Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 762

Callum had an excellent sense of boundaries. He never asked overly personal questions or tried to force familiarity.

After a few sips of coffee, he seemed more at ease. He looked at Diana with a calm, steady gaze. "Ms. Hutton, there's something I've thought over carefully, and in the end, I decided you have a right to know."

Diana met his eyes. "Go on."

"Last night, Mr. Kingston invited my father to dinner, and he brought you up during the meal." Callum's tone remained even, as though he were simply recounting something that had nothing to do with him. "He said the two of you had just had a misunderstanding, that you'd make up soon, and that he hoped the Sandhill family wouldn't interfere."

Those last few words held no trace of mockery, only a hint of helplessness.

Diana's fingers tightened slightly around her cup, but her expression remained unchanged. "He said that to your father himself?"

Callum nodded. "My father called me afterward and told me to use my own judgment. I thought Mr. Kingston's approach was rather underhanded, so I decided you should know."

Diana set down her teacup. "Thank you for telling me, Mr. Sandhill."

"It's only right." Callum leaned forward slightly and refilled her cup. "There's something else I'd like to say. No matter how Mr. Kingston explains things to other people, I only care about your own position, Ms. Hutton. You told me before that you're already going through the divorce process, and I believe you."

Diana looked up at him, a hint of scrutiny in her gaze.

Callum met her eyes without flinching or looking away. His expression was open and completely sincere.

"So if all you want is to have coffee with me, Ms. Hutton, then we'll simply have coffee. And if you're willing to get to know me better, I'd be glad for that too."

His words were neither presumptuous nor evasive. They struck exactly the right balance.

Diana looked at him and smiled. "The way you speak is quite different from the last time we met, Mr. Sandhill."

"Last time was our first meeting. I didn't dare be too forward." Callum picked up his cup, took a sip, and smiled faintly. "This time, we're friends."

Diana did not answer. She took a small sip of tea, checked the time, and stood to leave.

Callum walked her to the entrance of the café. "Take care on your way home, Ms. Hutton."

…

By the time Diana returned to the old estate, night had fallen.

Elizabeth was sitting in the living room watching television. She looked over with concern. "Are you tired?"

The other two messages were from Hugo: a photo and a line of text.

The photo showed a steaming plate of meatballs from a street stall.

Hugo: [Diana, the meatballs at this place are good. They have the warmth of everyday life.]

Diana looked at the photo and suddenly remembered running into Hugo eating meatballs at a street stall in Brimcrest many years ago.

Back then, he had grinned unabashedly and said, "Street stalls have the truest warmth of everyday life."

Diana shook her head slightly and typed a reply.

Diana: [Watch your stomach.]

Her stomach had never been strong, so she had almost never eaten at street stalls. As a child, whenever she craved street food, the chefs at the old estate would always find a way to make it for her.

It was clean and hygienic, with the flavor recreated as closely as possible. Even so, it lacked a little of that warmth of everyday life.