Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 440

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 440**

**Chapter 440**

“Please! Just tell me where Vee is!” Florence’s voice trembled with desperation, the words spilling out like water from a cracked dam.

In that moment, she felt closer to her daughter than she had in over two decades. Every other lead had been nothing but a wisp of hope, tangible for a heartbeat before evaporating into nothingness.

But this time, something in the air felt charged, electric with possibility. If her legs had not been so weak, she might have collapsed to the floor in a fervent plea. She would have traded her entire fortune, her health, and even her very existence for just one glimpse of Vee. All she yearned for was to embrace her little girl again, to shield her from any further pain or suffering.

Outside the meeting room, the soundproofing was designed to muffle even the most heart-wrenching cries, yet Sydney could still discern the jagged edges of Florence’s broken sobs seeping through the door.

Each faint cry twisted in Sydney’s chest, creating a tight knot of anguish. It was as if a thousand tiny needles were embedding themselves into her heart, each one a reminder of the sorrow that lingered in the air. She leaned forward slightly, inhaling deeply to gather her composure, to steady the storm brewing within her.

Inside the room, Penelope stood paralyzed, her mind racing with panic. Florence’s cries cut through her daze like a sharp knife, forcing her to confront the reality of the situation.

‘This has to be Sydney’s doing! That deceitful woman! She must have switched the pendants. It’s all her fault!’ The thought ignited a fire of rage within Penelope.

The pendant she clutched in her hand was a mere imitation, a realization that struck her like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the truth she had been too afraid to face.

In a moment of despair, she sank to her knees, clutching Florence’s legs as if they were her only lifeline. “I don’t know! I swear, I don’t know anything!” Her tears flowed freely, each drop a testament to her desperation. “This pendant broke a couple of years ago when I fell! I couldn’t bear to part with it, so I had someone craft a replica!”

Her words tumbled out in a frantic rush, polished and rehearsed, and for a fleeting moment, Megan let out a quiet sigh of relief, the tension momentarily easing.

Florence remained frozen, tears cascading down her cheeks, each one a silent question.

Could Penelope truly be her long-lost Vee? The thought felt impossible, a cruel trick of fate.

Worried that her mother might faint from the weight of the moment, Diana spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mom, Vee has a birthmark just below her shoulder.”

The words resonated within Penelope, making her heart race. ‘So it’s true. Sydney is indeed the Hutton family’s missing daughter!’

Suppressing the hatred that twisted in her chest, she forced a tear-streaked smile, masking her tumultuous emotions. Before anyone could voice their doubts, she yanked open her collar and revealed her shoulder. “Is… Is this it?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify