Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 323

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 323**

**Chapter 323**

In certain elite circles, Sydney had been exalted by the young heirs, her beauty and figure lauded as if she were a celestial being, a pure and delicate flower gracing the earth.

Yet, in reality, the woman standing before Eric was far from that ethereal image. She bore no resemblance to a flower at all. Instead, her plunging V-neck dress seemed to reveal far too much, an outfit that screamed of cheapness and vulgarity, leaving little to the imagination.

Eloise, sharp and observant, could sense the dissatisfaction radiating from Eric, even without uttering a single word.

With a conspiratorial air, Jason leaned in close to Eric, his voice barely above a whisper as he shared some whispered tidbit, his expression a mix of mischief and intrigue.

Eric’s eyes brightened with interest. “Really?” he asked, the excitement evident in his tone.

Jason’s smile widened, a knowing glint in his eye. “Of course,” he replied, as if he held the keys to a secret world.

Penelope, sitting nearby, felt a wave of confusion wash over her. But her bewilderment quickly morphed into horror when the grotesquely disfigured man beside her began to invade her personal space, his hands roaming inappropriately. A sudden realization struck her like a bolt of lightning: Eloise had betrayed her trust, all because Sydney had dared to defy her.

As the meal progressed, Eric excused himself to the restroom, and Penelope seized the moment to confront Eloise. Summoning her courage, she leaned forward, her voice trembling with indignation. “Madam Sterling, what is the meaning of this? I agreed to help you deal with Sydney, not to sell my body!”

Eloise’s lips curled into a sardonic smile as she shot a glance at Jason. He responded by tossing a thick stack of photos onto the table, the sound of the paper hitting the surface echoing ominously in Penelope’s ears.

Before she could even process the situation, her gaze fell upon the top photo. Her heart raced, pupils dilating in shock. In a panic, she snatched the entire stack and shoved it into her bag, her mind racing with disbelief. “You investigated me?” she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper.

What they had gathered was not just recent gossip; it was a decade’s worth of dirt, a treasure trove of secrets that could ruin her.

Eloise merely smiled faintly, her silence speaking volumes, leaving Penelope feeling small and exposed.

Feeling the weight of the moment, Penelope instinctively shrank back, her voice faltering as she fell silent, the room closing in around her.

After the meal, a wave of nausea washed over her, the disgust churning in her stomach. Yet, despite her revulsion, she grabbed her bag and followed the nearly grotesque figure of Eric out of the hotel. In her heart, she etched a deep-seated debt against Sydney. If only Sydney had complied, she wouldn’t have been forced to endure such a monstrous encounter.

However, just as she entered the Hampton estate and began her ascent upstairs, Adeline intercepted her, her expression a mix of suspicion and disdain.

“Why are you only getting back now?” Adeline’s narrowed eyes scrutinized Penelope’s wrinkled attire, her frown deepening with every passing second. “Don’t tell me you were off meeting some man?”

‘What a shameless woman,’ Adeline thought scornfully, her mind racing with judgments.

First, Penelope had forced her way into the family by becoming pregnant with the eldest son’s child. Then, after becoming a widow, she had entangled herself with the younger son. Now, she appeared as if she had just rolled around with a lover, a scandalous sight indeed.

Penelope hadn’t anticipated running into Adeline. Startled, she shot back defensively, “What do you take me for? I was just—”

Suddenly, Timothy came barreling down the stairs, his youthful exuberance shining through as he launched himself into her arms, clinging to her tightly.

Penelope straightened, her posture proud and defiant as she met Adeline’s glare. “No matter what, I am still Timmy’s mother. For his sake, I would never do anything shameful.”