\u201cMm.\u201d\u00a0Caleb\u00a0paused\u00a0for\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0before\u00a0replying\u00a0gently\u00a0but\u00a0firmly,\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0meeting\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0afternoon.\u00a0I<\/p>\n
might\u00a0be\u00a0late\u00a0getting\u00a0back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0heart\u00a0sank.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0see\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee\u00a0what?\u00a0Listen\u00a0to\u00a0everything\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0saying.\u201d\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0stayed\u00a0steady\u00a0and\u00a0kind.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0time\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0you\u00a0up,\u00a0could\u00a0we\u00a0meet\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate\u00a0instead?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0shoulders\u00a0relaxed,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0shy\u00a0smile\u00a0tugged at\u00a0her\u00a0lips.\u00a0\u201cOf\u00a0course.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0fine\u00a0as\u00a0long\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0go\u00a0back\u00a0alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0coming\u00a0home\u00a0soon?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0lowered\u00a0her\u00a0gaze.\u00a0\u201cAlmost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0smiled.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0got\u00a0you\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0cake\u00a0and\u00a0put\u00a0it\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0fridge.\u00a0Remember\u00a0to\u00a0eat\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0froze.\u00a0Extravagant\u00a0gifts\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0surprise\u00a0her,\u00a0but\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0cake\u00a0just\u00a0for\u00a0her?\u00a0That\u00a0was\u00a0something\u00a0else.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank\u00a0you,\u00a0Cal,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0softly.<\/p>\n
Sadly,\u00a0the\u00a0warmth\u00a0faded\u00a0almost\u00a0at\u00a0once\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0checked\u00a0her\u00a0socials.\u00a0Penelope\u00a0had\u00a0posted\u00a0something\u00a0new.<\/p>\n
Penelope:\u00a0[I\u00a0casually\u00a0mentioned\u00a0this\u00a0morning\u00a0that\u00a0I\u00a0wanted\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0cake,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0brought\u00a0one\u00a0home\u00a0tonight!]<\/p>\n
That\u00a0little\u00a0slice\u00a0of\u00a0cake\u00a0had\u00a0probably\u00a0been\u00a0for\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0tossed\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0onto\u00a0the\u00a0bed\u00a0and\u00a0dropped\u00a0down\u00a0beside\u00a0it.\u00a0Thoughts\u00a0of\u00a0tomorrow night\u2019s\u00a0family\u00a0banquet<\/p>\n
swirled\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0mind.<\/p>\n
In\u00a0a\u00a0rare\u00a0moment\u00a0of\u00a0reflection,\u00a0she\u00a0thought\u00a0of\u00a0Eloise\u2019s\u00a0early\u00a0kindness.\u00a0After\u00a0her\u00a0parents\u00a0died,\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0months\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0spent\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0orphanage\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0dark\u00a0and\u00a0punishing<\/p>\n
At\u00a0just\u00a0five\u00a0years old,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0tasted\u00a0loneliness.\u00a0There\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0a\u00a0girl\u00a0there,\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0year\u00a0older,\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0ruling\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0kids\u00a0and\u00a0had\u00a0taken\u00a0an\u00a0instant\u00a0dislike\u00a0to\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0kept\u00a0the\u00a0others\u00a0from\u00a0playing\u00a0with\u00a0Sydney,\u00a0shredded\u00a0the\u00a0little\u00a0dress\u00a0her\u00a0late\u00a0mother\u00a0had\u00a0bought,\u00a0hidden\u00a0tacks\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0shoes,\u00a0drawn\u00a0turtles\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0face\u00a0with\u00a0markers,\u00a0and\u00a0even\u00a0stolen\u00a0the\u00a0lucky\u00a0charm\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0wearing\u00a0since\u00a0birth<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0told\u00a0the\u00a0teacher,\u00a0but\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0kids\u00a0backed\u00a0the\u00a0girl\u00a0Naturally,\u00a0the\u00a0teacher\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0believe\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u2019d\u00a0often\u00a0sit\u00a0alone\u00a0behind\u00a0the\u00a0building,\u00a0crying\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0parents\u00a0she missed\u00a0so\u00a0badly.\u00a0That\u00a0was\u00a0when\u00a0Eloise\u00a0appeared.\u00a0If\u00a0it\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0been<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
8:40\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a042<\/p>\n
for\u00a0her\u00a0help\u2013and\u00a0for\u00a0Julian\u2013she\u00a0might\u00a0not\u00a0have\u00a0made\u00a0it\u00a0through.<\/p>\n
78%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Back\u00a0then,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0painfully\u00a0obedient.\u00a0Even\u00a0foolishly\u00a0so.\u00a0But\u00a0someone\u00a0had\u00a0taught\u00a0her\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0sharpen\u00a0her\u00a0mind\u00a0and\u00a0fight\u00a0back\u00a0over\u00a0the next\u00a0nine\u00a0years.<\/p>\n
Now,\u00a0staring\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0ceiling,\u00a0she\u00a0blinked\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0glare\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0overhead\u00a0light.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir,\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0opened\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0backseat.\u00a0The\u00a0sharp\u00a0edge\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0gaze\u00a0faded.\u00a0A\u00a0flicker\u00a0of\u00a0patience\u00a0crossed\u00a0his\u00a0face\u00a0as\u00a0he<\/p>\n
prepared\u00a0to\u00a0step\u00a0out.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0stay\u00a0in\u00a0the car\u00a0too\u00a0long,\u201d\u00a0Elliot\u00a0warned.\u00a0\u201cMadam\u00a0Norwood\u00a0already\u00a0spotted\u00a0us.\u2018<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0obliged\u00a0and\u00a0got\u00a0out.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0greeted\u00a0calmly.<\/p>\n
Agatha\u00a0Norwood,\u00a0nearing\u00a080,\u00a0glanced\u00a0once\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0empty\u00a0car,\u00a0then\u00a0fixed\u00a0her\u00a0stone\u2013cold\u00a0expression on\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0came\u00a0alone\u00a0again?\u00a0How\u00a0many\u00a0times\u00a0do\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0it?\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0bother\u00a0coming\u00a0if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0bringing\u00a0a\u00a0potential\u00a0wife.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0walked\u00a0toward\u00a0her,\u00a0unbothered.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0it\u2019d\u00a0make\u00a0you\u00a0happy,\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0bring\u00a0a\u00a0different\u00a0one\u00a0home\u00a0every\u00a0day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTry\u00a0it.\u201d\u00a0Agatha\u00a0raised\u00a0her\u00a0cane\u00a0and\u00a0smacked\u00a0him\u00a0hard.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0you\u00a0dare\u00a0toy\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0girl\u2019s\u00a0feelings,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0lose\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0your<\/p>\n
grandmother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll\u00a0right,\u00a0Grandma.\u00a0As\u00a0you\u00a0wish.\u201d\u00a0Julian\u00a0took\u00a0the\u00a0hit\u00a0with\u00a0grace\u00a0and\u00a0gently\u00a0guided\u00a0the\u00a0cane\u00a0aside.<\/p>\n
Anyone\u00a0watching\u00a0would\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0stunned.\u00a0Julian\u2013the\u00a0hard\u2013liner\u2013showing\u00a0this\u00a0much\u00a0patience?<\/p>\n
He\u00a0spotted\u00a0a\u00a0bowl\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0coffee\u00a0table\u00a0filled\u00a0with\u00a0dark\u00a0liquid.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0drinking?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMedicine,\u201d\u00a0Agatha\u00a0replied\u00a0gravely.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve\u00a0been\u00a0waking\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0night\u00a0and\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0sleep.\u00a0That\u00a0girl\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0clinic\u00a0said\u00a0I\u00a0might<\/p>\n
not\u00a0have\u00a0long\u00a0if\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0take\u00a0it.\u00a0She\u00a0gave\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0prescriptions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich\u00a0incompetent\u00a0doctor\u00a0told\u00a0you\u00a0that?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0questioned\u00a0darkly.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s\u00a0Bonus\u00a0Offer<\/p>\n
GET\u00a0IT\u00a0N\u2026<\/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 42 \u201cMm.\u201d\u00a0Caleb\u00a0paused\u00a0for\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0before\u00a0replying\u00a0gently\u00a0but\u00a0firmly,\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0meeting\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0afternoon.\u00a0I might\u00a0be\u00a0late\u00a0getting\u00a0back.\u201d Sydney\u2019s\u00a0heart\u00a0sank.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0see\u2026\u201d \u201cSee\u00a0what?\u00a0Listen\u00a0to\u00a0everything\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0saying.\u201d\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0stayed\u00a0steady\u00a0and\u00a0kind.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0back\u00a0in\u00a0time\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0you\u00a0up,\u00a0could\u00a0we\u00a0meet\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate\u00a0instead?\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-22025","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\/22025","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=22025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22025\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}