Chapter\u00a023\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Never\u00a0shared\u00a0a\u00a0bed\u2026\u2018\u00a0As\u00a0a\u00a0married\u00a0woman,\u00a0Adeline\u00a0knew\u00a0exactly\u00a0what\u00a0that\u00a0phrase\u00a0implied.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0messing\u00a0with\u00a0me,\u00a0are\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0asked,\u00a0disbelief\u00a0heavy\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0voice.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0looked\u00a0up,\u00a0her\u00a0small,\u00a0delicate\u00a0face\u00a0dim\u00a0and\u00a0tired.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0remained\u00a0soft.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0could\u00a0I\u00a0joke\u00a0about\u00a0something\u00a0like\u00a0this?\u00a0Mom,\u00a0other\u00a0than\u00a0divorce,\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0of\u00a0any\u00a0way<\/p>\n
out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adeline\u2019s\u00a0anger\u00a0boiled,\u00a0but\u00a0not\u00a0at\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0Her\u00a0fury\u00a0targeted\u00a0her son\u00a0and\u00a0Penelope\u2013one\u00a0was\u00a0oblivious,\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0selfish\u00a0to the\u00a0core.\u00a0Still,\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0point,\u00a0even\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0strong\u2013willed\u00a0mother-\u00a0in\u2013law,\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0not\u00a0stop\u00a0Sydney\u00a0from\u00a0divorcing.<\/p>\n
What\u00a0could\u00a0she\u00a0say?\u00a0Her\u00a0own\u00a0son\u00a0had\u00a0wasted\u00a0three\u00a0years\u00a0of\u00a0someone\u00a0else\u2019s\u00a0life.\u00a0Sydney\u00a0carried\u00a0the\u00a0title\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0married\u00a0woman\u00a0but\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0truly\u00a0lived\u00a0as\u00a0a wife.<\/p>\n
Adeline\u00a0drew\u00a0a\u00a0deep\u00a0breath,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0steady\u00a0herself,\u00a0and\u00a0patted\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0hand.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0skimmed\u00a0the\u00a0divorce\u00a0agreement.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0only\u00a0asking\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0apartment on Aurum\u00a0Road?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0nodded\u00a0slightly.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0okay,\u00a0I\u00a0can let\u00a0it\u00a0go.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0knew\u00a0her\u00a0goal\u00a0today\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0finalize\u00a0the\u00a0divorce.\u00a0With\u00a0the\u00a03.2\u00a0million\u00a0dollars\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0received\u00a0recently,\u00a0plus\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0savings,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0live\u00a0comfortably.<\/p>\n
To\u00a0outsiders,\u00a0it\u00a0might\u00a0seem\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0worn\u00a0a\u00a0multicolored\u00a0crown\u00a0of\u00a0humiliation\u00a0for\u00a0three\u00a0years\u00a0and\u00a0walked\u00a0away\u00a0with nothing\u2013a\u00a0joke\u00a0in\u00a0elite\u00a0circles.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0the\u00a0truth.\u00a0In\u00a0these\u00a0three\u00a0years,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0lived\u00a0freer\u00a0than\u00a0ever\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0family.\u00a0Judging\u00a0by\u00a0how\u00a0often\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0punished\u00a0and\u00a0beaten,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0regrets.<\/p>\n
Adeline\u00a0regarded\u00a0her\u00a0seriously.\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ve\u00a0got\u00a0it\u00a0all\u00a0wrong.\u00a0If\u00a0word\u00a0gets\u00a0out,\u00a0people\u00a0will\u00a0say\u00a0our\u00a0family\u00a0mistreated\u00a0our\u00a0daughter\u2013in\u2013law.\u00a0How\u00a0about\u00a0this?\u00a0Keep\u00a0the apartment,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0give\u00a0you\u00a0another,\u00a0also\u00a0on\u00a0Aurum\u00a0Road.\u00a0One\u00a0for you\u00a0to\u00a0live\u00a0in,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0to\u00a0rent\u00a0out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0blinked\u00a0in\u00a0surprise.\u00a0Apartments\u00a0on\u00a0Aurum\u00a0Road\u00a0were\u00a0single\u2013unit\u2013per\u2013floor\u00a0luxury<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
5:48\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a023<\/p>\n
spaces.<\/p>\n
Their sale\u00a0price\u00a0aside,\u00a0renting\u00a0one\u00a0brought\u00a0in\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0five\u00a0figures\u00a0a\u00a0month.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family\u00a0had\u00a0treated\u00a0her\u00a0decently,\u00a0but\u00a0they\u00a0never\u00a0shared\u00a0a\u00a0deep\u00a0emotional<\/p>\n
bond.\u00a0Logically,\u00a0they\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0reason\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0her\u00a0another\u00a0apartment\u00a0for\u00a0free.<\/p>\n
89%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0processing\u00a0when\u00a0Adeline\u00a0spoke\u00a0again,\u00a0her\u00a0tone\u00a0sincere.\u00a0\u201cSyd,\u00a0I\u00a0know\u00a0growing\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0family\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0easy.\u00a0Even\u00a0if\u00a0Madam\u00a0Sterling\u00a0doted\u00a0on\u00a0you,\u00a0life\u00a0must\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0tough.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0we\u00a0all\u00a0tried\u00a0our\u00a0best\u00a0to\u00a0treat\u00a0you\u00a0well\u00a0when\u00a0you\u00a0came\u00a0to\u00a0live\u00a0with\u00a0us.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0so?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom,\u00a0you,\u00a0Grandpa,\u00a0and\u00a0Grandma\u00a0have\u00a0all\u00a0been\u00a0very\u00a0kind\u00a0to me,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0replied.<\/p>\n
That\u00a0was\u00a0true.\u00a0The\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0obligation\u00a0to\u00a0treat\u00a0her\u00a0like\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0own.\u00a0The\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0they\u00a0had\u00a0treated\u00a0her\u00a0decently\u00a0meant\u00a0a\u00a0lot,\u00a0especially\u00a0Benjamin,\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0always\u00a0shown\u00a0her\u00a0genuine\u00a0affection.<\/p>\n
Adeline\u00a0nodded,\u00a0pleased.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0knew\u00a0it.\u00a0When\u00a0it\u00a0comes\u00a0to\u00a0being\u00a0considerate\u00a0and\u00a0selfless,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0a\u00a0hundred\u00a0times\u00a0better\u00a0than\u00a0Penelope.\u201d<\/p>\n
She poured\u00a0a\u00a0cup\u00a0of\u00a0coffee\u00a0and\u00a0spoke\u00a0slowly.\u00a0\u201cOh,\u00a0Sydney,\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0request.\u00a0One\u00a0I<\/p>\n
wouldn\u2019t\u00a0ask\u00a0unless\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0other\u00a0choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0accepted\u00a0the\u00a0cup.\u00a0\u201cGo\u00a0ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0agree\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0divorce,\u201d\u00a0Adeline\u00a0said\u00a0plainly,\u00a0\u201cbut\u00a0for\u00a0now,\u00a0can\u00a0you\u00a0keep\u00a0it\u00a0from\u00a0Caleb?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0hesitated.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0divorce\u00a0certificate\u00a0processed,\u201d\u00a0Adeline\u00a0said\u00a0firmly.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0for\u00a0now,\u00a0only\u00a0you\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0will\u00a0know\u00a0about\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0start\u00a0looking\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0suitable\u00a0new\u00a0match\u00a0for\u00a0Caleb.\u00a0Once\u00a0I\u00a0find\u00a0someone,\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0make\u00a0the\u00a0divorce\u00a0public.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0message\u00a0was\u00a0clear.\u00a0This\u00a0was\u00a0about\u00a0closing\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0before\u00a0Penelope\u00a0could\u00a0wedge\u00a0herself\u00a0in.\u00a0They\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0avoid\u00a0a\u00a0scandal\u00a0embarrassing\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family\u00a0right\u00a0after\u00a0the\u00a0divorce.<\/p>\n
That\u00a0second Aurum\u00a0Road\u00a0apartment\u00a0was\u00a0hush\u00a0money\u2013payment\u00a0for\u00a0silence\u00a0until\u00a0the\u00a0new<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
6:48\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a025<\/p>\n
Hampton\u00a0daughter\u2013in\u2013law\u00a0was\u00a0confirmed.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0wanted\u00a0a\u00a0clean\u00a0break.\u00a0She\u00a0hated\u00a0loose\u00a0ends.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Adeline\u00a0with\u00a0uncertainty.\u00a0\u201cMom,\u00a0I\u00a0understand,\u00a0but<\/p>\n
\u201cSydney,\u201d\u00a0Adeline\u00a0interrupted\u00a0gently,\u00a0\u201cthis\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0win\u2013win.\u201d<\/p>\n
89%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/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 23 Chapter\u00a023\u00a0 \u2018Never\u00a0shared\u00a0a\u00a0bed\u2026\u2018\u00a0As\u00a0a\u00a0married\u00a0woman,\u00a0Adeline\u00a0knew\u00a0exactly\u00a0what\u00a0that\u00a0phrase\u00a0implied. \u201cYou\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0messing\u00a0with\u00a0me,\u00a0are\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0asked,\u00a0disbelief\u00a0heavy\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0voice. Sydney\u00a0looked\u00a0up,\u00a0her\u00a0small,\u00a0delicate\u00a0face\u00a0dim\u00a0and\u00a0tired.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0remained\u00a0soft.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0could\u00a0I\u00a0joke\u00a0about\u00a0something\u00a0like\u00a0this?\u00a0Mom,\u00a0other\u00a0than\u00a0divorce,\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0of\u00a0any\u00a0way […]<\/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-22006","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\/22006","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=22006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22006\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}