Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 317

**Chapter 317**

The tension in the air was palpable, a heavy weight that Jason felt pressing against his chest. His instincts, honed by years of navigating the treacherous waters of family politics, urged him to voice his unease. “If this truly is a family from another city, isn’t it risky to offend them?” he questioned, his brow furrowing with concern.

Caution was ingrained in Jason’s very being, a trait he had cultivated from a young age. He was acutely aware of the delicate balance of power that held families like the Sterlings and the Huttons in a precarious dance of respect and fear.

Eloise, on the other hand, stood firm, her demeanor reflecting the authority she wielded as the head of the Sterling family. With a dismissive snort, she waved away his worries like a pesky fly. “Even if your hunch is correct, tell me, how many families are there that we cannot afford to offend? The only one we need to tread carefully around is the Hutton family from Brimcrest City. They are the only ones we must avoid crossing.”

Her voice dripped with a mix of confidence and disdain. “As for the others, why would they rally against the Sterling family for someone like Sydney?”

The logic was irrefutable. The Sterlings were too powerful to be trifled with, and by the same token, the other families were equally reluctant to provoke them. Recently, there had been no sign of the Huttons setting foot in Jouleston, which made the coincidence of this villa belonging to them all the more suspicious.

Jason nodded slowly, the gears in his mind turning. “You’re right…”

“Then why are you still standing there? Get her into the car already!” Eloise’s voice rang out from inside the vehicle, her eyes narrowing as they landed on Sydney. “If we waste any more time, how am I supposed to explain this mess to the Wolfens?”

A flicker of hesitation crossed Jason’s face, but he quickly steeled himself. “Yes, of course.”

The Wolfens, while not as formidable as the Sterlings, still held sway in their own right. Compared to Julian, they were lacking, but Jason knew all too well the consequences of angering them. If Eloise’s arrogance led to another snub, the fallout could be disastrous, and he had no doubt that she would struggle to contain the aftermath.

From a distance, Sydney, restrained by the bodyguards, couldn’t catch every word, but she sensed the tension. It was clear they were hatching another scheme against her. The news of her divorce from Caleb had likely spread like wildfire, and now they were plotting her next move.

With determination, Jason approached her, signaling to the bodyguards to tighten their grip. They pressed in closer, ready to force her into the car.

“Fool!” Eloise shot him a glare that could freeze fire. “You’re just like Victor, always falling for her tricks! Has that girl ever told the truth since childhood? You men! Every last one of you allows her to deceive you!”

Even as a child, Sydney had mastered the art of feigning innocence, and it had worked in her favor more times than anyone could count. One by one, the staff at the Sterling estate had been ensnared by her act, often going easy on her when she misbehaved, provided Eloise wasn’t watching.

Behind closed doors, they would whisper about Eloise’s cruelty, lamenting how she could strike a child who appeared so well-behaved.

And then there was the incident with Victor, where he had nearly crossed a line before being sent away. It was too convenient, too orchestrated. With so many guests present, Victor had pulled her into a room, barely touching her before he had suddenly collapsed.

The more Eloise reflected on it, the more her fury ignited. That wretched girl was a reflection of her parents—her lifelong adversaries.

How could she possibly heed Jason’s cautious warnings now? All she could see was Sydney’s cunning, plotting her next move, and Eloise was determined not to let that happen again.