Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 161

That one line crushed Sydney’s dignity underfoot.

In truth, she would not yield. If pushed far enough, she might crawl back to Caleb or Adeline. If she drained herself dry, she could still find a way to shield Tiffany.

But now, staring into Julian’s fathomless eyes, her stubborn streak flared. She would not lower her head,

Sydney let out a bitter chuckle. “Maybe Caleb. Or maybe Victor? Or if some old man takes a liking to me, I’d agree

to that too.”

The bathroom door slammed open, crashing against the wall and cutting her words off.

Julian strode in, scooped her up, and carried her to the living room sofa. Then he turned back, fetched a soft towel from the bathroom, and returned. His expression remained blank, but cold waves of displeasure radiated off him.

Sydney shrank back instinctively. He sat anyway, caught both her ankles in one hand, and laid her feet across his knee. Wrapping the towel around them, he dabbed away the water with deliberate, steady strokes. His long, well -boned fingers moved over her skin with an unexpected, almost beautiful precision.

Maybe because he had wiped her feet countless times when they were younger, Sydney did not feel nervous.

When he finished, he set the towel aside and glanced at her, unhurried. “Your period’s over?”

Her whole body stiffened. She had not expected him to cut to the point so quickly. She shook her head and replied in a rush, “Not yet.”

At her words, Julian unwrapped a cube of brown sugar and dropped it into the glass of hot water on the table. He stirred once, then handed it to her.

Sydney blinked, belatedly realizing where her thoughts had wandered. Flustered, she took the cup. “Thank you.”

“Drink it. Then sleep.” He stood, tossed a thin blanket onto her lap, and added coolly, “Cover up.”

She could not hold back. “And Tiffany?”

“Sleep.” Without waiting for her reaction, he stepped onto the balcony with his phone and slid the soundproof door shut behind him. That was his answer.

Sydney’s chest finally eased as she watched his tall, straight figure silhouetted against the dawn. She clutched the warm cup, drank in gulps, and let the rising drowsiness pull her under.

She did not think about whether he could truly save Tiffany.

Since childhood, she had seen him as capable of anything. Even so, worry gnawed at her dreams. Her sleep was

shallow and fitful.

Barely two hours later, she stirred awake.

The blanket against her cheek smelled of sandalwood. The familiarity made her frown before her eyes even

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opened. One look around, and she froze fully awake.

She had fallen asleep in Julian’s bed.

She had come begging for help, yet ended up sleeping here as if it were nothing. Heat of embarrassment crawled over her as she slipped out from under the covers and padded toward the morning light spilling through the

windows.

The living room was empty. Instinct carried her to the kitchen, and she stopped in her tracks.

For the first time, she saw Julian–the man who never so much as touched a cup–standing at the stove, stirring a pot of soup.

Something about the scene dulled the sharp edge of his presence. The quiet domestic ease lent him a startling trace of husbandly warmth.

She stepped closer, ready to speak, until she realized he was on the phone. One hand held his cell, the other gently stirred the soup with a ceramic ladle, keeping it from sticking to the bottom.

“Relax, I didn’t stay up all night. Yes, yes, you’re right, staying up will kill me early. But let me remind you, if I die, no one will be here to look after you.” His tone was low, patient, coaxing, like he was soothing someone.

At that moment, Sydney realized something she had almost forgotten: Julian had a girlfriend.

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