Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

Chapter 139 "Yoyo?" Sydney stiffened, snapping her head up. "What did you just call it? Its name is Yoyo too?" Julian stepped closer and reached for the dog, but it stayed nestled in her arms, ignoring him completely. 'Ungrateful mutt...' He huffed, answering flatly, "It is Yoyo." "Really?!" Sydney's eyes lit up, glowing under the winter sunset. Her dimples deepened as her face came alive. Whatever teasing remark Julian had ready died on his lips. Seeing her like this, he couldn't say it. He gave a light nod.

"When have I ever lied to you?" Just like that, Sydney, usually all steel and stubbornness, burst into tears. Julian had never lied to her. Sydney knew that. She hugged the dog tighter and pressed her cheek against its fur, laughing and crying at once. "Yoyo, it's really you?" "Woof!" "Yoyo?" she tried again. "Woof!" Sydney's joy spilled over. She looked up at Julian, her eyes crescent-shaped with her smile, all past resentment forgotten.

bobbed, as his gaze swept across her rosy lips. The rimless glasses on his nose were the only thing hiding the storm in his eyes. "What did you just call me?" A trace

back. Now, Sydney's focus was entirely on the dog. She didn't notice anything off with Julian. Her voice was nasal from crying, her cheeks still flushed.

Julian glanced at the apartment across and lifted a brow in mock surprise. "You live across from me?" "Yeah," Sydney said. For once, she felt like the oppressed laborer who had scored a win over the capitalist. She grinned, reminding him, "I'm actually your landlord." "Perfect." He nodded thoughtfully. "If anything goes wrong with the place, I'll be sure to call you right away." 1/2 Sydney cursed herself for speaking. As Julian and Yoyo headed inside, she blurted almost desperately, "Yoyo... is mine, right?" Julian