Chapter\u00a018<\/p>\n
Marcus\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0natural\u00a0at\u00a0socializing.\u00a0With\u00a0him handling\u00a0the\u00a0conversation,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0only\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0focus\u00a0on\u00a0eating.\u00a0Whenever\u00a0he\u00a0spotted\u00a0a\u00a0dish\u00a0he\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0liked,\u00a0he\u00a0would\u00a0quietly\u00a0place\u00a0some\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0plate.<\/p>\n
Take\u00a0stuffed\u00a0peppers,\u00a0for\u00a0example.\u00a0Caleb\u00a0refused\u00a0anything\u00a0with\u00a0bell\u00a0peppers,\u00a0so\u00a0that\u00a0dish\u00a0never\u00a0appeared\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family\u00a0table.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0always\u00a0enjoyed\u00a0them.\u00a0She\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Marcus,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0curving\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0slight\u00a0smile.\u00a0She\u00a0said\u00a0nothing,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0understood\u00a0the\u00a0silent\u00a0thank\u00a0you\u00a0and\u00a0gently tapped\u00a0her\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
\u201cEat\u00a0while\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0hot,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cOur\u00a0mentor\u00a0told\u00a0me to\u00a0make sure\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0taken\u00a0care\u00a0of.\u201d<\/p>\n
At\u00a0that\u00a0moment,\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0of the\u00a0private\u00a0dining\u00a0room\u00a0diagonally\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0hall\u00a0opened.\u00a0A\u00a0foreign\u00a0man\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0late\u00a0forties\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0first,\u00a0flanked\u00a0by\u00a0sharply\u00a0dressed\u00a0subordinates.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0carried\u00a0the\u00a0polished\u00a0air\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0successful\u00a0executive,\u00a0clearly\u00a0someone\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0top\u00a0publicly<\/p>\n
listed\u00a0company.\u00a0He\u00a0moved\u00a0aside\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0broad\u00a0smile\u00a0and\u00a0spoke\u00a0fluent,\u00a0cheerful\u00a0Storian.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0then\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0settled!\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0bring\u00a0the\u00a0contract\u00a0to your\u00a0hotel\u00a0personally\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0for<\/p>\n
signing.\u201d<\/p>\n
A\u00a0younger\u00a0man followed,\u00a0stepping\u00a0out\u00a0casually.\u00a0His\u00a0tone\u00a0was\u00a0cool,\u00a0his\u00a0tailored\u00a0black\u00a0shirt\u00a0and\u00a0trousers\u00a0immaculate.\u00a0He draped\u00a0his\u00a0coat\u00a0loosely\u00a0over\u00a0one\u00a0arm.\u00a0His\u00a0sharply\u00a0defined\u00a0features\u00a0gave\u00a0him\u00a0a\u00a0natural,\u00a0commanding\u00a0presence.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0assistant\u00a0leaned\u00a0in\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0timely\u00a0reminder.\u00a0\u201cSir,\u00a0the\u00a0boss\u00a0of\u00a0Neptune\u00a0Biotech\u00a0is\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0us\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0foreign\u00a0man\u00a0nodded\u00a0tactfully.\u00a0\u201cLet\u00a0me\u00a0walk<\/p>\n
you\u00a0out.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0a\u00a0waiter\u00a0pushed\u00a0open\u00a0the\u00a0private\u00a0room\u00a0door\u00a0to\u00a0serve\u00a0food.\u00a0As\u00a0the\u00a0younger\u00a0man\u00a0passed,\u00a0his gaze\u00a0swept\u00a0the\u00a0room.\u00a0Inside,\u00a0the\u00a0woman\u00a0wearing\u00a0a\u00a0pale\u00a0rose\u2013pink\u00a0knit\u00a0top\u00a0and\u00a0jeans\u00a0had\u00a0her\u00a0delicate\u00a0waist\u00a0and\u00a0hips\u00a0perfectly\u00a0outlined.\u00a0She laughed\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0man\u00a0beside\u00a0her\u00a0tapped\u00a0her\u00a0head\u00a0playfully.\u00a0She\u00a0showed\u00a0no\u00a0resistance,\u00a0appearing\u00a0soft\u00a0and\u00a0obedient.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
5:45\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a018<\/p>\n
The\u00a0assistant\u00a0noticed\u00a0his\u00a0employer\u00a0pause\u00a0briefly\u00a0and\u00a0followed\u00a0his\u00a0gaze.\u00a0His\u00a0eyes\u00a0lit\u00a0up.\u00a0Isn\u2019t\u00a0that\u00a0Ms.\u00a0Sydney?\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0she\u00a0doing\u00a0in\u00a0Storia?\u201d<\/p>\n
89%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
\u201cSir!<\/p>\n
He\u00a0then\u00a0looked\u00a0toward\u00a0Marcus\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0confused\u00a0frown.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0who\u2019s\u00a0that\u00a0guy?\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0she\u00a0and\u00a0Caleb\u00a0actually\u00a0divorced\u00a0and\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0already\u00a0moved\u00a0on?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0waiter\u00a0came\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0gently\u00a0closed\u00a0the\u00a0door,\u00a0cutting\u00a0off\u00a0their view.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0man\u00a0shot\u00a0his\u00a0assistant\u00a0a\u00a0sharp\u00a0look.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0think\u00a0I\u00a0read\u00a0fortunes\u00a0or\u00a0tell\u00a0the\u00a0future\u00a0now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0usually\u00a0struggle\u00a0with\u00a0jet\u00a0lag,\u00a0especially\u00a0when\u00a0sleeping\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0new bed.\u00a0She<\/p>\n
woke before her\u00a0alarm.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0opening\u00a0ceremony\u00a0was\u00a0scheduled\u00a0for\u00a09:58\u00a0a.m.,\u00a0a\u00a0clearly auspicious\u00a0time\u00a0carefully\u00a0chosen\u00a0by\u00a0experts.\u00a0Wherever they\u00a0went,\u00a0her\u00a0country folk\u00a0never\u00a0strayed\u00a0far\u00a0from\u00a0tradition.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0institute\u00a0occupied\u00a0a\u00a0prime\u00a0location.\u00a0The attendees\u00a0were\u00a0all\u00a0top\u00a0experts\u00a0in\u00a0medicine.\u00a0If<\/p>\n
she\u00a0had\u00a0not\u00a0been\u00a0representing\u00a0her mentor,\u00a0someone as\u00a0low\u2013profile\u00a0as\u00a0Sydney\u00a0would\u00a0not<\/p>\n
have\u00a0passed the entrance.<\/p>\n
Young,\u00a0successful\u00a0women in\u00a0this\u00a0field\u00a0were rare.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0Sydney and\u00a0Marcus\u00a0entered,\u00a0they\u00a0naturally\u00a0drew\u00a0attention.\u00a0Accomplished\u00a0and\u00a0beautiful,\u00a0who\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0steal\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0extra\u00a0glances?<\/p>\n
Once\u00a0people\u00a0learned\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0students\u00a0of\u00a0Dr.\u00a0Alan\u00a0Conton,\u00a0they\u00a0eagerly\u00a0approached\u00a0to\u00a0chat,\u00a0especially\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0patent\u00a0medicine\u00a0they\u00a0had\u00a0developed.\u00a0One\u00a0pharmaceutical\u00a0company even\u00a0offered\u00a0to\u00a0buy\u00a0the\u00a0formula outright\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0high\u00a0price.<\/p>\n
Marcus\u00a0exchanged\u00a0a\u00a0glance\u00a0with\u00a0Sydney\u00a0before\u00a0politely\u00a0declining.\u00a0\u201cSorry.\u00a0Our\u00a0original\u00a0intention\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0patients.\u00a0The\u00a0clinic\u00a0still\u00a0has\u00a0many\u00a0who\u00a0depend\u00a0on\u00a0this\u00a0medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
This\u00a0was not\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time.\u00a0Many\u00a0had\u00a0offered\u00a0high\u00a0prices,\u00a0and\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0tempted.\u00a0But\u00a0selling\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0pharmaceutical company\u00a0meant\u00a0losing\u00a0control\u00a0over\u00a0pricing.<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
5:45\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a018<\/p>\n
\u0b6a90<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Their\u00a0patients\u00a0often\u00a0faced\u00a0financial hardship.\u00a0Sydney\u00a0refused\u00a0to\u00a0become\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0straw\u00a0that<\/p>\n
broke\u00a0their\u00a0backs.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0excusing\u00a0herself\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0bathroom\u00a0break,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0stopped\u00a0by\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0pharmaceutical\u00a0executives.\u00a0He\u00a0handed\u00a0her\u00a0his\u00a0business\u00a0card\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0friendly\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0you\u00a0ever\u00a0feel\u00a0like\u00a0relocating,\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0happy\u00a0to\u00a0welcome\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0had\u00a0done\u00a0his\u00a0homework.\u00a0This\u00a0woman was\u00a0not\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0pretty face\u2013she\u00a0had\u00a0real\u00a0talent.\u00a0Marcus\u2018\u00a0clinic\u00a0would not\u00a0have\u00a0reached\u00a0its\u00a0success\u00a0without\u00a0her,\u00a0not\u00a0just Alan.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0returned\u00a0her\u00a0usual\u00a0polite\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cThank\u00a0you.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0think about\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0said\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0courtesy,\u00a0already turning to\u00a0leave.\u00a0But the moment\u00a0she\u00a0turned,\u00a0her\u00a0smile<\/p>\n
froze.\u00a0Her\u00a0mind\u00a0went\u00a0blank.<\/p>\n
For\u00a0three<\/p>\n
years,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0imagined\u00a0running\u00a0into\u00a0Julian\u00a0countless\u00a0times\u2013at\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate,\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0social\u00a0gatherings,\u00a0or\u00a0some\u00a0random\u00a0skyscraper\u00a0in\u00a0Jouleston.\u00a0But\u00a0he\u00a0never<\/p>\n
appeared.\u00a0Not\u00a0once.\u00a0And now,\u00a0he\u00a0showed\u00a0up\u00a0exactly\u00a0where\u00a0she\u00a0least\u00a0expected:\u00a0right\u00a0here..<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s\u00a0Bonus\u00a0Offer<\/p>\n
GET\u00a0IT\u00a0N\u2026<\/p>\n
3\/3<\/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 18 Chapter\u00a018 Marcus\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0natural\u00a0at\u00a0socializing.\u00a0With\u00a0him handling\u00a0the\u00a0conversation,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0only\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0focus\u00a0on\u00a0eating.\u00a0Whenever\u00a0he\u00a0spotted\u00a0a\u00a0dish\u00a0he\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0liked,\u00a0he\u00a0would\u00a0quietly\u00a0place\u00a0some\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0plate. Take\u00a0stuffed\u00a0peppers,\u00a0for\u00a0example.\u00a0Caleb\u00a0refused\u00a0anything\u00a0with\u00a0bell\u00a0peppers,\u00a0so\u00a0that\u00a0dish\u00a0never\u00a0appeared\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family\u00a0table. […]<\/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-22001","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\/22001","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=22001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22001\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}