Chapter\u00a011\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0felt\u00a0utterly\u00a0suffocated,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0not\u00a0afford\u00a0to\u00a0blow\u00a0things\u00a0up\u2013not\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0still\u00a0needed\u00a0a\u00a0smooth\u00a0divorce.\u00a0She\u00a0could\u00a0not\u00a0risk\u00a0falling\u00a0out\u00a0with\u00a0Caleb.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0fingertips\u00a0pressed\u00a0lightly\u00a0against\u00a0her\u00a0palm\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0met\u00a0his\u00a0gaze.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0clarify\u00a0it?\u00a0The\u00a0photos\u00a0are\u00a0already\u00a0out\u00a0there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb looked\u00a0weary,\u00a0probably\u00a0worn\u00a0down\u00a0from\u00a0dealing\u00a0with\u00a0Penelope.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0they\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0catch\u00a0Penny\u2019s\u00a0face\u00a0clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n
A\u00a0heavy\u00a0weight\u00a0clogged\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0chest.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0came\u00a0out\u00a0dry. \u201cSo\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0me\u00a0to lie?\u00a0Tell\u00a0the\u00a0public that\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0the\u00a0woman\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0photo?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0question\u00a0was\u00a0simple.\u00a0Too\u00a0direct,\u00a0maybe.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0not\u00a0expected\u00a0such\u00a0a\u00a0ridiculous\u00a0request.\u00a0At\u00a0most,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0assumed\u00a0he\u00a0would ask\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0friend\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0photo\u00a0or\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0misunderstanding.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0pressed\u00a0his\u00a0lips\u00a0together\u00a0and\u00a0answered\u00a0rationally,\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0better\u00a0would\u00a0calm\u00a0the\u00a0public\u00a0quickly\u2013for\u00a0Hampton\u00a0Corp.,\u00a0and\u00a0for\u00a0everyone.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0lesser\u00a0evil.\u201d<\/p>\n
way.\u00a0This<\/p>\n
\u2018Everyone?\u2018\u00a0Sydney\u00a0clenched\u00a0the\u00a0bedsheet.\u00a0By\u00a0\u201ceveryone,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0meant\u00a0Penelope.<\/p>\n
Of course.\u00a0Caleb\u00a0always\u00a0protected\u00a0her.\u00a0No\u00a0matter\u00a0what.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0Sydney?\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0thrown\u00a0under\u00a0the\u00a0bus\u00a0without\u00a0a\u00a0second\u00a0thought.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0gave\u00a0a\u00a0crooked,\u00a0miserable\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cFine.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0do\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0moment\u00a0he\u00a0brought\u00a0it\u00a0up,\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0never\u00a0really\u00a0a\u00a0choice.\u00a0Caleb had\u00a0already<\/p>\n
decided.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0know\u00a0this\u00a0puts\u00a0you\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0difficult\u00a0spot,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0added,\u00a0voice\u00a0calm.\u00a0\u201cSo\u00a0let\u00a0this\u00a0be\u00a0my\u00a0way\u00a0of\u00a0making\u00a0it\u00a0up\u00a0to\u00a0you.\u00a0Go\u00a0out\u00a0with Tiffany tomorrow.\u00a0Buy\u00a0whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n
As\u00a0he\u00a0spoke,\u00a0he\u00a0handed\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0check.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
5:34\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter<\/p>\n
91%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0move,\u00a0so\u00a0he\u00a0placed\u00a0it\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0pillow.\u00a0Without\u00a0another\u00a0word,\u00a0he\u00a0got\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0room\u2013smooth\u00a0and\u00a0clean,\u00a0like\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0not\u00a0wait\u00a0to\u00a0escape,\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0any\u00a0delay\u00a0might\u00a0get\u00a0him\u00a0in\u00a0trouble\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0woman\u00a0he\u00a0really\u00a0cared\u00a0about.<\/p>\n
Only\u00a0after\u00a0he\u00a0left\u00a0did\u00a0Sydney\u00a0pick\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0check\u00a0and\u00a0glance\u00a0at\u00a0it.\u00a0Its\u00a0value\u00a0was\u00a02.5\u00a0million\u00a0dollars..<\/p>\n
\u2018Neat,\u2018\u00a0she\u00a0thought.<\/p>\n
For\u00a0Caleb,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0steal.\u00a0Two\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0half\u00a0million\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0zero\u2013risk\u00a0PR\u00a0fix?\u00a0Anytime.<\/p>\n
For\u00a0her?\u00a0Not bad\u00a0either.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0opened\u00a0her\u00a0social\u00a0media\u00a0app,\u00a0switched\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0alternate\u00a0account,\u00a0and\u00a0typed\u00a0a\u00a0short<\/p>\n
post:<\/p>\n
Sydney:\u00a0[No\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0guess\u00a0anymore.\u00a0Yeah,\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0photo.\u00a0Just\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0married-\u00a0couple\u00a0fun.]<\/p>\n
The\u00a0money was\u00a0hers\u00a0now.\u00a0She\u00a0tucked\u00a0the\u00a0check\u00a0away,\u00a0turned\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0lights,\u00a0and\u00a0lay down\u00a0to\u00a0sleep.\u00a0But\u00a0the\u00a0moment\u00a0she\u00a0closed\u00a0her\u00a0eyes,\u00a0she\u00a0saw\u00a0herself\u00a0at\u00a0seven\u00a0years\u00a0old,\u00a0kneeling on\u00a0the\u00a0familiar\u00a0gravel\u00a0path\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate\u2013the\u00a0same\u00a0spot\u00a0where\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0punished\u00a0so\u00a0many\u00a0times.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0remembered\u00a0it\u00a0clearly.<\/p>\n
Back\u00a0then\u2026<\/p>\n
Eloise\u00a0ordered\u00a0the\u00a0maids\u00a0to\u00a0hit\u00a0her\u00a0when\u00a0a\u00a013\u2013year\u2013old\u00a0boy wearing\u00a0a\u00a0black\u00a0mourning\u00a0armband\u00a0stepped\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf\u00a0she\u00a0bothers\u00a0you that\u00a0much,\u00a0then\u00a0she\u00a0can\u00a0come\u00a0live\u00a0at\u00a0my\u00a0place\u00a0instead,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0firmly.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0took\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0her\u00a0away,\u00a0muttering\u00a0how\u00a0useless\u00a0she\u00a0was,\u00a0always\u00a0getting\u00a0beaten\u00a0up.\u00a0Even now,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0could\u00a0still\u00a0recall\u00a0that\u00a0boy\u2019s\u00a0frail,\u00a0upright\u00a0figure\u00a0standing\u00a0protectively\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
5:35\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a011<\/p>\n
In\u00a0the\u00a0dark,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0suddenly\u00a0lifted\u00a0a\u00a0hand\u00a0to\u00a0cover\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.\u00a0Her\u00a0palm\u00a0felt\u00a0damp.<\/p>\n
\u0e25\u00a091%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0social\u00a0media\u00a0post\u00a0had\u00a0sent\u00a0Penelope riding\u00a0high\u00a0for\u00a0days.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0so\u00a0smug\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0even\u00a0bother\u00a0targeting\u00a0Sydney\u00a0anymore.\u00a0After\u00a0all,\u00a0Caleb\u00a0had\u00a0made\u00a0his\u00a0choice\u00a0loud\u00a0and\u00a0clear.\u00a0He\u00a0had kissed\u00a0another\u00a0woman\u00a0in\u00a0public,\u00a0and\u00a0Sydney\u00a0still\u00a0stepped\u00a0up\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0damage<\/p>\n
control.<\/p>\n
Obvious,\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0it?<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0no interest\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0gloating.\u00a0She\u00a0stayed\u00a0holed\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0room,\u00a0slowly\u00a0packing<\/p>\n
what\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0take\u00a0with\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0clothes\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0take\u00a0up much\u00a0space.\u00a0The\u00a0real\u00a0issue\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0entire\u00a0wall\u00a0of\u00a0specialized<\/p>\n
medical\u00a0books.<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 11 Chapter\u00a011\u00a0 Sydney\u00a0felt\u00a0utterly\u00a0suffocated,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0not\u00a0afford\u00a0to\u00a0blow\u00a0things\u00a0up\u2013not\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0still\u00a0needed\u00a0a\u00a0smooth\u00a0divorce.\u00a0She\u00a0could\u00a0not\u00a0risk\u00a0falling\u00a0out\u00a0with\u00a0Caleb. Her\u00a0fingertips\u00a0pressed\u00a0lightly\u00a0against\u00a0her\u00a0palm\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0met\u00a0his\u00a0gaze.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0clarify\u00a0it?\u00a0The\u00a0photos\u00a0are\u00a0already\u00a0out\u00a0there.\u201d Caleb […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-when-love-is-gone-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21994"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21994\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}