Chapter\u00a019<\/p>\n
Years\u00a0had\u00a0passed,\u00a0and\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0changed\u00a0profoundly.\u00a0His\u00a0features\u00a0had\u00a0sharpened\u00a0and\u00a0grown\u00a0more\u00a0defined.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0stood\u00a0tall\u00a0and\u00a0upright,\u00a0dressed in\u00a0a custom\u2013tailored\u00a0black\u00a0suit,\u00a0a\u00a0wooden beaded\u00a0bracelet<\/p>\n
circling\u00a0his\u00a0wrist.\u00a0He\u00a0radiated\u00a0cold\u00a0distance\u00a0and\u00a0indifference,\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0others\u00a0instinctively\u00a0keep\u00a0their\u00a0distance.\u00a0He\u00a0carried\u00a0the\u00a0weight\u00a0of\u00a0someone\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0wielded\u00a0power\u00a0for\u00a0years.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0the\u00a0man\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0chase\u00a0after,\u00a0calling\u00a0him\u00a0\u201cJules.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their\u00a0relationship\u00a0had long\u00a0since\u00a0changed.<\/p>\n
Though\u00a0many\u00a0people\u00a0surrounded\u00a0him,\u00a0Julian\u00a0showed none of\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0polite\u00a0warmth.\u00a0Whether\u00a0faced\u00a0with\u00a0flattery\u00a0or\u00a0fawning,\u00a0he\u00a0responded\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0detached\u00a0nod,\u00a0never\u00a0sparing\u00a0a<\/p>\n
word.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0dark\u00a0eyes\u00a0lazily\u00a0swept\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0direction\u00a0before\u00a0moving\u00a0on.<\/p>\n
\u201cSyd.\u201d Marcus\u2018\u00a0voice\u00a0pulled\u00a0her\u00a0back\u00a0as he\u00a0approached,\u00a0breaking\u00a0her\u00a0tension.\u00a0\u201cCome\u00a0on,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0time for\u00a0the ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0quickly\u00a0composed\u00a0herself,\u00a0pretending\u00a0not\u00a0to notice\u00a0that\u00a0gaze.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0all,\u00a0she had done\u00a0nothing wrong.\u00a0What\u00a0was\u00a0there\u00a0to\u00a0fear?<\/p>\n
The\u00a0opening\u00a0ceremony\u00a0took\u00a0place\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0research\u00a0institute\u2019s\u00a0main\u00a0entrance.\u00a0When\u00a0they<\/p>\n
stepped\u00a0outside,\u00a0everything\u00a0was\u00a0already\u00a0arranged,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0guests\u00a0were\u00a0just\u00a0settling\u00a0in.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0and\u00a0Marcus,\u00a0representing\u00a0Alan,\u00a0took\u00a0spots\u00a0near\u00a0the\u00a0center.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0cold\u00a0wind\u00a0brushed\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks,\u00a0calming\u00a0her\u00a0nerves.\u00a0She\u00a0accepted the\u00a0scissors\u00a0from\u00a0a<\/p>\n
staff\u00a0member\u00a0and\u00a0focused\u00a0on\u00a0the host\u2019s\u00a0introduction.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
5:45\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a019<\/p>\n
One\u00a0snip,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0free.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0truly\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0expect\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0find\u00a0time\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0busy\u00a0schedule,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0research\u00a0institute\u2019s\u00a0director\u00a0said,\u00a0beaming\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0escorted\u00a0Julian\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0center.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0known,\u00a0I\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0picked\u00a0you\u00a0up\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0airport\u00a0myself.\u00a0Please\u00a0forgive\u00a0the\u00a0lack\u00a0of\u00a0proper\u00a0reception.\u201d<\/p>\n
89%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Since\u00a0Julian\u00a0took over\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0family\u00a0business,\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0made\u00a0sweeping\u00a0moves\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0medical\u00a0field.\u00a0He\u00a0owned\u00a0top\u2013tier\u00a0private\u00a0hospitals\u00a0and\u00a0some\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0advanced\u00a0research\u00a0institutes\u00a0and\u00a0labs\u00a0worldwide.\u00a0Everyone\u00a0was\u00a0eager\u00a0to\u00a0align\u00a0themselves\u00a0with\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0they\u00a0sent\u00a0the\u00a0invitation,\u00a0they\u00a0never\u00a0imagined\u00a0he\u00a0would\u00a0actually\u00a0attend.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0heard\u00a0the\u00a0voice\u00a0and\u00a0instinctively\u00a0turned\u00a0her\u00a0head.\u00a0His\u00a0tall,\u00a0upright\u00a0figure\u00a0stood\u00a0right\u00a0beside\u00a0her.\u00a0Her\u00a0fingers\u00a0clenched\u00a0tightly\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0scissors.\u00a0She did\u00a0not\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0look\u2014she\u00a0recognized\u00a0that\u00a0faint\u00a0sandalwood\u00a0scent\u00a0from\u00a0childhood.<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0stepped\u00a0up\u00a0beside\u00a0her,\u00a0responding\u00a0flatly\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0director.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0too\u00a0kind.\u201d<\/p>\n
As\u00a0he\u00a0lifted\u00a0his arm,\u00a0his\u00a0elbow\u00a0lightly\u00a0brushed\u00a0hers,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0notice.\u00a0Not\u00a0even<\/p>\n
a\u00a0glance\u00a0was\u00a0spared\u00a0her\u00a0way.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0shifted\u00a0slightly\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0side.<\/p>\n
Seeing\u00a0her discomfort,\u00a0Marcus\u00a0assumed\u00a0she was uneasy\u00a0around\u00a0unfamiliar\u00a0men.\u00a0\u201cWant\u00a0to\u00a0switch\u00a0spots?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0replied\u00a0without\u00a0hesitation.<\/p>\n
People\u00a0moved\u00a0behind\u00a0them\u00a0as\u00a0Marcus\u00a0placed\u00a0a\u00a0light\u00a0arm\u00a0around\u00a0her\u00a0shoulders,\u00a0shielding\u00a0her\u00a0while\u00a0helping\u00a0her\u00a0switch\u00a0sides.<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n
After\u00a0the\u00a0ceremony,\u00a0Sydney felt\u00a0a\u00a0weight\u00a0lift\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0shoulders.\u00a0The\u00a0institute\u00a0had\u00a0arranged\u00a0a\u00a0luncheon,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0no interest\u00a0in\u00a0staying.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0checking\u00a0in with\u00a0Marcus,\u00a0she\u00a0excused\u00a0herself\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0claim\u00a0of\u00a0feeling\u00a0unwell\u00a0and\u00a0left<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
5:45\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a019<\/p>\n
early.<\/p>\n
Outside\u00a0the\u00a0institute,\u00a0she\u00a0waited\u00a0a\u00a0while\u00a0for a\u00a0cab.<\/p>\n
89%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
At\u00a0that\u00a0moment,\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0black\u00a0luxury\u00a0sedan\u00a0pulled\u00a0up\u00a0beside\u00a0her.\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0assistant\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0politely\u00a0opened\u00a0the\u00a0rear\u00a0door.\u00a0\u201cMs.\u00a0Wilson,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0cold.\u00a0Let\u00a0me\u00a0take\u00a0you\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0the<\/p>\n
hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0lifted\u00a0her\u00a0gaze\u00a0and\u00a0saw\u00a0Julian\u00a0sitting in\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0seat.\u00a0He\u00a0wore\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0black\u00a0dress\u00a0shirt,\u00a0the\u00a0top\u00a0two\u00a0buttons\u00a0undone.\u00a0Unlike\u00a0his\u00a0earlier\u00a0cold,\u00a0formal\u00a0demeanor, he\u00a0now\u00a0carried\u00a0a\u00a0faint<\/p>\n
air\u00a0of\u00a0lazy\u00a0nonchalance.\u00a0But\u00a0only\u00a0just.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0she\u00a0did not\u00a0move,\u00a0Julian\u00a0finally\u00a0spoke.\u00a0\u201cWant\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0get\u00a0you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Those\u00a0simple\u00a0words\u00a0dissolved\u00a0the tension\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0holding\u00a0back\u00a0and\u00a0replaced\u00a0it\u00a0with<\/p>\n
irritation.\u00a0Her voice\u00a0remained\u00a0calm,\u00a0almost\u00a0cold.\u00a0\u201cNo\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0trouble\u00a0yourself,\u00a0Mr.<\/p>\n
Sterling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling.\u201d\u00a0The\u00a0title\u00a0drew a\u00a0clear,\u00a0unmistakable\u00a0line\u00a0between\u00a0them.<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0stayed\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cThen\u00a0get\u00a0in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u00a0need,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0sharp\u00a0jaw\u00a0tilted\u00a0slightly\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0research\u00a0institute\u00a0behind\u00a0them.\u00a0\u201cWant\u00a0to\u00a0wait\u00a0until\u00a0everyone\u00a0comes\u00a0out\u00a0and sees that\u00a0we\u00a0know\u00a0each\u00a0other?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0frowned,\u00a0ducked\u00a0her\u00a0head,\u00a0and\u00a0slid\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0car. Her\u00a0movement\u00a0was\u00a0quick,\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0not\u00a0bear\u00a0what\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0just\u00a0implied.<\/p>\n
Neither\u00a0spoke\u00a0after\u00a0that.\u00a0The\u00a0atmosphere\u00a0inside\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0grew\u00a0suffocating.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0the\u00a0vehicle\u00a0turned\u00a0right at\u00a0the\u00a0intersection,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0finally\u00a0broke\u00a0the\u00a0silence.\u00a0\u201cThis<\/p>\n
isn\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0way\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0hotel.\u201d<\/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 19 Chapter\u00a019 Years\u00a0had\u00a0passed,\u00a0and\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0changed\u00a0profoundly.\u00a0His\u00a0features\u00a0had\u00a0sharpened\u00a0and\u00a0grown\u00a0more\u00a0defined. He\u00a0stood\u00a0tall\u00a0and\u00a0upright,\u00a0dressed in\u00a0a […]<\/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-22002","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\/22002","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=22002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22002\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}