Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 506

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 506**

**Chapter 506**

Sydney hesitated, her mind racing. ‘Delta Mansion? That’s Julian’s place. So why on earth is Raymond the one reaching out to me?’

After a moment, she finally broke the silence, “What’s going on? I’m at Seraph Villa right now. Just wrapped up treating your mother.”

Raymond’s voice came through the receiver, steady yet urgent. “Mm, I know.”

A wave of relief washed over her; she had just finished her session with his mother. If anyone discovered that he’d interrupted his mother’s treatment to summon her for Julian’s emergency, they would surely have him strung up for it.

The imagined headline flashed through his mind: *[Unfilial Son Interrupts Mom’s Treatment to Save Someone Else’s Grandmother]*.

With a sense of urgency, he quickly clarified, “It’s Julian’s grandmother, Agatha. She twisted her ankle coming down the stairs. It’s swollen, but she’s refusing to go to the hospital. For now, she’s just icing it.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Sydney made her decision. An injury like that could be trivial, or it could escalate rapidly into something far more serious. Either way, she’d prefer to assess it herself. Agatha had always treated her with warmth and kindness, and Sydney held a genuine fondness for the elderly woman.

As she ended the call, Raymond turned to the living room where Agatha was reclining on the sofa, one leg elevated. A headache began to throb at his temples.

“You really won’t go to the hospital?” he pressed, concern etching his features.

“No.” Agatha huffed defiantly, her voice tinged with irritation. “Didn’t you and that rascal want me to ‘pretend’ to be sick? Well, now I don’t have to pretend!”

Raymond rubbed the bridge of his nose, forcing a strained smile as he inched closer, trying to maintain his composure. “I swear, we never wanted you to actually get hurt. Honest to God!”

*What a disaster this has turned out to be. Who could have predicted that my little scheme would backfire so spectacularly?*

It was supposed to be a simple plan—he would take the afternoon off, visit Agatha, share a few laughs, and coax her into pretending to be sick so Julian could invite Sydney over.

A happy grandmother would mean a happy Julian, and afterward, the apartment in Haven would be free for their use. It all seemed so straightforward.

He wasn’t exaggerating. For an older woman, even a mild sprain could escalate into something serious. That’s why he had been so desperate to bring her in, and why Sydney had dropped everything to come at a moment’s notice.

“Let’s see,” Sydney said, gently lifting the ice pack away to examine the ankle.

The swelling looked concerning, but she nodded in relief. “No fracture, but it’s not trivial either. You’ll need proper rest. Try not to put any weight on it for at least two weeks.”

Raymond exhaled, a mix of relief and frustration washing over him. “That’s a relief.”

As Sydney turned to grab some tissues, he shot Agatha a pointed look, silently urging her to play along with the charade.

Unfortunately, Sydney caught the exchange, her brow furrowing slightly as she paused.

“Ray, is your eye bothering you? Want me to take a look?” Her tone was sweet, but the smile that accompanied it hinted at something deeper. Ophthalmology might not have been her specialty, but she could easily diagnose one thing: guilt.