Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 191

There were many out-of-towners in Jouleston, but the roads lay nearly empty and the traffic was sparse at this hour. Still, the car's route gradually felt wrong. They were heading toward Viridian Garden.

Sydney glanced at the driver. "Jack, just take me back to Aurum Road."

"Ms. Wilson…" Jack hesitated, his eyes flicking to Caleb in the rearview mirror.

She had assumed it was Jack's mistake. Now she realized it was Caleb's doing.

Circling back to the same issue over and over left her drained. "I'm not going back to Viridian Garden anytime soon."

"Syd," Caleb said gently, turning toward her, "let's spend the New Year together. After the holiday, if you still haven't changed your mind, I'll send you back to Aurum Road."

"When have we ever spent New Year together?" Sydney's gaze sharpened on him, her voice cool. "Every year, you were at the Hampton estate. At Viridian Garden, it was just me. Oh wait—me and Kelly."

She had endured it then. But now? Did he really think she would follow him at a snap of his fingers? Life didn't work that way.

Caleb knew he was in the wrong. He opened his mouth, but his phone rang before he could speak. Checking the caller ID, he answered. "What is it?"

"Mr. Hampton," Gordon's voice carried unease. "Penelope escaped. I thought one person on duty would suffice for New Year. She faked stomach pain, and while we were off guard, she knocked our man unconscious and ran."

Caleb's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Then why aren't you looking for her? Send more people. No matter what, bring her back."

Sydney couldn't hear the details. She could only see that his expression had darkened like a storm about to break.

Someone was missing. But who?

When he hung up, Caleb checked the time and glanced at Sydney. "I'll drop you at Haven first. Something urgent came up."

Even if Caleb had truly severed ties with her, she was still the Hampton family's daughter-in-law. Hardly anyone in Jouleston would dare touch her.

Penelope let out a chilling laugh, her eyes fixed on Sydney with eerie intensity.

The more Penelope looked, the more Sydney's face merged with the memory of that filthy little brat from the orphanage.

Suddenly, Penelope lunged, clawing at Sydney's collar with reckless abandon.

Sydney had expected a fight, but not to have her clothes ripped. "Penelope, what are you doing?!"

In the struggle, the streetlight caught Sydney's shoulder for a fleeting moment.

'There it is! The butterfly-shaped birthmark!' Penelope thought. 'It's really her. She's really that wretched little brat.'