Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 270

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 270**

**Chapter 270**

As the tension in Caleb finally began to dissipate, a sense of clarity washed over him. He understood that he couldn’t push Sydney too far; she was fragile in her own way, and he didn’t want to break her. Yet, the thought of leaving her here, alone and vulnerable, gnawed at his insides. It felt wrong, almost like abandoning her to the wolves—especially someone like Marcus, who had just dropped her off and could easily take advantage of her solitude.

The moment Sydney caught wind of his intention to move into the apartment directly below hers, her entire demeanor shifted. A wave of discomfort rolled through her, and it was palpable. She felt trapped, cornered by circumstances beyond her control. After all, buying the entire building was hardly a feasible option for her.

She maintained a calm façade, her voice steady as she replied, “That’s your business. You don’t need to tell me.”

In essence, she was signaling, “Do what you must. It’s of no concern to me.”

Yet, the chill in her eyes and the flatness of her tone struck him with a force he hadn’t anticipated. For a fleeting moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to take her back to Viridian Garden, where he could keep her in sight, ensuring she wouldn’t slip away from him again.

But Julian’s looming presence was a firm reminder that he had to exercise restraint—for now. However, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this wouldn’t last long. If he uncovered any evidence linking her parents’ tragic deaths to the Sterling family, Sydney would never want to be across the hall from Julian again.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Sydney, seemingly unfazed by the storm brewing in his eyes, stepped inside first and pressed the button for her floor.

Caleb followed her without a moment’s hesitation. Twenty-two for her, and twenty-one for him.

The seconds ticked by agonizingly slow, each one stretching into an eternity.

He observed her as she leaned against the elevator wall, making a conscious effort to maintain as much distance from him as possible. The sight tugged painfully at his heart, pulling him back to the years gone by—years filled with holidays and birthdays where she had waited at home, her eyes scanning the door for his return. But he had never come back. Not once in all that time.

That memory only deepened his resentment toward Penelope. Even that fateful night in the industrial district, she had attempted to ensnare him again, nearly costing Sydney her life in the process.

His expression hardened at the thought.

He wasn’t dressed in his usual tailored suit, a sign of his growing detachment from the corporate world. Instead, he wore a black turtleneck and casual trousers, one hand casually tucked into his pocket as he leaned against the wall, exuding an air of nonchalance.

Julian’s gaze swept over her weary face, and a faint smile played at the corners of his lips. “Things didn’t go well?” he asked, clearly referring to the corrupted lab data.

Sydney shot him a sideways glance as she approached her door. “Shouldn’t you already know?”

Sterling Corp. was entirely under his control now; there was no way he hadn’t heard the news.

Behind her, his voice took on a teasing tone, light and playful. “And what if I want to hear it from you?”

A wave of nostalgia washed over Sydney as she recalled how he had always despised pointless chatter. In her childhood, she had been a relentless chatterbox, trailing after him and discussing everything under the sun. And Julian had always regarded her with an expression that suggested she was nothing more than a bothersome fly.

As she stood before her door, the weight of their shared history hung heavily in the air, a reminder of everything that had transpired between them.