Chapter 5

When Caleb took the gift box from her, he felt something brush his chest. It was quick and light but sharp enough to catch his breath. It did not exactly hurt, yet it made breathing slightly more difficult.

The bow on the box had been tied with painstaking care. It showed how much effort she had invested and how long she had planned this gift. Meanwhile, he was a complete bastard, harboring selfish, shameful thoughts.

Before Caleb could speak, Sydney had already moved to the entryway. She slipped on a beige wool coat and wrapped a scarf around her neck, her delicate oval face mostly hidden. Only her dark, clear eyes remained visible.

Then she left, but her stride seemed off.

Caleb was about to ask what was wrong when Penelope gasped beside him. "Ahh! That hurts…"

He immediately focused on her and helped her sit down. "Are your knees still that bad? Let me take you to the hospital."

"I don't want to go." She bit her lip and glanced at the box in his hands, muttering, "And you say you're not falling for her? You treat her gift like some priceless treasure."

Caleb frowned. "Penny, I already owe her so much."

Tears slipped down her cheeks. "And what about me, Cal? What am I supposed to be to you? Are you just going to let her keep bullying me and Timmy?"

"I already said Syd's not like that," he said.

"Enough!" Penelope's voice cracked. "Can't you hear yourself? Every word you say defends her!"

She stood, crying in dramatic sobs, and dragged Timothy upstairs.

Caleb sat stunned for a moment before slowly exhaling. He wasn't even sure what he was thinking anymore. He simply could not stand anyone speaking ill of Sydney.

…

Snow fell steadily for two days.

Sydney spent the morning seeing patients at the clinic. In the afternoon, she covered a session with overseas doctors who had come to learn from her senior, who was unexpectedly absent.

By 5:00 p.m., she was back home, changing and applying light makeup. She needed little. Her bright eyes and perfect teeth made her stand out even with minimal effort.

As she came downstairs, she sensed something was off. Since arriving, the house had been eerily quiet. That mother-son duo was unusually well-behaved.

Just as she finished pulling on her tall boots, Penelope asked her with a venomous smile, "Sydney, who do you think he'll choose? Me or you?"

"Penelope, what are you talking about? I don't quite follow." Sydney paused, then smiled. "Oh? So you're not trying to spin some scandalous 'widowed sister-in-law seduces little brother-in-law' drama in the Hampton family?"

Penelope's fury boiled over. "Sydney!"

Sydney calmly draped her cashmere cape over her shoulders and smiled faintly. "No time to argue. Cal's already waiting for me."

Penelope followed her gaze to the black car parked in the driveway through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sight nearly made her spit blood.

When she agreed to let Caleb marry this "sweet and pliable" girl, she had assumed that Sydney would be easy to control. Who would have guessed she was a rabbit with fangs?

Sydney slid into the car and turned to Caleb. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"No, I just got here." He reached over to squeeze her hand, then noticed the pale, flawless skin visible beneath her skirt. Her legs were exposed to the cold, and he frowned. "Why are you dressed so lightly?"

She smiled. "The car and the house are both heated."

She always urged patients to dress warmly, but when it came to herself, she did not care.

Caleb sighed. "If you catch a cold or get a fever, don't expect me to take care of you."

"I'll take medicine," she said.

Colds were easy. One dose of herbs and she would mostly be fine. Over the past three years, she had relied on herself. She had long stopped expecting him to care for her—or anyone else.

Caleb did not know why her indifference unsettled him so much. "You talk like I'm some heartless husband who doesn't care about you."

She paused. "You didn't open the gift I gave you yesterday?"

"Not yet." Caleb looked out the window. "It's a birthday gift, right? I figured I'd wait."

"Sure."

'That works. More time for me to get ready,' she thought.

They had little to say, so the ride passed in silence.

Caleb glanced at her. She sat quietly, staring out at the stream of traffic. Her entire demeanor was peaceful, gentle, innocent, composed. He could not understand why Penelope hated her so much.

He was about to speak when his phone rang.

"Mr. Hampton, Ms. Monroe is at a blind date." The other party's voice was calm, not loud, but clear enough for Sydney to hear.

The air in the car tightened instantly. Caleb was fuming but kept it controlled. He rarely lost his temper.

"Send me the location." His tone turned icy.

After hanging up, he turned to Sydney with a composed expression but an unmistakably firm voice. "Syd, something urgent came up. I can't go to the family banquet with you."

'Something urgent?' Sydney did not even want to ask.

Why bother? Digging would only humiliate her more.

"I understand." She lowered her gaze slightly. "Jack, could you pull over up ahead?"

The car slowed to a stop. Caleb did not move, seeming to appreciate the life he had now.

Sydney looked at him. "Cal, go on. We can't park here too long."

He looked stunned for a second, but she remained calm and graceful. He could find no excuse to stay. "Alright."

He got out silently.

…

The Sterling family's monthly banquet was unlike other social events. Only five people attended, including Caleb.

The atmosphere was quiet. Unnervingly so, as if it were more funeral than celebration.

When Sydney arrived, the butler, Jason Reyes, led her straight to the dining hall.

"Ms. Wilson, Madam Sterling has been waiting all day. She's been asking about you since this morning," Jason said.

"Okay." Sydney nodded gently but nervously clenched her fingers at her sides.

Inside the dining hall, Eloise sat at the head of the table. To her left, her eldest and second daughters sat in order.

Sydney stepped in and greeted them politely, "Grandma. Aunt Fiona. Aunt Miranda."

She followed the Sterling family's generational terms. The two aunts responded with lukewarm nods but glanced past her.

When Eloise noticed Sydney was alone, her brows furrowed deeply. "Where is Caleb?"

"Something urgent came up, and he had to attend to it," Sydney said.

"Out! Go kneel!" Suddenly, a harsh yell echoed, and a teacup flew at her.