Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 277

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

Sydney had just settled into her seat, the fabric of the chair still cool beneath her fingers, when she felt an unmistakable wave of displeasure emanating from the man seated next to her. It was as if the air had thickened with his discontent, wrapping around her like a suffocating shroud. She turned her head, her heart racing, and found herself ensnared by the icy glare in his eyes.

In that moment, a sudden realization washed over her like a cold tide. The unsettling noise she had heard earlier outside the dining room door hadn’t been the innocent mewing of a stray cat, as she had initially thought. No, it had been this very man, Julian, his frustration echoing through the corridor.

Before he could unleash his words, Sydney felt an urgent need to clarify her position. “I only agreed to her request on the surface,” she blurted out, her voice trembling slightly. “I never intended to interfere in your relationship with Ms. Lindstrom.” The weight of her confession hung heavily in the air, a fragile bridge between them.

Of course, she couldn’t reveal the truth behind her decision—the pressure that had compelled her to act. No matter how strained Julian’s relationship with Eloise had become, she was still his grandmother, a figure of authority and affection. And Sydney? She was merely an outsider, an intruder in their complicated family dynamic.

Julian interrupted her, his lips twisting into a sneer that sent a shiver racing down her spine—not from guilt, but from a deep-rooted fear of his disdain. “That’s true. I’m such a heartless man. How dare you meddle in my affairs?” His tone dripped with sarcasm, a weapon designed to cut her down.

A rush of defiance surged within her. She lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes with a fierce intensity. “Was I wrong to say that?” she challenged, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

The echoes of their past flooded her mind, memories sharp and vivid. Years ago, she had perceived him as heartless, convinced that any affection he showed was nothing more than a fleeting whim. She had never allowed herself to take his feelings seriously, not even for a fleeting moment.

In the depths of her heart, she had convinced herself that she had moved on, that the past was behind her. Yet, here she was, her chest heavy with unspoken words, her nose tingling, and tears threatening to spill over, ignited by the same old sense of grievance that had haunted her for years.

Julian had been simmering with anger, but as his gaze fell upon the redness around her eyes, something shifted within him. The fire in his chest flickered and dimmed, replaced by an unexpected tenderness. Just like in their youth, she lifted her chin defiantly, refusing to back down, silently demanding an answer from him.

He studied her in silence, the air thick with unspoken words, before finally relenting. “You’re not wrong. So, what do you want?” His voice was softer now, but she could still detect the underlying arrogance that came from a man accustomed to wielding power.