Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 479

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 479**
**Chapter 479**

The weight of Eliana’s words hung in the air, thick with implication. There was no mistaking the belief that flickered in her eyes; she was convinced that the child Sydney carried was Julian’s.

“But the gestational age listed on that ultrasound report…” A flicker of a troubling thought ignited in Julian’s mind, a spark that threatened to grow into a raging fire of uncertainty.

Before he could fully grasp the implications of that thought, Alan’s gruff voice sliced through the tension, sharp and unyielding. “Enough of this. Sydney has never disclosed who the father is. What’s the point of speculating? I’m already frustrated that her brother here can’t even take proper care of her.”

In an instant, the troubling thought evaporated, and a wry smile crept onto Julian’s lips, tinged with self-deprecation. ‘Of course. What was I even thinking? As if I have any right to wish for the child to be mine.’

He cast his gaze downward, his voice steady but laced with regret. “You’re right. I haven’t taken good enough care of her.”

Julian’s mind drifted back to her childhood, to the moments he had failed her. Even now, as she stood on the precipice of motherhood, he felt the weight of his inadequacy.

The dinner concluded in a hushed atmosphere, the air thick with unspoken words. The elderly couple, sensing the somber mood, insisted on leaving, refusing to allow Sydney or Julian to accompany them.

With a heavy heart, Julian instructed Peter to drive them home, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over him.

Downstairs, as Sydney escorted the couple to their car, her voice was soft, almost a whisper. “Eliana, all that commotion online started because of me. I’m truly sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you and Alan.”

Eliana looked at her with a mixture of exasperation and affection, her lips curving into a half-smile. “You silly child, what trouble? We are family, aren’t we? Stop being so formal.”

Sydney managed a faint smile, her heart warmed by Eliana’s words. “All right, I know.”

Meanwhile, Alan’s frown deepened as his gaze fell to her abdomen. “Julian doesn’t know the baby is his, does he?”

“Not yet.” Sydney’s lashes fluttered down, her hand resting gently on the small curve of her belly, a protective gesture.

She knew she needed to be certain first—that Julian would never turn against her because of the sins of his family. The child was her only anchor now; she couldn’t risk losing custody.

Eliana’s realization dawned; she understood now why Alan had silenced her moments earlier. He had always had a deeper understanding of Sydney, more so than anyone else. A child raised in neglect learns to keep an escape route close at hand; it was a survival instinct.

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