Chapter\u00a014<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0spare\u00a0a\u00a0thought\u00a0for\u00a0how\u00a0that\u00a0so\u2013called\u00a0happy\u00a0family\u00a0was\u00a0spending\u00a0their<\/p>\n
Christmas\u00a0Eve.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0dinner,\u00a0she\u00a0squatted\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0courtyard,\u00a0carefully\u00a0sculpting\u00a0a\u00a0Santa\u00a0Claus\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0snow.\u00a0Her\u00a0fingers\u00a0turned\u00a0red\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0cold\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0finally\u00a0went\u00a0inside\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0hot\u00a0bath.<\/p>\n
Perhaps\u00a0because\u00a0Nancy\u00a0had\u00a0turned\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0heat\u00a0due\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0snow,\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0felt\u00a0uncomfortably\u00a0warm.\u00a0Sydney\u00a0lacked\u00a0the\u00a0energy\u00a0to\u00a0dry\u00a0her\u00a0hair.\u00a0She\u00a0leaned\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0headboard, opened\u00a0a\u00a0book,\u00a0and\u00a0before\u00a0long,\u00a0curled\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0fell\u00a0asleep.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0jolted\u00a0awake\u00a0the\u00a0next\u00a0morning\u00a0by\u00a0a\u00a0loud\u00a0crash.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0unclear\u00a0whether it\u00a0came\u00a0from\u00a0downstairs\u00a0or\u00a0just\u00a0outside\u00a0her\u00a0door,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0sound\u00a0was\u00a0sharp\u00a0and unmistakable.<\/p>\n
Timothy was\u00a0likely\u00a0tearing\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0house\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0pushed\u00a0aside\u00a0her\u00a0sleepiness,\u00a0freshened\u00a0up,\u00a0and\u00a0headed\u00a0downstairs for\u00a0breakfast.\u00a0She<\/p>\n
had\u00a0barely\u00a0stepped onto\u00a0the\u00a0stairs\u00a0when\u00a0Timothy\u00a0suddenly\u00a0appeared,\u00a0his\u00a0hands\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0hips\u00a0and\u00a0eyes\u00a0blazing.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0wicked\u00a0woman!\u00a0Go\u00a0die!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0frowned,\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0speak,\u00a0but\u00a0the boy\u00a0charged\u00a0at\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u00a0dodged\u00a0quickly,\u00a0but\u00a0something\u00a0yanked\u00a0hard\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0lower\u00a0back.\u00a0She\u00a0lost\u00a0her\u00a0balance\u00a0and\u00a0tumbled\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0stairs.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0entire\u00a0body\u00a0took the\u00a0brunt\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0fall.\u00a0Her\u00a0temple\u00a0slammed\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0stone\u00a0steps,\u00a0and<\/p>\n
blood\u00a0streamed\u00a0down\u00a0her\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
Lying\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0twisted\u00a0heap,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0gritted\u00a0her\u00a0teeth\u00a0and\u00a0slowly\u00a0lifted\u00a0her\u00a0head,\u00a0only\u00a0to\u00a0see<\/p>\n
Penelope standing\u00a0at\u00a0the top\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0stairs\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0calm,\u00a0almost\u00a0amused\u00a0smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0moving out,\u201d\u00a0Penelope\u00a0said\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cSo\u00a0stop\u00a0dreaming.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0Penelope\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0pulled\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Nancy\u00a0rushed\u00a0in at\u00a0the\u00a0sound,\u00a0petrified\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0sight.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
5:36\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a014<\/p>\n
Sydney,\u00a0barely\u00a0conscious,\u00a0forced\u00a0out,\u00a0\u201cCall\u00a0an\u00a0ambulance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u00a0okay!\u201d\u00a0Nancy\u00a0fumbled\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0phone,\u00a0dialing\u00a0911\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0panic.<\/p>\n
By the\u00a0time\u00a0she\u00a0reported\u00a0the\u00a0address,\u00a0Sydney had\u00a0already\u00a0passed\u00a0out.<\/p>\n
6\u00a091%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Pain\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0thing\u00a0Sydney\u00a0felt\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0came\u00a0to.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0so\u00a0deep\u00a0it\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0her\u00a0whole\u00a0body\u00a0had\u00a0shattered.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0cold\u00a0liquid\u00a0dripped\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0veins\u00a0through\u00a0an\u00a0IV.\u00a0The\u00a0room\u00a0was\u00a0empty\u00a0except\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0sounds\u00a0of\u00a0an\u00a0argument\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0balcony outside.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0tight\u00a0with\u00a0fury,\u00a0harsher\u00a0than\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0ever\u00a0heard.\u00a0\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0insane?\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0you\u00a0last\u00a0night,\u00a0this\u00a0has\u00a0nothing\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0with\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0We\u00a0just\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0suited\u00a0to\u00a0live\u00a0under\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0roof\u00a0anymore.\u00a0I\u00a0decided\u00a0you and\u00a0Timmy\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0move\u00a0out.\u00a0That\u00a0was\u00a0my\u00a0call\u00a0alone!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0still\u00a0defending\u00a0her?\u201d\u00a0Penelope\u00a0shouted.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0could\u00a0not\u00a0believe\u00a0it.\u00a0That\u00a0bitch must\u00a0have\u00a0said\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
Last night,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0so\u00a0happy\u00a0spending\u00a0Christmas\u00a0with\u00a0Caleb,\u00a0only\u00a0for\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0suddenly\u00a0announce\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0arranged\u00a0a\u00a0new\u00a0place\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0Timothy.\u00a0He\u00a0had\u00a0told\u00a0her\u00a0to<\/p>\n
move\u00a0out\u00a0as\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0unbelievable!\u201d\u00a0Caleb\u00a0snapped.\u00a0\u201cEven\u00a0if\u00a0all\u00a0that\u00a0were\u00a0true,\u00a0it\u00a0still\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0justify\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0did\u00a0to\u00a0her! Don\u2019t\u00a0give\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0crap\u00a0about\u00a0Timmy\u00a0pushing\u00a0her.\u00a0Penny,\u00a0you\u00a0might\u00a0fool\u00a0others,\u00a0but\u00a0you can\u2019t\u00a0fool\u00a0me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penelope\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0bloodshot.\u00a0\u201cYeah,\u00a0I\u00a0pushed\u00a0her.\u00a0So what?\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0your\u00a0fault\u00a0for\u00a0always\u00a0taking\u00a0her\u00a0side!\u00a0For\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0kick me\u00a0out\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0her!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u00a0have\u00a0you\u00a0thought\u00a0about\u00a0what\u00a0comes\u00a0next?\u201d\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0brow\u00a0furrowed.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0Sydney\u00a0calls<\/p>\n
the\u00a0police,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0guilty\u00a0of\u00a0intentional\u00a0assault.\u00a0You\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0get\u00a0away\u00a0with\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0only\u00a0intended\u00a0to\u00a0go\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0bathroom,\u00a0IV\u00a0drip\u00a0in\u00a0hand.\u00a0But\u00a0hearing\u00a0that\u00a0stopped<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
5:36\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a014<\/p>\n
her\u00a0cold.\u00a0Her\u00a0face\u00a0drained\u00a0of\u00a0color.<\/p>\n
6\u00a091%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
She\u00a0pushed\u00a0open\u00a0the\u00a0balcony\u00a0door.\u00a0Both\u00a0turned\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0noise,\u00a0startled.\u00a0Leaning\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0frame\u00a0to\u00a0steady\u00a0herself,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0locked\u00a0eyes\u00a0with\u00a0Caleb.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0worry,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0quietly.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0call\u00a0the\u00a0police.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb\u2019s\u00a0heart\u00a0clenched\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sight of\u00a0her\u00a0wincing\u00a0in\u00a0pain,\u00a0but\u00a0what\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0was,\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0want?\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0make\u00a0sure\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0compensated.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0husband,\u00a0yet\u00a0all\u00a0he\u00a0offered\u00a0was\u00a0compensation\u2014no\u00a0protection,\u00a0no\u00a0defense,\u00a0just<\/p>\n
money.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0were\u00a0clear\u00a0as\u00a0glass.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0trembled\u00a0with\u00a0weakness.\u00a0\u201cAnything\u00a0I\u00a0want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0an\u00a0eye\u00a0for\u00a0an\u00a0eye.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0Caleb\u00a0could\u00a0react,\u00a0she\u00a0hurled the\u00a0IV\u00a0pole\u00a0straight\u00a0at\u00a0Penelope.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s\u00a0Bonus\u00a0Offer<\/p>\n
GET\u00a0IT\u00a0N\u2026<\/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 14 Chapter\u00a014 Sydney\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0spare\u00a0a\u00a0thought\u00a0for\u00a0how\u00a0that\u00a0so\u2013called\u00a0happy\u00a0family\u00a0was\u00a0spending\u00a0their Christmas\u00a0Eve. After\u00a0dinner,\u00a0she\u00a0squatted\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0courtyard,\u00a0carefully\u00a0sculpting\u00a0a\u00a0Santa\u00a0Claus\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0snow.\u00a0Her\u00a0fingers\u00a0turned\u00a0red\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0cold\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0finally\u00a0went\u00a0inside\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0hot\u00a0bath. […]<\/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-21997","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\/21997","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=21997"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21997\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}