\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0fine.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0glanced\u00a0at the\u00a0driver\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0rearview\u00a0mirror\u00a0and\u00a0noticed\u00a0his\u00a0pale\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0mind\u00a0the\u00a0cold\u00a0once\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0while,\u00a0but\u00a0you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0well.\u00a0You\u00a0probably\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0weak\u00a0heart.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0push\u00a0yourself\u00a0too\u00a0hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0cab\u00a0driver\u00a0blinked\u00a0in\u00a0surprise.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0know\u00a0that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0answer,\u00a0he\u00a0sighed,\u00a0his\u00a0expression\u00a0empty.\u00a0\u201cIt\u00a0runs\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0family.\u00a0My\u00a0daughter inherited\u00a0it.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0trying\u00a0to<\/p>\n
save\u00a0up\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0surgery.\u2018<\/p>\n
Earlier,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0seen\u00a0the\u00a0photo\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0phone\u2019s\u00a0lock\u00a0screen.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0delicate\u00a0little\u00a0girl\u00a0with\u00a0big\u00a0eyes,\u00a0maybe\u00a0six\u00a0or<\/p>\n
seven,\u00a0her\u00a0frailty\u00a0plain\u00a0even\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0picture.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0heart\u00a0stirred.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0much\u00a0more\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0need?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0thousand.\u00a0Once\u00a0I\u00a0hit\u00a0that,\u00a0the\u00a0doctor\u00a0can\u00a0schedule\u00a0the\u00a0operation.\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0smile,\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0reach\u00a0his<\/p>\n
eyes.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0few\u00a0thousand\u00a0more.\u00a0In\u00a0their\u00a0currency,\u00a0that\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0money\u00a0would take\u00a0time.\u00a0By\u00a0then,\u00a0the\u00a0girl\u2019s\u00a0condition\u00a0might\u00a0worsen.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0lowered\u00a0her\u00a0gaze\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0nothing.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0planned\u00a0to\u00a0wait\u00a0for\u00a0Caleb\u00a0before\u00a0going\u00a0in.\u00a0A\u00a0few\u00a0hundred\u00a0meters\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate,\u00a0she\u00a0scanned\u00a0the\u00a0payment<\/p>\n
code\u00a0and\u00a0stepped\u00a0out.<\/p>\n
Snow\u00a0drifted\u00a0down\u00a0in\u00a0soft,\u00a0heavy\u00a0flakes.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0checked\u00a0the\u00a0time\u00a0and\u00a0called\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cCal,\u00a0how\u00a0long\u00a0until\u00a0you\u00a0get\u00a0here?\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0waiting\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0pavilion\u00a0near\u00a0the\u00a0gate.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0hesitated.\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0meeting\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0to\u00a0wrap\u00a0up.\u00a0If\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0make\u00a0it,\u00a0just\u00a0head\u00a0in\u00a0without\u00a0me.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0come\u00a0later,\u00a0okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0bit\u00a0back\u00a0a\u00a0sigh.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0came\u00a0out\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0faint\u00a0nasal\u00a0edge.\u00a0\u201cAlright.\u00a0Around\u00a0what\u00a0time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy\u00a07:30\u00a0for\u00a0sure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
After\u00a0the call,\u00a0disappointment\u00a0settled\u00a0over\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0linger.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0clear\u00a0he\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0show.<\/p>\n
What\u00a0had\u00a0she\u00a0been\u00a0thinking?\u00a0That\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0faint\u00a0trace\u00a0of\u00a0guilt\u00a0could\u00a0carry\u00a0her\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0household?<\/p>\n
Back\u00a0when\u00a0Lucas\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0alive,\u00a0Caleb would\u00a0only\u00a0accompany\u00a0her\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0formal\u00a0business\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0family.<\/p>\n
Now\u00a0that\u00a0Penelope\u00a0was\u00a0single\u00a0again,\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0other\u00a0priorities.\u00a0That\u00a0leftover\u00a0piece\u00a0of\u00a0cake\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0brought?\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0nothing<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
8:40\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a044<\/p>\n
more\u00a0than\u00a0a\u00a0gesture.\u00a0Spare\u00a0dessert,\u00a0spare\u00a0time,\u00a0spare\u00a0attention.<\/p>\n
\u0e25\u00a078%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
As\u00a0she\u00a0neared\u00a0the estate\u2019s\u00a0grand\u00a0gate,\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0rang.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0an\u00a0unfamiliar\u00a0number.\u00a0Her\u00a0smile\u00a0faded.\u00a0She\u00a0declined\u00a0the<\/p>\n
call\u00a0and\u00a0typed\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0message.<\/p>\n
Sydney:\u00a0[Just\u00a0think\u00a0of\u00a0it\u00a0as\u00a0giving\u00a0me\u00a0one\u00a0last\u00a0chance\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0person.\u00a0Go\u00a0see\u00a0your\u00a0daughter\u00a0in\u00a0peace.]<\/p>\n
\u201cMs.\u00a0Wilson,\u201d\u00a0a\u00a0voice\u00a0called.<\/p>\n
Jason approached\u00a0and\u00a0frowned\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0thin\u00a0layer\u00a0of\u00a0clothing.\u00a0\u201cWhy\u00a0not\u00a0wear\u00a0something\u00a0warmer?\u00a0If\u00a0you\u00a0catch\u00a0a\u00a0cold,<\/p>\n
Madam\u00a0Sterling\u00a0might\u00a0scold\u00a0us.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0gave\u00a0him\u00a0a\u00a0polite\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cGrandma\u00a0is\u00a0kind.\u00a0She\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0blame\u00a0you.\u2018<\/p>\n
Inside,\u00a0the\u00a0banquet\u00a0hall\u00a0buzzed.\u00a0Her\u00a0two\u00a0aunts\u2013rarely\u00a0home\u00a0together\u2013had\u00a0arrived\u00a0with\u00a0their\u00a0families.\u00a0Standing\u00a0near<\/p>\n
the\u00a0edge\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0kept\u00a0her\u00a0posture\u00a0composed\u00a0and\u00a0scanned\u00a0the\u00a0scene.\u00a0Then\u00a0she\u00a0quietly\u00a0exhaled.<\/p>\n
No\u00a0one\u00a0acknowledged\u00a0her.\u00a0Not\u00a0even\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0token\u00a0greeting.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0dampen\u00a0the\u00a0mood.\u00a0Instead,\u00a0she\u00a0walked<\/p>\n
over\u00a0to\u00a0help\u00a0the\u00a0staff\u00a0set\u00a0the\u00a0table.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0picked\u00a0up\u00a0a\u00a0wine\u00a0glass,\u00a0a\u00a0hand\u00a0slapped\u00a0her\u00a0lower\u00a0back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u00a0hello\u00a0again,\u00a0dear\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0Long\u00a0time\u00a0no\u00a0see,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0a\u00a0voice,\u00a0too\u00a0slick\u00a0and\u00a0familiar.<\/p>\n
Startled,\u00a0she\u00a0turned.\u00a0Every\u00a0instinct\u00a0screamed\u00a0to\u00a0smash\u00a0the\u00a0glass\u00a0over\u00a0his\u00a0head,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0held\u00a0it\u00a0together\u00a0and\u00a0dipped her<\/p>\n
head.\u00a0\u201cVictor.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh\u00a0yes?\u00a0Miss\u00a0me\u00a0much?\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0grinned\u00a0and\u00a0tugged\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0sleeve\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0bulky\u00a0coat.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0over\u00a020\u00b0C\u00a0here.\u00a0Why\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0still<\/p>\n
dressed\u00a0like\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0headed\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0North\u00a0Pole?\u201d<\/p>\n
Receiving\u00a0no\u00a0answer,\u00a0Victor\u00a0pressed,\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0cold\u00a0shoulder?\u201d<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s\u00a0Bonus\u00a0Offer<\/p>\n
GET\u00a0IT\u00a0N<\/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 44 \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0fine.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0glanced\u00a0at the\u00a0driver\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0rearview\u00a0mirror\u00a0and\u00a0noticed\u00a0his\u00a0pale\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0mind\u00a0the\u00a0cold\u00a0once\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0while,\u00a0but\u00a0you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0well.\u00a0You\u00a0probably\u00a0have\u00a0a\u00a0weak\u00a0heart.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0push\u00a0yourself\u00a0too\u00a0hard.\u201d The\u00a0cab\u00a0driver\u00a0blinked\u00a0in\u00a0surprise.\u00a0\u201cHow\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0know\u00a0that?\u201d Before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0answer,\u00a0he\u00a0sighed,\u00a0his\u00a0expression\u00a0empty.\u00a0\u201cIt\u00a0runs\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0family.\u00a0My\u00a0daughter […]<\/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-22027","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\/22027","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=22027"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22027\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}