Chapter 244: Congratulations to Lydia’s Mom

Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Congratulations to Lydia’s Mom

Everyone present could see the rejection. Even if Julian Sterling’s tone wasn’t harsh, his attitude was unmistakable.

He refused to sit beside Sophie, refusing to put up a united front as a married couple. In short, Sophie had been publicly rejected by her "husband."

The atmosphere instantly grew eerie once more. Stella Sutton, who had been left hanging on the sidelines with a face as pale as paper, immediately regained her vitality. She cast an almost mocking glance at Sophie. Julian had publicly rebuffed Sophie for her sake! She had just been humiliated, yet now she was back in the dominant position.

Sophie wasn’t exactly surprised. From the moment Julian found out she had a child out of wedlock—and let the misunderstanding fester—this outcome was inevitable. It seemed Julian no longer had any intention of maintaining even a superficial facade of harmony.

The smile vanished from Philip Preston’s eyes, despite his usually approachable demeanor. Winnie Hayes, on the other hand, let out a cold scoff. "True, Mr. Sterling isn’t one to fuss over trivialities, so there’s no need to force things."

Sophie suddenly glanced down. Under the table, Winnie had grasped her hand, patting it gently in silent comfort. A sudden warmth bloomed in Sophie’s chest. She actually wanted to tell her that it was fine, that she had stopped caring a long time ago. Something of this magnitude was no longer enough to hurt her.

Stella returned to her seat next to Julian. Her expression had completely reverted to its earlier cheerful radiance. Julian’s attitude had elevated her status while simultaneously causing Sophie to lose face in public, so naturally, she was thrilled.

Until the dinner ended, Sophie had no further interaction with Julian. They didn’t even exchange a single glance. The two were like absolute strangers, completely segregated on opposite ends.

There were no more greetings, only complete disregard—even worse than before. He didn’t pry into the matter of the child, nor did he pursue or dwell on Sophie’s "betrayal." It was as if he couldn’t care less about what she had done. Sophie didn’t take it to heart. This wasn’t a bad thing.

As they were leaving, Philip passed by Sophie with a cold expression. "He treated you like air. For an hour and a half, he didn’t give you a single glance or say a single word!"

Sophie didn’t explain the reason. The misunderstanding over the child destined her and Julian to be strangers.

Sophie took a phone call midway. By the time she hung up, she ran into Madam Sterling coming downstairs. The old madam had come to meet the Thorne family. Her expression shifted slightly upon seeing Sophie, and she waved her over immediately. "Sophie, come here for a word."

Since they bumped into each other head-on, Sophie naturally wouldn’t blatantly hide. "Is there something you need?" she asked.

Madam Sterling frowned. "What is going on between you and the Hawthorne family? Becoming a professor at Kingsford University is such a joyous occasion, so why did you give the authorization to the Hawthornes? How do you expect the Sterlings to explain this to the public and save face?"

This matter had been a thorn in her side. In her eyes, it all boiled down to Sophie’s improper handling of the situation.

Sophie chuckled softly. "Do I need to remind you of my current relationship with Julian and the Sterlings?"

Madam Sterling’s face twisted with displeasure. "After seven years, we are family, no matter what. The Hawthornes are just chasing profits; you need to keep your eyes open."

Sophie wanted to laugh even more. "No matter what the Hawthornes are like, they are still better than that bastard from the Thorne family." She spoke bluntly, even harshly.

Madam Sterling looked aghast. "Sophie, how can you speak to your grandmother like that?"

Knowing the old madam was about to lose her temper over the backtalk, Sophie turned to leave.

Madam Sterling’s expression turned frigid. "I will let this slide for now. Let’s deal with the problem at hand first. You must remain silent about the Sterling family’s affairs to the public. If necessary, appease Charles. As long as you make it clear that you and Julian are doing well, Charles will feel somewhat comforted."

Sophie had reached the end of her patience. She turned back and said coldly, "You turn a blind eye to your grandson’s infidelity, yet you come here to make demands and lecture me. What kind of logic is that? Whether the Sterlings live or die in the future has nothing to do with me!"

This was the first time Madam Sterling had been talked back to by Sophie like this. Her face darkened instantly. "Is that how you speak to your elders? Has the Sterling family not treated you well enough?"

Passing by, Winnie suddenly overheard this attempt at moral kidnapping. She walked over, grabbed Sophie’s hand, and pulled the younger woman behind her. Looking down her nose at the old woman, she sneered, "The Qing Dynasty has fallen, yet you still think you’re the Empress Dowager? Aside from wasting grain to leech your way to this age, what contribution have you made to society? What right do you have to demand everyone’s absolute obedience? You disrespectful old hag."

Sophie froze. This was the first time she had ever been protected like this.

The moment Madam Sterling saw Winnie—especially after hearing those incredibly harsh words—her expression underwent a drastic change. Even in her youth, she had always been overshadowed by Winnie. Back then, Winnie had completely lacked the poise of a proper lady, speaking and acting erratically and obnoxiously. In her old age, she was just as detestable!

Winnie ignored Madam Sterling’s expression. She pulled Sophie along and said, "A good elder is a blessing to the younger generation. But a bloodsucking old monster like this? You stay as far away from her as possible."

Madam Sterling was so furious she could barely stand. Paying her no mind, Winnie led Sophie away. Sophie followed her obediently. It wasn’t until they stepped outside that Winnie cursed once more.

Yet, Sophie’s chest swelled with warmth. Winnie was like a loving, fiercely protective elder. For the first time in many years, she felt what it was like to be shielded by a family member.

"Winslow, listen to my advice," Winnie said, looking at her. "The Sterlings are demons wearing human skin. Those top-tier old-money families have no humanity. A wonderful child like you shouldn’t be ground down and oppressed in a place like that. I’m going to overstep my bounds and give you a piece of advice.

"Divorce him.

"Mr. Sterling is not a good match for you. His heart isn’t with you."

Winnie didn’t know the exact details of their situation. However, based solely on their few encounters and Julian’s blatant disregard for Sophie tonight, her favorable impression of Julian was rapidly dissipating. She couldn’t bear to see Sophie suffer through the bitter pill of a half-baked marriage.

In the past, Julian had indeed been considered an outstanding young man among the elders—the legendary "perfect child" everyone else was compared to. He was excellent and top-tier in every aspect, mature and cultured. But when it came to relationships, he was a massive disappointment.

For some reason, Sophie felt her eyes grow hot. She didn’t offer further explanation. The divorce was already finalized, and Julian was planning to marry Stella. She merely nodded. "I’ll keep that in mind."

Winnie patted the back of her hand. "If you ever need any help, you must come to me. I’ll do everything in my power to assist you."

Whether it was because Sophie had pulled her back from death’s door, or simply out of a genuine, heartfelt fondness for the girl, if Sophie ever wanted to break free from the Sterling family and found it difficult, Winnie was more than willing to lend a hand.

After her initial shock, Sophie was deeply moved. Evan York had the best grandmother, one who gave him absolute confidence and backing. He was very fortunate, and she was somewhat envious of him.

But it didn’t matter. She had the best grandfather, too.

After parting ways with Winnie, Sophie sensed that someone was watching her. She turned around but saw no one. She felt puzzled.

However, a ringtone interrupted her thoughts. It was a notification from the hospital. The paternity test results were out. She could finally transfer Lydia’s household registration and secure absolute custody!

Overjoyed, Sophie immediately sent Adrian Hawthorne a message on WhatsApp to share the news. Adrian replied quickly: [Congratulations to our Lydia’s mother. I happen to have some free time right now. Shall we go register her household transfer?]