Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

When Caleb stood before Sydney, the harsh edge in his demeanor faded. He softened visibly,

though an unreadable shadow lingered behind his eyes.

“You’re back.” Sydney took half a step back and spoke softly. “Have you eaten yet? Nancy made dinner-”

“Sydney,” he cut in, his voice tight as he chose his words carefully. “About what’s online… It’s not what it looks like. I can explain.”

“Mm. I believe you,” she replied calmly, without hesitation.

Caleb froze. He had always known Sydney was obedient, but this was not a scenario he had prepared for.

Before coming home, his friends had told him he was doomed. No woman, no matter how gentle, would stay silent after learning her husband had cheated.

But Sydney did not cry. She did not scream or slap him. Nothing. That calm, almost

perfunctory trust twisted something inside him. Something was wrong.

He frowned, and a word surfaced in his mind. ‘Indifference.‘

Sydney did not care. She did not care whether he cheated or kissed another woman. Her face

showed no emotion. She looked as serene as ever.

She grabbed a coat casually. “I’m heading to the hospital to check on Grandma.”

Caleb suddenly felt something slipping away. Without thinking, he reached out, gently caught her wrist, and carefully probed, “Syd, aren’t you even a little angry?”

Sydney blinked, slightly surprised.

Being the Hampton family’s daughter–in–law was no easy task. She thought this calm reaction would ease Caleb’s mind. But no, it wasn’t relief he sought. He wanted her anger.

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As he waited anxiously, she looked at him calmly and asked slowly, “If I said I was angry, would you cut ties with Penelope?”

Caleb’s expression faltered. After a beat, he said, “Sydney, believe it or not, there’s really nothing going on between us. After my birthday, I’ll have her move out.”

“And you?” Sydney asked, looking him straight in the eye.

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fighting. What no one knew was how little intimacy they shared. Caleb had always kept her at a distance.

It took her a long time to recognize the difference between “busy” and “avoidant.” She once thought he was overwhelmed with work, too tied up to spend time with his new wife. Maybe that explained why he always slept in the study.

Now, as his fingers moved through her hair, drying it as if second nature, Sydney panicked. She stood abruptly and created some distance between them. Facing him, she blurted, “Do you have something you want to say to me?”

His behavior was so unlike him that she could not help but question him.

“Syd.” Caleb switched off the dryer. After a moment of hesitation, he met her eyes and finally said what he had come to say. “I need you to make a public statement online to help clear things up.”

Not interesting at all