Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 275

**Chapter 275**

A palpable tension hung in the air, freezing not just Sydney but also Charlotte, as the weight of Eloise’s request settled heavily around them. The gravity of the situation was unmistakable: Eloise actually expected Sydney to persuade Julian to agree to this marriage.

Sydney’s mind whirled with confusion, but she masked it with a carefully crafted facade. “Marriage is a serious matter,” she replied, her voice steady yet laced with uncertainty. “Shouldn’t you be the one concerned about this? After all, I’m younger than he is. It hardly seems appropriate for me to bring it up.”

In her heart, Sydney knew Julian’s temperament all too well. If he had set his mind against marrying someone, no amount of persuasion could sway him. The fact that Eloise had approached her meant that Julian had likely dismissed the idea outright. The last thing she wanted was to tread on that precarious ground.

Eloise’s eyes, clouded with frustration, narrowed into slits, her displeasure radiating like a storm about to break. A cold, mirthless laugh escaped her lips. “So now that you have someone backing you, you’ve sprouted wings? I raised you all these years for nothing—”

Sydney felt a wave of guilt wash over her, but she refused to let it show. She didn’t want to escalate the situation or invite more trouble into her life. With a tone that was both serious and weary, she softened her approach. “Grandmother, my relationship with him may have improved, but you know exactly what kind of man he is. He left me without a shred of mercy before. How could he possibly dote on me now?”

She paused, her heart aching as she continued, “At best, I’m merely a fleeting distraction for him, like a pet that provides some amusement. I never dared to take it seriously, yet here you are, treating it as if it were something of great importance.”

Just then, Julian entered the Sterling estate, his presence commanding and unmistakable. As he made his way toward the dining room, he caught the tail end of Sydney’s heartfelt words, spoken with an honesty that pierced through the air.

His expression darkened immediately, a storm brewing behind his eyes.

In the midst of her sentence, Sydney felt a flicker of awareness, as if the atmosphere had shifted. She turned her head, half-expecting to see Julian, but instead, a stray cat darted past her, a mere distraction in the unfolding drama.

Eloise, however, took Sydney’s words to heart. She was not ready to concede defeat after having summoned her granddaughter home. “In any case, you must find an opportunity. Try to bring it up with him,” she insisted, her voice firm and unwavering.

It was a desperate last-ditch effort, a hope that perhaps the unruly man would listen to Sydney, the one person he might be inclined to hear out.

Lowering her lashes, Sydney replied meekly, “All right, I’ll find a chance.”

With that, Eloise, having achieved her objective, finally relented and refrained from pressing further.

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