Chapter 124 Mr. Sterling Got Divorced?

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Mr. Sterling Got Divorced?

The venue was crowded, but Winnie Hayes could tell almost at a glance exactly who Evan York was looking at.

Coincidentally, Sophie Winslow turned her head as if looking for someone.

Winnie let out a soft sound of surprise.

"This girl is quite the stunner with a great figure. What? Do you fancy her?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Evan couldn’t help but let out a soft cough. Just then, he noticed Julian Sterling had also spotted him and was looking his way. Frowning, he spoke earnestly to his grandmother, "Grandma, don’t talk nonsense. She’s just a friend I know."

Winnie felt a pang of regret. She was a firm believer in first impressions, and she found herself inexplicably drawn to this girl.

"Your standards are way too high. No wonder you’re still single," Winnie scoffed. Ignoring Evan, she strode briskly straight toward Sophie.

Terrified that his formidable grandmother might say the wrong thing, Evan quickly chased after her.

Originally, the venue was filled with pharmaceutical executives and investors exchanging pleasantries. No one knew who spotted Winnie first, but almost everyone who had been seated suddenly stood up in unison. Their reverence was self-evident.

Sophie also turned to look.

The old lady walking toward her wore a youthful, vibrant coat. Her gaze was sharp, and even though there was a smile playing on her lips, she exuded an imposing aura. Sophie had seen Winnie in numerous public news broadcasts, scientific reports, and academic celebrity interviews. She immediately stood up.

Stella Sutton’s face lit up with pleasant surprise. She had come here today not only because she knew Helios’s drug would receive approval, but also because she had found out in advance that Ms. Hayes was the chairman. Befriending a top-tier titan on the same level as Mr. Caldwell would only be beneficial to her.

Julian and Winnie were acquainted. He stood up and nodded. "Grandma Hayes, it’s been a long time."

Winnie looked at him. As her grandson’s friend, she thoroughly approved of Evan associating more with Julian. After all, he was a standout among the younger generation, possessing skills that rivaled even those of the old foxes in the industry. She admired Julian greatly.

However, the old lady of the Sterling family was no easy target.

"Yes. Are you here to screen investment projects today?" Winnie asked.

Julian smiled faintly. "You could say that."

Finn Lockwood happened to stroll over just then. Dropping his usual flippant demeanor, he acted as meek as a lamb in front of Winnie. "Grandma Hayes."

Of course he was. Even his grandfather wouldn’t dare talk back when Winnie pointed a finger at his nose. How could he dare to be anything but obedient?

Winnie shot him a glance. "Your grandfather played chess with me yesterday. He mentioned you invested in a good project. Is it with Helios?"

Master Lockwood had grown up in the same compound as her, always tagging along behind her when they were kids. But nowadays, he constantly complained about how much trouble his grandson caused.

At the mention of this, Finn instinctively glanced at Sophie, then at Stella, and mumbled vaguely, "Yeah, I did invest in one."

Except it wasn’t Helios’s surgical robot; it was the triage robot project that Stella was launching. He hadn’t dared tell the old man about that yet.

Winnie didn’t meddle in these matters and was just asking in passing. Besides, she hadn’t come over just to greet the younger generation.

Her gaze suddenly shifted to Sophie, who had remained quiet the entire time.

Winnie stared at her and suddenly smiled. "What’s your name, young lady?"

Sophie hadn’t expected Winnie to notice her. Flattered, she stammered slightly, "Hello, I’m..."

"Chairman Hayes, it’s an honor to meet you for the first time." Stella stepped forward from behind, taking a spot right next to Julian. She greeted Winnie with poised elegance, cutting off Sophie’s words.

She had initially thought Winnie would take the opportunity to say a few words to her. Who would have thought that Winnie wouldn’t even spare her a glance, turning directly to Sophie instead? She was somewhat displeased. What did Sophie have that was worth Chairman Hayes’s attention?

Winnie narrowed her eyes and looked at Stella. Only then did she realize the woman was standing extremely close to Julian. Even if she wasn’t deliberately acting affectionate, her positioning was clearly intentional, meant to flaunt a close relationship.

Winnie cast an unreadable look at Julian and asked bluntly, "Are you divorced?"

As Evan’s biological grandmother, she naturally knew that Julian was married. However, the young Madam of the Sterling family had never made a public appearance. Furthermore, she didn’t get along with the Sterling family, so she had never cared much about the matter.

Now, looking at this woman—she had seen all sorts of monsters and demons in her lifetime. This woman was full of scheming thoughts and lacked the basic manners not to interrupt others. She could tell at a glance that this was definitely not the young Madam of the Sterling family.

As soon as Winnie dropped this question, Evan and Finn Lockwood exchanged glances, their expressions shifting slightly. Even the people nearby who overheard immediately pricked up their ears. Divorced? From whom? Wasn’t Mr. Sterling unmarried?

The smile on Stella’s lips froze completely. She hadn’t expected Winnie to ask such a thing. And in front of everyone, no less!

Sophie remained silent. Some situations didn’t even need her intervention to turn into a complete mess.

Julian, on the other hand, didn’t even bat an eyelid. Appearing calm and composed, he merely curled his lips. "You must be joking."

Sophie suddenly felt the urge to laugh at this answer. It truly was a response that covered all bases. It made the uninformed think that Winnie’s mention of a divorce was purely fabricated, while simultaneously making Winnie believe that they were not divorced and everything was fine. He was merely exploiting the information gap. And what he was protecting was Stella’s pride and reputation.

Winnie narrowed her eyes. She had always known that Julian was a deep and cautious man. She could hear the distinct ambiguity in his reply. She let out a cold snort.

Seeing this, Finn immediately stepped forward. "Grandma, this is Stella Sutton, Miss Sutton. She also majored in medicine. She’s a young, promising top student who just returned from Vesparia, and she has always admired you."

He helped change the subject, shifting the focus to Stella’s credentials and capabilities. The prying gazes from the surroundings dispersed.

Stella’s pale face finally regained some color. She quickly composed herself, took a step forward, and extended her hand toward Winnie. "Chairman Hayes, it truly is an honor to meet you today. I wonder if I might have the opportunity to seek your guidance in the future?"

In this aspect, at least, she believed she was impeccable. At her age, she was already in the top tier. Fortunately, Finn was on her side. Otherwise, Sophie would have genuinely used this opportunity to reveal her relationship with Julian, taking every chance to cling to him and gloat.

"Mr. Hayes? You’re here." Peter Preston had finally finished socializing. Seeing Winnie, he immediately came over.

Ignoring Stella’s self-introduction, Winnie looked at Peter and finally cracked a smile. "Preston."

Stella’s expression soured. Had she been left hanging yet again?

Paying no mind to the others’ expressions, Peter immediately pulled Sophie forward and introduced, "Sophie Winslow, from our Helios R&D team."

Winnie had already been interested in Sophie, so she was immediately pleasantly surprised.

Only then did Sophie speak up, "I was involved in tracking and developing Helios’s drug this time."

Winnie guessed it right away. Anyone Peter would bring here had to be a core team member. Her existing fondness for Sophie swelled uncontrollably. She had seen Helios’s pharmaceutical formula, and it was absolutely outstanding!

She promptly shook Sophie’s hand and said warmly, "You’re quite something, young lady. I’ll have my assistant exchange contact info with you later. We can chat when you’re free."

As soon as Winnie said this, the hand Stella had left extended froze in midair.