Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 326

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You**
**by Aurelia**
**Novel 326**

**Chapter 326**

“Got it!” Sydney exclaimed, her voice muffled as Julian playfully squished her cheeks between his fingers. The slight lisp in her words added an unexpected charm, making her seem almost adorable in that moment.

Julian’s eyes were glued to her face, drinking in the sight of her, until an involuntary shift in his focus broke the spell. He recalled how often he used to tease her like this, pinching her cheeks and eliciting laughter or feigned annoyance. Sometimes she would play along, her laughter ringing like music, while other times, like now, she would pull away in irritation.

In that fleeting moment, Sydney detected a subtle change in Julian’s expression. His gaze softened, revealing a glimpse of the tenderness that once defined their friendship—the Julian who had always been there to indulge her whims and support her dreams.

The atmosphere around them thickened with an electric charge, a palpable tension that hung in the air like static before a storm. When Julian leaned in closer, his eyes ignited with an intensity that made her heart race. Instinctively, she averted her gaze, her pulse quickening.

Just as their lips were about to meet, the shrill sound of the doorbell shattered the moment like glass.

Both of them froze, caught in the sudden interruption.

Sydney jerked back, her heart still pounding. “Someone’s here!” she exclaimed, panic threading through her voice.

“Of all the times,” Julian muttered, annoyance creeping into his tone as he clicked his tongue in frustration. Reluctantly, he released her and strode toward the door, his shoulders tense with irritation.

As he swung the door open, his brows knitted together in a frown. “Why are you here now?” he demanded, the irritation in his voice unmistakable.

Raymond, standing in the doorway, picked up on the tension immediately. He knew the unspoken rules: whenever Sydney was inside, Julian didn’t welcome visitors. It was a lesson learned through experience. Anyone who dared to act like Caleb and encroach on Sydney’s space was playing a dangerous game. Raymond might not fully grasp the depths of Julian’s protectiveness, but he respected it nonetheless.

Yet, the thought of Sydney being inside made a grin spread across Raymond’s face. “She’s here, right? Let me in, I need to see her,” he said, his excitement bubbling over.

Julian remained unmoved, his expression hardening. “What for?”

“Relax. I’m not Caleb,” Raymond replied, his tone light, but the lack of tact was evident. It was no wonder their friendship had nearly imploded under the weight of their contrasting personalities.

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