Lahat ng Kabanata ng Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable: Kabanata 231 - Kabanata 240

It was Julian. He had clearly just showered, dressed in deep-blue loungewear. Compared to the sharp authority he carried in tailored suits, he looked different—still commanding, but softened by a hint of lazy ease.Sydney exhaled in relief and opened the door. "You're not staying at the old estate tonight?"He gave her a sidelong look. The disdain for her half-hearted question was evident. "When have I ever stayed there?"'True…' The question was pointless. Ever since he had moved out eight years ago, he had not spent a single night at the Shang estate.Knowing how particular he was, Sydney had already prepared a fresh pair of guest slippers. She set them on the floor—men's slippers.Julian glanced down, his tone edged with a subtle chill. "Whose are these?"Sydney walked toward the kitchen without looking back. "Yours."He smirked faintly, almost imperceptibly, and entered as if it were his own home.Seeing her carrying a box of muffins, he showed no surprise. "Midnight snack?

Julian acted as if nothing were out of the ordinary, using her things with effortless ease.Perhaps because they had grown up together, their movements in front of the mirror were uncannily synchronized as they washed up. They resembled lovers who had shared years of intimacy, perfectly attuned to each other.The thought jolted Sydney's heart.Afterward, they returned to Julian's apartment one after the other.Mindful of his obsession with cleanliness, Sydney changed into another pair of slippers. Her heel had barely touched the floor before his strong arms circled her waist from behind.Sydney turned and was consumed by a kiss that brooked no refusal. She did not even have the chance to push him away.When his hand slipped under the hem of her nightdress, she flinched but did not resist, letting his touch roam.He lifted her effortlessly, her legs instinctively hooking around his lean, muscled waist. He carried her to the master bedroom, where he laid her on the bed.Her camis

After all, Sydney had been gifted since childhood. Where others studied to go from 0 to 100, she started at 90 and pushed herself to 150. She stayed in the lab until nightfall and stayed so busy at noon that she skipped lunch. Only when she finished did she realize how hungry she was.With Tiffany away, she had no desire to eat out. She decided to go home and heat up some muffins.She grabbed her phone and bag and rode the elevator down to the underground garage. Sterling Corp.'s headquarters had cost a fortune to build and required regular monthly maintenance. Unlike most garages, it did not feel gloomy. Bright LED lights lined the ceiling like daylight, and surveillance cameras watched every corner.It felt very safe. She had never been afraid there.Today, though, the entire floor lay dark when she stepped out of the elevator; only the faintest glow remained. Rush hour had passed. The garage stood empty and hollow. The air made her skin prickle.When she spotted a red light bli

These men were clearly desperate outlaws. Money was the only thing that mattered to them.Forget a million—ten million wouldn't make Sydney hesitate for a second.Tyson froze, instinctively glancing at Scott. "Boss, she really has that kind of money?""I can add more." Seeing their hesitation, Sydney pressed her advantage, her voice steady and persuasive. "If you tell me who hired you, I'll throw in another 500,000 dollars. That makes a million in total."'A million!' Tyson's eyes lit up, and several others mirrored him.For the original deal of 100,000 dollars, each of them might have scraped together half at best. It was already a fortune. But now? A million was on the table.Even if the boss skimmed the most, every man here could walk away with at least a few tens of thousands. For ordinary men, that was a lifetime's worth of money. They had only landed this job by sheer luck. Who knew if such an opportunity would come again?Scott's gaze sharpened on Sydney, laced with doubt

When had Caleb ever chosen her? Sydney was used to being abandoned.Caleb clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened. His eyes flashed with rage.Penelope panicked first. She clutched his arm. Her sobs trembled with desperation. "Cal, save Timmy! He's your nephew! Your brother's only son!"Caleb's expression was shadowed. "And Sydney is my wife."Penelope laughed bitterly and stared at him with open disappointment. "Then let your elder brother have no peace in the afterlife. Let Timmy die with him. Let him know his brother never cared about his only bloodline."Her voice rose, shrill with accusation. "Caleb, can you face Lucas in the grave?"Each word stabbed. Caleb squeezed his eyes shut. Agony carved his face. He had sworn at his brother's grave to protect the child left behind.'But Sydney…'Scott lost patience. He rapped the gun barrel against Sydney's head and smiled coldly. "Time's up, Mr. Hampton. I'll count to ten. Keep hesitating, and both of them die.""Ten, nine