Caleb\u00a0avoided\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0gesture\u00a0and\u00a0set\u00a0the\u00a0box\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0empty\u00a0passenger\u00a0seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0young\u00a0and\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0sweet\u00a0tooth,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cAren\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0cutting\u00a0back\u00a0on\u00a0sugar?\u201d<\/p>\n
Penelope\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0in\u00a0disbelief.\u00a0He\u00a0looked\u00a0the\u00a0same\u2013gentle,\u00a0handsome,\u00a0composed.\u00a0But\u00a0after\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0silence,\u00a0something\u00a0clicked.\u00a0Maybe\u00a0his\u00a0feelings\u00a0had\u00a0changed.\u00a0He\u00a0always\u00a0claimed\u00a0Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0sister,\u00a0but\u00a0perhaps\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0started\u00a0falling\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0without\u00a0realizing\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0nails\u00a0pressed\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0palms.\u00a0She\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0doubted\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0feelings\u00a0for\u00a0Sydney.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0always\u00a0this\u00a0nice\u00a0to\u00a0every\u00a0friend\u2019s\u00a0little\u00a0sister?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0asked\u00a0softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0went\u00a0no\u00a0contact\u00a0with\u00a0Julian\u00a0to\u00a0marry\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0Caleb\u00a0said\u00a0matter\u2013of\u2013factly.\u00a0\u201cShouldn\u2019t\u00a0I\u00a0treat\u00a0her\u00a0better?\u201d<\/p>\n
Back\u00a0home,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0hot\u00a0shower\u00a0and\u00a0was\u00a0blow\u2013drying\u00a0her\u00a0hair\u00a0when\u00a0Tiffany\u00a0walked\u00a0in,\u00a0carrying\u00a0a\u00a0plate<\/p>\n
of\u00a0cherries.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0popped\u00a0one\u00a0into\u00a0Sydney\u2019s mouth\u00a0and\u00a0said,\u00a0\u201cSpill.\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0that\u00a0upset,\u00a0but\u00a0my\u00a0hawk\u2013eyes\u00a0say\u00a0otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0gave\u00a0a\u00a0quiet\u00a0laugh.\u00a0Life\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0so\u00a0bad.\u00a0Alan\u00a0and\u00a0Eliana\u00a0treated\u00a0her\u00a0like\u00a0family,\u00a0and\u00a0Tiffany had\u00a0always\u00a0been\u00a0her<\/p>\n
rock.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0turned\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0dryer.\u00a0\u201cGuess\u00a0who\u00a0I\u00a0ran\u00a0into\u00a0after\u00a0leaving\u00a0Alan\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCaleb\u00a0and\u00a0Penelope.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0pressed\u00a0her\u00a0lips\u00a0together.\u00a0\u201cHe\u00a0went\u00a0to smooth\u00a0things\u00a0over\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0asked\u00a0Alan\u00a0to\u00a0take<\/p>\n
her\u00a0on\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0student.\u201d<\/p>\n
A\u00a0knot\u00a0tightened\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0chest.\u00a0She\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0expected\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0use\u00a0her\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0bridge\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0the\u00a0woman\u00a0he\u00a0loved.\u00a0It\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sadness.\u00a0More\u00a0like\u00a0quiet\u00a0frustration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0slap\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0face.\u00a0What\u00a0is\u00a0Caleb\u00a0thinking?\u00a0The\u00a0divorce\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0finalized\u00a0yet.\u00a0Doesn\u2019t\u00a0that\u00a0seem\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0bold?\u201d\u00a0Tiffany\u00a0scowled.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0slap.\u00a0Sydney\u00a0hated\u00a0how\u00a0much\u00a0it\u00a0stung.\u00a0Still,\u00a0telling\u00a0Tiffany\u00a0made\u00a0it\u00a0easier\u00a0to\u00a0bear.\u00a0She\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath\u00a0and\u00a0said,<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
3:40\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a041<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably\u00a0only\u00a0Penelope\u00a0knows\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0through\u00a0his\u00a0head.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd\u00a0the\u00a0divorce\u00a0agreement?\u201d\u00a0Tiffany\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0checked\u00a0today.\u00a0They\u00a0said\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0nearly\u00a0done,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0sure\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0lying?\u201d\u00a0Tiffany\u00a0pressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0not,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
Adeline\u00a0came\u00a0across\u00a0as\u00a0calm,\u00a0but\u00a0Sydney\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0sharp\u2013and\u00a0likely\u00a0in\u00a0no\u00a0hurry\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0daughter\u2013in\u2013law.\u00a0If<\/p>\n
anything,\u00a0she\u00a0probably\u00a0wanted\u00a0this\u00a0over\u00a0even\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0Sydney\u00a0did.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0Tiffany\u2019s\u00a0phone\u00a0buzzed.\u00a0She\u00a0hurried\u00a0out\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0the\u00a0call.<\/p>\n
78%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Sydney picked\u00a0up\u00a0the\u00a0blow\u00a0dryer\u00a0again,\u00a0but\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0vibrated.\u00a0She\u00a0flinched\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0caller\u00a0ID.\u00a0Her\u00a0fingers\u00a0traced\u00a0shaky<\/p>\n
lines\u00a0across\u00a0her palm\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0answered.\u00a0\u201cHello?\u00a0Madam\u00a0Sterling?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0cold\u00a0and\u00a0impatient.\u00a0\u201cWhy\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0answer\u00a0sooner?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0spoke\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0was\u00a0showering.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSydney,\u201d\u00a0Eloise\u00a0cut\u00a0in,\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0cool\u00a0and\u00a0mocking.\u00a0\u201cBeing\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0late\u00a0is\u00a0one\u00a0thing.\u00a0Not\u00a0answering\u00a0at\u00a0all?\u00a0That\u2019s<\/p>\n
something\u00a0else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0grip\u00a0tightened\u00a0until\u00a0her knuckles\u00a0turned\u00a0white.\u00a0\u201cMadam\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough,\u201d\u00a0Eloise\u00a0said,\u00a0her\u00a0tone\u00a0softening.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0having\u00a0a\u00a0family\u00a0dinner\u00a0tomorrow.\u00a0Be\u00a0home\u00a0early.\u00a0Victor\u00a0just\u00a0flew\u00a0in<\/p>\n
and\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0asking\u00a0about\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0flinched\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0shocked.\u00a0The\u00a0phone\u00a0slipped\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0hand\u00a0and\u00a0hit\u00a0the\u00a0floor\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0dull\u00a0thud.\u00a0When\u00a0she\u00a0picked\u00a0it\u00a0up<\/p>\n
again,\u00a0the\u00a0line\u00a0was\u00a0dead.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0stared\u00a0at the\u00a0ceiling\u00a0and\u00a0breathed\u00a0deeply,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0calm\u00a0the\u00a0turmoil\u00a0inside\u00a0her.\u00a0But\u00a0the\u00a0tension\u00a0only\u00a0spread.<\/p>\n
Finally,\u00a0she\u00a0called\u00a0Caleb.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0picked\u00a0up\u00a0right\u00a0away.\u00a0\u201cHey,\u00a0Syd.\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0could\u00a0hear\u00a0Penelope\u00a0urging\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0eat\u00a0fruit in\u00a0the\u00a0background.<\/p>\n
Keeping\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0steady,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0asked,\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0family\u00a0dinner\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0night.\u00a0Can\u00a0you\u00a0come<\/p>\n
with\u00a0me?\u201d<\/p>\n
2\/2<\/p>\n
8:40\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/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 41 Caleb\u00a0avoided\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0gesture\u00a0and\u00a0set\u00a0the\u00a0box\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0empty\u00a0passenger\u00a0seat. \u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0young\u00a0and\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0sweet\u00a0tooth,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cAren\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0cutting\u00a0back\u00a0on\u00a0sugar?\u201d Penelope\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0in\u00a0disbelief.\u00a0He\u00a0looked\u00a0the\u00a0same\u2013gentle,\u00a0handsome,\u00a0composed.\u00a0But\u00a0after\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0silence,\u00a0something\u00a0clicked.\u00a0Maybe\u00a0his\u00a0feelings\u00a0had\u00a0changed.\u00a0He\u00a0always\u00a0claimed\u00a0Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0sister,\u00a0but\u00a0perhaps\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0started\u00a0falling\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0without\u00a0realizing\u00a0it. Her\u00a0nails\u00a0pressed\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0palms.\u00a0She\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0doubted\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0feelings\u00a0for\u00a0Sydney. […]<\/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-22024","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\/22024","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=22024"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22024\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}