All Chapters of Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

Sydney couldn't read Julian, so she instinctively leaned back. "Mr. Sterling, are you trying to set me up with someone?""I could." Julian's broad shoulders loomed as he bent closer, nearly engulfing her. His voice was smooth, coaxing. "So, what kind of guy do you want to have fun with?"The earlier words had slipped out before Sydney could stop them. If she backed down now, he would only laugh at her again. Thus, she straightened, put on a serious face, and began listing her requirements.Her ideal used to be someone like Caleb—polished, gentle, a perfect gentleman. Now? That was exactly the kind of man she despised most.She couldn't define what she wanted, but she knew what she didn't. "Definitely not the polished, gentlemanly type. Basically, the opposite. And someone who wouldn't bow to the Hamptons' influence.""Ms. Wilson, the opposite of that is domineering, sharp-tongued, and cold." Peter chuckled from the front seat. "Sounds like you're describing Mr. Sterling. He's the

"You came back with your sister and didn't think to give me a heads-up?" Raymond whined.Julian's expression stayed cold. "And when did you get so loose-lipped?"He dropped onto the couch and lit a cigar, each movement edged with hostility.They'd been friends for years, so Raymond sat across from him without hesitation, knowing exactly what that look meant. "Dinner didn't go so well, huh?"Julian snorted. "Charlotte showed up.""What was she doing there?" Raymond asked."Eating with us," Julian replied."So… Sydney wasn't happy about it?" Raymond guessed.Julian's voice turned glacial. "Unhappy? She can make Charlotte her sister-in-law whenever she wants.""Yeah, not happening," Raymond muttered.He smirked and twisted the knife. "She doesn't even acknowledge you as her brother right now."Julian shot him a glare. "Whose side are you on?""Yours, obviously," Raymond deadpanned.He wandered over to the liquor cabinet, pulled out a bottle of Macallan, and opened it with del

Penelope felt as if she'd just punched cotton. Nothing landed, nothing hurt Sydney, and the frustration made her stomp her foot.Her eyes fell on the pendant she had just shoved into her bag, and her panic eased slightly. Nonetheless, she couldn't sit and wait for everything to fall apart. That pendant couldn't be her only card. She needed something else—fast.…Sydney headed for the parking lot. The moment her fingers brushed the pendant in her coat pocket, her heart settled.The one she had given Penelope was the replica Harold had made. The real pendant, the one her parents had left her, was safely back with her.Finally, it was where it belonged.Her mood lifted.Just as she reached her car, a large hand pressed firmly against the door, stopping her. Broad, long, clean fingers—she didn't even need to look up to know who it was.Annoyance prickled at her. She wet her lips. "I already gave the pendant back to Penelope. What more do you want?"Caleb noted Sydney's lowered e

Caleb hummed. When he turned back, the storm in his eyes had vanished. "You're off work?""Yeap." Penelope looped her arms around his, pouting playfully. "I'm exhausted. Dr. Morales had a ton of patients this morning."Learning under Ryan was tough, but she was picking up skills—at the cost of total exhaustion.She had no idea how Sydney managed the workload alone. Then again, that woman was beneath her. They weren't the same.Caleb studied her quietly. "Did you get the pendant back from Sydney?""Sure did." Penelope smiled, tugging him toward the car.She muttered under her breath, "Don't know what's gotten into her. Maybe she's still holding a grudge over that hotel incident. She kept insisting the pendant wasn't mine. Crazy, right?"She couldn't risk Sydney taking the matter to Caleb herself. It was better to plant the seed first.What she hadn't expected was that Sydney had already anticipated her move.Caleb paused ever so slightly before chuckling softly, his tone warm a

"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