Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 137

Chapter 137

Chapter 137

The moment Sydney spoke the name, she saw the feral violence spark in Caleb’s gaze.

He fixed her with a hard stare. “You’re sure you’re not mistaken?”

Sydney had never seen him like this. Instinctively, she stepped back until her spine hit the car door.

“I’m sure,” she said.

Caleb braced his hand against the car, veins standing out under his skin. He forced his voice steady. “Then… Do you still have contact with this friend?”

He already knew the answer would be no. In all the years he had known her, he had never seen anyone by her side except Tiffany-and Tiffany was from Jouleston,

Sydney kept it simple. “No.”

She tugged on the car door. “I have things to do. Please move.”

Caleb slowly withdrew his hand. “Alright…”

He stayed rooted, watching her car until it disappeared, then his expression darkened. He pulled out his phone and dialed. “Gordon, get me the records from Mount Pine Orphanage from back then.”

“All of them?” Gordon sounded surprised.

“Just the ones close to Penny’s age,” Caleb said, eyes hard.

“Mr. Hampton, I’ve already been checking,” Gordon admitted. “There weren’t many kids around Ms. Monroe’s age. Fewer still who match your description. Only one girl really fits. Brimcrest City local. Five years old. Sent there by the police. Lived by Moonlight Garden before…”

“Moonlight Garden?” Caleb cut in.

“Yes.” Gordon hesitated. “But her case was unusual. Through some unofficial channels, I found out she was the orphan of two narcotics officers who died in the line of duty. When she was placed in the orphanage, the police even changed her name to protect her from retaliation. No record of her real name exists.”

Caleb’s temples throbbed. “Where is she now?”

“Still working on it,” Gordon admitted. “She was adopted just two months later. The trail went cold after that.”

A snarl tore from Caleb as he slammed his fist into the side of the car.

Gordon kept talking, but Caleb’s thoughts had already gone back 20 years.

Back then…

Caleb was 10, visiting his maternal grandfather in Brimcrest City with his parents. On the icy road by Moonlight Garden, an oncoming truck crushed the driver’s side of their car. His father died instantly. His mother was knocked unconscious. He was trapped in the back seat, badly hurt and terrified.

Then a little girl ran up, tugging a man in a police uniform.

“Daddy, Daddy, please save this boy!” she shouted.

The officer pulled him out first, then called for backup.

Caleb sat by the roadside, sobbing, as his father’s body was dragged from the wreckage. Two small hands covered his eyes.

“Don’t look. Don’t be scared,” the little girl said.

While his mother recovered in the hospital, the same officer brought the girl to visit a few times. The last time was when his mother was transferred back to Jouleston.

Fat tears rolled down the little girl’s cheeks as she tried to act tough. “Don’t forget. You have to come play with me. in the future. Remember, I’m Precious!”

How could he forget?

Caleb slammed his fist into the car again, eyes burning red. If Penelope really wasn’t her, he didn’t know what he might do.

His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked when footsteps clicked behind him in high heels.

Recalling Sydney’s words, Penelope pressed down her guilt and softened her steps. She tapped Caleb’s back lightly and forced a playful tone. “It’s been forever since you picked me up after work. Nice of you to finally remember.”

F