Chapter\u00a027\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0gaze\u00a0slid\u00a0past\u00a0Penelope,\u00a0who\u00a0trailed\u00a0behind.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0came\u00a0out\u00a0flat.\u00a0\u201cNo\u00a0need.<\/p>\n
Tiffany\u2019s\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0finally\u00a0sensed\u00a0something\u00a0was\u00a0wrong.\u00a0He\u00a0reached\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0gently\u00a0caught\u00a0her\u00a0wrist.\u00a0\u201cSydney,\u00a0wait\u00a0a\u00a0second.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0pull away,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0let\u00a0go.\u00a0Without\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0her,\u00a0he\u00a0told\u00a0Penelope,\u00a0\u201cGo\u00a0wait\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u00a0Just\u00a0make\u00a0sure\u00a0to\u00a0talk it\u00a0out\u00a0nicely\u00a0with\u00a0Syd.\u201d\u00a0Penelope\u00a0kept\u00a0her\u00a0expression\u00a0gracious,\u00a0but\u00a0her\u00a0clenched\u00a0fists\u00a0betrayed\u00a0her\u00a0mood.<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0climbing\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0car,\u00a0she\u00a0threw\u00a0Sydney a\u00a0sour glance.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u2019s\u00a0thumb\u00a0brushed\u00a0lightly\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0inside\u00a0of\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0wrist\u00a0while\u00a0he\u00a0searched\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0right\u00a0words.\u00a0\u201cAbout\u00a0the\u00a0hospital\u2026\u00a0When\u00a0you\u00a0hit\u00a0Penny,\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0she\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0press\u00a0charges.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0agreed\u00a0to\u00a0let\u00a0it\u00a0go.\u00a0I\u00a0also\u00a0told\u00a0her\u00a0we\u2019d\u00a0hold\u00a0off\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0move\u00a0for\u00a0now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018So\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0story\u00a0he\u00a0chose\u00a0to\u00a0tell.\u00a0Penelope,\u00a0the\u00a0generous\u00a0one.\u00a0Caleb,\u00a0the\u00a0helpless\u00a0mediator,\u00a0doing\u00a0it\u00a0all\u00a0for\u00a0my\u00a0sake,\u2018\u00a0she\u00a0sneered\u00a0inwardly.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0the\u00a0ones\u00a0cleaning\u00a0up\u00a0her\u00a0so\u2013called\u00a0emotional\u00a0mess.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0file\u00a0a\u00a0report?\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0looked\u00a0caught\u00a0off\u00a0guard.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0was\u00a0shoved\u00a0down\u00a0a\u00a0flight\u00a0of\u00a0stairs\u00a0from\u00a0that\u00a0height,\u00a0hit\u00a0my\u00a0head,\u00a0and\u00a0bled.\u00a0Why\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0I\u00a0call\u00a0the\u00a0cops?\u201d\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0stayed\u00a0even\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0met\u00a0his\u00a0eyes.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0reported\u00a0it\u00a0that\u00a0day,\u00a0what\u00a0would\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0done?\u00a0Spent\u00a0all\u00a0your\u00a0time\u00a0trying\u00a0to protect\u00a0Penelope?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0words\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0overheard\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0hospital\u00a0still\u00a0echoed\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0mind,\u00a0bitter\u00a0and\u00a0absurd.\u00a0She\u2019d\u00a0been\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0lying\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0hospital\u00a0bed,\u00a0bleeding.\u00a0And\u00a0yet,\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0thing\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0husband\u2019s\u00a0mind\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0someone\u00a0else.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
5:49\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a027<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0looked\u00a0stricken.<\/p>\n
88%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0saw\u00a0the\u00a0flicker\u00a0of\u00a0guilt\u00a0cross\u00a0his\u00a0face.\u00a0It\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0surprise\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u00a0continued\u00a0straightforwardly,\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0you\u00a0wanted\u00a0to,\u00a0even\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0called\u00a0the\u00a0police,\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0find\u00a0a\u00a0way\u00a0to\u00a0bury\u00a0it.\u00a0You\u2019ve\u00a0got\u00a0the power\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0things\u00a0disappear.\u00a0So\u00a0let\u2019s\u00a0be\u00a0honest.\u00a0The\u00a0reason\u00a0you\u00a0agreed\u00a0to\u00a0let\u00a0her\u00a0stay\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0for\u00a0me.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0for\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Because\u00a0he\u00a0wanted\u00a0her\u00a0there.\u00a0Because\u00a0he\u00a0liked\u00a0being\u00a0near\u00a0his\u00a0precious\u00a0Penny.\u00a0Why\u00a0pretend\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0some\u00a0grand\u00a0act\u00a0of\u00a0kindness?<\/p>\n
She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0match\u00a0his\u00a0height\u00a0at\u00a05\u20195\u201c,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0stood\u00a0with\u00a0quiet\u00a0defiance.\u00a0Her\u00a0posture\u00a0held\u00a0steady.\u00a0Her voice\u00a0was\u00a0measured.\u00a0She\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0angry.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0stating\u00a0facts.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0response.\u00a0For\u00a0a\u00a0moment,\u00a0he\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0connect\u00a0the\u00a0poised\u00a0woman\u00a0standing\u00a0before\u00a0him\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0gentle,\u00a0compliant\u00a0girl\u00a0he\u00a0remembered.\u00a0If\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0anyone\u00a0else,\u00a0he\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0laughed\u00a0it\u00a0off.\u00a0But\u00a0under\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0calm,\u00a0unwavering\u00a0stare,\u00a0the\u00a0urge\u00a0to\u00a0argue<\/p>\n
faded.<\/p>\n
Rain\u00a0began\u00a0to\u00a0fall\u00a0harder.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0walked\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0car,\u00a0opened\u00a0the\u00a0trunk,\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0an umbrella.\u00a0He\u00a0returned\u00a0and\u00a0gently\u00a0placed\u00a0it\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0hand.\u00a0\u201cGive\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0time. I\u2019ll\u00a0make\u00a0sure\u00a0Penny\u2019s\u00a0properly\u00a0settled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0knew\u00a0exactly\u00a0what\u00a0she\u00a0wanted\u00a0and\u00a0smiled\u00a0faintly.\u00a0\u201cCan\u00a0you\u00a0really\u00a0cut\u00a0her\u00a0off\u00a0completely?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0quiet\u00a0question\u00a0made\u00a0his\u00a0jaw\u00a0tighten.\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0dropped.\u00a0\u201cSyd,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0my\u00a0sister\u2013in\u2013law.\u00a0My\u00a0nephew\u2019s\u00a0biological\u00a0mother.\u00a0How\u00a0am\u00a0I\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0cut\u00a0her\u00a0off?\u00a0Not\u00a0everyone\u00a0is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0stopped.<\/p>\n
\u2018Not\u00a0everyone\u00a0is\u00a0what?\u2018\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0pale\u00a0fingers\u00a0curled\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0umbrella.\u00a0Her\u00a0damp\u00a0lashes\u00a0lifted\u00a0slightly.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0voice\u00a0came\u00a0low\u00a0and\u00a0rough.\u00a0\u201cNot\u00a0everyone\u00a0is\u00a0an\u00a0orphan\u00a0without\u00a0a\u00a0single\u00a0blood\u00a0relative.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0say,\u00a0right?\u201d<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
5:50\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a027<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0answer.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0need\u00a0him\u00a0to.\u00a0She\u00a0bent\u00a0down,\u00a0set the\u00a0umbrella\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0feet,\u00a0and\u00a0turned\u00a0toward<\/p>\n
Tiffany\u2019s\u00a0car.<\/p>\n
88%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0watched\u00a0her\u00a0walk\u00a0away.\u00a0Her\u00a0slim\u00a0silhouette\u00a0faded\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0rain.\u00a0Something\u00a0shifted\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chest.\u00a0The\u00a0irritation\u00a0drained\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen\u00a0are you\u00a0coming\u00a0home?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0paused\u00a0but\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0turn\u00a0around.\u00a0\u201cLater.\u00a0Things\u00a0are\u00a0busy\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0clinic.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had no\u00a0plans\u00a0to\u00a0return.\u00a0She\u2019d\u00a0been\u00a0gone\u00a0for\u00a0days,\u00a0and\u00a0Caleb\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0too\u00a0wrapped\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0everything\u00a0else\u00a0to\u00a0even\u00a0notice\u00a0she\u00a0never\u00a0came\u00a0home.<\/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 27 Chapter\u00a027\u00a0 Sydney\u2019s\u00a0gaze\u00a0slid\u00a0past\u00a0Penelope,\u00a0who\u00a0trailed\u00a0behind.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0came\u00a0out\u00a0flat.\u00a0\u201cNo\u00a0need. Tiffany\u2019s\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0me.\u201d Caleb\u00a0finally\u00a0sensed\u00a0something\u00a0was\u00a0wrong.\u00a0He\u00a0reached\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0gently\u00a0caught\u00a0her\u00a0wrist.\u00a0\u201cSydney,\u00a0wait\u00a0a\u00a0second.\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 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-22010","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\/22010","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=22010"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22010\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}