Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

“Yeah.” Bruce offered a smooth smile as he gestured toward the silk–wrapped gift box on the table. “Sydney’s been

buried in work. She just dropped off a present and left early.”

Julian’s eyes shifted to the box. A flicker of emotion passed through them.

The earlier tension faded without incident. Everyone drank freely through the second half of the night. As the birthday

star, Bruce kept just sober enough to send off his guests properly.

After seeing off the second–to–last group of friends, he returned to the private room. Julian was still there, calm and

composed, his eyes dark as ink and fixed on him.

“Tell me the truth about what happened tonight,” Julian said, his voice tinged with a quiet chill.

Bruce staggered slightly as he crossed the room, his head clouded with drink. He dropped onto the couch beside Julian.

“Jules, it was just a bunch of women getting jealous, that’s all.” He lowered his voice. “But if you still care about Sydney

-even just as a sister–you should tell her to get a divorce. That kind of marriage is a waste of time.”

It was a rare moment of sincerity from him.

Julian let out a cold laugh and said with a hint of mockery, “She’s hell–bent on throwing herself at Caleb. No one can

stop her.”

Bruce’s bloodshot eyes gleamed with sudden clarity. “Ever think maybe she doesn’t want to?”

Sydney’s place in the Sterling family might have looked stable from the outside, but those within their circle knew

better. She hadn’t had it easy in that house.

Take the online scandal, for example. Eloise always claimed to adore her, yet when the rumors spread like wildfire, the

Sterlings said nothing. Not once did they step forward to defend her.

If she’d been a real granddaughter, the family would’ve shown their power by now. They would’ve stormed the

Hamptons‘ mansion without hesitation.

Yet, they had done nothing. Not a word.

And what had Julian done?

…

The next morning, Bruce stared at the ceiling, piecing it together through the fog of his hangover.

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Still, Bruce remembered the ridiculing edge in his tone. “She had choices. She just doesn’t know her place.”

Bruce frowned. This wasn’t some ordinary falling–out. Something ran deeper between them, something unresolved.

“Blue silk box?” She paused, thinking. “I don’t think I saw one.”

“No way.” Bruce stood up and grabbed his car keys. He was ready to drive to the club as he suspected that he must have

left it behind.

Just then, the chauffeur stepped in from the courtyard. He’d overheard and called out, “Mr. Wilhelm! You blacked out

last night, remember? Mr. Sterling took that box.”

“He took it?”

“Yeah. He asked about it. You didn’t answer, so he said your silence meant he had the green light.”

‘Green light, my ass. I was passed out cold,‘ he grumbled inwardly.

Bruce scratched his messy hair. Not even in his dreams would he have the guts to ask Julian to give it back.

As he turned to head upstairs, something occurred to him. He pulled out his phone and made a call.

“Hey, Jules. I put a good luck charm Sydney dropped last night in that box. Can you make sure it gets back to her?”

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