Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 172

Sydney didn’t know why her eyes suddenly burned. She jumped down from the table and walked out without looking back.

Julian watched her go, her sudden flight striking him like a slap to the chest. The restless heat beneath his skin only intensified. When the front door slammed shut, he swung his long leg and sent a dining chair crashing to

the floor.

On December 29th, Tiffany left for home to celebrate the New Year.

After seeing her off, Sydney crawled back into bed for another round of sleep.

Half–dreaming, she remembered that Bruce and the others would gather at Julian’s for a housewarming. She had promised to go. But now she and Caleb were “fake divorced,” and Julian might not welcome a mistress showing up in front of his friends. Thus, she simply rolled over, buried herself deeper in her pillow, and fell back asleep.

The doorbell rang just as Sydney finished washing up near noon. She hurried to answer, phone in hand. “Jul—”

The word froze on her tongue. Something hollowed her chest, yet her smile remained. “Agatha! Happy New Year. What a surprise. Come in, come in.”

Agatha entered, her kindly face soft.

“Happy New Year, child. It’s the holiday, so I fried some food for you–meatballs and banana fritters,” she said warmly.

A sudden warmth bloomed in Sydney’s chest. “I thought you’d be busy with your grandson, so I planned to visit in a few days.”

“Oh, don’t even mention him.” Agatha feigned annoyance as she bustled about, tucking the food neatly into the fridge. “He’s too busy to care about me. I don’t even know if he’ll come home for New Year’s Eve.”

“He’s that busy?”

“Busy, aye!” She hesitated, then looked at Sydney with a hint of guilt. “This is my fault. When I tried to match you two, I didn’t realize he already had a girl he liked. These past few days, he’s been chasing after her, burning hot.”

“Ah?” Sydney smiled easily. “That’s wonderful! It means he finally gets what he wants. And you won’t have to worry about his marriage anymore.”

The matchmaking had never weighed heavily on her. The last time she went, she had only wanted to meet once so she could stop mentioning it. When she showed up and the man did not, she knew they had shared the same thought.

“Maybe so.” Agatha sighed, troubled, “The only thing is that I don’t know how the girl feels.”

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“Why not?”

“I asked him to bring her home for me to meet. He refused. Said they’d just started dating and she’s still adjusting. He was afraid that bringing her home too soon would scare her off.”

Sydney couldn’t help thinking of what she had told Julian in his car–that she was still in her “adjustment period.” Still, their situations were hardly the same. That girl was a proper girlfriend. Sydney was nothing more

than a mistress hidden in the dark.

She smiled to comfort Agatha. “Young people have their own pace. Just wait, and he’ll bring his future wife home soon enough.”

“Hopefully he doesn’t push her away.” Agatha’s worry was clear. “That boy is hard–mouthed and soft–hearted. He could chase her off without realizing it.”

Sydney laughed softly. She thought of Julian again. He was indeed hard–mouthed, but his heart was anything

but soft.

Because it was nearly New Year’s, Agatha did not stay long. At the door, she extended one final invitation.” Sydney, why don’t you come to my house tomorrow night? Spend New Year’s Eve with us.”

Sydney knew Agatha feared she would spend the holiday alone. However, she had grown used to that long ago. She smiled. “No need. Let me wish you an early New Year. May all your wishes come true, and may you meet your granddaughter–in–law soon.”

After sending Agatha off, Sydney returned to find her refrigerator crammed full. She laughed softly. Before leaving the country, Eliana had stocked her up with food as well.

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