Once a Doormat Now Untouchable (Caleb and Sydney) novel Chapter 646

As Christmas approached, Jouleston saw its first snowfall of the season.

After several days of careful rest, Sydney's health improved significantly.

Julian noticed how her gaze lingered on the snow-covered courtyard, her eyes bright with anticipation. He gave in first. "Want to play?"

"Yes." She nodded earnestly. The white landscape reflected in her eyes and made them shine.

She had barely stepped outside in recent days. Cabin fever had set in. Snow was the one temptation she could not resist.

His expression softened, and a faint smile curved his lips with open indulgence. "Then go."

Peter had just come up from the basement lounge. When he saw the scene, he shuddered in exaggerated discomfort and shot Elliot a look.

Elliot rolled his eyes. "What? Too much PDA for you?"

Lately, their employer rarely left Sydney's side. Elliot had grown used to it.

In truth, Julian had always doted on Sydney this way. When they were young, he kept it subtle. Now, he made no effort to hide it.

Peter snorted. "You know exactly what I mean."

Sydney's eyes curved into crescents. "Really?"

"Mm." Julian ignored his subordinates' whispers. He took a pair of fluffy gloves and a knit hat from a maid and put them on her himself with careful attention. "I'll go with you."

Her surprise deepened. "Really?"

As a child, she had loved playing in the snow, but he had never joined her. Even when she tugged at his hand and begged, he would pull away stiffly and dismiss her with a single word: "Childish."

Each time she played outside, she would glance back at the floor-to-ceiling windows and see him standing there, aloof and unimpressed. More than once, she had wanted to pack a snowball and throw it straight at his face.

Now, as he watched her animated expression, Julian arched a brow. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Who knows?" She huffed. "You never played with me before. You always said I was childish."

Elliot happened to pass through the living room and overheard her. Under Julian's warning glare, he spoke too quickly. "He was pretending. Every time you played outside, he secretly took photos of you."

Peter possessed enough survival instinct to retreat. "Okay."

He said his goodbyes and left with his cola.

Sydney looked up at Julian, her eyes sparkling and her smile bright. "You have a hidden room in your study?"

She had entered that study countless times since moving in and had never noticed anything unusual.

"Are you learning to trick people now?" he asked lightly, deflecting with a faint smile. "Who taught you that?"

She lifted a brow. "Who else?"

Everyone always said she took after him.

He flicked her lightly on the forehead. "Come on. Let's go play in the snow."

"I don't want to anymore." She looked at him with sweet insistence. "I want to go to the study."