Chapter 21
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Nancy’s face tightened for a moment, but she answered honestly, “No, he hasn’t come back these past few days.”
She quickly added, defending Caleb, “He’s always been busy. Don’t overthink it.”
“Okay, don’t worry,” Sydney replied.
She had no interest in obsessing over her soon–to–be ex–husband’s whereabouts.
Even after a shower and curling up in her own bed, sleep eluded her. Everything looked the same here, yet nothing felt the same. She picked up her phone and scrolled through friends‘ updates without thinking.
Tiffany had posted: [Dropping off the universe’s best sis! Now back to work on the case
files.]
Sydney tapped ‘Like‘ with a faint smile, then paused mid–scroll..
Penelope had posted: [You really did it. Protecting me always, standing by me when I
needed you most.]
The caption was paired with a photo: Penelope lay in a hospital bed, being fed fruit. Only one hand was visible–long fingers, defined knuckles, and a small red mole on the wrist.
Sydney recognized it immediately. It was Caleb’s hand.
She took a screenshot and sent it to him with a message.
Sydney: [Still at the hospital? I’ve got something. Should I come see you tomorrow?]
He wasn’t home, so she didn’t mind taking the initiative. Divorce meant freedom for them
both.
At Jouleston Airport, late at night…
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Chapter 21
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After the flight landed, Caleb slumped into the back seat of his car, rubbing his forehead in
exhaustion.
The roads were quiet, the black Maybach gliding beneath pools of soft streetlight. Shadows swept across his sharp features, lending him a cool, distant edge.
His assistant asked softly, “Mr. Hampton, back to the office or to Viridian Garden?”
“To the office.”
The day Sydney had been discharged, a project at the Brookville branch of Hampton Corp. had turned fatal. He had flown out at once and hadn’t rested since. His home office was buried in pending matters. He had to work through the night so others could pick things up
tomorrow.
The full weight of Hampton Corp. pressed on his shoulders. He couldn’t afford to let up.
Then his phone lit up. It was Sydney.
A quiet breath escaped him. He had assumed she was still upset after he failed to reply to her last message. He had planned to smooth things over when work settled down.
He opened the message and froze, frowning. He didn’t reply right away. Instead, he dialed
Penelope.
“When was that photo taken?” he asked, straight to the point.
Penelope, seated in a noisy bar, moved to a quieter corner. “What photo?”
His voice stayed flat and tired. “The one you just posted.”
There was a brief silence on her end.
Caleb knew she’d done it on purpose. Only Sydney could see her posts among everyone linked to the Hampton family. He wasn’t blind.
“You didn’t need to do that,” he said. “Sydney’s not the scheming type.”
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Chapter 21
“What are you implying?”
“I should be asking you that.”
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“I did it on purpose!” Penelope snapped, her voice cracking under the hum of bar music. “I wanted her to see it. I wanted her to know you care about me. I’m the one you like. I’m scared that if you don’t divorce her, you’ll catch feelings again.”
“Penny.” Caleb’s voice sharpened as he yanked his tie loose. “Julian and I grew up with Sydney. She’s like a sister to me. If I could fall for her, what kind of animal would I be? Can’t you be reasonable?”
