Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 495

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You**
**by Aurelia**
**Novel 495**

**Chapter 495**

Sydney found herself engulfed in a swirl of emotions, unsure if it was merely her imagination playing tricks on her, but Julian’s kiss felt infinitely more assured, more practiced than that first tentative brush of their lips. It was as if he had mastered the art of kissing, each movement smooth and confident, a stark contrast to their initial encounter.

Julian had an undeniable talent for whatever he chose to pursue; he was a self-taught virtuoso, remarkable in ways that left her both in awe and slightly intimidated. But beneath the intensity of that kiss, something within her began to settle, her body and heart finding a rare moment of tranquility.

Yet, amidst this calm, a lingering wish tugged at her thoughts—if only her parents weren’t the monsters she feared they were, the kind of people whose sins were etched in unforgivable stone. The weight of that truth loomed over her like a dark cloud, threatening to reduce everything she had fought for over the years to mere ashes.

“Please, just this once… God, please, be kind to me,” she whispered silently, her heart aching with the weight of her unfulfilled desires.

In this moment, she yearned to cast aside the burdens of her past, to lose herself completely in the warmth radiating from Julian. She craved the freedom to stop holding back, to embrace the reality that the man she had once referred to as “brother” had come to see her as the most significant person in his life.

All the worries, the hesitation, and the fear that had held her captive for so long seemed unnecessary now. It was her own cautious heart, that delicate and protective shell, that had constructed a wall of misunderstanding between them, a wall that had kept them apart for far too long.

Since the day he had re-entered her life last year, despite his sharp words and teasing demeanor, every choice he made, every action he took, had leaned toward her like a compass pointing north.

A wave of relief surged through her, filling her chest with warmth.

“He chose me,” she thought, a smile creeping onto her lips. “Without a moment’s hesitation, he chose me.”

If only they had dared to speak so openly and honestly back then, before her wedding day, perhaps they wouldn’t have lost so many precious years to silence and misunderstanding.

As she felt the tension in her body ease, Julian gently loosened his hold on her. He was acutely aware that they were still confined within the car’s intimate space, and he wanted to give her the room she needed to breathe freely.

He lowered his gaze, studying her distant expression with a mix of concern and curiosity. “What are you thinking about?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the fragile moment between them.

“Thinking…” Sydney murmured, her body still reeling from the kiss, her limbs feeling like jelly as she nestled against his chest. She tilted her head back, her eyes tracing the sharp, clean lines of his jaw, a familiar yet intoxicating sight. “Thinking maybe I was wrong back then.”

In truth, she had felt cornered. If she had lingered any longer in the oppressive atmosphere of the Sterling household, she would have been shattered—both physically and emotionally, crushed under Eloise’s iron grip. Marrying into the Hampton family had appeared to be her only escape, her chance at liberation.

Even before the wedding, she had known Caleb’s heart belonged to someone else, yet she had proceeded with the marriage anyway. She had wanted her freedom, and he had sought his own.

She imagined herself as a quiet, compliant wife, the kind who would never interfere, the kind who would fulfill her role without question.

But when she discovered that the “someone else” was Penelope, her sister-in-law, a wave of disbelief washed over her. She couldn’t accept it—not like this.

Julian studied her unapologetic expression, his calm demeanor contrasting with the storm brewing within her. “Really? And who was it that insisted on marrying Caleb back then?” he asked, his voice steady, as if he were peeling back the layers of her defenses.

Now, she carried Caleb’s child, a living reminder of the choices she had made.

Julian had already consulted with the doctor. Terminating the pregnancy would only cause her further harm. So, if Sydney was willing, allowing the child to be born might not be such a terrible outcome after all.