Sydney saw no reason to cozy up to Charlotte . Perhaps her refusal had been too blunt , because the ever - smooth Charlotte's expression stiffened for the first time . Nearby , others glanced over . Charlotte recovered quickly and said lightly , " Alright , next time then . " " Sure . " Sydney inclined her head , and Charlotte soon departed . As Sydney approached the lab , mocking voices drifted from the common area . " Wow , she really thinks she's something . Even Ms. Lindstrom doesn't matter ? " " Exactly . " The second voice was familiar - it belonged to a member of her own team .
" Does she not realize who Ms. Lindstrom is ? Eight or nine times out of ten , she'll be the future Mrs. Sterling . " Sydney froze mid - step . The voices continued . " If you ask me , your whole department had better stop wasting your time . If she dares to offend the future CEO's wife , your group will be shut down any day now . " Sydney's face hardened . She strode over , dropped her coffee on their desk with a heavy thud , and said coldly , " If your idea of research is currying favor and bowing to power , you might as well disband now !
" They were grown men , but their expressions changed uneasily under her scathing reprimand . By the time they recovered , Sydney had already entered the lab and buried herself in work . Henry arched a brow . " Don't you think she's right ? Then get moving . You're all men . Being left in the dust by a girl isn't a good look , is it ? " Sydney ignored their muttered protests , immersing herself completely . The sooner she made a breakthrough , the more lives she could save and more families she could give hope to . And for herself , it meant leverage- freedom .
After work , Sydney detoured to pick up Tiffany's favorite dish for dinner . She excelled at medicine and could handle most things , but cooking was hopeless . As a student , she had survived on pasta three meals a day . After marrying Caleb , she had hoped cooking might bridge the distance between them . One disastrous meal later , she had given up . Nancy had gently urged her to leave the kitchen alone . Sydney was better at prescribing medicinal diets than preparing them , and household meals were best left to staff .
That night , Sydney sat with Tiffany until she finished both the food and her medicine , then began clearing the table . She gathered the remaining trash , tied up the bags , and prepared to take them downstairs . She had showered already , now dressed only in a nightgown . 1/2 Tiffany , still hoarse from her fever , called out , " At least throw on a coat . Don't get sick too . " Sydney disliked the dark underground garage , so she always carried the trash to the bins on the first floor . Outside , the winter wind howled , sharp enough to cut through bone .
She slipped into a long down coat , grabbed the trash bags , and opened her door only to halt . A woman was standing at Julian's door . Even from behind , Sydney recognized Charlotte . Charlotte tapped in the code with practiced ease , pushed the door open , and walked in . Sydney slammed her own door shut . A strange discomfort twisted inside her . It was his home , and Charlotte came and went freely . The sensation was sharp and perverse , like someone had sliced a lemon and let the juice trickle into her mouth , slide down her throat , and spread through her chest .
Her nerves burned with the bitter tang . Today's Bonus Offer GET IT NOW X