Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 757

A figure entered through the side door and took the empty seat beside Diana. She turned to find Hugo, his eyes bright and his expression relaxed.

"What took you so long?" Diana asked quietly.

Hugo held a ceremony program in one hand, with his jacket draped over his arm.

"Traffic. I got held up." His gaze lingered on her for a moment. "You look beautiful today, Diana."

Diana was wearing a misty-blue silk blouse with a small pearl brooch fastened at the collar. It was a piece Elizabeth had collected in her youth.

She usually dressed in crisp, tailored clothing for every occasion. The soft color was a rare choice for her.

"Pay attention." She didn't acknowledge the compliment. Instead, she tilted her chin toward the stage. "Don't make a sound."

Hugo complied without protest. He settled into his seat and quietly flipped through the program, though his gaze drifted to her profile from time to time before moving away without drawing attention.

…

As the ceremony drew to a close, guests began filtering out.

Diana rose to head backstage and say goodbye to the organizers when her phone buzzed inside her bag.

She took it out. It was a message from Albus.

Albus: [6:00 p.m. tonight. The White Crane. Go in my place.]

Albus had been in good health lately, but ever since Theodore had been sent abroad, he had been passing more and more of his social obligations to Diana.

Diana thought nothing of it.

Diana: [All right. I'll stop by on my way.]

She slipped her phone back into her bag. When she looked up, Hugo was still standing beside her.

"Any plans tonight?" he asked casually.

The restaurant was the Jouleston branch of an old Brimcrest establishment, known for its quiet atmosphere and strict privacy. Diana had been there twice before and knew it reasonably well.

Inside the private dining room sat a man in his early 30s, dressed in a soft gray wool sweater. He carried himself with a calm, gentle air that was nothing like the usual business contacts she was expected to entertain.

He rose as she entered and greeted her with a pleasant smile. "Ms. Hutton?"

Diana nodded and took the seat across from him, studying him with a quiet, unobtrusive glance as she set down her bag.

"And you are...?"

"Callum Sandhill." Callum poured her a glass of water and smiled. "My father asked my uncle to arrange this. The idea was to invite you to dinner tonight so we could get acquainted."

Diana's hand stilled around the glass.

She finally understood. This wasn't a dinner she was attending on behalf of her grandfather. It was a blind date.