Chapter 585: Once Doormat Now Untouchable
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Chapter 585
Sydney was full of questions, yet no new message came
through for a long time.
She got out of bed and was about to go downstairs to tell Julian
when her phone rang again.
Her entire body tensed. When she saw the caller ID, her racing
heart gradually settled. She answered
"Hello, Mr. Clifford."
"Dr. Wilson." Jeremiah's voice carried its usual mild warmth. "
Would you like me to arrange a car to pick you up for tomorrow
evening's charity gala?"
‘The charity gala...’ Sydney froze for a beat before it registered.
The Huttons' charity gala was tomorrow night.
Over the past two days, her thoughts had been consumed by
Eliana. She had completely forgotten about it.
As soon as she remembered, hesitation surfaced.
Tomorrow morning, Ewan's analysis results would be released.
After that, developing the antidote would become a race against
time. No matter how important tomorrow night might be, it
could not compare to Eliana's condition.
----
As for those so-called biological parents she had yet to truly
confirm, they could not compare to Eliana, who had loved and
protected her for so many years. Sydney knew very clearly which
mattered more.
She hesitated only briefly before apologizing. "Mr. Clifford,
something urgent came up these past few days. | may not be
able to attend tomorrow night. Could we find another
opportunity?”
There was a short silence on the other end before Jeremiah
asked, puzzled, "What happened? Something serious enough
that you would not even go see your biological parents?"
"There was an issue on my mentor's side." There was nothing to
hide, yet Sydney instinctively kept it vague. "So tomorrow, | really
can't make it."
“You won't regret it?" Jeremiah asked.
“| won't." Her answer came quickly, though a faint trace of regret
lingered in her heart. After all, she had waited a long time for this
moment.
She wanted to know what her parents were like. Whether they
had been hoping to find her.
As her words fell, a soft knock sounded at the door.
----
Polly was unsure whether she was awake. She gently pushed the
door open and, seeing Sydney on the phone, relaxed and spoke
quietly. “Sydney, Madam Hutton is here. She's downstairs right
now."
‘Madam Hutton?’
Her legs had not fully recovered yet. Why would Florence come
to Delta Mansion at this hour?
Sydney was startled and immediately worried that something
might have happened to the Huttons. She said hurriedly into the
phone, "Mr. Clifford, I'm very sorry about this. | have something
to attend to. I'll hang up now."
“Don't rush, don't rush," Polly reassured her quickly. "Both Ms.
Agatha and Madam Hutton asked me to tell you not to hurry.
Take your time coming downstairs."
Sydney nodded, though her unease did not fade. If nothing were
wrong, Florence would not have come at this hour.
She went straight downstairs. The moment the elevator doors
opened, her gaze met Florence's eyes, which were filled with
expectation.
Earlier that day, after hearing from Raymond about Sydney's
past experiences, Florence had forced herself to remain
composed. She did not want to burden Sydney at such a critical
----
moment.
Back at Seraph Villa, however, she had been restless all day.
As dinnertime approached, she could no longer sit still. After
asking James to inform Julian, she came directly to Delta
Mansion.
Even if she said nothing, she wanted to see Sydney with her own
eyes.
Agatha could tell that Florence wanted some time alone with
Sydney. She rose on her own initiative. "You two talk for a bit. I'll
go check on the kitchen."
“all right," Sydney replied.
She walked closer and almost immediately noticed the swelling
around Florence's eyes. She had clearly been crying.
Before Sydney could speak, Florence, who had been so eager to
see her, suddenly felt nervous and choked up.
She pressed down the ache in her eyes before speaking. "Did |
disturb you? | heard Eliana was poisoned. | was worried you
might be too anxious, so | wanted to come see you."
'So that's the reason...’ Only then did Sydney truly relax.
She sat down on the sofa beside Florence's wheelchair and
----
spoke gently. "Of course not. If you want to come next time, just
come.”
“Dinner will be ready soon. Would you like to stay and eat with
us?" she added
For some reason, she wanted Florence to stay. The feeling was
strange. She always wanted to be closer to Florence, even if only
alittle.
"Yes. Yes, of course," Florence replied.
Sydney was gentle and considerate, to the point that she never
placed anyone in an awkward position.
Even when the adopted Hutton daughter had poisoned someone
she loved like family, Sydney showed not the slightest trace of
resentment.
Florence, however, could not remain detached. She reached out,
and tucked the loose strands of hair by Sydney's cheek behind
her ear. "Tomorrow, Megan and Penelope's matters will be
resolved. After that, our family will no longer have the ‘third
heiress'."
Sydney was slightly startled, though not entirely surprised. She
nodded without questioning or probing further. She trusted the
assurance Diana had given her earlier that morning.
From the first time she met Diana, Sydney had felt an instinctive
----
sense of trust and reliance. Diana truly felt like a big sister.
Sydney leaned a little closer and pointed at Florence's swollen
eyelids, testing the waters as she asked softly, "So did you cry
for a long time because of this? Do you feel that you failed to
educate Megan properly and caused me a lot of trouble? That
you owe me an apology?"
“Silly child..." Florence looked into her bright, clear eyes. The
moment she spoke, her tears finally spilled over. She reached
out and pulled Sydney into her arms. "Yes. We all owe you."
Sydney froze. She had never been this physically close to an
elder before. Her body stiffened out of instinct. Even with Eliana,
no matter how close they were, they had never embraced like
this.
Florence's presence was warm. It carried a familiar scent that
felt buried deep in memory, a scent that belonged only to a
mother. It felt as though a mother should smell like this.
As that warmth surrounded her, Sydney's body gradually relaxed.
Florence's tears soaked into her shoulder, and Sydney spoke
softly in reassurance. "I don't blame you. | know you never
wanted this to happen. If anyone is at fault, it's the one who.
caused it. And Diana already told me she will make her pay the
price."