Sydney\u00a0stepped\u00a0back\u00a0twice,\u00a0yanking\u00a0her\u00a0collar\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0grip.\u00a0The\u00a0service\u00a0staff\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0cleared\u00a0the\u00a0table\u00a0and\u00a0disappeared\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen.\u00a0Only\u00a0she\u00a0and\u00a0Victor\u00a0remained\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0dining\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0expression\u00a0chilled,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0mockingly,\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0now?\u00a0Planning\u00a0to\u00a0flee\u00a0abroad\u00a0again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSydney!\u201d\u00a0Victor\u00a0grabbed\u00a0her\u00a0throat\u00a0and\u00a0clenched his\u00a0teeth.\u00a0\u201cSo\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0this\u00a0the\u00a0hard\u00a0way?\u00a0You\u00a0think\u00a0I\u00a0still\u00a0care\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0got\u00a0the\u00a0guts,\u00a0choke\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0said\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0pain,\u00a0staring\u00a0him\u00a0down.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0not,\u00a0let\u00a0go.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0act\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0dog\u00a0that\u00a0only\u00a0barks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTch.\u201d\u00a0Victor\u00a0broke\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0grin,\u00a0eyeing\u00a0her\u00a0with\u00a0satisfaction.\u00a0\u201cHaven\u2019t\u00a0seen\u00a0you\u00a0in\u00a0years.\u00a0You\u2019ve\u00a0gotten\u00a0bold.\u00a0Shame\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0get\u00a0you\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0country.\u00a0Caleb\u00a0got\u00a0off\u00a0easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0let\u00a0her\u00a0go\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0cheek\u00a0a\u00a0patronizing\u00a0pat.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0hey,\u00a0being\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0married\u00a0woman\u00a0has\u00a0its\u00a0own\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0flavor-\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0slapped\u00a0him\u00a0hard,\u00a0cutting\u00a0him\u00a0off.\u00a0The\u00a0sound\u00a0cracked\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0air.\u00a0Behind\u00a0the\u00a0folding\u00a0screens\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0drawing\u00a0room,\u00a0others\u00a0turned\u00a0their\u00a0heads,\u00a0though\u00a0they\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0see\u00a0what\u00a0had\u00a0happened.<\/p>\n
Victor\u2019s\u00a0aunt,\u00a0Fiona,\u00a0called\u00a0out,\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0on?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor\u00a0glared\u00a0at\u00a0Sydney\u00a0and\u00a0lifted\u00a0his\u00a0hand\u00a0in\u00a0anger.\u00a0As\u00a0the\u00a0second\u00a0heir\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0family,\u00a0he\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0being\u00a0humiliated,<\/p>\n
especially\u00a0not\u00a0by\u00a0a\u00a0woman.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0met\u00a0his\u00a0gaze\u00a0and\u00a0whispered,\u00a0\u201cGo\u00a0ahead.\u00a0Didn\u2019t\u00a0I\u00a0mention\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0got\u00a0plenty\u00a0of\u00a0nude\u00a0photos\u00a0of\u00a0you?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0watched\u00a0his\u00a0face\u00a0twitch\u00a0and\u00a0expression\u00a0break\u00a0apart\u00a0in\u00a0slow\u00a0motion.\u00a0Then\u00a0she\u00a0smiled\u00a0faintly.\u00a0\u201cYour\u00a0enemies\u00a0would<\/p>\n
love to\u00a0get\u00a0their\u00a0hands\u00a0on\u00a0those,\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVictor?\u00a0Sydney?\u201d\u00a0Fiona\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0drew\u00a0closer,\u00a0puzzled\u00a0by\u00a0their\u00a0silence.\u00a0She\u00a0stepped\u00a0in.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0two\u00a0doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor\u00a0backed\u00a0down,\u00a0still\u00a0seething.\u00a0\u201cAunt Fiona,\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0an\u00a0itch\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0head\u00a0and\u00a0asked Sydney\u00a0to\u00a0help.\u00a0She\u00a0hit\u00a0me\u00a0by<\/p>\n
accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh\u00a0dear.\u201d\u00a0Fiona\u00a0noticed\u00a0the\u00a0bright\u00a0red\u00a0handprint\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0cheek,\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Sydney,\u00a0and\u00a0scolded\u00a0her\u00a0lightly,\u00a0\u201cReally?\u00a0You\u00a0know\u00a0how\u00a0delicate\u00a0Victor\u00a0is.\u00a0He\u00a0just\u00a0got\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0hospital.\u00a0If\u00a0anything\u00a0happened,\u00a0your grandmother\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0worried<\/p>\n
sick.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHospital?\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0repeated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know?\u201d\u00a0Fiona\u00a0looked\u00a0surprised.\u00a0\u201cAfter\u00a0our\u00a0last\u00a0family\u00a0dinner,\u00a0Victor\u00a0returned\u00a0and\u00a0apparently\u00a0ran\u00a0into<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
8:41\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a045<\/p>\n
someone\u2019s\u00a0gun.\u00a0He\u00a0nearly\u00a0died\u00a0right\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0plane.\u2018<\/p>\n
78%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0Victor\u00a0was\u00a0cruel,\u00a0always\u00a0hiding behind\u00a0privilege\u00a0and\u00a0impunity.\u00a0But\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0and\u00a0his\u00a0older<\/p>\n
cousin,\u00a0Julian,\u00a0held\u00a0true\u00a0power.<\/p>\n
Seeing\u00a0nothing\u00a0more\u00a0amiss,\u00a0Fiona\u00a0turned\u00a0and\u00a0went\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0living\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
Victor\u2019s\u00a0jaw\u00a0tightened\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0faced\u00a0Sydney\u00a0again.\u00a0\u201cWhen\u00a0did\u00a0you\u00a0take\u00a0those\u00a0photos?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0replied\u00a0with\u00a0airy calm,\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0night\u00a0your\u00a0assault\u00a0failed.\u00a0You\u00a0passed\u00a0out\u00a0afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victor\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0targeting\u00a0her\u00a0for\u00a0years.\u00a0After\u00a0Julian cast her\u00a0off\u00a0and\u00a0sent her\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate,\u00a0Victor\u00a0only grew<\/p>\n
bolder.\u00a0His\u00a0harassment\u00a0never\u00a0let\u00a0up,\u00a0yet\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0always\u00a0the\u00a0one who\u00a0paid\u00a0the\u00a0price.<\/p>\n
By\u00a0the\u00a0time\u00a0she\u00a0turned\u00a016,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0learned\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0avoid\u00a0him\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0well\u2013practiced\u00a0look\u00a0of\u00a0innocence.\u00a0For\u00a0two\u00a0years,<\/p>\n
she\u00a0hid\u00a0behind\u00a0a\u00a0mask\u00a0of\u00a0quiet\u00a0obedience,\u00a0deceiving\u00a0everyone\u00a0around\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0came\u00a0Eloise\u2019s\u00a0seventieth\u00a0birthday\u00a0banquet.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0was\u00a018\u00a0then,\u00a0dressed\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0delicate\u00a0white\u00a0gown.\u00a0Victor\u00a0snapped,\u00a0dragged\u00a0her\u00a0upstairs,\u00a0and\u00a0forced\u00a0her\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0guest<\/p>\n
room.\u00a0Just\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0force\u00a0himself\u00a0on her,\u00a0he\u00a0\u201csuddenly\u201d\u00a0passed\u00a0out.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0screamed,\u00a0and\u00a0guests\u00a0came\u00a0running.\u00a0Her\u00a0clothes\u00a0were\u00a0rumpled,\u00a0her\u00a0body\u00a0trembling\u00a0with\u00a0shock.\u00a0No\u00a0one\u00a0questioned\u00a0what\u00a0had\u00a0happened.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0clearly\u00a0an\u00a0attempted\u00a0assault.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0still,\u00a0Eloise\u00a0insisted\u00a0she\u00a0treated\u00a0Sydney\u00a0better\u00a0than\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0granddaughter.<\/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 45 Sydney\u00a0stepped\u00a0back\u00a0twice,\u00a0yanking\u00a0her\u00a0collar\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0grip.\u00a0The\u00a0service\u00a0staff\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0cleared\u00a0the\u00a0table\u00a0and\u00a0disappeared\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen.\u00a0Only\u00a0she\u00a0and\u00a0Victor\u00a0remained\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0dining\u00a0room. Her\u00a0expression\u00a0chilled,\u00a0and\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0mockingly,\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0now?\u00a0Planning\u00a0to\u00a0flee\u00a0abroad\u00a0again?\u201d \u201cSydney!\u201d\u00a0Victor\u00a0grabbed\u00a0her\u00a0throat\u00a0and\u00a0clenched his\u00a0teeth.\u00a0\u201cSo\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0this\u00a0the\u00a0hard\u00a0way?\u00a0You\u00a0think\u00a0I\u00a0still\u00a0care\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0want?\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-22028","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\/22028","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=22028"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22028\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}