Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 458

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 458**
**Chapter 458**

Even if, in some improbable twist of fate, Penelope truly was the long-lost daughter of the Hutton family, one thing remained certain: the Huttons were not the type to lose their grip on reality or their moral compass.

From Albus, the patriarch, down to Diana, the youngest of the clan, each member possessed an innate understanding of right and wrong. They would never, under any circumstances, betray the Hamptons based on mere words from Penelope.

However, Adeline’s perspective diverged sharply from that of her family. “That’s easy for you to say, but how can we be certain the Huttons aren’t merely putting on a façade?” she challenged, her voice laced with tension. “They’ve maintained their prestigious reputation for generations. Of course, they’ll appear fair in public. But what happens behind closed doors?”

A moment of silence hung heavy in the air as she hesitated, biting her lip anxiously before the words tumbled out, “Cal, that girl has always been devoted to you. If nothing else seems to work…”

Adeline’s mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of familial duty and desperation. Finally, after an internal battle, she voiced her suggestion, “Then marry her.”

Caleb’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing as if she had just cracked a cruel joke. “You’re so adept at seeing the big picture. Why not just dig my father up and arrange a spectral marriage between him and Penelope while you’re at it?”

His tone was frigid, a sharp blade that cut through the air, leaving no room for warmth or understanding. With a final flicker of defiance, he abandoned any trace of concern for his mother, grabbing his suitcase and striding purposefully toward the door.

Adeline felt as if the ground had shifted beneath her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She stood frozen in place until the heavy thud of the door slamming shut jolted her back to reality. Without thinking, she yanked the door open and shouted down the hall, her voice sharp with a mix of anger and desperation, “Caleb! Do you even hear yourself? That’s your father you’re talking about! I’m your mother! Do you still see me as your mother?”

Caleb turned, handing his suitcase to Gordon, his face an unreadable mask of calm. “Do you still see me as your son?” he shot back, the challenge hanging in the air like a dark cloud.

If she truly did see him as her son, would she have undermined his marriage in secret? Would she be pushing him toward Penelope so fervently?

His question struck her like a thunderbolt, leaving her momentarily speechless. Guilt flickered across her face, and for once, the words she was so accustomed to wielding eluded her. All she could do was watch as the sleek, black Maybach disappeared into the inky darkness of the night.

Hours later, a cold gust of wind swept through the courtyard, biting at her skin and causing her to shiver involuntarily. She turned back inside, her mind racing with doubt. Had she truly done something wrong? No, she reassured herself. She hadn’t. Her intentions were rooted in the desire to protect the legacy her late husband had left behind—and, ideally, to fortify the Hampton family’s standing.

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