Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 550

550 /588

**TITLE: When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 550**

**Chapter 550**

Julian was acutely aware of her intentions. That reply she had tossed his way was never meant for Polly; it was a calculated jab directed squarely at him, a small but pointed act of retribution that made his heart sink.

As he made his way downstairs for dinner, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. She already knew the gender of their baby. Earlier, he had carelessly uttered the opposite of the truth, a misstep that now seemed foolish. It was no wonder she had been giving him that icy attitude.

Agatha, seated beside him at the table, observed the subtle changes in his expression, her keen eyes catching every flicker of emotion. She chose her moment wisely, waiting until he had finished his meal before breaking the silence. “You just got home, and you’ve already managed to ruffle Sydney’s feathers?” she remarked, her tone a mix of concern and reproach.

Julian set his fork down with a clatter, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “I didn’t upset her! She’s the one who’s losing her temper at me,” he retorted, his voice rising slightly.

The truth was, he simply could not bear the thought of his daughter stepping into the role of an older sister.

His mind drifted to the eldest daughter of the Hutton family, a woman he had watched from afar. At just 33, she bore the weight of her family’s expectations and responsibilities, and the sight of her struggling to keep everything together exhausted him.

He longed for his own daughter to remain the cherished younger sibling, the one who would be doted upon and protected—a precious little jewel in the family’s crown.

As soon as he finished his thought, a sharp slap landed on the back of his head, jolting him from his reverie.

Agatha scowled at him, her expression fierce. “She practically wore a path in the floor waiting for you to return! If you didn’t provoke her, why on earth would she be angry with you for no reason?”

In her eyes, given how tightly wound her grandson was, it was nothing short of a miracle that someone like Sydney could tolerate him.

Julian rubbed the sore spot on his head, incredulous at her audacity. “Whose grandmother are you supposed to be?” he exclaimed, disbelief coloring his voice.

How could she be so bold as to strike her own grandson like that?

“Ever since you brought Sydney home, I feel as though I’ve lost my grandson,” Agatha declared, pointing an accusatory finger upstairs. “Now, all I have is a granddaughter. You barely qualify as the son-in-law who married in.”