Chapter\u00a020\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0having\u00a0lunch,\u201d\u00a0Julian\u00a0said\u00a0evenly.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0bristled.\u00a0\u201cStop\u00a0the\u00a0car.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0brake.\u00a0Instead,\u00a0he\u00a0watched\u00a0her\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0rearview\u00a0mirror,\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0even\u00a0a<\/p>\n
flicker\u00a0of\u00a0hesitation.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0she\u00a0saw\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0intention\u00a0of\u00a0stopping,\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0argue.\u00a0She\u00a0yanked\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0handle\u00a0and\u00a0snapped,\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0know\u00a0I\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0listen\u00a0to\u00a0you.\u00a0Three\u00a0years\u00a0ago,\u00a0I\u00a0would\u2019ve\u00a0jumped\u00a0already\u2013and\u00a0I\u00a0still will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0slammed\u00a0the\u00a0brakes.\u00a0That\u00a0memory\u00a0from\u00a0three\u00a0years\u00a0ago\u00a0still\u00a0clung\u00a0to\u00a0him\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0shadow.\u00a0He\u00a0had\u00a0seen\u00a0this\u00a0coming.<\/p>\n
Leaning forward,\u00a0he\u00a0seized\u00a0her\u00a0wrist\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0grip\u00a0so\u00a0cold\u00a0it\u00a0chilled\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0bone.\u00a0\u201cWho\u00a0would\u00a0you\u00a0listen\u00a0to?\u00a0Caleb?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0ripped\u00a0her\u00a0arm\u00a0away\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0startled leopard.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0listen\u00a0to\u00a0anyone.\u00a0Least\u00a0of\u00a0all\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0gave\u00a0a\u00a0dry\u00a0laugh.\u00a0\u201cWho\u00a0was\u00a0the one\u00a0begging\u00a0me\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0leave\u00a0back\u00a0then?\u00a0Saying\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0do\u00a0whatever\u00a0I\u00a0said?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs\u00a0you\u00a0said,\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0\u2018back\u00a0then;!\u201d\u00a0Her\u00a0control slipped\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time.\u00a0Her\u00a0eyes\u00a0burned\u00a0red\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0glared\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a024\u00a0now,\u00a0not\u00a07.\u00a0You\u00a0held\u00a0out\u00a0your\u00a0pinky\u00a0and\u00a0made me\u00a0follow\u00a0you\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0fool.\u201d<\/p>\n
His\u00a0grip\u00a0slackened.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0one\u00a0swift\u00a0motion,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0flung\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0open\u00a0and\u00a0stepped\u00a0out.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0wait\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0ride.\u00a0She headed\u00a0straight\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0sidewalk,\u00a0letting\u00a0the\u00a0cold\u00a0wind\u00a0seep\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0skin\u00a0and\u00a0hair,\u00a0hoping\u00a0it\u00a0would\u00a0wash away\u00a0the\u00a0memories\u00a0still\u00a0clinging\u00a0to\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Those\u00a0nine\u00a0years\u00a0with\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0the\u00a0safest\u00a0of\u00a0her life.\u00a0She had\u00a0no\u00a0real\u00a0family,\u00a0but\u00a0he<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
5:45\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a020<\/p>\n
\u0e23\u00a089%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
became\u00a0one.\u00a0He\u00a0had\u00a0shielded\u00a0her,\u00a0guiding\u00a0her\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0stumbled\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0na\u00efve\u00a0girl\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0grown<\/p>\n
woman.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0friends\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0joke,\u00a0\u201cWhere\u2019d\u00a0you\u00a0find\u00a0such\u00a0a\u00a0sweet,\u00a0obedient\u00a0sister?\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0would\u00a0just\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0fooled.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0fierce\u00a0at\u00a0home.\u201d<\/p>\n
At\u00a016,\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0abandoned\u00a0all\u00a0over\u00a0again.\u00a0First, when\u00a0her\u00a0parents\u00a0died.\u00a0Then,\u00a0when\u00a0Julian,\u00a0the\u00a0man\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0always\u00a0regarded\u00a0as\u00a0her\u00a0brother,\u00a0gave\u00a0up\u00a0on\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
For\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0time,\u00a0she\u00a0unraveled\u00a0each\u00a0night\u00a0in silence.\u00a0What\u00a0was\u00a0wrong\u00a0with\u00a0her?\u00a0What\u00a0wasn\u2019t?\u00a0Why\u00a0did\u00a0people\u00a0always\u00a0leave?<\/p>\n
That\u00a0night,\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0sent back\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Sterlings,\u00a0they\u00a0forced\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0kneel\u00a0for\u00a0two\u00a0full\u00a0days.<\/p>\n
Eloise\u00a0had\u00a0laughed\u00a0from the doorway.\u00a0\u201cJulian\u2019s\u00a0always\u00a0been\u00a0like\u00a0that.\u00a0One\u00a0day\u00a0he\u2019ll\u00a0pamper\u00a0a\u00a0cat\u00a0like\u00a0royalty,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0next\u00a0he\u2019ll\u00a0toss\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0like\u00a0garbage.\u00a0Only\u00a0someone\u00a0with\u00a0nothing\u00a0would\u00a0treat\u00a0him\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0lifeline.\u00a0Learned\u00a0your\u00a0lesson\u00a0yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0remembered\u00a0the\u00a0sun\u00a0scorching\u00a0her\u00a0back,\u00a0the\u00a0dizziness,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0maid\u00a0dousing\u00a0her\u00a0with<\/p>\n
cold\u00a0water\u00a0to\u00a0keep\u00a0her\u00a0conscious.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0that,\u00a0she\u00a0vowed\u00a0never\u00a0to\u00a0lean\u00a0on\u00a0anyone\u00a0again\u00a0or\u00a0weigh\u00a0anyone\u00a0down.\u00a0Every\u00a0step\u00a0she<\/p>\n
took\u00a0from\u00a0then on was\u00a0deliberate,\u00a0measured.<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n
That\u00a0night,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0flew\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0Jouleston\u00a0with\u00a0Marcus.<\/p>\n
Tiffany\u00a0was\u00a0already\u00a0waiting\u00a0at\u00a0baggage\u00a0claim.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0he\u00a0saw\u00a0someone\u00a0was\u00a0there\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0Sydney\u00a0up,\u00a0Marcus\u00a0left\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0clinic\u00a0without\u00a0a<\/p>\n
word.<\/p>\n
Tiffany\u00a0started\u00a0the\u00a0car,\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0suitcase\u00a0in the\u00a0backseat,\u00a0and\u00a0raised\u00a0a\u00a0brow.\u00a0\u201cSyd,\u00a0you<\/p>\n
staying\u00a0with\u00a0me\u00a0or\u2026\u2018<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
5:46\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a020<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0Viridian\u00a0Garden\u00a0first.\u201d<\/p>\n
89%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0say\u00a0\u201chome,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0shared\u00a0with\u00a0Caleb.\u00a0This\u00a0was\u00a0its\u00a0real\u00a0address\u2013the<\/p>\n
one\u00a0in\u00a0Jouleston\u2019s\u00a0most\u00a0expensive\u00a0district.<\/p>\n
Tiffany\u00a0rolled\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.\u00a0\u201cStill nothing\u00a0from\u00a0Caleb?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot\u00a0a\u00a0word.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBusy\u00a0paying\u00a0his\u00a0respects\u00a0to\u00a0your\u00a0sister\u2013in\u2013law,\u00a0is\u00a0he?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0dry\u00a0as\u00a0dust.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0she\u00a0insisted\u00a0on\u00a0coming\u00a0in\u00a0person\u00a0to\u00a0settle\u00a0the\u00a0divorce.<\/p>\n
They\u00a0arrived just\u00a0before\u00a0midnight.\u00a0A\u00a0porch light\u00a0glowed\u00a0near\u00a0the\u00a0entrance,\u00a0just\u00a0like\u00a0always.<\/p>\n
Nancy\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0heard\u00a0the\u00a0car,\u00a0clearly\u00a0surprised.\u00a0\u201cMs.\u00a0Wilson,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0back\u00a0early.\u00a0Want\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0eat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u00a0thank\u00a0you.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0shook\u00a0her\u00a0head.\u00a0\u201cIs\u00a0Caleb\u00a0home?\u201d<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s\u00a0Bonus\u00a0Offer<\/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 20 Chapter\u00a020\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0having\u00a0lunch,\u201d\u00a0Julian\u00a0said\u00a0evenly. Sydney\u00a0bristled.\u00a0\u201cStop\u00a0the\u00a0car.\u201d He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0brake.\u00a0Instead,\u00a0he\u00a0watched\u00a0her\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0rearview\u00a0mirror,\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0even\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-22003","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\/22003","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=22003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22003\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}