Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 334

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 334**

**Chapter 334**

Sydney often told herself that the decision to sign that contract was purely driven by her desire to save Tiffany. The thought of any other alternative was simply unfathomable to her. Yet, the mere idea of admitting to herself that she had genuine feelings for Julian filled her with dread. How could she possibly articulate that complexity?

No, there was no way she could risk such a confession. If she were to reveal her heart now, the next time he chose to walk away, the weight of blame would rest solely on her shoulders.

It took her back to those painful moments when everyone had chastised her, their voices echoing in her mind: “Julian raised you for nine years. Wasn’t that long enough? And you still dream of clinging to him forever!”

As she hung her head in silence, the weight of their words pressing down on her, Julian seemed to read her thoughts like an open book. His large, warm hand found its way to the back of her head, cradling it gently, as if to shield her from the world’s harsh judgments.

He leaned in, his lips grazing hers with a tenderness that sent shivers down her spine. ‘So soft…’

Julian took his time, not rushing to deepen the kiss. Instead, he savored the moment, whispering sweetly between their gentle touches, “Precious, the past won’t happen again. Sydney and Julian will never be separated.”

Sydney’s heart skipped a beat, frozen in disbelief. He had remembered her wish from her sixteenth birthday, a moment that had felt so distant yet so vivid in her memory.

With a surge of emotions, she clung to his shoulders, returning his kiss with fervor, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. “Julian, do you regret leaving me back then?” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Perhaps she wasn’t as resilient as she had always believed herself to be. At least when it came to Julian, her resolve crumbled. The vow she had taken to never be unfaithful again felt like a distant echo now.

Deep down, all she craved was for the proud heir to bow his noble head before her, just once. To hear him admit that he should never have left her side. And perhaps, in that moment of vulnerability, she could find it in her heart to forgive him. Maybe then, they could wipe the slate clean and start anew.

But yet again, she caught that flicker of uncertainty in Julian’s eyes, the same hesitation she had seen reflected back at her after she had made that fateful birthday wish years ago.

Before he could respond, the car began to slow, coming to a halt. Panic surged through her, and she instinctively pulled away, breaking the moment before it could deepen further.

Caleb rarely returned to the estate these days, and when he did, it was only to collect something or to check in on his grandmother for a fleeting moment.

His steps came to an abrupt halt, but he didn’t even spare her a glance. “Because I don’t want to sit at the same table as you. Can’t you tell?”

Penelope choked back her surprise but managed to force a smile. “Then who do you want to eat with? Sydney? You probably won’t get the chance. Plenty of men are already tied to her!”

Her thoughts raced with names: ‘Julian, Marcus, James… There will always be someone she aims to hook. The shameless little vixen,’ she mused bitterly.

“Penelope!” Caleb’s voice was sharp, his patience wearing thin. He had never tolerated her disparaging remarks about Sydney. “You think everyone is like you? I know better than anyone what Syd is really like!”

“You really don’t!” Penelope fired back, her voice laced with indignation. “This afternoon, I saw her at Hutton Corp. with James himself, coming down to the first floor to fetch her. If there was nothing between them, would the dignified second Hutton heir treat her with such warmth?”

As her words hung in the air, the tension thickened, each moment stretching out like an eternity.