Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 357

**Chapter 357**

The secrets of the past were meant to remain buried, yet Julian’s every utterance pierced through Sydney like a dagger, each word a reminder that she was the one at fault, the heartless villain in this twisted tale.

The weight of his accusations left her feeling unsteady, as if the ground beneath her was shifting. Instinctively, she leaned back, her spine nearly touching the edge of his desk, a physical manifestation of her desire to retreat from the confrontation. She lowered her gaze, allowing silence to envelop them like a thick fog, the tension palpable in the air. After what felt like an eternity, she finally mustered the courage to meet his intense stare.

Julian regarded her with a look that demanded an explanation, as if she owed him a detailed account of her choices.

Taking a deep breath, Sydney exhaled sharply, trying to release the pressure building in her chest. Her voice emerged cold and unyielding, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside her. “Julian, when someone chooses to walk away, it requires a heart devoid of compassion. Wasn’t it you who taught me that lesson?”

In the past, her love for him had eclipsed any affection he ever showed her, a sacrifice she willingly made. Yet, he had cast her aside like a discarded piece of refuse. He had abandoned her once, and now she was the one severing ties. It felt like justice, a long-overdue reckoning.

And guilt? She felt none. The Sterlings and Eloise were the architects of her parents’ demise. Wasn’t that the undeniable truth?

Her words sliced through the silence, sharp and unforgiving. Julian’s eyelids flickered momentarily, but he quickly averted his gaze, masking his emotions with practiced ease. His hand, pressed firmly against the desk, trembled slightly, a telltale sign of his inner turmoil.

When he turned back to her, the facade of arrogance and cool detachment had returned, yet the redness at the corners of his eyes betrayed a deeper emotional struggle.

“Fine. If that’s how you see it, then how do you intend to pay the price?” His voice was once again edged with tension.

Before she could formulate a response, he pressed on, relentless. “If you’re planning to remarry Caleb, I’m sure he’d be more than willing to cover the six billion for you. I can call him right now and have him transfer the funds.”

As he reached for his phone, a surge of panic coursed through Sydney, and she instinctively grabbed his hand. “Julian!”

“What?” He leaned over her, his tone dripping with mockery. “Are you afraid your precious Caleb will discover the truth about us?”

In the vast, quiet expanse of the office, the only sound that filled the air was the collision of their lips, a chaotic symphony of emotion.

Sydney struggled against him, her hand brushing against the bruise on his cheekbone. His sharp intake of breath made her falter, her resistance wavering for just a moment.

But no matter how fiercely she fought, she couldn’t break free from his grasp. She felt like a fish trapped on a board, flailing helplessly against her fate.

When his hand slid lower, pressing against her through the fabric of her clothes, her body stiffened in alarm. Panic flooded her eyes, and her voice, barely a whisper, escaped against his lips. “We’re at the office!”

If Julian continued down this path, she would never find the courage to walk out that door again.

For one frantic heartbeat, she thought that perhaps if he had studied martial arts, she should have taken lessons as well.