Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

Chapter 50 Sydney woke up after an unknown length of time, stirred by the soft buzz of her phone vibrating. The light in the room felt harsh in her groggy state. She shielded her eyes with one hand and fumbled for the phone, answering drowsily. "Hello?" "Syd, why aren't you home yet?" It was Tiffany-anxious, nearly frantic. She had returned from work to find it already past 3:00 a.m., and Sydney still hadn't come back. Fear had gripped her. She thought something might have happened at the Sterling estate. Sydney rubbed her eyes, slowly adjusting to the light.

As she sat up from the sofa, her thoughts cleared. "I'm okay. I'm waiting at Hampton Corp. for Caleb to finish a meeting." "What kind of meeting lasts until 3:00 a.m.?" Tiffany questioned. "I don't know either." By then, the building's central air conditioning had shut off. Cold seeped into the room. Sydney blew on her nose and spoke softly. "I'll go check the meeting room. Don't worry. Go wash up and try to sleep." After ending the call, she picked up her down jacket from the back of the sofa and stood. Her legs were still numb, so she moved carefully. The corridor was pitch black.

then, footsteps echoed from the elevator lobby. A young woman, likely in her early twenties, rushed into the conference room as if dropping something. When she emerged, she spotted Sydney standing in the soft glow cast from the CEO's office. "Why are you still here?" Sydney asked. She froze, then answered in

you." 1/3 Sun 24 Aug Chapter 50 78% +15 BONUS Sydney stood still, stunned. The ground felt solid beneath her feet again, but nothing else did. The cake he had bought, the unexpected visit-it all felt imagined. He had left her alone here at night. That was the truth. That was who Caleb had always been. It fit him. He had never once considered that she might feel

without a word, without a thought for her. The truly absurd part came two days later, when Nancy called