Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

Sydney is reluctantly pulled from her thoughts as she prepares for her birthday celebration. She is surprised to find a cake waiting for her, but her initial excitement turns to confusion when she sees the cake, which resembles a culinary disaster rather than a festive treat. Julian, who had remembered her birthday, stands behind her with an expectant look, but Sydney can't hide her disappointment about the cake's appearance.

She gently suggests that he should avoid ordering from that bakery in the future. As Julian attempts to lighten the mood, a subtle tension builds between them. His demeanor shifts when he receives an urgent phone call regarding a personal matter involving a divorce that Sydney is unaware of. The conversation reveals significant information about someone named Ms. Wilson, which appears to weigh heavily on Julian. Despite the seriousness of the call, he returns to Sydney with a sense of relief, indicating that the information may have resolved a lingering concern for him.

Feeling the change in Julian's energy, Sydney hesitates when he encourages her to make a wish. The atmosphere becomes charged as he steps closer, turning off the lights and closing the distance between them. In a sudden, intimate moment, he lifts her onto the table and urges her to wish, but instead, he leans in for a passionate kiss that overwhelms Sydney. The kiss is intense and consuming, igniting a whirlwind of emotions within her as she grapples with the unexpected turn of events.

Caught up in the fervor of the moment, Sydney tries to voice her thoughts, questioning the significance of the wish they were supposed to make. However, Julian remains focused on their connection, holding her tightly as they share this intimate embrace. The kiss deepens, and as they finally pull back, the air is thick with unspoken feelings. In a decisive gesture, Julian extinguishes the candles, symbolizing a shift in their relationship, before sweeping her away to the bedroom, leaving the outside world behind.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below **Chapter 287** "Not really." Sydney's mind drifted back to reality as she reluctantly slipped her feet into her cozy slippers. The soft fabric felt comforting against her skin as she padded over to the dining table, the scent of something sweet lingering in the air. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she turned to glance at Julian, who stood behind her with an expectant expression. "Which bakery did you order this cake from?" she inquired, a hint of disbelief coloring her tone.

to remember her birthday-an act that had genuinely surprised her-but the sight before her was something else entirely. The cake, a supposed tribute to her special day, bore a striking resemblance to a culinary disaster rather than a celebration. Her beloved Dolly Knight had transformed

the wheels turning in his mind. Clearing his throat, he nodded solemnly, the corners of his mouth twitching as if trying to suppress a smile. "Mm. Maybe

oddly familiar, a resonance that tugged at her memory. Sydney blinked, curiosity piqued. "Don't tell me you made this cake yourself?" she ventured, her tone teasing yet hopeful. Julian's long, defined fingers struck a match with a practiced ease, lighting the candles that adorned the cake. At her question, his movements faltered for just

an inconvenient time,

not Eloise, but rather Agatha, a fact

shoulders. Sensing the shift in his demeanor, Sydney felt a flicker of unease wash over her. "Should I still make a wish?" she asked tentatively, uncertainty

she could fully process what was happening, he wrapped his arms around her waist and effortlessly lifted her onto the table, his voice dropping to a low, intimate whisper. "Wish." The moment hung in the air, electric and charged, before his lips crashed against hers with a fervor that left her breathless. The kiss was fierce, consuming her entirely, leaving no room for hesitation. Even the