Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 493

**Chapter 493**

Just ten minutes later, as Raymond caught sight of the person who had effortlessly taken the passenger seat beside him, a shadow fell across his features. The warmth of civility evaporated in an instant, leaving behind a cold, brooding silence.

Tiffany, however, radiated cheerfulness. Her lips, painted a vivid red, curved into a playful smirk as she gestured towards the back seat. “Raymond, you two have crossed paths before. Remember? Back in university.”

Glen Linus raised an eyebrow, his demeanor calm, before he turned to Raymond and offered a courteous nod. “Mr. Hutton, it’s been quite a while. I’m—”

“Long time no see. Sure,” Raymond interrupted, his voice sharp and devoid of warmth. He rolled down the window, letting the rush of wind whip through the car, and stared out at the torrent of vehicles speeding by, his expression dark and tempestuous, like a man who had just been betrayed.

He didn’t require any formal introduction. Even if Glen were to turn to dust before his eyes, Raymond would still recognize him without hesitation. After all, it was Glen who had convinced him to end things with Tiffany, a decision that had haunted him ever since.

The man who had so callously dismantled their relationship had vanished overseas, and now, years later, he dared to return as if nothing had transpired.

Glen appeared unfazed, even managing to offer a faint, almost mocking smile. “Mr. Hutton, you really haven’t changed at all.”

“Right?” Tiffany chimed in lightly, her laughter ringing like a chime in the tense atmosphere.

Since graduating, Tiffany had maintained connections with numerous classmates through her professional endeavors. Over time, she had observed how people evolved—how life smoothed their rough edges, making them more cautious, shrewd, and sometimes, calculating.

But Raymond was an anomaly. He remained unchanged, a steadfast force of nature, still living life on his own terms.

Glen chuckled softly, a hint of condescension lacing his tone. “Family background truly shapes a person. If only everyone could live as freely as Mr. Hutton—”

“Don’t waste your breath dreaming,” Raymond shot back, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed defiantly, his voice dripping with disdain. “Not everyone is as fortunate in choosing their parents as I am.”

The sleek black Bentley glided effortlessly through the evening traffic, the world outside a blur of color and motion.

Streetlights flickered through the branches overhead, casting intricate patterns of shadow and light across the car’s interior, transforming the faces of the passengers in the back seat into a canvas of shifting hues.

With anyone else, he wouldn’t have exercised this level of patience. But this woman—this girl he had watched grow up—was an exception to every rule he had set for himself.

Gradually, he began to unfasten his cufflinks, rolling up his sleeves with deliberate slowness, before leaning closer, drawing her into his embrace.

“Since you have no questions, allow me to turn the tables,” he said, his voice a low rumble, steady and commanding.

The sudden shift in weight caught her off guard, causing her to gasp. In the blink of an eye, she found herself seated on his lap, nestled closely against him.

Sydney’s body tensed instinctively, but as she realized that resistance would be futile, she forced herself to relax, pressing her lips together in a tight line.

“What is it you want to ask?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

His gaze remained dark and unwavering, a storm brewing within. “If I hadn’t brought up something so significant last night, when would you have told me? Did you never consider giving me a chance to explain?”