Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 337

**Chapter 337**

Sydney had replayed the moment of confrontation in her mind more times than she could count. Each scenario she crafted was more elaborate than the last, filled with possibilities and hidden motives she imagined Julian might possess. Perhaps he had a secret buried deep within him, a truth too painful to voice.

Yet, despite all her musings, she ultimately dismissed those thoughts. Over the course of eight long years, he had been presented with countless opportunities to share his side of the story, yet not once had he attempted to bridge the chasm between them.

In the end, the bitter truth settled within her: Julian had indeed wanted to discard her, to treat her as if she were nothing more than an encumbrance.

Julian’s gaze fell to the floor, his eyes lingering on her face as if searching for the right words that eluded him. A storm of emotions brewed in his throat, yet he remained silent, unable to articulate what weighed heavily on his heart.

“Back then, I did it to protect you,” he finally uttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

The absurdity of his claim hung in the air like a thick fog—self-serving, and cruelly ironic.

Before he could gather his thoughts to elaborate, Sydney’s phone erupted with a sharp ring, cutting through the tension like a knife. Startled, she fished it out of her pocket and saw Caleb’s name flashing ominously on the screen. A frown creased her brow, and she quickly dismissed the call, her heart racing.

Just as she was about to press Julian for the explanation she so desperately craved, the phone rang again. This time, the urgency of the call was palpable, sending a jolt of anxiety through her.

Sydney hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest, then reluctantly answered. “Hello, what is it?”

In truth, she had long since given up on expecting Caleb to uncover anything of significance for her. Her parents had been gone for years, leaving her with no pressing reason to rush into the past. Once Florence’s legs began to heal, she could always turn to James for assistance. With the Huttons’ influence in Brimcrest, she figured it would be a matter of time before they could get to the bottom of things.

For what felt like an eternity, Caleb remained silent on the other end of the line. Finally, breaking the stillness, he stood by the window, his voice steady but tinged with gravity. “I’ve almost finished investigating what happened back then.”

Sydney’s heart skipped a beat, her brows knitting together in confusion. “You found out?”

“Yes.” There was a pause, heavy with unspoken words. “Actually, I discovered some time ago. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you.”

A chill ran down Sydney’s spine as she froze in place. An instinctive glance shot toward Julian, who stood nearby, his presence both comforting and disconcerting. If Caleb had already unearthed the truth yet chose to keep it from her, there could only be one reason behind his silence.

“What does he want with you?”

“He said he has something to tell me.”

As they stepped into the elevator, Sydney pressed her lips together, the tension between them palpable. Caleb’s hesitation and the gravity of his tone twisted her thoughts into a knot. She felt too drained to push Julian for answers now; all she could do was hope she was overthinking the situation.

When the elevator doors slid open to their floor and she began to walk toward 2201, Julian suddenly seized her wrist, his grip firm yet gentle. He had noticed the anxiety etched across her face, and his dark eyes bore into hers with a mix of concern and desperation.

“You won’t ignore me again after seeing him, will you?” His voice was low, rough around the edges, laced with a hint of self-mockery that cut deep.

Sydney’s heart tightened at his words. She struggled to find a response that wouldn’t betray her inner turmoil. “I… I’ll just go home first.”

The uncertainty hung between them, heavy and unresolved, as she turned away, her mind racing with questions that had no easy answers.