“I don’t regret it,” Sydney answered without hesitation.
She had asked herself the same question long ago and already knew the answer. Without the Hampton family’s support–and Eloise’s refusal to let them severies–Sydney would have been crushed by now. If Sterling Corp. had discovered her early, she would no longer be working at the clinic.
For all their faults, the Hamptons, even Caleb, had treated her with a basic measure of respect. She had once hoped Caleb could become a good husband. When he failed to be one, she saw it as unfortunate, not devastating.
For three years, she had been content.
Julian gave a short, derisive snort. “You loved him that much?”
His dark eyes fixed on her as if to strip away every layer of pretense.
Sydney smirked. “Yes, I loved him that much.”
She lifted her chin and met his gaze. Her eyes stayed clear and steady. “Mr. Sterling, you seem unusually invested in this. Are you still single? Is it so difficult for you to see a close friend happy with someone else?”
He and Caleb had once been close.
Julian’s expression froze for an instant. Then, with a cool air, he asked, “And who said I’m single?”
The question caught Sydney off guard. For half a heartbeat she was stunned, unsettled. Then she recovered and allowed herself a faint smile. “Congratulations, then. If you ever hold a wedding, be sure to send me an
invitation.”
Once she was in the car, the unease lingered. She turned it over in her mind until the answer became clear. It
was jealousy.
Like a younger sister watching her brother grow close to someone new, she felt the subtle ache of losing her place. The shift hurt, but it was natural. Even after their bond had fractured, their shared past was long, their reliance on each other deep.
Now they were distant, and he had someone else. The sting in her chest was normal. It was logical and understandable.
Sydney shook her head, pushing the thought away, and drove home.
”
The next morning, a ringing phone pulled her from sleep. It was the police. Because of Timothy’s injuries, she was a key person of interest and needed to cooperate, and they summoned her to the police station.
“We’ve reviewed the medical report,” the female officer said evenly. “The doctors confirmed the child received first aid almost immediately.”
They must have meant the emergency acupuncture.
“Did you perform the treatment?” she asked.
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Chapter 83
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“Yes,” Sydney replied with a nod.
The officer hesitated, then asked, “What is your relationship to Timothy?”
“He’s my husband’s nephew.”
“And your relationship with his mother, Penelope? Any conflict?”
Sydney arched an eyebrow. “You mean imagined romantic rivalry? She believes I’m trying to steal her boyfriend–my husband.”
The officer stopped taking notes, trying to piece it together. “You mean she’s having an affair with your husband?”
“That’s right.”
The officer gave a pointed look. “If that’s the case, you have a motive for a crime.”
Sydney frowned, startled.
“Then you’ve misunderstood.” Her tone turned firm. “She may see me as a rival, but I don’t see her that way. I don’t care what happened between them, and it makes no difference to me now. If my husband wants a divorce, I’ll agree without hesitation.”
Before Sydney could continue, the interrogation room door swung open.
Caleb strode in, his voice clipped and commanding. “Don’t think you can evade responsibility.”
He had canceled his meetings and come straight to the station.
Chapter 84
