Chapter 18
Marcus was a natural at socializing. With him handling the conversation, Sydney only had to focus on eating. Whenever he spotted a dish he knew she liked, he would quietly place some on her plate.
Take stuffed peppers, for example. Caleb refused anything with bell peppers, so that dish never appeared on the Hampton family table.
Sydney had always enjoyed them. She glanced at Marcus, her eyes curving into a slight smile. She said nothing, but he understood the silent thank you and gently tapped her head.
“Eat while it’s hot,” he said. “Our mentor told me to make sure you’re taken care of.”
At that moment, the door of the private dining room diagonally across the hall opened. A foreign man in his late forties stepped out first, flanked by sharply dressed subordinates.
He carried the polished air of a successful executive, clearly someone from a top publicly
listed company. He moved aside with a broad smile and spoke fluent, cheerful Storian. “Mr. Sterling, then it’s settled! I’ll bring the contract to your hotel personally tomorrow for
signing.”
A younger man followed, stepping out casually. His tone was cool, his tailored black shirt and trousers immaculate. He draped his coat loosely over one arm. His sharply defined features gave him a natural, commanding presence.
His assistant leaned in with a timely reminder. “Sir, the boss of Neptune Biotech is waiting for us at the hotel.”
The foreign man nodded tactfully. “Let me walk
you out.
Just then, a waiter pushed open the private room door to serve food. As the younger man passed, his gaze swept the room. Inside, the woman wearing a pale rose–pink knit top and jeans had her delicate waist and hips perfectly outlined. She laughed as the man beside her tapped her head playfully. She showed no resistance, appearing soft and obedient.
1/3
5:45 AM Sun 24 Aug
Chapter 18
The assistant noticed his employer pause briefly and followed his gaze. His eyes lit up. Isn’t that Ms. Sydney? What’s she doing in Storia?”
89%
+15 BONUS
“Sir!
He then looked toward Marcus with a confused frown. “And who’s that guy? Don’t tell me she and Caleb actually divorced and she’s already moved on?”
The waiter came out and gently closed the door, cutting off their view.
The man shot his assistant a sharp look. “You think I read fortunes or tell the future now?”
Sydney did not usually struggle with jet lag, especially when sleeping in a new bed. She
woke before her alarm.


VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney)