Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 340

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 340**

**Chapter 340**

Sydney found herself grappling with how to initiate the conversation. The weight of her thoughts pressed heavily on her, but when Florence inquired about what was troubling her, Sydney made the decision to speak up, feeling a flicker of resolve ignite within her.

Florence’s expression transformed as she realized she could be of assistance. A wave of relief washed over her features. “Go ahead, dear. If it’s within my power to help, I’m all in,” she said, her voice warm and encouraging.

“This file…” Sydney began, her hand trembling slightly as she retrieved the documents Caleb had entrusted to her just the night before. “Could you take a look and see if it’s legitimate?”

Deep down, Sydney harbored a suspicion that the contents were indeed genuine. The pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit together with alarming clarity. Yet, a stubborn part of her clung to a shred of hope, yearning for one final confirmation.

What if Caleb was deceiving her? What if this had nothing to do with Julian’s family at all? What if Eloise was simply a thorn in her side, intent on making her life a living hell?

Florence chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with understanding. “That’s a trivial matter. I’ll have James investigate it for you. You can count on him.”

“Thank you,” Sydney responded, her heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and gratitude. She hesitated for a moment, then added, “Could you keep this from Raymond? I’d rather he not know just yet.”

Florence gave her hand a reassuring pat. “This is your concern, Sydney. I promise it’ll remain confidential unless you decide otherwise.”

“I’ll forward the documents to James later, and he’ll dig into it. In the meantime, make sure you get some proper rest tonight. You know how important sleep is for us girls,” Florence advised, her voice laced with maternal warmth.

The gentle pressure of Florence’s hand against hers radiated a sense of comfort that seeped into Sydney’s heart. For reasons she couldn’t quite articulate, she felt a wave of reassurance wash over her, and she nodded appreciatively.

Recently, Florence had frequently invited her to share dinner, and Sydney had never turned her down. It wasn’t merely for companionship; Theodore had returned to Brimcrest to manage family affairs, and James was preoccupied with his responsibilities at the company. Sydney thought that by staying with Florence, she could at least provide her with some company at mealtime, perhaps even coaxing her appetite to return.

To her surprise, the Huttons had taken her situation seriously. In just four days, James reached out with promising leads.

A flicker of pity crossed James’s features as he regarded her. “Do you want there to be a problem, or are you hoping for a clean slate?”

He was aware of some of Raymond’s accounts regarding her and Julian. Their relationship was already fraught with tension, and if this information were to leak, it could unravel any progress they had made.

Sydney lowered her gaze momentarily, gathering her thoughts before meeting his eyes with unwavering determination. “There weren’t any problems, were there?” Her voice held a firmness that surprised even her.

Perhaps it was the dim lighting, but James noticed the glimmer of resolve in her eyes. He slid the documents toward her. “No issues at all. Everything is as it should be.”

Meanwhile, upstairs, Raymond leaned casually against the railing, observing his brother and Sydney engaged in earnest conversation. A smirk played on his lips as he jabbed a playful elbow into the side of the man standing beside him. “If you don’t hurry up, I might just have to call Little Sydney ‘sister-in-law,'” he teased, his tone dripping with mischief.

“Shut up,” Julian retorted, exhaling sharply, frustration tightening his chest. He reached for a cigarette, flicking open his lighter, but paused mid-motion.

Sydney had always despised the acrid scent of smoke. Ironically, during his first attempt at smoking, she had sniffed it out immediately. He’d been yanked into the study, the cigarette snatched from his hand and extinguished beneath her foot, leaving him feeling both embarrassed and oddly protective of her.