Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 513

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 513**

**Chapter 513**

Once, this place had been their sanctuary, a haven woven with memories and laughter.

Since that fateful day when Caleb had turned his back on Sydney’s doorway, he had found himself back at Viridian Garden, the walls whispering remnants of their shared past. The air was thick with her essence—subtle yet unmistakable. It wrapped around him like a delicate shroud, offering a fleeting sense of solace. Or perhaps, it was merely his mind’s way of clinging to the illusion that she had not truly vanished from his life.

Suddenly, the phone he had carelessly tossed onto the table began to vibrate insistently, pulling him from his reverie. He picked it up, his heart racing slightly as he glanced at the screen. A message from an unknown number flickered there, its words sending a jolt through him: [Mr. Hampton, can we meet? I might have a way to let you and your beloved finally be together.]

At that very moment, across town, Megan found herself in an unexpected confrontation. The phone that held the message was yanked from her grasp, and she turned to see Penelope, her eyes blazing with indignation.

“What do you mean by this?” Penelope spat, her voice low and threatening. “When you asked me to take Vee’s place in the Hutton family, what exactly did you promise me?”

Megan had sworn to ensure Penelope’s marriage to Caleb, but now, it felt as if the ground beneath her was crumbling. How could Megan toy with her like this, burning bridges the moment they had been crossed?

With a scoff, Megan reclaimed her phone, her demeanor unapologetic. “Oh, please. Go ahead, raise your voice. Maybe shout loud enough for the household staff, my mother, and James to hear, hmm?”

Penelope felt the words cut deep, silencing her with the force of a tidal wave. The humiliation surged within her, a fiery knot in her chest, but she swallowed it down, determined not to show weakness.

So what if she hadn’t been born into privilege? Did that mean she was destined to remain beneath their disdain forever?

As her thoughts spiraled, a revelation struck her: Megan wasn’t even the biological daughter of the Huttons. She was as much a façade as Penelope herself. What right did she have to look down upon anyone?

The thought brought a twisted sense of comfort, a small flame of rebellion igniting within her.

Steeling herself, Penelope spoke with a newfound steadiness. “You’re the one breaking our deal first. You know how I feel about Caleb…”

‘Feelings? Between a sister-in-law and her husband’s younger brother? What a farce,’ Megan mused, choosing to keep her hypocrisy under wraps for now. She wasn’t ready to sever ties—not while the specter of Sydney’s potential return loomed over them like an ominous cloud.

A smirk crept onto Megan’s lips, her expression shifting to one of amusement. “You really think I’d allow them to end up together?”

Penelope blinked, confusion washing over her like a tide.

Julian arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing on his lips. “This is my house. If I’m not here, where exactly should I be?”

Caught off guard, she had no retort.

He had clearly just stepped out of the shower; the lingering scent of cedar and soap enveloped him, creating an intoxicating aura. Clad in dark blue cotton pajamas, he exuded an air of comfort and ease.

It was then that she noticed her own pale pink pajamas were a perfect match to his. A couple’s pajama set, she realized, her cheeks flushing with unexpected warmth.

She had found several sets of loungewear neatly arranged in the closet, each one sorted by season. Tonight, she had chosen a cotton set after her bath, blissfully unaware that it was part of a matching pair.

Even though the house was perfectly climate-controlled, a sudden heat crept up her face, leaving her feeling uncharacteristically shy.

Clearing her throat, she ventured, “How did you know I’d pick this one?”

The intimacy of wearing matching pajamas felt strangely personal, and a wave of embarrassment washed over her. It was a new territory, one that left her heart racing and her mind swirling with possibilities.