Chapter\u00a024\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adeline\u00a0remained\u00a0calm\u00a0and\u00a0measured,\u00a0though\u00a0her\u00a0tone\u00a0carried\u00a0a\u00a0chill.\u00a0\u201cOutwardly,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0still\u00a0a\u00a0member\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family.\u00a0The\u00a0Sterlings\u00a0will\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0show\u00a0us\u00a0some\u00a0respect,\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0they?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0hands\u00a0clenched.\u00a0She\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0Adeline,\u00a0slightly\u00a0stunned.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf\u00a0Madam\u00a0Sterling\u00a0truly\u00a0cared\u00a0about\u00a0you,\u00a0why\u00a0would\u00a0she\u00a0sabotage\u00a0your\u00a0job\u00a0opportunity\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0hospital\u00a0back\u00a0then?\u201d\u00a0Adeline\u00a0spoke\u00a0slowly.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0every\u00a0time\u00a0you\u00a0came\u00a0back\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0residence,\u00a0you\u00a0could\u00a0barely\u00a0walk\u00a0straight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0entire\u00a0body\u00a0tensed.\u00a0Her\u00a0gaze\u00a0drifted\u00a0toward\u00a0Nancy,\u00a0who\u00a0stood\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0corner.<\/p>\n
Nancy\u00a0looked\u00a0away,\u00a0guilt\u00a0etched\u00a0across\u00a0her\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
At\u00a0that\u00a0moment,\u00a0everything\u00a0clicked\u00a0for\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0All\u00a0those\u00a0years\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0kept\u00a0up\u00a0a\u00a0fa\u00e7ade,\u00a0pretending\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0fine.\u00a0Adeline\u00a0had\u00a0seen\u00a0through\u00a0it,\u00a0but\u00a0like\u00a0most\u00a0sharp\u2013eyed\u00a0people,\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0waited\u00a0until\u00a0the\u00a0moment\u00a0suited\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0it\u00a0out\u00a0loud.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0went pale.\u00a0Her\u00a0fists\u00a0loosened,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0rebellious\u00a0glint\u00a0sparked\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u00a0long\u00a0is\u00a0this\u00a0temporary\u00a0arrangement\u00a0you\u00a0mentioned?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0take\u00a0care\u00a0of\u00a0it\u00a0as\u00a0soon as\u00a0I\u00a0can,\u201d\u00a0Adeline\u00a0replied.<\/p>\n
\u201c700,000.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0flinch.\u00a0Her\u00a0tone\u00a0stayed\u00a0even.\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0two\u00a0apartments\u00a0on\u00a0Aurum\u00a0Road\u00a0and<\/p>\n
700,000\u00a0dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0asking\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0lot\u2013outrageously\u00a0so\u2013but\u00a0said\u00a0it\u00a0anyway.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0responded\u00a0well\u00a0to\u00a0pressure.<\/p>\n
If\u00a0Adeline\u00a0had appealed\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0using\u00a0Dorothy\u2019s\u00a0health,\u00a0she\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0agreed\u00a0without<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
5:49\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a024<\/p>\n
89%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
protest.\u00a0However,\u00a0this\u00a0condescending\u00a0tone,\u00a0this\u00a0pretense\u00a0of\u00a0generosity,\u00a0reminded\u00a0her\u00a0too<\/p>\n
much\u00a0of\u00a0Eloise.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0lived\u00a0worse\u00a0than\u00a0a\u00a0stray\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0household,\u00a0yet\u00a0to\u00a0everyone\u00a0else,\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0who\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0grateful.<\/p>\n
Adeline\u2019s\u00a0chest\u00a0heaved\u00a0with\u00a0fury.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0what\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0saying!\u00a0Ungrateful!\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0grabbed\u00a0a\u00a0cup\u00a0and\u00a0hurled\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0floor.\u00a0It\u00a0struck\u00a0the\u00a0rug\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0dull\u00a0thud.\u00a0Coffee\u00a0splattered\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0wool,\u00a0soaking\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0fibers.\u00a0A\u00a0mess\u2014just\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0this<\/p>\n
marriage.\u00a0Ugly.\u00a0Irreversible.<\/p>\n
Suddenly,\u00a0the\u00a0sound\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0door\u00a0echoed through\u00a0the\u00a0house.\u00a0A sleek\u00a0black\u00a0Maybach\u00a0sat\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0courtyard.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0had\u00a0returned,\u00a0unnoticed.\u00a0His\u00a0face\u00a0looked\u00a0drawn,\u00a0his\u00a0coat\u00a0slung\u00a0over\u00a0one\u00a0arm.\u00a0As\u00a0he<\/p>\n
stepped\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0living\u00a0room\u00a0and\u00a0took\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0scene,\u00a0his\u00a0brow\u00a0tightened.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0mother.\u00a0\u201cMom,\u00a0why\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0yelling\u00a0at\u00a0Sydney?\u201d<\/p>\n
Adeline\u00a0still\u00a0seethed.\u00a0She\u00a0opened\u00a0her\u00a0mouth\u00a0but\u00a0faltered.\u00a0At\u00a0last\u00a0she\u00a0snapped,\u00a0\u201cWould\u00a0I\u00a0yell<\/p>\n
at\u00a0her\u00a0for\u00a0no\u00a0reason?\u201d<\/p>\n
This\u00a0time,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0step\u00a0in\u00a0to\u00a0smooth\u00a0things\u00a0over.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0play\u00a0the dutiful\u00a0daughter\u2013in\u2013law.\u00a0She\u00a0just\u00a0lowered\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0and\u00a0stayed\u00a0silent.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0warm\u00a0winter\u00a0sunlight\u00a0poured\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0floor\u2013to\u2013ceiling\u00a0windows,\u00a0washing\u00a0over\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0Her\u00a0skin\u00a0looked\u00a0pale\u00a0and\u00a0flawless\u00a0beneath\u00a0the\u00a0light.\u00a0Even\u00a0the fine\u00a0hairs\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks<\/p>\n
showed.\u00a0Shadows\u00a0fell\u00a0from her\u00a0lashes,\u00a0her\u00a0black\u00a0hair\u00a0draped\u00a0softly\u00a0across\u00a0her\u00a0shoulders.\u00a0She<\/p>\n
looked\u00a0quiet,\u00a0docile,\u00a0and\u00a0gentle.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0understood.\u00a0The\u00a0only\u00a0thing\u00a0that\u00a0could\u00a0have\u00a0triggered\u00a0his\u00a0mother\u00a0like\u00a0this\u00a0was<\/p>\n
Penelope\u2019s\u00a0post\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0night\u00a0before.\u00a0But\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0ended\u00a0up\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0receiving\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0misplaced\u00a0anger.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0stepped\u00a0forward\u00a0and\u00a0grabbed\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0wrist,\u00a0pulling\u00a0her\u00a0behind\u00a0him.\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0firm.\u00a0\u201cWhatever\u00a0has\u00a0upset\u00a0you,\u00a0please\u00a0show\u00a0respect\u00a0to\u00a0both\u00a0of\u00a0us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
5:49\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a024<\/p>\n
89%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0blinked\u00a0in\u00a0surprise.\u00a0Her\u00a0gaze\u00a0landed\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0back,\u00a0broad\u00a0and\u00a0steady.\u00a0For\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0she\u00a0remembered\u00a0that\u00a0scene\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0residence,\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0shielded\u00a0Penelope\u00a0the<\/p>\n
same\u00a0way.<\/p>\n
\u2018So\u00a0righteous.\u00a0So\u00a0decisive,\u2018\u00a0she\u00a0thought.\u00a0\u2018Even\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0never\u00a0loved\u00a0me,\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0still\u00a0willing\u00a0to\u00a0protect\u00a0me.\u00a0He\u00a0really\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0kind\u00a0man.\u2018<\/p>\n
Adeline\u00a0narrowed\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.\u00a0\u201cSo\u00a0your\u00a0wings\u00a0have\u00a0grown,\u00a0huh?\u00a0Always\u00a0standing\u00a0up<\/p>\n
someone\u00a0else.\u201d<\/p>\n
for<\/p>\n
She\u00a0snatched\u00a0up\u00a0her\u00a0bag\u00a0and\u00a0stormed\u00a0off.\u00a0At\u00a0the\u00a0door,\u00a0she\u00a0changed\u00a0her\u00a0shoes,\u00a0then\u00a0turned\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0take\u00a0care\u00a0of\u00a0what\u00a0we\u00a0discussed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank\u00a0you,\u00a0Mom.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0stood\u00a0and\u00a0walked\u00a0her\u00a0out.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0the\u00a0divorce\u00a0papers\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0have\u00a0someone\u00a0deliver\u00a0them\u00a0once\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0ready.\u201d\u00a0Adeline\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0bother\u00a0softening her\u00a0tone.\u00a0Her\u00a0heels\u00a0clicked\u00a0sharply\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0floor\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0left,\u00a0still\u00a0fuming.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0slow\u00a0breath.\u00a0When\u00a0she\u00a0turned\u00a0around,\u00a0she\u00a0met\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0puzzled\u00a0expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cPapers?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0asked.<\/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 24 Chapter\u00a024\u00a0 Adeline\u00a0remained\u00a0calm\u00a0and\u00a0measured,\u00a0though\u00a0her\u00a0tone\u00a0carried\u00a0a\u00a0chill.\u00a0\u201cOutwardly,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0still\u00a0a\u00a0member\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family.\u00a0The\u00a0Sterlings\u00a0will\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0show\u00a0us\u00a0some\u00a0respect,\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0they?\u201d Sydney\u2019s\u00a0hands\u00a0clenched.\u00a0She\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0Adeline,\u00a0slightly\u00a0stunned. \u201cIf\u00a0Madam\u00a0Sterling\u00a0truly\u00a0cared\u00a0about\u00a0you,\u00a0why\u00a0would\u00a0she\u00a0sabotage\u00a0your\u00a0job\u00a0opportunity\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0hospital\u00a0back\u00a0then?\u201d\u00a0Adeline\u00a0spoke\u00a0slowly.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0every\u00a0time\u00a0you\u00a0came\u00a0back\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0residence,\u00a0you\u00a0could\u00a0barely\u00a0walk\u00a0straight.\u201d […]<\/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 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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-22007","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\/22007","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=22007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22007\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}