Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 626

Chapter 626

Julian glanced at Sydney and saw that her expression remained perfectly calm, without the slightest hint of guilt. He let out a soft laugh. “Grandma knew, but I didn’t?”

Sydney focused on her muffin, her face unflushed and her heartbeat steady. “I told you.”

“When did you tell me?” He paused, then frowned. “Don’t tell me it was while I was asleep.”

Sydney said nothing. She could hardly admit that it had indeed been while he was asleep. Or rather, not exactly asleep.

That time, she had finished explaining everything. Unfortunately, this man had been deprived for far too long and lost all restraint. He had not listened to a single word. Worse, he had convinced himself that she was asking him to treat the child as his own.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” When she continued to ignore him, Julian prepared to press further. His gaze flicked to her slightly reddened ears, and something clicked. His brow twitched as he was about to speak.

Agatha set a hot muffin onto his plate. “Even eating can’t shut your mouth.”

She motioned for the maids to place more dishes in front of Sydney and continued her scolding, “She finally gets to eat in peace after all these days. Can’t you wait until she’s full before talking?”

Agatha felt that Sydney had clearly lost weight recently and wished that she could eat well and sleep well from now on. Yet Julian kept talking without pause.

Agatha could not understand what was wrong with this brat. He was usually quiet as a clam. In front of Sydney, he had suddenly turned into a chatterbox. Before, she worried that he was too reserved to please a woman. Now she only felt that he talked far too much.

Sydney could not help smiling at the sight of the normally decisive Mr. Sterling obediently accepting a scolding. She even chimed in, “Exactly. Grandma is right.”

Julian shot her a sideways glance and conceded. “Fine. You’re her biological granddaughter now, and I’m just a live-in husband.”

“You can’t be a live-in husband. You’re too talkative,” Agatha replied without thinking, completely sincere.

Sydney was sipping her soup and nearly choked. She nodded again. “That’s right. Grandma’s spot on.”

Julian looked into her smiling eyes and felt a warmth roll through his chest. The brightness in his into pure indulgence.

He pulled a tissue to wipe the corner of her mouth and said helplessly, “Fence-sitter.”

gaze

softened

…

At the Hampton estate, the atmosphere was nothing like Delta Mansion.

It was tense.

When Caleb came downstairs, he saw Adeline venting her anger on the service staff. The moment she spotted him, her temper flared. “Do you know what the Huttons did? It must be because I didn’t go to propose yesterday.

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They got angry and directly sent Penny to the Wolfens!”

She had already gone to the hotel where the Huttons’ charity gala was held the day before.

At the entrance, she had run into Caleb and Julian. Caleb had suddenly lost his mind and forcibly sent her back

home.

Now it was done. The engagement was completely ruined.

Caleb looked as though he had not slept all night. His expression remained flat as he said lightly, “That’s good.”

“What’s good about it?” Adeline was livid, her chest heaving. She clenched her teeth. “I know you look down on her now, but she’s still the Huttons’ long-lost youngest daughter.”

“She has nothing to do with the Huttons.” Caleb’s tone stayed even, without a ripple. He walked to the dining table and picked up his coffee.

It was unbearably bitter.

In a daze, memories surfaced. Every time she saw him like this, Sydney would patiently remind him, “Cal, drinking coffee on an empty stomach hurts your stomach. Eat something first.”

He had watched her grow up. After marriage, she had been attentive and thoughtful in every detail. Until yesterday, he had still clung to a sliver of hope that he might bring her back someday.

But last night, when he saw her curled obediently in Julian’s arms, her eyes filled with trust, a chill had crept

over him.

She had never looked at him that way. She had never trusted him like that.

Perhaps the words she had blurted out before had not been spoken in anger at all. Perhaps those three years of marriage had been, for her as much as for him, nothing more than a matter of forced circumstance.

Both of them had been cornered.

Adeline froze, then came back to herself. “You mean she’s not a Hutton heiress at all?”

“Yes.”

“Good Lord!” Adeline let out a long breath, still shaken. “Thank goodness. Thank goodness.”

Otherwise, after finally sending Sydney away, her son would have ended up marrying someone with an even worse background.

After calming herself, she still refused to let it go. “Then what about the Huttons’ real youngest daughter? Have they found her or not?”

Seeing that his mother would not stop until she hit a wall, Caleb grew impatient. “I don’t know.” 1

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