Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable

the atmosphere is charged with tension as Julian and Caleb navigate the aftermath of a dinner filled with unspoken emotions. Julian, aware of the weight of the moment, suggests that Caleb should rest, leaving him with an air of finality as he departs.

Caleb, conflicted, mechanically clears the table but then softens, congratulating Sydney on the successful launch of the drug that promises her freedom, which brings a flicker of warmth to the otherwise heavy atmosphere. As they head to the elevator, the mood shifts further, filled with unexpressed feelings. When the elevator doors close behind Caleb, Sydney encounters Julian, who confronts her about rumors circulating online regarding their relationship.

His imposing presence and pointed questions create a palpable tension, leading Sydney to defensively express her disdain for the Sterling family's past. The ghosts of her history, marked by her parents' tragic deaths and Eloise's torment, haunt her, reinforcing her desire to distance herself from Julian and his family. Julian's attempts to reach out to Sydney reveal his vulnerability and his desire to protect her, but his words only seem to deepen the divide between them. Sydney's bitterness surfaces as she questions his intentions, and the weight of their shared history becomes evident.

Julian recalls the moment when Sydney first entered his life, a fragile girl offering comfort amidst his grief, which starkly contrasts with the present tension between them. The chapter culminates in a poignant moment where Julian, grappling with his feelings and past, seeks to convey his loyalty to Sydney. His memories of their childhood connection clash with the reality of their current situation, highlighting the complexity of their relationship.

As he expresses a desire to stand by her side, the emotional stakes rise, leaving both characters at a crossroads, caught between their past traumas and the hope for a different future together. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below **Chapter 406** As the last remnants of dinner lingered on the table, an unspoken tension hung in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife. Julian, seemingly aware of the weight of the moment, rose from his chair with a deliberate grace. "It's getting late," he stated, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "You've had a long day.

Get some rest." With that, he turned away, leaving the words to hang in the air like a distant echo, not bothering to see if Caleb grasped the underlying message. Caleb, caught in a web of conflicting emotions, felt an urge to remain, but the weight of Julian's departure pressed heavily upon him. He swiftly cleared the table, his movements mechanical, and loaded the dishwasher with a sense of finality. "I'll head down too," he announced, the words tumbling out as if to fill the silence. But then he paused, a genuine warmth breaking through his earlier tension.

edges of his demeanor. "Almost forgot to congratulate you. From now on, you can finally live life on your own terms." He understood the significance of the drug's successful launch for Sydney, the freedom it promised her. Sydney offered a faint smile in return, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you." As they made their way to the elevator, the atmosphere shifted, charged

effectively blocking her path. He stood there, tall and imposing, his posture rigid as he looked down at her. His gaze flicked momentarily to the elevator, then returned to her, intense and unwavering. "Not planning to take responsibility?" he

comments herself, and a chill swept through her. Her expression hardened, a wall rising between them. "If those people knew how hard I worked to escape the Sterling family, they wouldn't be saying that," she replied

different, she would have sworn off anyone

sent a jolt through her. "I wasn't defending Eloise at the press conference," he murmured, his voice low and earnest. Sydney's lips curved into a bitter smile, a sharp contrast to the vulnerability in his eyes. "Oh? Then who were you defending? Me?" He hesitated, the weight of her question pressing down on him, rendering him momentarily speechless. Eloise was not the

Flint's old network was still shrouded in mystery, and no one knew how far its tendrils had spread. Julian's dark eyes bore into hers, deep and unwavering, as if searching for a truth that remained elusive. "If I said I was protecting you, would you believe me?" he asked softly, his words brushing against her heart like a gentle caress. He continued, "Sydney, from the moment you called me 'Brother' for the first time at seven years old, I've

fateful night... As Julian kept vigil beside his parents' coffins, lost in a sea of grief, Sydney had appeared out of nowhere-a fragile little