Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 343

**Chapter 343**

Caleb leaned forward, his eyes scanning the file resting on the passenger seat before he slid into the car, a gentle concern etched across his features. “Are you uncertain about how to approach Jules now?” he asked softly, his voice laced with empathy.

Sydney turned her gaze away, her heart heavy with turmoil. “Something like that,” she replied, her voice cracking slightly, betraying the emotional weight she carried.

Despite the contract that bound them, Sydney found it increasingly difficult to convince herself of its significance.

How tragically ironic it was. The very man she had trusted implicitly during her childhood, the one who had been her anchor yet also her tormentor for the past nine years, was now revealed to be the grandson of the man who had taken her parents from her.

Once, she had held Caleb in the highest regard, considering him one of the most pivotal figures in her life. But now, the chasm that lay between them was far deeper than mere social status; it was a divide carved by the loss of her parents—two lives extinguished too soon.

It felt like a cruel twist of fate, a bitter joke played by the universe.

Caleb reached out, his hand hovering above her head, intending to ruffle her hair in a gesture of comfort. But as she instinctively leaned back, he withdrew his hand slowly, a soft sigh escaping his lips. “If I hadn’t revealed this to you, would you be feeling this much pain right now?” he asked, his tone tinged with regret.

Sydney forced a small smile, though it barely touched her eyes. “Then my parents would have died in vain, forever lost to me,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

“I can seek revenge for you,” Caleb blurted out, the words escaping before he could fully grasp their implications.

Sydney’s body stiffened, and she turned to face him, her eyes wide with shock. “Would you really? Would the Hampton family even consider that?”

He carried the weight of more than just his own existence; he bore the legacy of his family’s actions.

“The Hampton family…” Caleb’s voice trailed off into silence, the gravity of the situation settling heavily between them.

Whether they wanted to or not, action was necessary. He and his mother owed her their lives, a debt that could not be ignored.

Taking a deep breath, Sydney steadied herself. “Caleb, I genuinely appreciate you uncovering this truth for me. But I need to handle the rest on my own.”

She had no desire to be indebted any further. ‘Let this be the final favor. From here on out, all debts between us are settled,’ she thought resolutely.

She pressed her lips together, instinctively stepping back, her heart racing.

Julian’s brow furrowed slowly, the weight on his chest growing heavier with each passing moment. The air felt thick and suffocating, as if it were pressing down on him, making it impossible to understand the turmoil swirling in her mind.

He was accustomed to standing above others, but in this moment, he forced himself to suppress his pride, lowering his gaze to her. “Just what are you—” he began, but before he could finish his thought, Caleb stepped forward, bridging the gap between them.

Sydney flinched at the sight of Julian but remained still, her heart caught in a tumultuous storm as Caleb approached.

In that fleeting moment, Julian felt a strange urge to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

Caleb sensed the tension thickening the air and assumed the file had tainted the “sibling bond” between them. Attempting to mediate, he said, “Give Syd some time. Once she decides, she’ll tell you everything.”

‘Time? Decide? Tell me?’ Julian’s thoughts spiraled, and he let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

“Tell me what? That you two are getting remarried?” His voice was sharp, cold as ice, filled with an edge that echoed his inner turmoil.