Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 279

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You**
**by Aurelia**
**Novel 279**

**Chapter 279**

As Caleb prepared to step out of the elevator, he cast a fleeting glance at Julian, his voice laced with an unmistakable hint of desperation. “For what I just said, I’ll need to ask you to put in a little more effort.”

Julian inclined his head just enough to acknowledge the request. With that, Caleb turned on his heel and strode away, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

The elevator doors glided shut with a soft whoosh, sealing off the moment.

Sydney, standing nearby, furrowed her brow in confusion. “What did he mean by extra effort?” she asked, her instincts prickling with the feeling that it had something to do with her.

Julian’s cool, assessing gaze flickered over her, his expression unreadable. “He mentioned that he would have divorced you eight hundred times by now if he hadn’t realized he was mistaken about the person he was dealing with.”

Her heart skipped a beat, but Sydney was quick to dismiss the notion. She didn’t believe a single word of it; that was just typical Julian, twisting the truth with his dry wit. Yet, if Caleb genuinely felt that way, perhaps it would serve her interests just fine.

When a heavy silence settled between them, Julian’s lips curled into a teasing smile. “Feeling heartbroken?”

“What on earth would I be heartbroken about?” Sydney shot back, her voice firm and defiant. “At least I’ve been married once. What about you? All you’ve got is a picture of your crush tucked away in your wallet.”

A mocking smile danced on her lips. “I never thought you’d choose the path of repressed, restrained love—”

But before she could finish her thought, Julian’s hand shot up to pinch her cheeks, contorting her face in a way that made her gasp. His other hand swiftly covered the camera lens of her phone. Leaning in, he captured her lips in a kiss that was both unexpected and electrifying, swallowing every protest that threatened to escape her mouth.

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