Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 686

Chapter 686

On the way there, Diana hesitated. In the end, she did not call Joshua directly.

She called Albus first.

If this truly involved Theodore, and the other party was Joshua, then she had to inform her grandfather first, no matter what. Otherwise, he might think she was trying to rebel.

The moment Albus heard the situation, he flew into a rage. “You’re telling me that idiot may be tied to the murder of anti-drug officers?”

The “idiot” in question was clearly not Raymond.

“At the moment, that’s what it looks like.” Diana kept her tone steady and factual. “I already called him. His response was unclear.”

His anger did not surprise her.

Albus had spent a lifetime building a reputation for absolute integrity. Now it seemed everything he had built might collapse in his later years. If Theodore was truly involved, Albus would never be able to erase

that stain.

Diana wanted nothing more than to turn Theodore in herself. Most likely, Albus would do the same. However, that decision could not come from her.

She kept her thoughts to herself and did not mention Sydney. She said only, “Grandpa, I’m not sure what the best move is. I’m worried one wrong step could damage your reputation.”

Albus asked, “You? Not sure? Based on your usual approach, shouldn’t you already be digging up the truth and cutting him off to protect the Hutton name?”

The remark landed with brutal accuracy.

That had been her first instinct. But she had not forgotten how her mother had handled things a few days ago, disregarding her marriage and the consequences of maneuvering around Albus.

Her mother had only just made him uncomfortable. At a moment like this, Diana had no choice but to proceed with caution.

“My first instinct was exactly that.” She spoke in halves, leaving the rest unsaid. It sounded like hesitation. In truth, she did not want to shoulder the blame. “But Grandpa, no matter what, he is still my father. Growing up, aside from Grandma, he doted on me the most. I really don’t know what to do.”

That was only half true. In reality, Diana had received the least affection from her elders.

Albus loved Raymond most. Elizabeth favored James. As for Theodore, the little fatherly affection he had went mostly to Megan.

After Vee vanished, Florence sank into grief. The fact that she could still care for herself was already

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enough for Diana.

But Albus did not doubt her. He sighed. “Diana, you carry this entire family on your shoulders. Go investigate first. If that idiot really is involved, handle it directly.”

For Albus, it was an agonizing decision. He paused for a long time before speaking again, his tone heavy. “Otherwise, one wrong move could drag the entire family into ruin.”

All his life, he had put the family first. Now Diana had to do the same. He would give up a son. Diana would give up a father.

Even through the phone, she could feel the weight of his resolve. She had gotten what she needed, yet felt no relief. “I understand. I’ll do as you say. Don’t worry.”

At the end of the day, Theodore was still her father, and Albus was still her grandfather. Both were her closest kin.

She could not face her own father without feeling anything at all. And she had never imagined she would one day have to maneuver around her grandfather like this.

But neither situation left her any other choice.

“Ms. Hutton.” Nina had been by her side for many years. No one understood her better. “Are we still going to the meeting?”

The afternoon meeting was not essential.

“No.” Diana pressed two fingers to her brow and made the call at once. “We’re going straight to Mr.

Tarrant.”

No matter what the truth turned out to be, she needed to give her younger sister an answer as soon as

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