CHAPTER 179: CHAPTER 179: TELL ME IMMEDIATELY

Dean Ford stood up to take his leave, with an apologetic look on his face.

"Mr. Sterling, sorry for the trouble today. Rhiannon usually isn’t like this at home; maybe she’s a bit nervous today."

As he spoke, he shot his daughter a glare.

Rhiannon Ford pursed her lips without saying a word and stood up by herself.

Simon Sterling’s parents escorted them to the door.

"Simon, see Dean Ford and Rhiannon out," Mrs. Sterling said to her son.

Simon Sterling nodded silently and followed them out.

When they reached the gate, Dean Ford’s car was already waiting there.

The driver got out and opened the car door.

Dean Ford politely said to Simon Sterling, "Doctor Sterling, please don’t trouble yourself any further. Thank you for your hospitality today."

"Take care, Dean Ford." Simon Sterling’s tone was indifferent.

Dean Ford glanced again at his daughter, who was dawdling, sighed, and bent down to sit in the car first.

Seizing the moment while the driver went to open the car door, Rhiannon quickly moved next to Simon Sterling, lowered her voice, and spoke through gritted teeth.

"Hey, let me tell you, I absolutely, absolutely won’t marry you, don’t even think about it."

Simon Sterling looked down at her pouting side face, the streetlight casting a small shadow under her long eyelashes.

He showed no expression, his voice equally low and steady: "Me neither."

These three words were as light as a feather but ignited the fire in Rhiannon’s heart like oil.

She abruptly turned her head, widened her eyes, and gave him a fierce glare.

His perpetually calm demeanor, as if everything was under control, was what infuriated her the most.

She snorted and turned to get in the car.

"Wait a minute." Simon Sterling suddenly called out to her.

Rhiannon turned back impatiently, "What?"

Simon Sterling took a small object from the inside pocket of his suit and held it out to her.

A delicate hairpin embellished with pink diamonds shimmered under the night sky and streetlights.

"This, you left it in my office last time," Simon Sterling said.

Rhiannon paused, remembering that it might have fallen out last time when she was hiding under his desk, perhaps due to her excessive movements.

She glanced at the hairpin, then turned her head away, her tone filled with disdain.

"I don’t want it, things others have touched disgust me, just throw it away."

Simon Sterling didn’t withdraw his hand holding the hairpin, his tone still calm.

"Miss Ford, this appears to be a real diamond, quite valuable."

Rhiannon seemed provoked by this and quickly turned back, lifting her chin, her pride unmasked.

"So what if it’s a real diamond?"

"Of all things, Rhiannon Ford is least short of money. I have a whole box of these pink diamond accessories at home; I don’t need this one."

After saying this, she didn’t give Simon Sterling a chance to speak, bent down, got into the car, and closed the door with a slam.

The black sedan slowly started, left the Sterling family’s courtyard, and disappeared into the night.

Simon Sterling stood in place, watching in the direction the car had gone, still holding the pink diamond hairpin.

He lifted his hand, his gaze falling on the small, exquisite hairpin, pausing for two seconds.

He turned and walked toward a nearby trash can, intending to throw it in.

Just as the hairpin was about to leave his hand, his movement stalled.

His fingers closed, and he grasped the hairpin back into his palm.

He stared at the opening of the empty trash can for a moment, then placed it back inside the pocket of his suit.

He turned and walked back inside the house.

Mrs. Sterling was still waiting for him in the living room, and when she saw him come in, she immediately approached him, asking with anticipation, "Simon, what do you think of Rhiannon?"

"This girl is a bit lively, but she’s really quite beautiful, and she comes from a good family. Isn’t she the type you like?"

Simon Sterling stopped, looked at his mother, and with no expression on his face, asked back, "Mom, do you think your son is a pedophile?"

Mrs. Sterling was taken aback by his words, somewhat displeased.

"How could you say that, child? Rhiannon is just a bit young; she just turned eighteen this year, much younger than you, but eighteen is an adult."

She attempted to persuade her son: "Being young has its advantages; she’s simple and doesn’t have many ulterior motives. Moreover, with Dean Ford being your direct superior, if this relationship could go further, it would only benefit your future career."

She paused and added: "As for her manners, she was a bit out of line today, but girls are young and immature; that’s normal. When she grows older and gains more experience, she’ll naturally know how to be decorous and steady."

"Besides, you’re always in the hospital around patients and machines, which feels lifeless. Having a lively and cheerful girl around you to brighten your life, wouldn’t that be nice?"

Simon Sterling quietly listened to his mother, showing no sign of being swayed.

His tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Don’t bring this up again, I have no plans to marry for the time being."

After finishing, he gave his mother no chance to continue persuading him and turned to walk upstairs.

"Simon! You..." Mrs. Sterling still wanted to call after him.

Simon Sterling didn’t turn his head, his steps unwavering, and left behind just one sentence.

"I have another surgery later. It’s expected to last four hours."

Upon hearing the word "surgery," Mrs. Sterling opened her mouth but eventually swallowed all her words.

She understood her son’s dedication and commitment to his work, and the absolute focus required before a surgery; she couldn’t disturb him any further.

She watched her son’s tall silhouette disappear around the corner of the stairs and sighed helplessly.

Simon Sterling returned to his temporary room on the second floor and closed the door.

The room was very quiet.

He took off his suit jacket, habitually wanting to hang it up, and when he reached into his pocket, he felt a small hard object.

He took out the pink diamond hair clip and placed it on the desk.

His room was cool-toned, giving the impression that no one lived there, but this hair clip seemed to carry a bit of warmth.

He glanced at it without lingering, picked up his prepared change of clothes and briefcase, and turned to leave the room.

At the hospital, important matters were still waiting for him.

Meanwhile, at Keystone Law.

The door to Justin Holden’s office had just been gently closed as the last partner left.

In the spacious office, only he and Samual Pryce, who was still seated at the conference table, remained.

Justin Holden did not get up; he turned the pen in his hand, his gaze falling on Samual Pryce.

"How is that matter progressing?"

Justin Holden spoke, his voice low.

Samual Pryce adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, his tone carrying the caution of a professional.

"The paternity test? The samples have been sent over."

"But this kind of thing can’t be rushed. The operation of the equipment, and the data analysis and comparison, all take time."

"At the fastest, it will take about a week to get accurate results."

Justin Holden nodded, indicating his understanding.

He remained silent for a few seconds, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop.

Samual Pryce looked at him and couldn’t help but ask, "I still don’t quite understand, Lawyer Holden, why are you so suspicious of the parentage relationship between Jesse and Dylan Sawyer?"

"Dylan Sawyer is Jesse’s biological father, this is something Miss Jean Ellison personally admitted, what’s there to suspect?"

Justin Holden lifted his eyes, his gaze murky and unreadable.

"Precisely because Jean said it herself, that’s why I don’t believe it."

He paused, his tone cold with self-mockery.

"Jean has lied to me many times, with countless big and small things. In front of me, there are fewer truths than lies. Why, this time, would she suddenly tell me the truth?"

Samual Pryce nodded thoughtfully, "It seems you already have an answer in your heart."

He looked at Justin Holden, "Since that’s the case, why go through the extra trouble of getting a paternity test?"

"I need to know why she’s lying," Justin Holden’s tone was heavy, "And why Dylan Sawyer would willingly play the role of Jesse’s father. From what I know, Dylan Sawyer was already married a few years ago, to someone named Phoebe, but this Phoebe has almost never appeared in public, her whereabouts a mystery."

Samual Pryce speculated, "Maybe they divorced? Or, perhaps Dylan Sawyer has feelings for Jean? Admiring the house with the sparrow, so he’s willing to accept Jesse as her father?"

"No." Justin Holden’s denial was straightforward, "Dylan Sawyer doesn’t like Jean."

"How can you be so sure?" Samual Pryce pursued.

"His eyes," Justin Holden replied, his voice low, "When a man looks at the woman he likes, his eyes are different. There is warmth, possessiveness, an involuntary attention."

"But when Dylan Sawyer looks at Jean, he doesn’t have that. His eyes are calm, even with a hint of professional courtesy, more like fulfilling a responsibility."

Samual Pryce listened, then suddenly smiled, his tone teasing.

"Indeed, when you look at Jean, not just your eyes, but your whole person changes."

He paused, then added, "By the way, there’s one more thing."

"Our people found out that Leah Sutton urgently went abroad some time ago, for a pregnancy preservation. It seems the child she is carrying has some issues."

Justin Holden’s face showed no surprise, as if he had known about this matter long ago.

He said flatly, "I’m aware of that, no need to follow up on her anymore, that child won’t be born."

Samual Pryce was a bit shocked, "How do you know? What if it’s successfully preserved..."

Justin Holden interrupted him, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"A severe congenital genetic defect."

"The modern medical interventions are not very meaningful; preservation is just delaying time, not changing the final outcome."

Samual Pryce understood, then lowered his voice a bit, "But make sure she really doesn’t preserve it. If born, a child with obvious defects, Senior Counselor Holden, this won’t do your reputation any good. Those outside, who knows what unpleasant rumors they might make up."

Justin Holden glanced at Samual Pryce, his gaze deep, without engaging further in the topic.

He picked up a document again, his gaze falling on the page, clearly not wanting to continue the discussion.

"Let me know as soon as the test results are out."