Once doormat Now Untouchable Novel

---- Chapter 573 Adeline frowned, a cold tremor running through her from head to toe. The son she had carried to full term and raised with such effort now treated her with open indifference because of a woman. "What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? I'm your mother. Is it wrong for me to worry about your marriage?" she demanded. Caleb's expression turned even paler. "You're my mother. Of course you're not wrong. But when you went behind my back to handle the divorce paperwork, you should have expected this. outcome.

You also know I'm your son, not a puppet you can control." Adeline froze, while Caleb strode away without looking back. Timothy came charging downstairs like a cannonball and latched onto her leg. "Grandma, Grandma, was Uncle Caleb just back? Why didn't he come upstairs to see me?" Adeline snapped out of it and gathered her only grandson into her arms, her voice heavy with heartache. "He was busy today. Next time he comes back, he'll see you before he leaves." "You're not lying, right?" Timothy puffed up his cheeks, then ---- remembered something Penelope often told him on the phone.

" Oh, right. Is my mom really coming back? Will Uncle Caleb marry her?" After a brief pause, Adeline answered, "Yes." No matter what Penelope had done before, the Hutton heiress title allowed Adeline to overlook everything. The Hampton family needed the Huttons. And Adeline needed a daughter-in-law with the Hutton name. At future social gatherings, who would dare look down on her then? Tomorrow, she planned to visit the Huttons and settle the engagement. At the charity gala in a few days, she would announce the marriage in front of the city's elites.

By then, no matter how unwilling Caleb was, he would not risk offending the Hutton family. At Delta Mansion, Sydney stepped out of the shower and, not seeing Julian in the bedroom, headed to the study. When the door clicked open, Julian looked up. "Not sleepy yet?" It was already past ten. Sydney blinked. "How did you know it was me?" ---- She realized at once how silly the question sounded.

No one else in the house would walk into his study without knocking She crossed the room, pressed her lips together, and asked quietly, "Any news from Elliot?" Earlier that day, Julian had told Elliot to find out who Eliana had met during her outing. The thought had weighed on Sydney all evening. If they could identify the person who poisoned her, they might find a faster or more reliable way to get the antidote. As soon as she finished speaking, Julian's phone rang on the desk. The caller ID showed Elliot's name. Julian answered and put it on speaker.

"You found out?" "Yes." Elliot hesitated. "We confirmed who Eliana met today." Sydney's breath tightened. "Who was it?" "Aman named Thomas Setford. He worked at a Fortune 500 company. He was imprisoned last year for embezzlement and released a few days ago." The name meant nothing to her. Sydney reeled. She was certain Eliana had never known this man, but she trusted Elliot's accuracy. ---- Julian cut to the chase. "Have you located him?" "No." Frustration crept into Elliot's voice. "He bought a ticket yesterday for a ten o'clock flight to Pretora today.

By the time Eliana reached the hospital, he had already boarded." The color drained from Sydney's face. Elliot spoke with care. "Do you want me to go overseas..." "No." Julian pieced things together with ease. "He's just a tool. Instead of chasing him abroad, check who he contacted after his release." "How did | not think of that?" Elliot slapped his forehead. "I'll get on it right away." Investigating that lead would be far more efficient than flying to Pretora. Jouleston was their territory. Pretora was not. Power networks there ran deep.

An outsider would struggle to gain traction, and building connections would take too long. The call ended. Seeing the worry in Sydney's eyes, Julian wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap, his voice low and gentle. "Didn't | tell you? Eliana will be fine." ---- The warmth of his body seeped through her clothes and steadied her. Sydney lowered her gaze. "It's not that | don't believe you. The toxin is too complicated." So complicated that she did not trust herself. Eliana's body could last at most a week. Without an antidote by then, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Yet toxicology analysis took time. Even when Ewan's results came back, Sydney doubted she could develop an antidote fast enough within the narrow window. She did not know. And because she did not know, she was afraid.