Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 391

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You** by Aurelia Novel 391

In the past, she had found herself in this position countless times, but the weight of it felt heavier now.

During her time in Eloise’s courtyard, which stretched for over a year, the once-bright and self-assured girl she had been had gradually become a mere shadow of herself. It was Julian who had been her anchor, the one who constantly urged her to rise above her circumstances and reclaim her strength.

“Precious, remember, this is your home. Our home. You are the one who holds the power to shape what happens here,” he would say, his voice a steady beacon in her darkest moments.

“Don’t let fear consume you. If everything falls apart, I promise to keep you safe,” he reassured her with unwavering conviction.

“Follow your heart. I’m right here with you,” he would remind her, his presence a comforting balm to her fraying nerves.

Thanks to him, she had painstakingly reassembled the pieces of her identity, rediscovering the vibrant spirit that once defined her.

But now, as she sat alone in her room, she couldn’t help but wonder why it had all spiraled into this cruel reality. How had her life twisted into a nightmare? How could her parents’ tragic deaths be linked to the hands of his grandmother?

From his vantage point on the high floor, Julian was unable to see her, even if her tears flowed freely. Yet, Sydney, in an act of defiance, yanked the curtains shut, blocking his view entirely.

Ignoring the warm tears that traced down her cheeks, she inhaled deeply, steeling herself. She forced a steadiness into her voice as she declared, “It’s late. I’m going to bed.”

Below, Julian stood, staring at the abruptly drawn curtains, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, the line went dead, replaced by the chilling sound of mechanical beeps.

She had hung up.

Nearby, in the car, Elliot and Peter were deep in conversation when Julian approached, his demeanor dark and foreboding.

Elliot immediately wiped the smile off his face, swinging open the car door. “Mr. Sterling, are you heading back to the mansion?” he asked, his tone carefully measured.

“Mm.” Julian slipped into the car, his voice icy as he demanded, “I instructed you to track Caleb’s movements. What did you uncover?”

What kind of influence did that man wield over Sydney?

“Nothing out of the ordinary lately,” Elliot replied, his brow furrowing in thought. “The only peculiar detail is that he’s been keeping people near the old estate.”

He paused, weighing his next words carefully. “Oh, and he went to Brimcrest City a while back and stayed for an extended period. We couldn’t pinpoint his activities there; it seems he intentionally covered his tracks.”

Julian’s frown deepened. “Brimcrest and monitoring the old estate? What could he possibly be planning?”

He mused that whatever details might have slipped past him would not elude the watchful eyes of the Hutton family’s extensive network.

“No problem,” Raymond chimed in easily, though his tone was laced with caution. “But you haven’t been getting too close to Sydney lately, right?”

Julian’s recent return to Delta Mansion was common knowledge, yet given his volatile nature, restraint was never guaranteed.

Flint remained unaccounted for, and if the enemy chose to strike now, Sydney could easily become their pawn. If anything were to happen to her, Julian knew he would spiral out of control.

“Relax,” Julian said dryly, a hint of bitter humor curling at the corners of his lips. “Not just in public. Privately, we’ve maintained our distance as well.”

Even a simple phone call had ended with her abruptly hanging up.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify