Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 450

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 450**

**Chapter 450**

Sydney’s mind was a tumultuous sea of thoughts, waves crashing against one another, each one more chaotic than the last. The unfinished words Julian had left hanging in the air that day echoed in her head, a haunting melody she couldn’t shake off.

*Could it be that he was about to propose?* The mere notion sent a rush of emotions flooding through her, and before she could suppress them, tears began to spill from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks and soaking into her clothes, leaving dark, damp patches that marked her distress.

The interior of the car was shrouded in a soft, muted light, creating an atmosphere that felt both intimate and heavy with unspoken words. Despite the silence that enveloped them, Julian’s presence was palpable. Moments later, she felt the gentle brush of his rough, warm fingertips at the corner of her eye, a tender gesture that ignited a flicker of hope amidst her sorrow.

When Julian felt the wetness on his thumb, a small fissure opened within him—not a deep wound, but enough to create a dull ache that resonated in his chest. He wiped away her tears with a quiet resolve, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared history. After a long, pregnant pause, he finally mustered the courage to address the elephant in the room. “Precious… back then, I really couldn’t think of a better way,” he murmured, his voice low and muffled, reverberating in the stillness of the car.

The moment Sydney heard his words, the floodgates opened wider, and her tears flowed more freely. She raised her face, her eyes red-rimmed and streaming, not caring in the slightest about her disheveled appearance. All she could focus on was the warmth radiating from Julian, the man who had once held her heart so delicately in his hands.

As he reached for a tissue, leaning closer, an impulsive surge of longing overtook her. Without a second thought, she pressed her lips against his, taking the lead for the second time in recent days, a bold move that surprised even herself.

Julian was momentarily taken aback, his body frozen in place, but the familiarity of her touch stirred something deep within him. This was the woman he had adored, the one he could never truly let go of. He responded to her kiss with a gentle tenderness, wrapping an arm around her waist and drawing her onto his lap, where she belonged.

Just as he was about to deepen their kiss, the shrill ring of her phone shattered the moment. Sydney glanced down, the caller ID flashing Marcus’s name like a warning sign.

At this hour, Marcus never called unless something urgent had arisen.

With a sniffle, still flustered from their intimate moment, she grabbed the phone, her heart racing. “Hello? Marc, what’s wrong?” she asked, her voice a mixture of concern and curiosity.

“Syd, did you see what’s happening online?” His tone was laced with worry, tight and anxious. “Are you alright?”

“I saw it,” she replied softly, trying to quell the storm brewing within her. “But I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

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The online outrage had escalated into a full-blown mob mentality. Without any solid evidence, people were already hurling accusations at Sydney and Sterling Corp., branding them as heartless entities willing to trade human lives for profit.

Had it not been for the meticulous management of her whereabouts—first by Julian, then by the Hutton family—she would have undoubtedly been their primary target.

Sydney’s brows knitted together sharply, her thoughts racing, when suddenly, Julian took the phone from her grasp with a steady hand.

His commanding voice resonated through the line, authoritative and calm. “Mr. Shepard, tell the old couple to pack the essentials. I’ll arrange for someone to pick them up if they need to lay low for a while.”

Marcus froze, taken aback by Julian’s sudden intervention. “Alright, I’ll tell them right away. But their place is already surrounded by reporters and angry onlookers. Do you… really have a way to—”

“Just make the call,” Julian interjected smoothly, his tone unwavering. “Leave the rest to me.”