Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 651

After Sydney finished the acupuncture session, she sat in the chair beside the bed, as she always did.

The curtains were drawn, and no sunlight reached the room. Even so, warmth spread through her body. She felt loose, steady, almost at peace.

When she lowered her eyes and met Florence's gentle yet resolute gaze, she understood why.

Only the two of them were there. Florence did not want distance between them, so she spoke first in a soft voice. "If you're upset, say it. When my father-in-law gets back later, we'll have him punish him properly."

The "him" at the end naturally referred to Theodore.

Albus had taken Elizabeth to visit a dying comrade. They would not return until later.

"If I'm upset, huh?" Sydney thought for a moment, then admitted with a smile, "A little, of course. But it's already obvious that Mr. Albus is completely impartial."

He had stripped Theodore of every position he held. For a man who had wielded power for half his life, losing all his posts was no different from losing everything in his hands. That blow alone would be enough to make him suffer.

Florence's heart ached at how understanding she was. "Only a little?"

"Mm. Really, just a little." Sydney smiled and joked, "Besides, I'm pregnant. It's not good for me to have huge mood swings."

Florence gave her a mildly reproachful look. Once she had her answer, she let the subject drop. Her gaze softened as it fell on Sydney's stomach. "Has the baby been good? Has she been giving you a hard time?"

Sydney did not miss that look. For some reason, her nose stung. If her mother knew she was pregnant, would she look at her the same way? With the same tenderness, the same quiet hope, the same hidden ache?

Sydney turned her head away. After she brought her emotions under control, she curved her lips in helpless amusement. "No. I eat well, I sleep well, and she's very good. She just kicks me now and then."

That surprised her too. The nausea and other symptoms had vanished over the past few days. Other than her growing belly, pregnancy did not feel much different from before.

Florence relaxed a little. The tenderness in her eyes nearly overflowed. Smiling, she asked, "When she kicks you, it doesn't hurt, does it?"

"How did you know?" Sydney's eyes lit up. "When she kicks me, I just feel… grounded."

It also felt as if the baby was interacting with her.

She had already declined staying for lunch, so James did not press her again. He gave a slight nod. "Then let Raymond walk you down. Once Diana gets back from her business trip, we'll come see you."

As he spoke, he tipped his chin toward Raymond.

Raymond was more than happy to comply. "At your service."

Sydney had been about to say she could go down by herself. Then something seemed to occur to her, and she changed her mind. "Thanks, Raymond."

The two of them entered the elevator one after the other. Raymond cleared his throat.

He was still trying to think of a good topic when Sydney beat him to it. "Raymond, did you quit the hospital?"

He froze. "Tiffany told you?"

"Julian did." Sydney pressed her lips together, then decided to make herself even clearer. "He also told me you resigned because you wanted to get back together with Tiff."