Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 552

**When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia**
**Chapter 552**

Sydney remained silent, her mind swirling with thoughts that she couldn’t quite articulate. Julian, however, was resolute; he had made up his mind to embrace this child as if it were his own flesh and blood. The mere fact that the child did not share his DNA would never be a reason for him to turn away.

As Sydney opened her mouth to elaborate on her intentions, Julian’s dark, penetrating gaze held her captive. His voice, low and soothing, broke the tension. “When did you buy it? Were you trying to surprise me?”

A wave of warmth surged to her cheeks, a flush that betrayed her inner turmoil. She tried to push him away, summoning every ounce of strength she could muster, but he remained steadfast, unyielding as a mountain.

His eyes seemed to burn with an intensity that ignited her nerves. She shot him an exasperated glare, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “I did not buy it for myself, nor was it meant to surprise you.”

The truth, however, lingered just beneath her words. She had indeed purchased it with the hope of delighting him, but in her flustered state, she had forgotten to remove it.

“Really?” His tone dripped with skepticism, as if he could see right through her façade.

One of his hands tightened its grip on her shoulder, grounding her, while the other found its way to the back of her head. He kissed her fiercely, a kiss that stole the air from her lungs. When he finally pulled away, their breaths mingled in the narrow space that separated them. “If it wasn’t for me, then who were you planning to surprise?” he pressed, his voice teasing yet serious.

“Is this what happens when I leave the country for just a few days? You fall for someone else?” he probed, a hint of playful accusation in his tone.

“No one fell for anyone,” Sydney shot back, her glare fierce. She attempted to continue her defense, but he caught the slip in her words immediately.

A sly smile crept onto his lips, one that resembled a cunning fox who had just outsmarted its prey. Leaning closer, he whispered with a playful challenge, “If you didn’t fall for anyone else, then that means you still love me, right?”

The warm yellow light of the room cast sharp shadows across his face, accentuating the relaxed yet dangerously alluring smile that played upon his lips.

In the comfort of their home, he moved with an effortless confidence that made her heart race. The collar of his sleep shirt hung open, revealing the lean muscles that lay beneath the fabric, each movement a reminder of his presence. The air felt thick with his warmth, his scent wrapping around her like a comforting blanket.

Sydney’s heart trembled as she listened to him, unguarded and vulnerable. She raised her clear, earnest eyes to meet his gaze. “Julian, I have never loved anyone else. Not before you, and I won’t in the future either.”

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