Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 488

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 488**

**Chapter 488**

The atmosphere at the research institute had shifted dramatically; the frenetic pace of the new drug project had finally decelerated. The once suffocating urgency that had filled the air was now a distant memory, allowing Sydney the rare luxury of breathing deeply without the weight of deadlines pressing down on her. No longer did she find herself ensnared in the endless cycle of late-night overtime, where the glow of her computer screen became her only companion.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the city, Tiffany cruised past Sydney’s building just as Sydney emerged from the glass doors, her bag slung over her shoulder.

With a practiced ease, Sydney straightened her desk, meticulously organizing her papers, a small ritual she found comforting. She packed her belongings, allowing the mundane task to ground her in the moment. Once outside, she climbed into the passenger seat of Tiffany’s car, the familiar scent of leather and the faint hint of jasmine from Tiffany’s air freshener enveloping her.

Tiffany, ever the observant friend, kept one hand firmly on the steering wheel while raising an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. “I’ve been thinking,” she began, her tone shifting to something more serious. “Maybe things between you and Julian aren’t what you think they are.”

Sydney blinked, caught off guard by the abruptness of Tiffany’s statement. “What do you mean?” she asked, her heart racing slightly as she braced for whatever insight Tiffany was about to share.

Tiffany continued, her voice steady but gentle, “You haven’t explicitly said it, but it feels like you’ve been assuming he made his choice, and that choice wasn’t you.”

The memory of last night flashed in Sydney’s mind—the quiet disappointment that had settled like a heavy fog on her heart. She had felt it keenly, the weight of unspoken words and unresolved feelings.

Tiffany pressed on, her eyes flicking to Sydney before returning to the road. “But today, you barely stepped out the door when Julian showed up. He looked like he wanted to talk to you.”

Sydney’s breath caught in her throat, her heart skipping a beat at the thought. She had imagined that after the revelation of his grandmother’s dark past, they would drift apart, perhaps for a long time, or even indefinitely.

“He came? Looking for me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, disbelief coloring her tone.

“Who else?” Tiffany replied, rolling her eyes at a red light as if the answer were obvious.

With a playful tap on Sydney’s forehead, she added, “You really think he came looking for me?”

Sydney pressed her lips together, a fragile spark of hope igniting within her. “Then, maybe…” she started, but the word hung in the air, a delicate thread of possibility.

“No maybe,” Tiffany interjected with a grin, waving her hand dismissively. “Tonight, you’re off the hook for dinner with me. Go across the hall. Whatever’s left between you two, spit it out and be done with it.”

Just as the words left Tiffany’s mouth, an abrupt ringtone sliced through the air, shattering the moment like glass.

Tiffany’s gaze flicked to the dashboard screen, her expression shifting as she recognized the name flashing there.

It was Stanley Voss, her father—the very man who had spent a lifetime instilling in her the belief that daughters were nothing but burdens.

“That’s your family,” Tiffany said flatly, her voice devoid of warmth. “Not mine.”

Deep down, she had always understood the truth: that household had never been a family of four. It had always been a family of three, and she had been the extra, the one who didn’t quite fit.

“Enough!” Stanley snapped, impatience dripping from his tone. “Cut the attitude. I don’t care where you are. Get back here right now! If you don’t, your brother’s done for. If he dies, your mother might as well be dead too!”

Tiffany felt her nails dig into her palms, the pressure grounding her amidst the chaos. Her throat felt parched, but she forced her voice to remain calm, a thin veneer over the storm brewing inside her. “What did he do this time?”

Over the years, there had been countless “emergencies,” each one more dramatic than the last, but none had ever lived up to her father’s claims. Usually, he was just fishing for money. If she ignored him long enough, the threats would dissipate like mist in the morning sun.

But this time, something felt different. The urgency in his voice hinted at a reality she couldn’t ignore. There was no time left to waste.

“Come home, and you’ll find out!” Stanley barked before the line went dead, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Sydney turned to Tiffany, her voice firm. “Don’t drop me at Haven. I’m coming with you.”

A wave of relief washed over Tiffany, and she let out a quiet sigh. “Good. Thank God it’s you in the passenger seat.”