Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

Chapter 140 "What is it?" Sydney asked. Julian hesitated, weighing his words, then finally spoke. His voice was rough, like gravel scraping steel. "You could always consider using yourself to pay- "Babe, I'm back!" The elevator doors slid open. Tiffany stepped out, a purse draped over one arm, takeout bags in the other. Her cheerful voice cut Julian off mid-sentence, sharp and jarring. Sydney bolted upright, eyes locked on Julian. "What did you just say?" "Nothing." Julian's tone was flat. He glanced at Tiffany, then stepped back, calling the dog inside.

Tiffany clamped a hand over her mouth, shot Sydney a series of frantic looks, and almost screamed, "What the hell was that?" "What do you mean, what the hell?" Sydney tugged her toward the door, ushering her inside. Tiffany replayed Julian's expression in her mind. She shook her head. "No way that was nothing. The way he looked at me... He wanted blood. What did he say?" "He didn't even finish before you showed up," Sydney said. She took the takeout containers from Tiffany and began unpacking them onto the table. Julian's words had been so low she hadn't caught them.

shifts or lab appointments. Sydney had stayed up all night reorganizing her research plan from scratch, hunting for breakthroughs. The more she worked, the clearer her mind became. By the time the sun was high, she finally stood, lightheaded, and staggered to her bed and collapsed. Half-asleep, she felt

out before she finished the sentence. Julian was about to hang up when he caught the

to come over." Julian sprawled on the couch and crossed his legs. "What do you want?" His expression was dark due to the interruption. Raymond studied him with