Lahat ng Kabanata ng Once a Doormat, Now Untouchable: Kabanata 401 - Kabanata 410

Sydney froze midstep. She turned and asked sharply, "What did you just say?"Tristan kept his expression. He looked at her calmly and replied flatly, "Work with me, and I'll make sure the Sterling family is completely destroyed."His words sounded light, but she felt the hatred burning in his eyes. She frowned. "You have a grudge against Julian?"Tristan shook his head, his faint smile carrying a trace of darkness. "Not just him. Like you, I hold a grudge against the entire Sterling family. Every last one of them deserves to die."The quiet, casual way he said it made Sydney's skin prickle. She took two steps back. "You and I are not the same.""Oh?" He tilted his head. His voice stayed calm, but each word closed the distance. "Right. Not exactly the same. The Sterlings only killed my mother. But both of your parents died because of them. You, Ms. Wilson, have suffered far more than I have. And yet you still find excuses for them. You really are one for returning good for evil."

Once Sydney calmed down, her thoughts had already settled. She looked at Tiffany and shook her head. "This has nothing to do with the rest of the Sterling family."Twenty years ago, Eloise had held absolute control over the Sterlings. No one else could have changed a thing—least of all Julian, who had been only ten at the time. He had been completely powerless.When Eloise tormented her all those years ago, Julian had been the one who took her away and spared her from further suffering. If not for him, she might not have survived.Seeing that Sydney hadn't fallen into anyone's trap, Tiffany exhaled in relief. "That guy's obviously trying to drive a wedge between you and Julian. He must be after something."She thought for a moment. "Could it be the project? If you started resenting Julian, you'd probably stop working with Sterling Corp., right? Then DK could swoop in and become your next partner."Sydney hesitated briefly, then said with certainty, "No. That's not it."Whoever th

Tiffany listened from the side, unable to stop her thoughts from running. So even a powerful CEO could act superior over a pair of slippers. Honestly, he was worse than Raymond. Then again, maybe all men were childish at heart—except for Caleb, perhaps.Caleb only smiled mildly and said evenly, "Disposable ones make things easier for her. She doesn't have to wash them afterward."'How thoughtful.' Tiffany could see it now. One was childish, while the other pretended to be gentle and refined. If Sydney weren't pregnant, she would never have gotten anywhere near this three-way battlefield.Sydney acted as if she hadn't heard a thing and carried the lunch box straight to the dining table.When the four of them finally sat down, Caleb rose to fetch bowls from the kitchen.Julian immediately claimed the empty seat beside Sydney, directing the others like he owned the place. "Ms. Voss, you can sit across from Precious."Sydney had long since run out of ways to deal with him. With the t

"I don't have a mom anymore." Little Sydney pressed her lips together as if holding back tears. But instead of crying, she smiled.Tugging on his hand, she pulled Julian out of the mourning hall and pointed toward the stars."She and Dad turned into stars in the sky. They watch over me every day," she said, her voice soft yet sure. "Your mom and dad must be up there too, right?"Before leaving, she pushed the last piece of candy into his palm.Julian looked down at it and asked, "Do you have any left for yourself?"She shook her head. "No. But it's okay. I don't need any more."Later, when he asked the maids about her, he realized how wrong that was. She did need it—more than anyone. Those two candies were her only treasures. Even when they were about to expire, she still hadn't eaten them.After that day, Julian started buying her every kind of sweet he could find, stacking them like small offerings of comfort. But he also made sure she brushed her teeth every morning and night

When he said those two words, Adeline froze. She had no reply.Penelope, in the back seat, saw Adeline and suddenly lost control. She clawed at the car door, battered the window, and screamed, "Mom! Mom! Cal is taking me to get rid of the baby!"Her voice shredded with each syllable aimed straight at Adeline.Adeline's face turned pale. She stared at Caleb in disbelief. "Do you know this baby is already forming? You want to abort at this stage? Cal, that is your child!""Whether it is mine or not is still up in the air," Caleb answered coldly. He did not argue further. He opened the driver's door and climbed in. He then started the engine, released the handbrake, and pressed the accelerator. Each movement came in a single, decisive flow.He intended to take Penelope to terminate the pregnancy today."Caleb!" Penelope fell apart, crying in a desperate, humiliating way. "No! No! I know I was wrong. Please don't take the baby from me. I beg you."He did not listen. He acted as if