Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 469

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 469**

**Chapter 469**

If the roles had been reversed and Raymond found himself in this predicament, he would have been relentless, refusing to let the matter drop until he had wrung every possible confession from the situation.

Raymond squinted, his irritation palpable. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

Tiffany, with an air of nonchalance, skewered another morsel of her meal and cast him a languid glance. “I’m just concerned that the truth might bruise your fragile ego.” Sydney erupted into laughter, the sound bubbling forth like a refreshing stream, completely genuine and free of malice. The tension that had coiled in her shoulders unwound, and she felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted.

Perhaps Julian had been onto something after all. The essence of who she was transcended the confines of her lineage. The people who truly mattered in her life—her friends, her mentors—were not tethered to her family name or the shadows of her past.

She was simply Tiffany, and that was more than sufficient.

Raymond, acutely aware of the peril of provoking Tiffany’s sharp wit further, deftly redirected the conversation back to matters of business. “Penelope’s been released from the police station.”

He quickly added, “And just so you know, none of my family members pulled any strings to facilitate her release. She’s pregnant, and they didn’t want the liability if something were to go awry.”

Sydney’s demeanor remained unchanged. Her calm facade didn’t even flicker with surprise or discomfort, which caught Raymond off guard. He blurted out, “You knew she was… um, pregnant, right?”

He caught himself just in time, barely averting the slip of Caleb’s name from his lips.

‘Poor Sydney,’ he thought, a wave of pity washing over him. ‘Of all people, she’s stuck with that cosmic-level scumbag’s child.’

Sydney nodded, her expression serene. “Yeah, I sensed it last night at your place.”

It was nearly impossible to overlook the signs in a woman so far along in her pregnancy.

Across the table, Julian’s movements froze. He lowered his gaze, a frown etching itself upon his face as he shot Raymond a frosty glare, yet he remained silent.

That single, piercing glance sent a shiver down Raymond’s spine, his back prickling with a sudden chill. He ducked his head, feigning intense interest in his food. ‘Thank goodness. Let’s hope Julian’s instincts don’t piece it all together.’

His sister and Julian’s “sister” were both carrying the child of the same man. Just the thought of it made Raymond feel as though he was digging his own grave with each passing moment.

And what if Julian found out? Raymond would undoubtedly be the first to face the consequences. He needed to devise a plan, a way to break the news without receiving a fist to the face.

Once dinner concluded, Raymond rose from his seat and called out toward the couch, “Let’s go.”

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