Chapter 25
“Mhm, visa papers,” Sydney said, improvising. “Tiffany wants to travel abroad. I didn’t
want to deal with the hassle, but when Mom found out, she said she’d arrange someone to
take care of it.”
Just as the words left her mouth, her phone chimed.
Azure Bank: [700,000 dollars have been deposited in your account.]
Caleb didn’t press her. Instead, he shifted gears. “Didn’t you say you wanted to talk to me about something last night? What was it?”
Sydney hesitated, then pressed her lips together. “Oh, just the visa thing. I figured it’d be easier to ask you for help.”
“So I came home a little too late, huh?” Caleb chuckled. His gaze landed on the empty gift box on the coffee table. “That was my present, wasn’t it?”
“Mom saw it and liked it,” Sydney replied. “She took it. If you want one, ask her for another
next time.”
Caleb nodded. He didn’t ask what the gift had been. “If she likes it, let her have it.”
He didn’t try to look deeper–just like he hadn’t during the past three years of their marriage.
Sydney had once mistaken that for gentleness, for patience. Only now did she see it for what it was: indifference. He hadn’t cared about the gift. He hadn’t cared about her. He had always stood just outside the circle.
But now? She no longer minded.
She smiled. “Fine by me, as long as I don’t have to spend money on another one.”
“You little penny–pincher.” Caleb shot her a sidelong look. “I’m not stingier than Julian, am
I?”
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Sydney traced her fingernail lightly over her fingertip and offered a faint smile. “You’ve always been generous.”
When she was younger, she had celebrated more than a few birthdays with Julian’s group. Caleb had always given her exactly the sort of gifts she liked. He was thoughtful, never stingy. A gentleman. A man who enjoyed pleasing his friends‘ little sisters–and only that.
That answer seemed to satisfy him. He smiled. “Still sulking with your brother?”
“I’m not sulking,” Sydney said evenly. She never had been.
The front door had been left ajar when Adeline left, and cold wind kept slipping through the crack. Sydney sniffled and steered the conversation away. “Cal, I should get going.”
“Back to the clinic?” He still hadn’t caught the subtext.
Sydney didn’t explain. She simply nodded. “Yeah. Marc’s swamped today, so I offered to help.”
“Alright. Want me to have the driver take you?”
“No need,” she said. “I can manage.”
She had been doing things on her own for a long time.
After pulling on her long down coat, she stepped out into the cold. The icy ground gleamed underfoot, the winter sun casting long golden rays.
She flagged down a cab, took out her phone, and transferred the newly received money to a charitable foundation supporting underprivileged girls in their pursuit of education and
independence.
She thought, ‘Every girl deserves a life of her own. To stand in the sunlight and live freely.
Not like me. Never like me.‘
Inside, Caleb watched her walk away, and a quiet sigh caught in his chest. That little girl from long ago had grown up so quickly.
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Nancy’s flustered and sharp came from the back. “Hey! Be careful with that! Don’t drop anything!”
Caleb turned. He saw Nancy in the backyard, directing workers as they loaded boxes.
He walked over, frowning. “What are you moving?”
Nancy answered honestly. “I don’t know. Ms. Wilson packed everything herself and asked me to send the boxes by courier.”
Caleb’s frown deepened. Something felt off. He lifted his chin. “Open a box. Let me see.”
“Wouldn’t that be… inappropriate? She’ll be upset if she finds out—”
“Whose word do you follow? Hers or mine?”
“Yours.” Nancy didn’t hesitate. She knew who signed her paychecks. She grabbed a pair of
scissors and carefully opened one of the boxes.
