Chapter 519 Sydney hadn't even married into the family yet, and Julian was already forgetting his grandmother. Agatha wasn't angry. If anything, she felt relieved. The person meant to walk beside her grandson for life was his other half, not her. If he couldn't tell the difference between filial duty and emotional maturity, she might have been forced to whack him with her cane. Julian rubbed the bridge of his nose. The usually composed, elegant man didn't look embarrassed in the slightest. Instead, his voice carried a touch of tenderness. "Can't help it.
She'll be my wife." They weren't married yet, but Julian knew one thing for certain-Sydney was the only woman who would ever be his wife. He had made that decision long ago. "So what if she's your future wife?" Agatha saw straight through him. Sydney meant too much to Julian. They had grown up together, depending on each other for comfort and survival. No one could ever replace her in his heart. Now that she had finally softened toward him, he wanted her close, within arm's reach, unwilling to let her go even for a moment.
Still, Agatha couldn't help but advise him gently, "Even if she's going to be your wife, she needs her own life and her own friends. Does she interfere with your social circle or the people you talk to?" The question hit home. "No, she doesn't." Julian's voice was low and faintly defensive. In truth, he almost wished she would. Sydney never meddled. She even used to help other girls deliver their love letters to him. "Exactly." Agatha nodded with approval. "You need to trust her judgment. There's no reason to treat a phone call like it's a declaration of war.
If she and Caleb were truly right for each other, do you think they'd have divorced in the first place?" Meanwhile, Sydney had stepped aside, phone pressed to her ear. "Hello? Cal?" "Syd." Caleb exhaled in quiet relief at the sound of her voice. "Nancy baked some of your favorite cookies. When will you be home? I'll bring them up to you." After a short pause, she said, "No need." Then, realizing she should explain, she added softly, "I haven't been staying at Haven lately." "Then you're staying..." He stopped short.
His hand tightened around the phone until his knuckles turned white, something twisting sharply in his chest. Sydney wasn't social, and her circle was small. In all of Jouleston, there were only a few people she was truly close to. Tiffany still lived at Haven. So if Sydney wasn't there, there was only one place she could be-Julian's. 1/2 No matter how hard he tried, Caleb couldn't bear the thought of her living under another man's roof. He forced out a low, brittle laugh to hide the ache in his throat. "Right. By the way, Grandma's stomach's been acting up again.
Would you have time to come to the estate and check on her?" Then, he added gently, "My mother shouldn't be home tomorrow. You won't run into her." That last line struck directly at Sydney's hesitation. She didn't want to see Adeline again. Every encounter ended in tension. 'If Adeline won't be there, then...' "Alright," she said after a moment. "I'll find time tomorrow." Adeline might be difficult, but Benjamin and Dorothy had always been kind to her. Now that Dorothy was unwell, she couldn't ignore it-whether out of duty or simple compassion.
Caleb exhaled, the tightness in his chest easing a little. "Good." Finally, he would get to see her again. How long had it been? Once, they'd shared a home. Now, he needed an excuse just to hear her voice. As the call ended, a new message flashed across his screen from an unknown number. Caleb frowned, his thumb hovering over Delete. But before he pressed it, he hesitated. 2/2 Mark Twain