Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 327

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 327**

**Chapter 327**

The sound of the door creaking open drew Tiffany’s attention, and she turned her head slightly, only to find Sydney standing there, her shoes still on, as if she had rushed over without a second thought. A heavy sigh escaped Tiffany’s lips as she sank deeper into the couch, her body feeling like a lead weight after a grueling day spent dealing with a particularly difficult client. “I really don’t have the energy to entertain you today,” she groaned, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

“Your ex,” Sydney replied, her tone laced with a hint of exasperation as she gestured toward the apartment across the hall. “He told me to come get you for barbecue. Said he saw your post about craving it.”

Tiffany’s brow furrowed in confusion. “How did he even see my post?” she asked, a flicker of annoyance sparking within her.

She had taken the step to delete Raymond from her social media, convinced that would be the end of any lingering connections.

After a brief pause, the realization hit her just as Sydney voiced the same thought, “Did he use some alt account to add me?”

They both exchanged glances, the shared understanding of Raymond’s sneaky tactics hanging in the air between them.

With a resigned sigh, Tiffany swung her legs off the coffee table, the wood cool against her skin as she stood up. “Let’s go.”

“Wait, you’re actually going?” Sydney’s surprise was evident, her initial expectation being that Tiffany would refuse. She had even concocted a list of excuses to relay to Raymond, like Tiffany being buried under a mountain of work or fast asleep after a long day.

But Tiffany merely nodded, her mind already made up. She didn’t bother changing her shoes, instead pulling Sydney toward the door. “Free barbecue? Only a fool would pass that up.”

Of course, there was another layer to her decision. If Sydney was going to treat Florence’s legs, then letting Raymond owe Sydney a favor wouldn’t be such a bad outcome either.

As the two best friends stepped into the apartment, Raymond caught sight of them and immediately shot Julian a warning look, a silent plea that seemed to scream, ‘Don’t sabotage me.’

Julian’s expression was as cold as ice, his eyes narrowing as he turned his back on Raymond, clearly unwilling to acknowledge his presence.

He had meticulously stocked the fridge with fresh ingredients, all in preparation for a cozy dinner with Sydney when she returned home. But now, that plan lay in ruins, overshadowed by the prospect of a barbecue with four people—double the romance, double the complications.

As expected, Sydney and Julian gravitated to their usual seats, while Tiffany settled across from Sydney, leaving Raymond sitting beside her, directly opposite Julian.

Raymond, eager to make the most of the situation, pulled out a shiny, brand-new grill from Julian’s kitchen. “I bought a few different sauces. Which two do you want?” he asked, trying to maintain a lighthearted tone.

Sydney, remembering Raymond’s penchant for spicy flavors, replied, “Spicy chipotle and fiery ghost pepper spice.” She was about to add more when she caught Tiffany’s smile from the corner of her eye.

The words froze in her throat, caught off guard by the unexpected warmth radiating from her friend.

“You didn’t call me that in the past,” he replied, his voice low and inviting, yet tinged with a hint of annoyance.

Back in their university days, everyone else had fawned over him with that title, but Tiffany had always held her ground.

Initially, she hadn’t even looked his way. But later, in the intimacy of their relationship, she would wrap her arms around his shoulders and call him “Ray.” Her voice would carry a crisp clarity, sharp and refreshing, but when she uttered his name in that soft, affectionate way, it unraveled him completely.

Now, however, Tiffany’s eyes were steady, calm, and untouched by the past.

“Then what do you want me to call you? Pay me. With enough money, I’ll say whatever you like,” she shot back, her words dripping with sarcasm.

The provocation ignited something within Raymond, his temper flaring like gasoline catching fire. For weeks, he had been holding back, frustrated by her refusal to add him back on Instagram. Resorting to an alt account had felt desperate, but one simple post about craving barbecue had given him the chance he needed.

When had the dignified fourth Hutton heir ever been treated with such disregard by a woman?

His eyes glimmered with a dangerous mix of red-hot fury and lingering spice, and he wasn’t quite sure which one fueled his anger more. “Anything, huh? If I pay enough, can I sleep with you?”

He fixed her with a sharp, relentless gaze, as if he were determined to peel back her layers, heart and all.