Chapter 589: Once Doormat Now Untouchable
---- Chapter 589 The living room grew so quiet that a pin dropping would have been heard. In one another's eyes, the Huttons saw the same storm of feelings: relief, the joy of something long lost finally returning, and a crushing heartache that came with it. They had long suspected that Sydney was Vee. Even so, none of them could silence the fear of that 1-in-10,000 chance. What if they were wrong again? They were not. Years of yearning had finally found an answer. Their Vee was not only alive, but gentle, composed, independent, and exceptional. The joy was overwhelming.
The ache was no less so. Florence's tears would not stop. Raymond sprang to his feet. "I'm going to find Sydney right now!" There was no way he could remain seated. "it down." Diana drew a steadying breath, forcing down the surge of joy in her chest. "We deal with the mess at home tonight. Then we bring her back properly." Everyone knew who she meant by "the mess." It was Penelope ---- and Megan James nodded and turned to Raymond. "Instead of rushing over, think about whether you can secure the antidote.
Only after Eliana's poisoning is resolved will Sydney have the strength to face anything else. Showing up now would only distract her." He was right. Raymond had no rebuttal. Sydney had no time or energy to spare. Blood ties aside, Alan and Eliana were the ones who had truly raised her and stood by her all these years. The family could not storm in on the basis of blood alone and demand reunion while she was already stretched to her limits. Raymond glanced toward the staircase and asked a nearby maid, "Any movement from Megan?" "No," the maid replied, shaking her head.
'What movement could there be?" James said at once. "She's just waiting..." He did not finish his sentence. A black extended H9 sedan rolled slowly into the courtyard. Diana smiled coldly. "And she waited him out." ---- Tonight was the charity gala. As head of Hutton Corp, Theodore was certain to come to Jouleston. He had simply arrived earlier than expected. No one was surprised. Most of the staff at Seraph Villa came from the old estate. Someone alerting him had been inevitable. "Dad," Diana and James greeted him together as Theodore stepped inside.
Theodore gave a brief nod, then looked toward Florence. When he saw the tear tracks on her face, his expression tightened and he moved to her side. "Why are you crying so early in the morning?" Florence knew why he had rushed over. Within the family and beyond it, Theodore had always been a considerate husband, attentive in every respect. Except where Megan was concerned. In the two years after Vee disappeared, the couple had argued endlessly. Only after Florence leapt from a building in despair had Theodore finally yielded and stopped confronting her outright.
Even then, his protection of Megan had never truly faded. Florence had once chosen to let it go. Now that Vee had been ---- found, she could not. The Hutton family had to be cleared of every hidden fault. She spoke without a preamble. "Vee has been found." Theodore stiffened, then gave a short laugh. "Wasn't Vee already found?" "The test report for Penelope was fake," Diana said, stepping in smoothly. "She is not Vee." Theodore paused. "Then who is?" Raymond had no patience left for courtesy. "Why don't you ask first why Penelope's report was fake?" His tone held no trace of respect.
Theodore kept his eyes on Florence. Despite his other reasons for coming to Jouleston, he followed his son's lead. "Why?" "Because of your precious daughter," Raymond said bluntly. " Megan brought Penelope in to impersonate Vee. Who else in this family could manage something like that?" He wanted a swift resolution. Only a clean house would allow them to bring Vee home properly. To his surprise, Theodore's face darkened. "You ungrateful brat! Who taught you to hurl baseless accusations like this?
She is ---- your third sister as well!" "Dad," Diana cut Raymond off before he could respond and stepped forward. "You refuse to let Ray accuse Megan without evidence, yet you condemned him without asking a single question." She raised a voice recorder as she spoke. "Listen to this. Then you can decide whether someone is being framed, or whether you have misjudged someone all along."