Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 266

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 266**

**Chapter 266**

As the tension in the room thickened, Sydney remained composed, refusing to let Hugh’s provocations draw her into a hasty argument. Hugh, ever the instigator, seized the moment, stoking the flames of doubt with a calculated fervor. “Reviewing the footage is merely the first step. But what happens if we find nothing? The other departments will start to murmur, suggesting that R&D is infested with traitors. They look at us and see nothing but a facade of incompetence.”

Sydney, with a steady hand, set aside the falsified report that had been thrown at her like a gauntlet. Her voice, unwavering, cut through the air. “I am fully aware of my responsibilities. Once we analyze the footage, the truth will be revealed.”

Wallace, always eager to align himself with the perceived victor, jumped into the fray. “Absolutely! Don’t you all understand who Ms. Wilson is? She studied under the same esteemed mentor as Mr. Shepard Alan Conton, the giant of medicine. If she asserts that something is amiss, she must be right.”

While his words seemed like a shield of support, Sydney couldn’t shake the unease that settled in her stomach. Her brows knitted together, a sign that she was not entirely convinced by the façade of camaraderie.

As anticipated, Hugh was quick to follow up, his voice dripping with feigned concern. “But if we don’t uncover a mole, doesn’t that imply the data is intact? Which leads us to a singular conclusion: the issue must lie within Ms. Wilson’s capabilities. After casting suspicion on all of us, how does she intend to shoulder that burden?”

Their exchange flowed seamlessly, as if rehearsed, yet the twisted reasoning behind it was evident. The absence of evidence did not equate to the data being sound. They were laying a trap, cleverly baiting her, waiting for her to stumble into their carefully crafted snare.

A slight smile played on Sydney’s lips, almost teasing. “Then let’s hear your proposition. If a mole is indeed discovered, how should the company respond?”

For a moment, Hugh’s confidence wavered. Then, with a theatrical display of indignation, he declared, “Naturally, the company must punish them severely, ensuring they are barred from ever participating in pharmaceutical research again.”

Sydney raised an eyebrow, turning her gaze toward Wallace. “And you concur with this assessment?”

“Absolutely,” Wallace replied without hesitation. “Exposing a traitor would be a triumph for all of us.”

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