Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 253

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You**
**by Aurelia**
**Novel 253**

**Chapter 253**

Sydney had always found the early morning light to be a comforting embrace, a warm blanket that chased away the shadows of the night. However, today, she awoke in a house that felt heavy with gloom, each corner shrouded in an unsettling darkness that made her heart race. The absence of brightness, the absence of warmth, unsettled her deeply. She craved the sun’s glow, the way it illuminated every surface, making the world outside feel alive and vibrant.

But this place—this was not her sanctuary. With a sense of urgency, she hurried down the staircase, her footsteps echoing softly in the silence.

“Syd.” Caleb’s voice floated through the air from the living room, a soothing melody that contrasted sharply with the melancholy atmosphere. It was warm and gentle, yet beneath that warmth lay an undercurrent of something she couldn’t quite grasp—an emotion that danced just out of reach, elusive and mysterious.

Curiosity tugged at her, and she turned her head slightly. Caleb was seated on the sofa, his posture relaxed yet somehow burdened, his amber eyes dulled to mere shards of their usual brilliance. He seemed to be enveloped in a cloak of loneliness, a feeling that resonated in the space between them. But as their eyes met, a flicker of light returned to his gaze, a spark that momentarily chased away the shadows.

He stood, moving toward her with a deliberate grace, though his voice was rough, the remnants of a sleepless night evident in his tone. “You must be hungry. Please, eat something before you leave.”

His gaze dropped to her hand, which rested protectively over her stomach, as if he could sense the gnawing hunger within her.

“All right,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. The ache in her belly was too persistent to ignore any longer.

Nancy, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, rushed into the room from the kitchen, her arms laden with steaming dishes. “Mr. Hampton prepared all of this just for you. I hope you enjoy it while it’s still hot!”

She moved with an energetic efficiency, and within moments, the table was transformed into a feast, plates overflowing with vibrant colors, bowls of fragrant soup, and neatly arranged utensils that sparkled in the dim light.

Sydney couldn’t help but feel a flicker of surprise; she had never known Caleb to be much of a cook. In the three years they had been married, their shared meals had been few and far between, often overshadowed by the chaos of their lives.

He pulled out the chair she used to prefer, the one that bore the imprint of her presence. “Give it a try. If it’s not to your taste, Nancy has prepared other options.”

“Mm.” She nodded, settling into the chair with a quiet composure that masked the turmoil within her.

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