Chapter 92
?”
“It’s the stuff with Penelope’s son and your situation with Caleb,” Marcus said, hesitating.
He was clearly trying to protect her.
“People are saying some really nasty things right now. just thought coming in might make things worse for you. Maybe it’s better to take a few days off, let things settle,” he said.
་་
Sydney hadn’t expected that to be the reason. As she locked up and pressed the elevator button, she said, Marc, if I don’t show up, that’ll just make me look guilty I’ve already scheduled appointments for today. If I don’t go, are you going to take my patients?”
“Well, that’s true,” Marcus admitted, sounding uneasy. Your patients are all complex cases. I’m not sure I can…”
“Exactly. I can’t just ghost on them.” She chuckled. “People can say whatever they want. I know what I did and didn’t do. A clear conscience fears no shadow.”
Hearing her laugh eased some of Marcus’s worry. “You really mean that?”
“What else am I supposed to do?”
Sydney stayed calm. She had learned a long time ago not to let someone else’s mistakes ruin her day. If she hadn’t figured that out, every punishment from Eloise at the Sterlings would’ve crushed her.
If one person slandered her, that was their issue. If a whole group joined in, then something was wrong with all of them.
She hung up and was about to head out when Tiffany came sprinting from the bedroom. “I’ve got one good piece of news and one bad. Which do you want first?”
“Good news,” Sydney said without hesitation.
“The divorce papers are real!” Tiffany beamed, but her expression turned grim. “The bad news is that you can’t request a replacement copy. I asked around. Your ex–mother–in–law already greased some palms at the courthouse.”
“The fact that it’s real is all that matters.” Sydney didn’t seem surprised. As long as she was legally single again, she didn’t care what games Adeline tried to play.
Most likely, Adeline wouldn’t go out of her way to stir up more trouble. There were just a few hoops to jump through until Caleb remarried, and it would all be over.
“You still need to get the papers, though ” Tiffany was as optimistic. “It they change their minds, they can pull some strings and turn that divorce back into a parriage certificate.”
Sydney licked her lips. “I want them too, but Adeline’s not going to hand them over just like that.”
“Then maybe lean on Julian a little?” Tiffany offered the suggestion cautiously, remembering their recent contact. “He’s the only one in Jouleston with enough pu to pressure the Hamptons. It he stepped in, this would be done in a snap.”
“I’ll think about it.” If she went to Julian, she could already hear the sarcasm in his voice.
1/2
Chapter 92
*Didn’t you love him to death? Now you’re desperate to leave?*
+15 BONUS
She glanced at Tiffany’s pale and sleep–deprived face and changed the subject. “You pulled another all- nighter?”
“Yeap,” Tiffany groaned. “Hurry up and start supporting me, or I’m going to drop dead from this grind.”
Sydney laughed. “I could support you right now.”
She had enough in savings. As long as Tiffany didn’t blow it all on gambling, drugs, or wild clubbing, the two of them could live comfortably for the rest of their lives.
“Just hearing that…” Tiffany grinned. “I feel like I can hang in there a little longer.‘
Having a safety net changed everything.
Sydney chuckled and told her to at least eat something before sleeping. Then she headed for the clinic.
Sydney hadn’t even stepped into the reception area when chaos broke out inside.
A female patient had grabbed a young nurse by the arm and refused to let go. “You little bitch! What kind of nonsense were you just spouting? Do you have any manners at all?”
“Ma’am, I didn’t say anything bad!” The nurse’s voice trembled. “Everyone in the clinic’s talking about it. It’s not just me. Why are you coming at me like this?”
