Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 295

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 295**

**Chapter 295**

In all honesty, the angle was lethal, and his technique left much to be desired. The only redeeming factor was that Yoyo, without a doubt, looked stunning in the photograph.

At the Sterling estate…

The moment Penelope crossed the threshold, she felt as though she had entered a tomb, the atmosphere thick with an oppressive sense of foreboding. It was as if death itself had wrapped its cold fingers around her throat.

Earlier that morning, just as she had managed to drag herself out of bed, her phone rang. It was Eloise, her voice cutting through the silence like a siren from the depths of the underworld, commanding Penelope to come immediately.

Walking into the Sterling estate felt eerily similar to attending a funeral, the kind where the air is heavy with unspoken grief and unshed tears.

As soon as Penelope stepped into the drawing room, a teacup hurtled toward her with alarming speed.

She could hardly believe that Eloise, at her advanced age, still had the capacity for such childish outbursts. Completely taken by surprise, Penelope couldn’t evade the projectile in time, and it struck her squarely.

Scalding tea cascaded down her face, leaving a trail of burning liquid in its wake, while a few stray tea leaves clung stubbornly to the tip of her nose.

The searing pain combined with Eloise’s furious outburst nearly drove her to the brink of a scream.

Then came Eloise’s icy, cutting voice, slicing through the tension like a knife. “I summon you once, and you find it this difficult to arrive?”

Even if she had to swallow her pride like broken teeth, Penelope could only manage to choke it down, the taste bitter and metallic.

With a quick swipe of her hand to wipe her face, she inhaled deeply, steadied herself, and forced a smile that felt more like a grimace. “Madam Sterling, the moment I received Jason’s call, I left my home immediately. Unfortunately, the morning traffic was heavier than I anticipated.”

The taste of potential success lingered tantalizingly close.

Eloise’s brows knitted together in suspicion, her sharp eyes narrowing. “And how would you know that?”

Even Natalie had been unceremoniously cast out of the corporation by Julian, that ungrateful wretch. Yet, somehow, Penelope still managed to have her ear to the ground regarding the company’s pivotal project.

“Where I obtained the information is irrelevant.” Penelope let out a soft, almost mocking laugh. “What truly matters is that I made you a promise. And I intend to keep it.”

She was determined to pilfer every scrap of Sydney’s research from the past year. Whether she delivered it to this old witch or chose to sell it elsewhere would hinge entirely on her whims.

Eloise scrutinized her with narrowed eyes, a predator sizing up its prey. “You had better come through. If you fail, we shall see just how much the Hampton family is willing to protect you.”

A shiver coursed through Penelope at that piercing gaze. She was acutely aware of the precariousness of her situation. Between her status as a disgraced socialite and the Sterling family’s favor, the choice for the Hamptons was painfully clear.