Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 710

Raymond let out a short laugh. "I had nothing better to do, so I checked the security feed."

The irony was almost amusing. He was the only person in the Hutton family who had insisted on linking the estate cameras to his phone. His reasoning had been completely serious: he wanted to know the exact moment Sydney came home, in case no one bothered to tell him.

That day, Diana hadn't been at the villa, so she had known nothing about it.

The explanation seemed to settle something in her expression.

"If I'm not the right person to handle this directly, you certainly aren't. The last thing we need is someone running a story about our family bullying a defenseless woman."

Given Raymond's reputation in the public eye, people would have no trouble framing it that way.

He brushed the comment aside. "I mean, I'm just—"

"You're just what?" Diana cut in, her voice calm and even. "Ray. Every word you utter and every move you make reflects on the Hutton Group now. You can't behave the way you used to."

"I know, I know." He sounded unconvinced, his tone lazy and unbothered. "Someone comes after my sister, and I can't even teach her a lesson. What's the point of being vice president?"

"It'll be worth it once you get the woman you want." Diana teased him, something she almost never did, then moved on before he could respond. "All right, I'm going to shower. Whatever happens, think before you act."

The call ended before Raymond could say another word. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the mountain of files spread across his desk. Then he turned and opened a video call to James, who was somewhere in the middle of a business trip.

James had flown to Firaxia early that morning.

…

Diana stepped out of the shower in a plain white robe and slipped her feet into cotton slippers.

She walked to the window. A dim amber glow lit the front courtyard below.

If she stepped onto the terrace and looked down, she could easily check whether Helen had left.

She stayed where she was. It was too cold to open the glass door. Whether Helen remained outside had nothing to do with her.

Helen had probably assumed Diana would eventually come out. She believed Diana would protect the family's reputation at all costs, and that this gave her leverage.

What Helen failed to understand was that families like the Huttons had countless ways to protect their reputation.

For example, Helen could kneel out there until her legs gave out and the cold seeped into her bones, and not a single word of it would leave these walls. Except, perhaps, for the Kingston family. But they wanted this matter kept quiet even more than the Huttons did.

Diana sat on the bed and watched the curtains slowly slide shut. Her thoughts drifted unexpectedly to Sydney.

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