Lahat ng Kabanata ng Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable: Kabanata 381 - Kabanata 390

Agatha shot Julian a sidelong glance. "Don't you already have a girlfriend? Why are you poking around about this?"No matter how he tried to coax her, she refused to tell him the truth.The first three months of pregnancy were always the most fragile. If anything happened to the child, the loss would be devastating, and everyone would still know the mother had been pregnant.For all her open-mindedness, Agatha held to certain traditional views. A young woman's reputation was not something to take lightly.Seeing the serious look on her face, Julian couldn't help but chuckle. "Is it really that serious? Worth all this secrecy?""It's not that serious. Just stop asking questions." She yawned. "Alright, I'm tired. Sit if you want, or leave if you don't."There wasn't the slightest trace of grandmotherly warmth in her tone.As far as Agatha was concerned, there was no point discussing him and Sydney any further. A second marriage didn't trouble her, but now Sydney clearly had someon

Agatha pushed aside her unease, went straight upstairs, and found Sydney's office. She knocked on the half-closed door and called warmly, "Syd, are you off work?"Sydney had just changed out of her white coat, ready to leave. She smiled. "Yeah, just about to. What brings you here? Didn't you come by for a prescription a few days ago?"After two rounds of medicine, Agatha's health had already improved. Sydney had decided against prescribing more. After all, too much medication could do more harm than good."I brought you some food." Closing the door behind her, Agatha walked to the desk and opened an insulated lunch container. "You always grab something quick after consultations, so I made some soup and two of your favorite dishes. You're carrying a child now. You can't treat yourself the way you used to."Agatha no longer intended to play matchmaker between her grandson and Sydney, but her fondness for the girl had not faded. With nothing pressing to do that day, she had started wo

Caleb could not even remember how he had left the Hampton estate. At that moment, he no longer cared about the child in Penelope's womb. His thoughts were consumed entirely by Sydney.He recalled the day Nancy had made pork. Sydney's reaction then had been almost identical to Penelope's just now. Even Tiffany's excuse for her, the upset stomach, was exactly too clumsy.Acting on instinct, Caleb drove straight to Lumosa Clinic. He did not find Sydney there, but he did run into Marcus.Marcus frowned. "Looking for Syd?"Caleb nodded. "Yes. Do you know where she is?""She's already finished work." Marcus' tone was cool. He had never harbored much goodwill toward Caleb. "And she doesn't have to report her whereabouts to me. How should I know where she went?""Thank you." Caleb gave a terse nod and hurried off.Marcus watched him leave, uneasy. He took out his phone and sent Sydney a quick message.Marcus: [Caleb came to the clinic looking for you. He seemed anxious. Be careful.]…

Maybe it was because the subject felt too personal to share with Caleb, but Sydney instinctively stepped back half a pace, creating space between them.She composed herself and answered evenly, "No…""Syd." Caleb caught the slip anyway. His gaze flicked to her still-flat stomach, his fingers curling tight as his throat constricted. "Don't be afraid. I'll go with you to the hospital.""To the hospital for what?" Sydney decided there was no point denying it any longer and said calmly, "I'm a doctor. There's no need to go yet."She had planned to go later, when it was time to register the pregnancy.Caleb's pupils contracted, and his voice dropped, laced with disbelief. "You're planning to keep this child?"He had feared she might need him to accompany her to end the pregnancy, but he had never imagined that she intended to carry Julian's child to term. Which meant she and Julian…"Yes." Sydney met his eyes without wavering. "But you won't tell Julian, will you?"Relief passed thr

Eloise narrowed her eyes, the lines at their corners deepening with calculation. "You're certain it'll work?""You really don't trust me enough." Penelope's tone brimmed with confidence.Falsifying efficacy data could destroy careers and ruin an entire corporation. Sydney's career was already as good as over. The only question left was how much damage Sterling Corp. would take in the fallout.Penelope refilled Eloise's cup and spoke softly. "If I fail, deal with me however you want. I won't object."Her lashes lowered, then she lifted her gaze with a faint smile. "But if I succeed, I want you to promise me one thing."She saw her chance to bargain.Eloise, in unusually good spirits, gave her a sidelong glance. "And what's that?""I want to marry Caleb," Penelope revealed.Alone, she had no chance. But if Eloise regained control of Sterling Corp. and spoke on her behalf, the Hamptons would weigh the advantages. And if she carried Caleb's child, marriage would not be out of reach