Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 257

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 257**

**Chapter 257**

Caleb couldn’t help but feel a faint smile tug at the corners of his mouth as he watched Sydney’s anger flare up in response to him. Her cheeks were flushed with indignation, and her eyes sparkled with a fierce vitality that reminded him of a stormy sea—wild and captivating.

He was acutely aware of the internal battle she waged against him, pouring every ounce of her strength into resisting his presence. Yet, despite that, an irresistible urge to bridge the distance between them surged within him. No matter how hard he tried, he knew that any gesture he made to atone for his past transgressions would never truly reconcile the pain he had caused her.

With a deep breath, he pressed his lips together, cutting through the tension in the air. “Julian is back. Didn’t you want his help investigating your parents’ deaths? He’ll be at the same restaurant where I’m meeting Bruce at noon. You can confront him directly.”

‘Back already?’ Sydney thought, suspicion creeping into her mind like a shadow.

She fixed him with a piercing stare, her gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. “Are you lying to me again?”

Julian had told her he would be gone for four days, and by her calculations, only three remained.

Caleb exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of her doubt pressing down on him. “You’ll see for yourself. The Lindstrom family has booked the private room. It’s already the talk of the town—everyone’s buzzing about Charlotte’s upcoming marriage to Julian.”

Her nails dug into her palm, betraying her anxiety, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “Got it.”

‘So, he’s returned early. Too busy orchestrating a wedding to bother returning my calls. Or did he deliberately mislead me about his timeline, ensuring his mistress remained blissfully unaware of his real life?’ The thoughts swirled in her mind like a tempest, leaving her feeling unsettled.

As noon approached, a flurry of luxury shopping bags arrived, filled with this season’s most coveted designer dresses.

Without a second thought, Sydney grabbed one at random and followed Caleb to the restaurant, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and trepidation.

The restaurant was a dazzling display of opulence, every detail meticulously crafted to exude wealth and sophistication. Even the steps leading to the entrance shimmered with inlaid gemstones, reflecting the light like stars scattered across the night sky. No one could enter without a reservation; it was a fortress of exclusivity.

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