but Hugo didn’t know that he knew.

He was just trying to sort out things for Sophie Hughes as soon as possible. That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about how her future would develop.

But as it turned out, Hugo kept interfering in his affairs.

Adrian had given him the relevant information about the film. He sent someone to contact the director, but they were rejected.

He had come looking for Adrian, only to overhear the conversation between Hugo and Adrian at the door.

"If it can put you in a bad mood, then of course it was worth it."

Hugo had a smile on his face, but he was seething inside.

This project was something Tristan’s wife, Noelle, had supported with many years of hard work. Tristan never understood his own wife, yet he was bending over backward for Sophie Hughes. The more Hugo thought about it, the angrier he became.

Before, Hugo didn’t have any particular opinion of Sophie. They were acquaintances who saw each other often, that was all.

But now, he was starting to dislike her. Tristan was a married man, yet she didn’t seem to know how to keep her distance at all.

Tristan pressed his thin lips together, his gaze locked tightly on Hugo.

Adrian looked between the two of them and felt like he could smell the thick scent of gunpowder in the air.

’This passion is a real curse.’

’Clearly, the battlefield of love was even more brutal than the world of business.’

’Hugo was something else. Single for thirty years, and of all the people to fall for, he had to go and fall for Tristan’s wife.’

’Before they were married, it would have been better—fair game.’

’But Tristan was married now. What was Hugo still trying to compete for?’

Getting dragged into their mess, Adrian felt like the battlefield was about to expand to include him.

After a long moment, Tristan finally spoke. "If you don’t want to see me and Noelle have a falling out, then you will back out of this."

Hugo let out several cold laughs.

’If Tristan actually went through with this, that’s what would truly cause a falling out with Noelle. But then again, whether he does it or not, they’re doomed to fall out anyway.’

"I won’t back out."

Hugo looked like he was saying, ’I’m not backing down, so what are you going to do about it?’

Tristan was simmering with a bellyful of rage, wanting to explode but unable to.

He already felt he’d wronged Hugo enough by hiding his marriage to Noelle.

Besides, Hugo was his brother-in-law.

’What else could I do?’

But he was just trying to give Sophie Hughes an opportunity, to completely repay the favor he owed her.

After this, he wouldn’t meddle so much in Sophie’s affairs.

But Hugo just had to deny him this chance.

Tristan Lawson had never been so passive in his life.