Library
Search
Home / Romance / Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable / Chapter 176

Share

Chapter 176

Author: Lean
The instant Penelope spoke, Sydney's spine went rigid. If she and Julian had a proper, open, clean relationship, she could have admitted it without fear. Even if someone guessed, there would be no shame.

However, they did not. They were lovers, in the rawest, filthiest sense. If anyone discovered it, the scorn would fall solely on her. Julian would escape unscathed, and the contempt would be hers alone.

They would say she had clung to him ten years ago under the excuse of being his "little sister," and now, desperate to attach herself to the Sterling family, she had degraded herself into his mistress.

"Penelope!" Caleb's face turned cold, and he said sharply, "What the hell are you thinking? Syd and Jules are brother and sister."

Back then, Sydney had been willing to burn every bridge with Julian just to marry Caleb. To him, her loyalties had always been crystal clear. Naturally, he had never suspected anything between her and Julian.

Bruce and the others frowned. "Cal, maybe you
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter
Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Latest chapter

  • Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable   Chapter 184

    It was not until they reached the Hampton estate that Sydney finally found her answer.Penelope had not returned for New Year's, but Timothy had. He clung to Adeline's side for once, unusually quiet and obedient.They arrived just as dinner was being served. Before anyone could even sit down, the housekeeper announced the meal.Everyone moved into the dining room. Adeline's displeasure showed plainly. "Rare enough for you to come home for New Year's, and you show up right at mealtime. To outsiders, it would look as if you were the elder here."Her target was obvious.Sydney pretended not to hear, but Caleb would not let it pass. His voice remained steady. "Mom, the fault is mine for not arranging my time properly. If someone must be scolded, scold me.""Cal!" Adeline drew a sharp breath. "Remember, I'm your mother, yet you always defend outsiders.""The 'outsiders' you mean…" Sydney lifted her head and smiled faintly. "Are you referring to me? Or to my sister-in-law?"If the re

  • Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable   Chapter 183

    "What do you mean? Your dowry? All of it's supposed to go toward buying your brother a house?""Yeap." Tiffany rolled her eyes and cracked open a beer, gulping it down in fury. "They can dream on. And they even said, since I've been working three or four years already, plus being a lawyer is such a high-paying job, I must have plenty saved up. So of course, I should pitch in to buy my brother a house."Sydney licked her lips and reached out to pat her head. "Whether it's your body or your money, if you don't want to give, they can't take a thing from you."Beyond that, Sydney had little more to say. No matter how unreasonable they were, they were still Tiffany's family. Blood ties could not be cut with a single decision.Tiffany looked up at her. Normally so decisive, she now asked in a small voice, "What if they force me?"Sydney chuckled softly. "Then you've still got me. I'll protect you."She had more than enough money, enough to hire ten bodyguards for Tiffany if it ever cam

  • Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable   Chapter 182

    Julian had not expected Sydney to be so blunt. His brows lifted slightly, but before he could speak, her phone rang. It lay on the bed between them. Both glanced at the caller ID.It was Tiffany.At such a late hour, she would not be calling without reason.Sydney snatched up the phone. "Hello? Tiff, did something happen?""I just got back." Tiffany's voice came muffled, thick with helplessness. "Why aren't you at home?"Sydney shot upright. "I'm at Julian's. I'll come right now."Julian's expression darkened. He pressed her shoulder firmly and held her in place. "Who's more important, me or Tiffany?"It sounded like the question of a sulking schoolboy.Sydney exhaled, exasperated. "Do you want the truth?"His brow twitched. "Say it.""Right now, it's Tiffany."The instant she said it, his hand loosened. Sydney was fearful that Tiffany had run into trouble, so she hurried out.Julian watched her retreat, his shoulders tight, and his eyes betrayed a flicker of self-mockery.

  • Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable   Chapter 181

    The unfamiliar sensations overwhelmed Sydney, and she no longer dared argue with him."Jules…" Her voice, softened by his kiss, came out tender and submissive.The hand Julian clamped at her waist went rigid, tendons and veins standing out beneath his skin, his grip charged with explosive tension."It hurts!" She hadn't expected that yielding would only make him tighten his hold.A moment ago, it had felt as though he wanted to crush her into himself.Julian snapped back to his senses. He released her and pressed a gentler kiss to her lips, his breath rough and uneven. "Sorry. Did I hurt you?"When he drew back and saw her lashes still damp from his kiss, he nearly lost control all over again."Shower." He tossed out the word and strode toward the guest bathroom.Sydney stared after him in a daze. Did he mean they would shower and then go to bed?The bathtub was nearly overflowing, so she hurried to shut off the tap.After a brief pause, realizing Julian had no intention of r

  • Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable   Chapter 180

    Contraceptives were routine in any doctor's eyes. Given their current relationship, the moment Julian told her to shower, Sydney's first instinct had naturally been to assume that.She had come to him and asked to be his lover. There was no point pretending otherwise. It was better to accept it early. Then, if he grew tired of her one day, she could walk away cleanly.Julian suddenly chuckled, scooped her up, and set her on the bathroom counter. He braced one hand beside her thigh, eyes glinting with amusement, and leaned close to her ear."Didn't you say you're my lover? Since when do lovers need condoms?" he deliberately teased her.His tone was careless to the extreme.Sydney had steeled herself for this, yet his words still made her flush. "That doesn't matter. You still have to be safe."He adopted a mock-serious tone. "Safe from what? I'm not sick."Sydney flared. "Julian! This has nothing to do with being sick or not—"He cut her off with a low correction. "Call me Jules

  • Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable   Chapter 179

    Caleb remained wary of him. He forced a smile. "You're overthinking. I just wanted to take her home."Julian's gaze was sharp. "Does she want to?"Publicly, the Hampton and Sterling families had always been business partners. Privately, the two men had grown up together. Now, with Julian and Sydney reconciled, Julian was something like a brother-in-law to Caleb.Caleb softened his tone to avoid escalating the tension. "Every couple has quarrels. They fight and make up. It's not as serious as you think."At the words "they fight and make up," Sydney instinctively glanced at Julian, catching the icy flash in his eyes.Suddenly, Julian reached out, ruffled her hair, and chuckled. "I don't care if it's fighting, making up, or fighting and divorcing. Either way, as long as she doesn't want to, no one's taking her from me."His usual offhanded drawl carried a steely authority that brooked no challenge.Inside, the others had overheard the tension and approached.Raymond immediately s

More Chapters

You may also like

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status