Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 438

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 438**

**Chapter 438**

In that moment, a tempest of rage surged through Penelope, nearly overwhelming her senses. How could Sydney, that insufferable woman, always find herself enveloped by a shield of powerful allies? It was infuriating.

First, there was Julian, with his unwavering loyalty; then Caleb, who seemed to worship the ground she walked on; and now, the entire Hutton family gathered around her like knights protecting a queen. They treated her like some rare gem, a treasure beyond compare.

If only fate had dealt a different hand. If Sydney had perished in that car crash, perhaps the humiliation Penelope faced today would have felt justified. But here they were—Sydney alive, thriving, while Penelope was left to endure the disgrace of being escorted away like a common criminal.

The lead officer, a stern figure with a furrowed brow, caught sight of her frozen in place and frowned disapprovingly. “Ms. Monroe,” he said, his voice firm yet not unkind, “there are many eyes upon us. If we must remove you by force, it won’t reflect well on your image.”

She was still technically a member of the Hampton family, and no one wanted this incident to spiral into a public scandal.

As Penelope scanned the crowd, her heart sank when she realized Megan had yet to arrive. The last flicker of hope she clung to extinguished, replaced by a rising tide of panic. “I—I’ll go with you,” she stammered, her voice trembling.

But just as she took a hesitant step forward, a calm, measured voice sliced through the chaos. “Wait.”

Megan appeared, gliding toward Florence with an air of authority. She leaned down, whispering something into her mother’s ear.

Florence’s hand, which had rested lightly on the armrest of her wheelchair, began to tremble ever so slightly. She turned to Penelope, her expression one of disbelief, before shifting her gaze back to Megan. “What did you just say?”

A sense of unease washed over Sydney as she sensed a shift in the atmosphere.

Megan’s eyes darted briefly to Sydney before she continued, “Mom, this isn’t something we should discuss in front of outsiders. Perhaps it would be better to handle this privately.”

She hesitated, letting the weight of her words settle in the air before adding with quiet emphasis, “Or we can all go to the family meeting room.”

The meeting room was conveniently located just a few steps away from the restroom, a space designed for family discussions that often carried a heavy burden of secrecy.

Florence’s complexion had drained of color, yet she maintained her composure. “Very well. We will go to the meeting room.”

Turning to a nearby maid, she commanded, “Please, go fetch Theodore and ask my parents-in-law to join us.”

Within mere moments, the entire Hutton family had assembled within the meeting room.

Florence was the last to enter, and just before the doors closed behind her, she turned to Sydney. Taking her hand gently, she whispered, “Don’t worry. No matter what unfolds, I promise you will receive an explanation.”

Yet inside, Florence felt a storm of turmoil. What Megan had whispered seemed utterly ludicrous, like a cruel jest she couldn’t accept as reality.

Megan continued, her voice unwavering, “When she visited yesterday, I noticed the pendant around her neck. It’s the amulet Mother gave to Vee at her birth—the very one she personally tied around her neck.”

Florence had overheard those words whispered just outside, but hearing them again sent her head spinning.

Theodore’s brow furrowed in confusion. Elizabeth looked as though she had been struck by a bolt of lightning. Meanwhile, Albus remained impassive, his keen gaze penetrating as it remained locked on Penelope.

Penelope was taken aback, her hand instinctively flying to her neck, clutching the pendant tightly. Confusion and disbelief swirled within her as she grappled with the implications of Megan’s revelation.

What did it signify? That the pendant she had worn for so long actually belonged to the Huttons’ lost daughter?

Then it struck her—Sydney’s fortune was almost beyond comprehension, bordering on the divine.

‘No,’ she thought, a flicker of defiance igniting within her. ‘The pendant is mine now. It has been with me for years. So this is what Megan meant when she said she would “help me.” She is aiding me in becoming the Hutton family’s cherished daughter!’

Penelope’s heart raced, pounding so fiercely it felt as if it might burst from her chest. She turned to Megan, her eyes wide and trembling. “Ms. Hutton, what did you just say?”

But her excitement was singular; the rest of the room remained silent, caught in a web of disbelief.

Only Diana broke the stillness. “Let me see the pendant first.”