Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 300

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 300**

**Chapter 300**

Sydney felt the heat rise to her cheeks, a flush igniting her face as a fit of coughing overtook her. The moment she lifted her gaze, it collided with Julian’s unwavering stare, his eyes steady and penetrating.

In that instant, Julian was acutely aware of the tumultuous thoughts swirling in her mind. He lowered his gaze just a fraction, his voice measured and deliberate as he asked, “What were you thinking about, to choke like that?”

His demeanor was so composed, so impeccably proper, that Sydney found herself questioning her own thoughts. Had she really been the one with the indecorous imagination?

With two witnesses seated in the front, the words “I was thinking about how you came too fast” lingered on her lips, but she couldn’t bring herself to utter them. Even if Julian could afford to cast aside his dignity, she still clung to hers fiercely. He seemed far too confident that she wouldn’t dare voice such a thought.

So she remained silent, knowing that when it came to their verbal duels, he often had the upper hand.

As the car finally rolled to a stop in front of Haven, Sydney flung open the door and stepped out, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Just as she turned toward the entrance, a warm hand enveloped hers, halting her in her tracks.

Julian had moved alongside her, his presence both comforting and electrifying. “Didn’t we agree to go home and eat together?” he asked, his tone light yet insistent.

“Together,” she mused, the word resonating with deeper meaning—side by side, hand in hand, a promise of intimacy that sent shivers down her spine.

The warmth of his hand felt like a jolt of electricity coursing through her veins, igniting every nerve ending.

Elliot had taken care of the arrangements, ensuring that food from a private restaurant was packed and delivered with impeccable timing. As Sydney lifted a forkful to her lips, she was pleased to find the meal still warm, the flavors bursting with life.

This time, as they finished their meal, Sydney found herself lingering at the table, unwilling to rush away. She placed her utensils down, her gaze shifting to Julian, studying him intently. She observed him longer than she had in the elevator earlier—her scrutiny so intense that her eyes began to sting from dryness.

Julian caught her gaze, a knowing look flickering across his face.

Relaxed yet curious, he glanced sideways at her. “What, are you possessed tonight?” he teased, a hint of amusement dancing in his voice.

“No,” Sydney replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She hesitated, then allowed her fingers to lightly graze over his shirt, tracing the contours of his chest with a deliberate slowness.

Julian swallowed hard, an intensity igniting in his dark eyes. “What are you trying to do?”

“When have I ever lied to you?” he replied, sincerity lacing his words.

“You already lied to me once,” she countered, her mind racing back to that fateful moment.

Eight years ago… No, nine now. The first time he broke his word, a wound that never fully healed, she thought bitterly.

Julian fell silent, unable to counter her statement. After a pause, he spoke quietly, “There won’t be a second time.”

Sydney opened her mouth as if to respond, but she ultimately let it go. She understood what was paramount at this moment. All her aspirations and desires would have to be shelved until the project reached its conclusion. Otherwise, she would remain trapped in place, unable to move forward.

With a determined shake of her head, she cleared her thoughts and plunged herself back into the lab, the world outside fading away as she focused on her work.

…

Finally, after countless hours of tireless effort, the project reached a pivotal milestone—the stage of applying for clinical trials.