Chapter 61
Chapter 61
+15 BONUS
Nancy was fast asleep when a sudden pounding on the door jolted her awake. She opened it to find Caleb standing there, his expression stormy Her body tensed.
“Mr. Hampton, is something wrong?” she asked.
Caleb’s gaze sharpened. “When was the last time sydney came home?”
A few steps away, Penelope clenched her fists, and her nails dug into her palms. That wretched woman had finally moved out, and she had just started enjoying her place as the lady of the house. She had no interest in seeing Sydney retur.-
“Ms. Wilson comes home every day.” Nancy blinked, feigning confusion, then quickly corrected herself. “Oh, wait. Not tonight. Madam Sterling’s birthday is coming up. She called Ms. Wilson back to help with the planning.”
Penelope’s eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in. Why was Nancy covering for Sydney? Could it be that even Nancy believed she was better suited for the role Sydney had abandoned?
The thought made her smirk. She turned to Caleb “Come on, it’s just one night. Why are you overreacting?”
Caleb didn’t answer. His eyes stayed on Nancy. “Then why are there only a few books left on her shelf?”
Nancy froze for a heartbeat. Then, steadying herself, she said, “There were never many to begin with. Maybe you’re misremembering?”
“Is that so?” Caleb faltered, doubt flickering across his face.
After their marriage, he’d used work as an excuse to avoid the bedroom they were supposed to share. They had been sleeping separately, and he rarely stepped into the master bedroom. He hadn’t paid close attention.
Penelope yawned. “Nancy’s always been detail–oriented. If she says so, just take her word for it. Don’t you trust her?”
“I do,” Caleb said with a nod.
Nancy had worked for the Hampton family for years. She had no reason to lie for Sydney. Besides, Sydney wouldn’t move out without saying a word. She always made a scene when she was upset, waiting to be coaxed.
Still, she had looked bothered at the dealership yesterday. Maybe he should patch things up,
The next day at Lumosa Clinic, Sydney pulled into the parking lot. As she stepped out of the car, a flashy red 911 screeched past and wedged into a tight space, drawing a small crowd.
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Chapter 61
+15 BONUS
“Holy crap, that thing must’ve cost a fortune.”
“I don’t know how much, but I do know we could go hungry for the rest of our lives and still never afford one.”
“Ah, the magic of being born into the right family.”
Sydney said nothing. She glanced at the car and turned toward the building.
“Sydney.” Behind her, Penelope stepped out of the red car and caught up quickly. “We’re colleagues now. No need to act so cold, right?”
A few coworkers nearby gawked.
That car? And they were going to work alongside someone like her?
Sydney lifted her chin slightly and said coolly, “Looking to hear more unpleasant things today?”
Penelope froze, the words catching in her throat. She still remembered what Sydney had said at the clinic–calling her a mistress and declaring herself the real wife. The humiliation still
stung.
Afraid Sydney might shame her again, she swallowed her response. It was fine. She could wait. One way or another, she’d take her down.
Without another word, Sydney turned and walked inside. Her schedule was packed from morning to evening. There would be no breaks.
At the clinic, she shrugged off her wool coat, hung it up, and slipped into her white one. She was always early and rarely kept her patients waiting. They appreciated that.
During lunch break, Sydney had no interest in the canteen. She sat scrolling through delivery apps when a knock sounded at her door. She looked up.
Marcus stepped in with a thermal container. He shut the door and gave her a long look. “You okay? I heard Penelope gave you a hard time this morning.”
Sydney smiled. “Are you sure that’s what you heard?”
