“Absolutely hilarious. I always wondered why she ran straight inside the moment she arrived. Turns out she’s just scared of being embarrassed.”
“You’re only realizing that now? If she were still Julian’s sister, the Hampton family would show her some respect. But she cut ties with him. Marrying into the Hamptons was her way of climbing the social ladder. Now that Caleb wants to reconcile with his true love, she must feel completely helpless.”
Sydney had come over just to listen in, but it didn’t take long to realize the gossip centered on her.
“So why hasn’t she filed for divorce yet?”
“Money, obviously. What else? She’s just some mid–level doctor with no family backing. She leaned on the Sterlings for
the first half of her life, and now she’s clinging to the Hamptons for the second.”
Tiffany’s expression darkened. She started to rise, but Sydney gently caught her arm.
“It’s fine. I’ll handle it.” She stood and walked off.
Back in the inner room, the two women hadn’t noticed her yet and kept talking.
“She looks so sweet, but who would’ve guessed how calculating she is. She’s draining him dry.”
“Really? She’s an orphan. No parental guidance at all. What decent man would go for someone like that?”
One of them kept going–until Sydney tapped her shoulder. “What are you talking about? Who isn’t a good catch?”
“Who else? It’s that Syd-” She turned and froze, caught off guard by Sydney’s sudden appearance.
Her voice wavered as she scrambled to cover. “We meant your sister–in–law! How can she be so shameless? Flirting so
openly with your husband.”
Just then, Sydney noticed Caleb seated beside Penelope. To anyone unaware of the situation, they might have looked like the married couple.
Maybe sensing the shift, both Caleb and Penelope turned toward them.
Caleb looked mildly surprised, as if he hadn’t expected her to show up at his friend’s birthday party without warning.
On the other hand, Penelope recovered fast. She rose in her heels and walked over with practiced grace. “Syd, when did
you get here? Come sit with us.”
“I actually came to defend you,” Sydney said, glancing at the two women before offering Penelope a small smile. “They
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just called you a shameless homewrecker, Said they saw you cozying up to my husband.”
The color drained from both women’s faces.
One of them blurted, “Sydney, don’t twist our words! We were talking about you, not Penny!”
“Oh? Is that so?”
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“Of course!” They straightened, suddenly bold. “Why would we say that about Penny? In love, it’s always the unloved
wife who ends up the mistress.”
In their social circle, everyone knew Sydney was Caleb’s wife in name only. Penelope was the one he truly loved.
Penelope gave a light laugh, smoothly redirecting the tension. “Syd, don’t take it to heart. They’re just being silly. There
are too many people here for drama.”
Sydney smiled faintly, her expression calm. She pressed a button on her phone, and a recording played: “We meant your
sister–in–law! How can she be so shameless? Flirting so openly with your husband.”
The volume was low enough not to disrupt the party, but clear enough for Penelope to hear.
“Turn it off!” Penelope snapped, her composure breaking as she slapped the phone out of Sydney’s hand.
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Chapter 53
