Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 344

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 344**

**Chapter 344**

As Caleb parted his lips to speak, the elevator doors slid apart with a soft hiss, interrupting the moment. The sudden shift in atmosphere felt suffocating, as if the very air had thickened around them, laden with unspoken words and unresolved tension.

Sydney instinctively dropped her gaze, her heart racing. She could feel the weight of Julian’s eyes on her, mirroring her own reluctance to engage. Caleb, caught in the middle of their silent turmoil, opted for silence, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern.

When the elevator finally reached his floor, Caleb glanced back at Sydney, his voice barely above a whisper. “If anything happens, reach out to me anytime.” His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken promises. With that, he stepped out, leaving the two of them behind in a space that suddenly felt far too intimate.

Inside the confined space of the elevator, only Sydney and Julian remained. They stood apart, two solitary figures in a small metal box, each lost in their own thoughts.

Sydney felt no urge to explain her feelings or her choices. ‘Let him misunderstand,’ she thought bitterly. ‘It’s for the best. The arrogant prince wouldn’t lower himself to entangle with a lovesick fool like me.’ She could almost feel the weight of the contract they had signed together, a binding agreement that would soon be severed. The thought brought a strange sense of relief; it was the clean break she needed.

She wouldn’t allow herself to dwell on sadness. After all, they had parted ways before, and she had grown accustomed to solitude. When the time came for her to seek vengeance for her parents, Julian would have every reason to despise her without a second thought. It was a necessary distance, a protective barrier for both of them.

The elevator doors opened on the 22nd floor, and Sydney wasted no time. She stepped out with a determination that belied the turmoil within her. Each step was resolute, but inside, she felt as if she were on the brink of unraveling. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her falter.

Julian, however, watched her retreat with a sense of helplessness that quickly morphed into icy resolve. He stepped out in the opposite direction, his patience fraying. ‘Let her do what she wants. If she chooses to remarry Caleb, then so be it.’

It was just a wedding gift, he reminded himself, something he could easily afford. Had he ever been stingy with her? He could easily make it an even grander gesture than the one he had given her for her first marriage.

But as he opened his own door, his eyes fell on a pair of house slippers neatly placed by the entrance—hers. A rush of emotion tightened his chest, and he felt an overwhelming wave of something indescribable wash over him.

In that moment, he pivoted sharply and strode purposefully toward her apartment.

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