Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Caleb hummed. When he turned back, the storm in his eyes had vanished. “You’re off work?”

“Yeap.” Penelope looped her arms around his, pouting playfully. “I’m exhausted. Dr. Morales had a ton of patients this morning,”

Learning under Ryan was tough, but she was picking up skills-at the cost of total exhaustion.

She had no idea how Sydney managed the workload alone. Then again, that woman was beneath her. They weren’t

the same.

Caleb studied her quietly. “Did you get the pendant back from Sydney?”

“Sure did.” Penelope smiled, tugging him toward the car.

She muttered under her breath, “Don’t know what’s gotten into her. Maybe she’s still holding a grudge over that hotel incident. She kept insisting the pendant wasn’t mine. Crazy, right?”

She couldn’t risk Sydney taking the matter to Caleb herself. It was better to plant the seed first.

What she hadn’t expected was that Sydney had already anticipated her move.

Caleb paused ever so slightly before chuckling softly, his tone warm and casual. “By the way, Penny, do you remember which hospital my dad stayed in back then?”

Penelope froze for a split second before smiling. “Didn’t your mom stay in the hospital? Not your dad.”

She’d overheard the service staff mention it before. Caleb’s father had died instantly in a car accident, while his mother had spent months recovering.

She dug her nails into her palm but forced a thoughtful expression, tilting her head as if straining to remember.” But… it’s been so many years. I honestly can’t recall which hospital it was.”

That afternoon, Sydney went to the lab as usual. With a key medicinal ingredient out of stock, she wrapped up early and headed home.

On the way, Tiffany called. “Babe, almost forgot. The other apartment? The agent said it got rented yesterday.”

Sydney had two apartments from the divorce, both in Haven. One was her current place, and the other was across the hall. With only two units per floor and two elevators, they rarely ran into each other.

She had asked an agent to rent the other unit, but the high rent and her request for a single tenant had kept it

vacant.

“That was fast,” Sydney exclaimed.

“Yeah.” Tiffany was also on her way home. “The agent said the tenant was straightforward. Didn’t even see the place. Just heard the unit number and signed.”

“That’s not suspicious?” Sydney muttered.

Tiffany cleared her throat, sharing her unease. “Well, the agent said they thought the number was… lucky.”

Building 2, Unit 2-Apartment 2202.

Lucky? How? Who even thought like that?

Soon, Sydney found out.

When she returned, the door across from hers stood wide open, furniture scattered across the entryway.

Everything was high-end. The mattress alone was worth five figures.

Her lips twitched. How did she end up with such a wealthy tenant?

Just then, a dog bounded out. It froze at the sight of her, then stared straight with dark, intelligent eyes.

Sydney stared back.

It was a border collie, its markings eerily like an oversized Yoyo.

Before she could react, the dog leapt up, paws on her, sniffing her all over-the same way Yoyo would greet her after school.

Sydney crouched, rubbing its head. “Little fella, did you mistake me for your owner?”

“Yoyo, get back here.” A low, familiar voice drifted over.

Julian strolled out, one hand in his pocket, his gaze sliding lazily between the dog and Sydney. “Didn’t you hear her? Wrong person. Your mom doesn’t want you anymore.”

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