Sydney\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0avoid\u00a0it.\u00a0Her\u00a0fingertips\u00a0grazed\u00a0her\u00a0palm\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0spoke\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0low,\u00a0steady\u00a0voice.\u00a0\u201cYes,\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0very\u00a0busy\u00a0lately.\u00a0He\u00a0said\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0try\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0once\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0done.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHmph!\u201d\u00a0Eloise,\u00a0seated\u00a0across\u00a0from\u00a0her,\u00a0zeroed\u00a0in with mockery.<\/p>\n
\u201cBusy\u00a0with\u00a0work,\u00a0or\u00a0busy\u00a0with\u00a0something\u00a0else?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0crooned,\u00a0amused\u00a0and\u00a0cruel.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0lowered\u00a0her\u00a0gaze.\u00a0\u201cGrandma-\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf\u00a0you\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0keep\u00a0a\u00a0man\u2019s\u00a0heart,\u00a0so\u00a0be\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0Eloise\u00a0cut\u00a0in.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0loud\u00a0enough\u00a0for\u00a0everyone\u00a0to\u00a0hear,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0tone\u00a0steeped\u00a0in\u00a0contempt.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0to go\u00a0online\u00a0and\u00a0defend\u00a0the\u00a0mistress?\u00a0Sydney,\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0even\u00a0know how\u00a0ugly\u00a0the\u00a0gossip\u00a0is?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0didn\u2019t.\u00a0But\u00a0even\u00a0Julian\u2013cold\u00a0as\u00a0ever\u2013had\u00a0warned\u00a0her\u00a0that\u00a0night.\u00a0Thus,\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0bad.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u00a0says\u00a0our\u00a0family\u00a0mistreated\u00a0you.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0why\u00a0you\u00a0cling\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Hamptons\u00a0and\u00a0let\u00a0them\u00a0walk\u00a0all\u00a0over you!\u201d\u00a0Eloise\u00a0jabbed\u00a0a\u00a0finger\u00a0toward\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cTell\u00a0me.\u00a0Who\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0family\u00a0ever\u00a0wronged\u00a0you?\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0making\u00a0us\u00a0look\u00a0disgraceful!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0react.\u00a0She\u00a0kept\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0marble\u00a0floor,\u00a0waiting\u00a0for\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0end.<\/p>\n
Then\u00a0the\u00a0order\u00a0came,\u00a0sharp\u00a0and immediate.\u00a0\u201cGet\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0kneel!\u201d<\/p>\n
No\u00a0one\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0household\u00a0looked\u00a0surprised.\u00a0Snow still\u00a0drifted\u00a0outside.\u00a0A\u00a0few\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Julian.\u00a0He\u00a0had\u00a0raised\u00a0her,\u00a0after\u00a0all.\u00a0Surely,\u00a0he would\u00a0intervene.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0didn\u2019t.\u00a0He\u00a0lounged\u00a0on\u00a0the sofa,\u00a0scrolling\u00a0his\u00a0phone.\u00a0He\u00a0never\u00a0lifted\u00a0his\u00a0eyes.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0Sydney\u00a0were\u00a0a\u00a0stranger.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma.\u201d\u00a0Victor\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0carried\u00a0soft,\u00a0feigned\u00a0concern.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0still snowing\u00a0out\u00a0there.\u00a0She\u2019ll\u00a0freeze\u00a0and\u00a0get\u00a0sick.\u201d<\/p>\n
If\u00a0her\u00a0legs\u00a0gave\u00a0out,\u00a0what\u00a0fun\u00a0would\u00a0she\u00a0be\u00a0to\u00a0torment?<\/p>\n
Eloise\u00a0shot\u00a0him\u00a0a\u00a0look\u00a0of\u00a0disgust.\u00a0\u201cStill\u00a0fooled\u00a0by\u00a0her?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney had\u00a0expected\u00a0nothing.\u00a0While\u00a0Victor\u00a0kept talking,\u00a0she\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0onto\u00a0the\u00a0gravel\u00a0path and knelt\u00a0with\u00a0ease.<\/p>\n
From\u00a0behind\u00a0the\u00a0floor\u2013to\u2013ceiling\u00a0windows,\u00a0Eloise\u00a0watched.\u00a0Her\u00a0gaze\u00a0darkened.<\/p>\n
\u201cStubborn\u00a0as\u00a0steel,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0murmured.\u00a0\u201cJust\u00a0like\u00a0her\u00a0parents.<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s\u00a0cool\u00a0and\u00a0mocking\u00a0voice\u00a0rang\u00a0out\u00a0from\u00a0inside.\u00a0\u201cStill\u00a0no\u00a0food?\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0turned\u00a0his\u00a0phone\u00a0lazily.\u00a0\u201cDo\u00a0all\u00a0family\u00a0banquets\u00a0now\u00a0double\u00a0as\u00a0public\u00a0punishments?\u201d<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
8:41\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a047<\/p>\n
He\u00a0named\u00a0no\u00a0one,\u00a0but\u00a0everyone\u00a0knew\u00a0who\u00a0he\u00a0meant.<\/p>\n
Silence\u00a0fell\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
Facing\u00a0a\u00a0crowd\u00a0of\u00a0younger\u00a0relatives,\u00a0Eloise\u00a0struggled\u00a0to\u00a0contain\u00a0her\u00a0anger.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf\u00a0you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0back,\u00a0then\u00a0don\u2019t!\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0snapped.<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s\u00a0presence\u00a0at\u00a0this\u00a0gathering\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0stunned\u00a0them\u00a0all.\u00a0He\u00a0rarely\u00a0came\u00a0to\u00a0family\u00a0events.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0chuckled.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t,\u00a0how\u00a0else\u00a0would\u00a0I\u00a0learn?\u201d<\/p>\n
Then,\u00a0glancing\u00a0toward\u00a0Elliot\u00a0and\u00a0Peter,\u00a0who\u00a0stood\u00a0nearby,\u00a0he\u00a0added,\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0two\u00a0ought\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0notes.\u00a0Your\u00a0ways\u00a0of<\/p>\n
torment\u00a0still\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0compare\u00a0to\u00a0Grandma\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
78%\u00a0<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0few\u00a0around\u00a0them\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0smirking.\u00a0Julian\u00a0inspired\u00a0fear\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0reason.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0tolerate\u00a0fools.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0ruthless.<\/p>\n
Some\u00a0even\u00a0whispered\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0once\u00a0fed\u00a0a\u00a0man\u00a0to\u00a0sharks\u00a0in\u00a0international\u00a0waters.<\/p>\n
Elliot\u00a0replied\u00a0with\u00a0practiced\u00a0obedience,\u00a0\u201cYes,\u00a0sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eloise\u2019s chest\u00a0heaved.\u00a0\u201cJulian,\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0even respect\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0your\u00a0grandmother?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre\u00a0we\u00a0still\u00a0not\u00a0eating?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0cut\u00a0in,\u00a0straightening\u00a0his\u00a0collar.\u00a0\u201cThen\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
With\u00a0that,\u00a0he\u00a0walked\u00a0out\u00a0with his\u00a0hands\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0pockets.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0indifferent\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0heaving\u00a0chest\u00a0and\u00a0wordless\u00a0fury.<\/p>\n
Snow\u00a0fell\u00a0hard.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0knelt\u00a0under a\u00a0pale\u00a0lamppost.\u00a0Minutes\u00a0crawled\u00a0by.\u00a0Frost settled\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0lashes.\u00a0Her\u00a0knees\u00a0and\u00a0shins\u00a0throbbed,\u00a0but<\/p>\n
she\u00a0could\u00a0endure\u00a0it.\u00a0Years\u00a0of\u00a0training\u00a0in\u00a0medicine\u00a0had\u00a0toughened\u00a0her.\u00a0Without\u00a0that,\u00a0her\u00a0legs\u00a0might\u2019ve\u00a0failed\u00a0her\u00a0already.<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0phone\u00a0buzzed\u00a0inside\u00a0her\u00a0coat\u00a0pocket.\u00a0An\u00a0unfamiliar\u00a0number\u00a0flashed\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0screen.\u00a0She\u00a0ignored\u00a0it.\u00a0Then\u00a0came\u00a0a<\/p>\n
WhatsApp notification.<\/p>\n
With\u00a0trembling\u00a0fingers,\u00a0she\u00a0opened\u00a0it.\u00a0The\u00a0moment\u00a0she\u00a0saw\u00a0the\u00a0message,\u00a0the\u00a0phone\u00a0slipped\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0hand.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0read:\u00a0[Syd,\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0make\u00a0it\u00a0in\u00a0time.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0send Jack\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0you\u00a0up\u00a0later.]<\/p>\n
2\/2<\/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 47 Sydney\u00a0knew\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0avoid\u00a0it.\u00a0Her\u00a0fingertips\u00a0grazed\u00a0her\u00a0palm\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0spoke\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0low,\u00a0steady\u00a0voice.\u00a0\u201cYes,\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0very\u00a0busy\u00a0lately.\u00a0He\u00a0said\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0try\u00a0to\u00a0come\u00a0once\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0done.\u201d \u201cHmph!\u201d\u00a0Eloise,\u00a0seated\u00a0across\u00a0from\u00a0her,\u00a0zeroed\u00a0in with mockery. […]<\/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-22030","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\/22030","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=22030"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22030\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}