Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Sydney arched a brow, ignored Penelope, and turned on her heel. The hem of her gown kept tangling as she walked. With a sharp kick of her calf and a quick bend at the waist, she gathered the skirt into her hand and strode toward the banquet hall.

‘A nuisance,’ she thought.

This gown was every bit as troublesome as the divorce papers Adeline was still holding hostage.

The moment she entered the hall, her steps faltered. Across the room, Victor caught her gaze, winked with exaggeration, and began strolling toward her.

A chill ran down Sydney’s spine. She instinctively veered off and slipped straight into the auction hall instead.

A staff member greeted her with a polite smile, “Mrs. Hampton, this way, please.”

“Thank you.”

Sydney sank into the VIP seat, finally able to exhale. But Victor followed right in, ready to close the distance, until someone suddenly caught his arm.

He was the Sterling family’s second heir. In Jouleston, everyone treated him with deference for no reason other than his being Julian’s cousin.

Annoyed, he shook the hand off. “What the hell! Are you blind?”

“Mr. Sterling.” Penelope released him without offense, her voice smooth and soft. “Don’t be so hasty. If you push now, she’ll only guard herself more. Why make it harder for yourself?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve arranged everything already.” She smirked and tapped a manicured finger against his chest. “Just don’t ruin it when it matters, and you’ll get exactly what you want.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” Her gaze slid toward Sydney, a calculating glint narrowing her eyes. After tonight, they would see how that bitch could possibly hold her place in the Hampton family.

Seeing Victor reluctantly hold back, Penelope allowed the staff to escort her to her seat, conveniently just one spot from Sydney.

Once seated, she pulled out a compact, touched up her lipstick, and stole a sidelong glance at Sydney. “You’ve always been so aloof. I suppose it doesn’t bother you that I walked in holding Cal’s arm just now?”

Sydney kept her eyes on her phone, not even blinking. “If flaunting your title as the homewrecker in public makes you happy, fine. I wouldn’t bother watching. It would lower my standards for entertainment.”

Penelope’s hand jerked, smearing her lipstick off-line. She sucked in a breath and forced a cold laugh. “Sydney, let’s see how long you can keep up this composure.”

Because once Victor had had his way with her, no woman could remain this calm afterward.

Before she could gloat further, Caleb, finished with his greetings, walked over and sat right between them. The picture spoke volumes, and naturally, others noticed.

Whispers rose.

“Mr. Hampton really has it all. His wife on one side, his sister-in-law on the other.”

“Tch, they make adultery and mistresses sound poetic. That Penelope is really desperate. She can’t even leave her brother-in- law alone.”

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“What does it say about Caleb if he dares bring her out like this? How little must he value his wife?”

“Or maybe his wife just swallows it down. Look at her, sitting there calm as can be, even with the mistress flaunting herself right in her face.”

“And how do you know it’s endurance? Maybe she couldn’t care less. Caleb plays with his sister-in-law, and she could be playing with her own toys. In our circles, loyalty’s a fairy tale.”

“Even so, Caleb has terrible taste. If you’re going to cheat, at least pick someone younger and prettier. Penelope doesn’t even compare to Sydney.”

That last comment struck a chord with several listeners. No one had thought to compare the two before. But now, side by side, it was painfully clear that Sydney outshone Penelope by miles. Her beauty, her figure, and that intangible aura were incomparable.

The scattered remarks pierced Penelope’s ears like needles. Rage twisted her features, and one manicured nail even snapped in

half.

She was worse than Sydney? Ridiculous!

At every banquet she had ever attended, she had been praised and fawned over. These people must be jealous because Caleb

favored her.

Humiliation boiled in her chest. She turned to Caleb, ready to lash out, only to see that he was not paying her the slightest attention. His warm, unwavering gaze rested entirely on Sydney.