Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

Chapter 8 Caleb's heart skipped a beat. He stopped in his tracks and met her clear, steady gaze. "Sydney..." Her name slipped out before he could stop himself. She smiled suddenly, her voice soft and light. "Relax. Why are you so tense? I know you and Penelope have known each other a long time. It's natural you're still used to calling her by her nickname." ... As the black Maybach disappeared down the driveway, Sydney slowly leaned back on the sofa. She hadn't expected herself to say that. She'd always been good at playing the sweet, obedient wife.

All she needed was Caleb's guilt and remorse to secure a clean divorce. So why had she thrown it off course with such a pointless question? She tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling. Her eyes burned. Before she could unravel the thought, her phone rang. It was Tiffany. "Syd, wanna go out for drinks tonight?" "Sure," she said quickly, then added, "But a bit later. I've got a wellness livestream. Should be done by ten." The livestreams were part of the clinic's outreach.

They weren't technically her job, but she had filled in once when a colleague was out, and the feedback had been excellent. That same colleague had shown her how to use a beauty filter-so dramatic, her late mother might not have recognized her. She looked good on camera, and her soft voice had a calming effect. Since then, the clinic had started assigning her to the streams regularly. "Cool. I'll swing by after work to pick you up. Should be perfect timing," Tiffany said. "Okay." They chatted a bit longer.

Sydney felt noticeably better and went back to her room to review her notes for the night's segment. One undeniable perk of being married to Caleb was freedom. He never meddled in her business. The Sterling family couldn't monitor her as closely either-not with the Hampton name behind her. Quietly, she had continued building her medical career and held regular consultations at the clinic. After three years, her savings were stronger than she'd expected. ... The stream wrapped up right on time, at 10:00 p.m. Sydney came downstairs in high spirits just as Tiffany pulled up outside.

in a good mood. Divorce going well?" "Pretty well." Sydney smiled. "Worth celebrating." ... The bar was packed, but Tiffany had a reserved spot thanks to her connection with the owner. By the time Tiffany returned from the restroom, Sydney had already started drinking. Tiffany laughed. "Does Caleb know you drink?" "Of course not." Sydney tilted her head slightly, a faint dimple appearing. "Just like I didn't

of the crowd, under flashing lights, Caleb stood with his arms around a woman in a striking red dress. His sharp features were unmistakable. The always-composed Caleb had a rare softness in his eyes. Tiffany stared. "Wait, his great love is Penelope Monroe?" "Yeah, shocking, right?" Sydney drained her

tiptoe and kissed him. Caleb reflexively pulled her closer. They looked like the perfect couple. "Whoa!" "She's good!" "Cal's not going home tonight!" The same crowd that used to call Sydney "Mrs.

the 700,000-dollar deposit in her bank account wasn't a hangover-induced hallucination. She rubbed her eyes and checked the sender. It was Penelope. Memories from the night before came rushing back. 'So she really did transfer it.' Penelope