Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 413

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 413**

**Chapter 413**

Could it be possible that her biological parents were involved in drug trafficking?

The notion struck Sydney like a cruel, twisted joke, yet the weight of it settled heavily in her chest, rendering her incapable of even mustering a laugh. Who was she, truly? The question spiraled in her mind, echoing in the vast emptiness of her heart.

Caleb had been waiting patiently at the cemetery gate, glancing at his watch more times than he could count, but Sydney remained inside far longer than he anticipated. A gnawing sense of dread began to creep into his thoughts. What if something terrible had happened? Especially considering she was pregnant, the urgency propelled him forward into the cemetery, his heart racing with worry.

As he ascended the stone steps, he found her standing there, a ghostly figure caught in a trance, her eyes vacant and lost, as if she had suddenly been uprooted from everything familiar.

“Syd?” Panic surged through him like a tidal wave. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his voice steady yet laced with concern. “Syd, what happened?”

The sound of his voice seemed to pierce through the fog enveloping her. Sydney blinked, her mind slowly returning to the present moment.

The harsh sunlight pierced her eyes, causing her to squint against its brightness. She shook her head, trying to shake off the overwhelming feelings. “Nothing,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

What could she possibly articulate? That she was adrift in a sea of confusion, no longer recognizing the person she had once been? How utterly pitiful would that confession sound?

Without another word, she turned and began to walk toward the parking lot, her footsteps heavy with unspoken burdens.

Caleb trailed behind her, his unease palpable. “Are you planning to stay in Brimcrest for a couple of days, or are you thinking about driving back to Jouleston today?”

Brimcrest was just a few hours away by highway, making a same-day return quite feasible.

Initially, Sydney had envisioned a two-day stay, a chance to revisit the house where she had once lived with her parents. But now, the thought felt utterly absurd. Where could she go? The people she had called her parents were not truly hers, and even the home she had longed for was stripped of its meaning.

A sense of gratitude lingered in her heart for the life they had saved, yet a deep-seated resentment simmered toward Eloise for taking theirs away. But at this moment, none of those emotions coalesced into clarity. She felt an emptiness gnawing at her soul.

“I’ll go back to Jouleston,” she finally said, her voice barely a whisper. “Now.”

As they reached the parking lot, Caleb’s instincts kicked in. He could see that she was in no condition to drive.

For the first time that day, her voice held a hint of life, a reminder that amidst the chaos, the baby inside her was a constant, a piece of her that was undeniably hers.

Caleb smiled, the tension in his face easing just a fraction. “Okay.”

He stepped out of the car, closing the door behind him as he made his way to the bakery.

But before he could reach the entrance, a thunderous crash shattered the air, sending a jolt of terror through him. He spun around, his heart racing as he witnessed the white Porsche crumpling against a black SUV that had barreled through from the wrong direction. The sight was grotesque; the car’s frame twisted, the hood crumpled like discarded paper.

He had left Sydney’s window slightly ajar for fresh air, and through that narrow opening, he could see the airbag deployed, a thin stream of blood trickling down Sydney’s temple.

The gruesome sight froze his blood in his veins. Caleb’s chest constricted painfully, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. Then, propelled by sheer instinct, he ran. “Syd! Sydney!” he shouted, his voice filled with desperation.

With a frantic motion, he wrenched the door open. There she was, slumped against the seat, utterly motionless. His hands trembled violently as he reached for her, the fear coursing through him like a wild animal.

For the first time in years, he was gripped by a terror so profound it consumed him whole.