Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 525

Chapter 525

Sydney hadn’t expected Julian to reveal his connection or lack of one with Eloise so suddenly. For a moment, she was too stunned to react.

Before she could speak, Julian slipped an arm around her waist and led her straight out of the Hampton estate.

Inside, the guests they left behind were still reeling, their thoughts spinning. It took several seconds before anyone found the courage to speak.

“Wait! What does that even mean?” one of the women blurted out.

“I thought Julian’s father was Madam Steerling’s eldest son. If there’s no blood relation to her, does that mean she was the mistress who took over the household?”

The logic was simple, but the implications were explosive. Iris voiced what everyone was thinking, half in disbelief.

If that were true, then the fact that Julian would still hold a funeral for her was already more kindness than she deserved.

Adeline’s head buzzed with humiliation.

The moment she heard that comment, she snapped, “Who knows if what he said is even true? That man’s capable of saying anything!”

But the others weren’t convinced.

“Come on,” one murmured. “Who would lie about something like that? He’s been in charge for years and never once caused a scene with her. Honestly, he doesn’t seem nearly as cold or ruthless as people say.”

“Exactly,” Iris said eagerly, “You can tell from how fiercely he protects Sydney. A man like that can’t be bad.”

Their tone had shifted completely. For all their years steeped in vanity and politics, they still recognized genuine loyalty when they saw it.

A powerful man defending his woman so openly that was rare enough to admire.

Listening to them heap praise on him, Adeline was so angry she could barely breathe. Beneath the fury, though, panic took root.

Could Sydney really marry into the Sterling family now? If that happened, after everything she’d done to offend her, how would Sydney treat her then?

And those same socialites who mocked her today would waste no time turning their smiles toward Sydney, leaving Adeline alone.

Upstairs, Caleb’s panic ran deeper. His hand gripped the railing until it trembled. ‘So that’s

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why she said so calmly that she has a boyfriend.’

He had assumed that she was acting on impulse, but that was not the case. There had never been any real obstacle between her and Julian. The person who destroyed her parents’ lives had nothing to do with him. It all made sense now.

Downstairs, Adeline had been utterly humiliated.

With gossip spreading like wildfire, she quickly claimed she wasn’t feeling well and ended the flower-arranging gathering early.

Once everyone had left, Timothy, standing near the stairs, spotted a figure in the shadows.

“Uncle Caleb!” he called, eyes bright.

Dorothy followed his gaze and saw Caleb standing partway down the staircase, frozen.

She motioned him closer. When he approached, she glanced at the jewelry box in his hands and said quietly, “You heard everything just now, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Caleb admitted.

Dorothy sighed, afraid he still hadn’t let go. “Then listen to me, Caleb. It’s time to end this properly. Let it go. Sydney’s a good girl, and now that she’s found someone who truly values her, we should be happy for her.”

Halfway up the stairs, Adeline stopped cold.

“Mother, that’s not fair,” she said sharply. “Caleb can do much better than her.”

She still believed that. Once Caleb married Penelope and the Hampton and Hutton families were formally linked, all those women who’d snubbed her today would come crawling back.

Dorothy’s face hardened. “Better? You mean Penelope?”

Adeline was about to answer, but Dorothy thundered, “The Sterling boy was right! And you— what kind of woman were you when you married into this family?”

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