Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 436

**Chapter 436**

The once-cherished rising star of the research community was on the verge of being reduced to a mere street rat, the kind that everyone wanted to kick to the curb.

Sydney regarded Penelope with an unsettling calmness, her gaze steady and unwavering. “If you have that much idle time to fret over my affairs, perhaps you should redirect that energy toward the child you’re carrying,” she said, her voice smooth yet laced with an underlying tension.

“What?” Penelope’s throat constricted, her heart racing as she struggled to comprehend the implications of Sydney’s words. She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat a bitter reminder of her precarious situation. “What are you talking about?”

A faint smile danced on Sydney’s lips, a mix of amusement and sharpness that sent a shiver down Penelope’s spine. “Aren’t you expecting a baby? Let me take a wild guess… You’ve already decided to pin the paternity on Caleb, haven’t you?”

Though her tone remained light, the words cut through the air with a palpable edge. “If you’re so invested in my life, perhaps you should spend your time contemplating how you’ll explain things to the Hampton family when the truth inevitably surfaces.”

After that press conference, Sydney had learned that Adeline had intervened to rescue Penelope from the confines of the Sterling estate. At the time, she had been baffled by Adeline’s decision.

But now, as she stood face-to-face with Penelope, everything fell into place. The signs were unmistakable; Penelope was undeniably pregnant, her belly already rounding out, mirroring Sydney’s own condition almost perfectly.

If the child were not Caleb’s, Adeline would have cast her aside long ago without a second thought. Yet, if it were indeed Caleb’s, Penelope would have reveled in the opportunity to flaunt her supposed victory. The only logical conclusion was that the baby was not his.

Caleb, in his stubbornness, refused to acknowledge the truth, and Adeline, paralyzed by the fear of inadvertently severing the Hampton lineage, was too frightened to act.

Sydney’s voice, though not raised, reverberated with intensity, drawing the attention of guests milling about in the nearby hall.

Panic flickered across Penelope’s features like a candle flame caught in a gust. In a desperate move, she lunged forward, attempting to silence Sydney by covering her mouth with her hand. “Sydney, stop talking nonsense!”

Sydney effortlessly stepped back, her demeanor shifting to one of icy resolve. “If you have nothing to conceal, then why are you so terrified? If you’re concerned about this reaching the Hamptons, I suggest you step aside.”

With that, Sydney brushed past her, making her way toward the exit. Julian awaited her outside, and she had no intention of lingering or creating a spectacle at the Hutton family’s birthday celebration.

But Penelope’s fury boiled over, a tempest unleashed within her. She could no longer tolerate how Sydney always emerged unscathed, how she consistently ended up the one left standing, while Penelope found herself drowning in humiliation. The memory of Megan’s words from the previous day surged back, igniting her anger even further.

She seized Sydney’s wrist, her eyes ablaze with venomous determination. “Sydney, do you truly believe that just because the Huttons and Julian shield you, you’ll remain untouchable forever?”

Such clarifications might deceive those on the outside, but within their circle, the truth had long since circulated among the elite.

Penelope froze, her mind racing. Not only was James defending Sydney, but even Diana—the most formidable member of the family—stood by her side.

Why hadn’t that car finished what it started when it had the chance?

Her nails bit into her palms, a physical manifestation of her mounting frustration.

“I…” she began, her voice quaking with uncertainty.

But before she could finish, a sudden commotion erupted from the main hall, cutting her off mid-sentence.

Sydney turned toward the source of the noise, her heart pounding as she saw two uniformed police officers entering, flanked by the family’s housekeeper.

“Ms. Wilson, is it?” the officer at the front inquired, his tone steady yet authoritative. “We are investigating a premeditated assault from last week. You are considered a suspect. Please accompany us to assist with the inquiry.”