Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

Chapter 91 Sydney's thoughts moved sluggishly, a beat behind. For a moment, she assumed Julian was talking about Penelope's allergic reaction. "The wine wasn't poisoned. Penelope just had an allergic-" "I meant you," Julian cut in lazily. "When did you become half mute?" She blinked, the sarcasm landing at last. He wasn't talking about the wine. He meant how cold she'd been to his girlfriend earlier. Charlotte, oblivious to the tangle that was the Hampton family, offered a tentative smile. "Maybe Mr. Hampton rushed Ms.

Monroe to the hospital?" "Right." The word had barely left Sydney's mouth when a faint snort of laughter cut through the air. Julian's cool, distant voice followed. "All bark at home." "Mr. Sterling, not all of us can cut people down with a single sentence," Sydney snapped, her voice tight and measured, each word biting through the tension. What she hated most was how he always stood above it all, passing judgment as if the rest of them lived in. the dirt beneath his shoes. However, she wasn't like him. She couldn't shake the ground just by stomping her foot.

She was the one who'd been crushed-by the Hampton family, by the Sterlings, or maybe by both. She wanted out. Out of the Hamptons. As far from the Sterlings as she could get. Even this divorce had taken everything she had to fight for. And to Julian, it was nothing. Ridiculous. Beneath him. The air tensed around them. Charlotte picked up on the tension and tried to ease it. "Syd, your brother didn't have it easy either. These past few years-' Julian's voice sliced through hers. "Let her speak." "I'm done." "Then I stand by what I said.

Or do you think the whole world owes you something?" Sydney couldn't even remember the last time she cried. But his words struck like a slap. The tears came before she could stop them, streaming hot and fast down her cheeks. She turned away, took a breath, and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Then she said with a bitter smile,

hesitated. "She looked like she was crying." She hadn't expected a reaction. But the moment she spoke, she saw him freeze for a second. +15 BONUS Sydney reached home cold to the bone, inside and out. And only then did she

life-sent her back to Eloise's house without a word. Not long after that, he moved out of the main estate altogether. He'd made it clear: he didn't want her anymore. Back then...