Chapter 235
After choosing Richard the previous night, Pearl noticed Hugo’s lack of emotional reaction, leaving her perplexed about his sudden change in behavior today. Nevertheless, the situation had escalated to this point, and they needed to wait for Hugo’s. return to confront him.
Hugo rushed home swiftly, wearing a smile as if he had encountered something good.
“I’ll give you another chance to explain yourself, Hugo. Why did you sell the hospital and join Lawson Enterprises?” Dustan demanded, his anger palpable.
Hugo nonchalantly took a seat and crossed his legs, which was very far from his usual attitude. This strange transformation left those around him feeling uneasy. “You have no right to stop me from working at Lawson Enterprises, especially since you forbade me from being part of Waldorf Enterprises.”
Dustan stared at Hugo in disbelief. “Are you even listening to yourself? Don’t you realize that it’s in your best interest that I kept you out of Waldorf Enterprises?”
Hugo scoffed. “In my best interest? You’re only concerned that I might compete with Richard for the position of president. Even Sean, who’s so useless, managed to become the vice president, but I never even had a chance. It’s ridiculous! Dad, aren’t you playing favorites?”
Dustan gaped but couldn’t say anything for a moment.
Hearing that, Pearl frowned. “Don’t speak to Mister Dustan this way, Hugo.”
Hugo’s eyes turned cold as he retorted, “I’m talking to my dad, Pearl. You’re an outsider, so just shut up.”
Dustan’s anger flared up, and he snapped, “Don’t speak that way with Pea, Hugo! She’s your future sister-in-law, not an outsider!”
Hugo dismissed Dustan’s reprimand, his eyes growing colder. “Of course, I understand. All of you favor Richard, and he’s the only one you value. That’s why you prevented me from standing out and assigned me a lousy hospital. I admit that you gave me a hospital just to secure my position in this world, but I can’t figure out why you didn’t let me work at the company.”
Hearing that, Dustan’s fury subsided a little. With a heavy sigh, he said, “Oh, Hughie, you’re overthinking this.”
Dustan had always seen Hugo as a docile and non-competitive child, which was why he had never pressured him into anything. He believed it was simply Hugo’s nature and had always acted out of concern for his son. Little did he know that his past decisions had caused such deep-seated resentment in Hugo.
“What’s the matter? Just keep going. I want to see how you’re going to lie to me.” Hugo no longer believed in Dustan.
“You weren’t like this when you were younger, Hughie. You were obedient and always followed my lead. You were exceptionally diligent, but perhaps you were too gentle. I protected you because I feared you might be mistreated. I took great care of you to keep you from harm’s way.
“I remember you once told me about your dream of becoming a doctor who saves lives when you were a child. That’s why I supported your dream and even bought you that hospital. I never anticipated that you’d harbor such thoughts. It’s my fault for not understanding your feelings sooner.”
Dustan’s sincere apology touched Pearl, but it seemed to have little effect on Hugo.
He laughed bitterly. “You might have moved me if I didn’t know the truth, but now I know everything. Dad, or should I say Mister Dustan? After all, I’m not a Waldorf, right?”
Dustan never imagined that Hugo would discover the truth, causing his face to pale. “How did you find out?” He couldn’t understand how Hugo had learned the truth, especially considering that he had even burned the evidence of adoption in their
home.
Hugo responded with icy detachment, “The how isn’t important. What matters is that you can stop lying to me. You were nice to me out of guilt and fear of karma, right? You never saw me as your son!”
A pang struck Dustan. “What do you mean?”
Hugo’s eyes grew even colder. “You killed my biological father, didn’t you?”
