Caleb:\u00a0[Did\u00a0the\u00a0Sterlings\u00a0give\u00a0you\u00a0a\u00a0hard\u00a0time\u00a0today?]<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0tugged\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0lips,\u00a0her\u00a0mood\u00a0turning\u00a0sour.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0will\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0up\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0and\u00a0reply.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0known\u00a0Caleb\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0come\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0called\u00a0him\u00a0outside\u00a0the\u00a0estate.\u00a0Still,\u00a0reading\u00a0his\u00a0message\u00a0now\u00a0left<\/p>\n
her\u00a0disappointed.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0forgotten.\u00a0He\u00a0knew that\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0show\u00a0up,\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0family\u00a0would\u00a0punish\u00a0her.\u00a0And\u00a0yet,\u00a0he\u00a0still\u00a0didn\u2019t<\/p>\n
come.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0cold\u00a0wind\u00a0swept\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0air.\u00a0Snowflakes\u00a0carried\u00a0on\u00a0its\u00a0edge\u00a0stabbed\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0lungs.<\/p>\n
Even\u00a0breathing\u00a0hurt.\u00a0She\u00a0forced\u00a0herself\u00a0to\u00a0stay\u00a0composed.\u00a0As\u00a0she\u00a0bent\u00a0to\u00a0retrieve\u00a0her\u00a0phone,\u00a0a\u00a0shadow\u00a0fell\u00a0over\u00a0her-\u00a0faster\u00a0than\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0reach.\u00a0He\u00a0snatched\u00a0the phone,\u00a0lifted\u00a0her\u00a0into\u00a0his\u00a0arms\u00a0steadily,\u00a0and\u00a0carried\u00a0her\u00a0out\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0night.<\/p>\n
\u201cJulian!\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0shouted.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0presence\u00a0was\u00a0too\u00a0familiar\u00a0to doubt.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut\u00a0me\u00a0down!\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0demanded.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0gave\u00a0a\u00a0low\u00a0snicker.\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0held\u00a0no\u00a0warmth.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0thought\u00a0you\u00a0referred\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0as\u00a0Mr.\u00a0Sterling?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cF\u2013Fine,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0stammered.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0please\u00a0put\u00a0me\u00a0down.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0still\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0kneel?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0asked\u00a0coldly.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0knelt\u00a0long\u00a0enough.\u00a0But\u00a0Eloise\u00a0likely\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0finished.\u00a0She\u00a0would\u00a0take\u00a0things\u00a0further.<\/p>\n
Jason\u00a0followed,\u00a0clearly\u00a0torn.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0leave,\u00a0but\u00a0Ms.\u00a0Wilson\u00a0must\u00a0stay.\u2018<\/p>\n
\u201cGo\u00a0ask\u00a0her\u00a0whose\u00a0name\u00a0is\u00a0still\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0legal\u00a0records.\u201d\u00a0Julian\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0break\u00a0stride.\u00a0His\u00a0steps\u00a0were\u00a0sharp,\u00a0purposeful.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0anyone\u00a0defies\u00a0me\u00a0again,\u00a0I\u00a0swear,\u00a0the\u00a0next\u00a0one\u00a0fed\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0sharks\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0Victor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0memory\u00a0jolted.\u00a0Years\u00a0ago,\u00a0when\u00a0Julian\u00a0brought\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0live\u00a0with\u00a0him,\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0filed\u00a0for\u00a0guardianship\u00a0and\u00a0added\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0his\u00a0legal\u00a0address.\u00a0Even\u00a0after\u00a0she\u00a0got\u00a0married\u00a0and tried\u00a0to\u00a0change\u00a0it,\u00a0he\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0bothered\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0paperwork\u2013or\u00a0given\u00a0her<\/p>\n
access\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0documents.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0not\u00a0exactly\u00a0easygoing\u00a0either.\u00a0After\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0failed\u00a0attempts,\u00a0she\u00a0let\u00a0it\u00a0drop.\u00a0If\u00a0he\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0brought\u00a0it\u00a0up\u00a0now,\u00a0she\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0forgotten\u00a0completely\u00a0that,\u00a0on\u00a0paper,\u00a0she\u00a0still\u00a0belonged\u00a0to\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
Jason\u00a0relayed\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0words\u00a0without\u00a0change.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
8:41\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a048<\/p>\n
78%<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
Victor,\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0dragged\u00a0into\u00a0this,\u00a0flinched.\u00a0He\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Eloise\u00a0and\u00a0blurted\u00a0without\u00a0thought,\u00a0\u201cGrandma,\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0Julian\u00a0say\u00a0ages\u00a0ago\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0done\u00a0with\u00a0Sydney?\u00a0What\u2019s\u00a0going\u00a0on\u00a0now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Eloise\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0dry,\u00a0mocking\u00a0laugh.\u00a0\u201cWho\u00a0could\u00a0possibly\u00a0guess\u00a0what\u00a0that\u00a0man\u2019s\u00a0thinking?\u00a0Now\u00a0that\u00a0his\u00a0status\u00a0is\u00a0untouchable,\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0natural\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0get\u00a0protective\u00a0every\u00a0now\u00a0and\u00a0then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u00a0he\u00a0shouldn\u2019t disrespect\u00a0you\u00a0like\u00a0this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo\u00a0you\u00a0even\u00a0know\u00a0which family\u00a0name\u00a0rules\u00a0Jouleston\u00a0now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf\u00a0course.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0still\u00a0Sterling,\u201d\u00a0Victor\u00a0said\u00a0carelessly.<\/p>\n
Eloise\u2019s\u00a0tone\u00a0dropped.\u00a0\u201cNot\u00a0just\u00a0Sterling.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0Julian\u00a0Sterling.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0how\u00a0long\u00a0he\u00a0could\u00a0keep\u00a0playing\u00a0the\u00a0untouchable\u00a0ruler.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0glared\u00a0at\u00a0Victor\u00a0warningly.\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0do\u00a0anything\u00a0stupid\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0that\u00a0girl.\u00a0If\u00a0you\u00a0bring\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0wrath\u00a0down\u00a0on<\/p>\n
yourself,\u00a0he\u00a0has\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0enough\u00a0ways\u00a0to\u00a0ruin\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0already\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0hard\u00a0fall\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0her,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0grumbled.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0commit\u00a0to anyone.\u00a0He\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0protect\u00a0her\u00a0for\u00a0long.\u201d\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0turned\u00a0colder.\u00a0\u201cMaybe\u00a0he\u2019ll\u00a0cut\u00a0ties\u00a0completely\u00a0again.\u00a0Then\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0regret\u00a0not\u00a0getting\u00a0rid\u00a0of\u00a0Sydney\u00a0sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Outside\u00a0the\u00a0estate,\u00a0a\u00a0black\u00a0Bentley\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0plate\u00a0\u201cJA99999\u201d\u00a0pulled\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0stop.<\/p>\n
Snow\u00a0swirled\u00a0around\u00a0them\u00a0in\u00a0heavy\u00a0gusts.<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0strode\u00a0forward,\u00a0still\u00a0carrying\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0Elliot\u00a0followed\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0large\u00a0black\u00a0umbrella.\u00a0Snow\u00a0soaked\u00a0half\u00a0of\u00a0Julian\u2019s<\/p>\n
shoulder,\u00a0but\u00a0not\u00a0a\u00a0flake\u00a0touched\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0driver\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0and\u00a0opened\u00a0the door.\u00a0\u201cSir.\u00a0Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n
After\u00a0a\u00a0disorienting\u00a0moment,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0found\u00a0her\u00a0footing.\u00a0Her stomach\u00a0still\u00a0churned\u00a0like\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0just\u00a0stepped\u00a0off\u00a0a\u00a0ride.\u00a0She<\/p>\n
steadied\u00a0herself\u00a0and\u00a0greeted,\u00a0\u201cHey,\u00a0Peter,\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s\u00a0brow\u00a0twitched.\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0icy.\u00a0\u201cGet\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0just\u00a0take\u00a0a\u00a0taxi\u2026\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0finish.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0limited\u2013edition\u00a0Maybach\u00a0slid\u00a0up\u00a0beside\u00a0them,\u00a0sleek\u00a0and\u00a0silent.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0stepped\u00a0out,\u00a0holding\u00a0an\u00a0umbrella,\u00a0Calm\u00a0and\u00a0composed\u00a0as\u00a0always,\u00a0he\u00a0nodded\u00a0briefly\u00a0at\u00a0Julian,\u00a0then\u00a0looked\u00a0to\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0soft,\u00a0unreadable.\u00a0\u201cSyd,\u00a0I\u00a0came\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0you\u00a0up.\u201d<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
8:41\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a049<\/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 48 Caleb:\u00a0[Did\u00a0the\u00a0Sterlings\u00a0give\u00a0you\u00a0a\u00a0hard\u00a0time\u00a0today?] Sydney\u00a0tugged\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0lips,\u00a0her\u00a0mood\u00a0turning\u00a0sour.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0will\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0up\u00a0her\u00a0phone\u00a0and\u00a0reply. She\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0known\u00a0Caleb\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0come\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0called\u00a0him\u00a0outside\u00a0the\u00a0estate.\u00a0Still,\u00a0reading\u00a0his\u00a0message\u00a0now\u00a0left her\u00a0disappointed. […]<\/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-22031","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\/22031","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=22031"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22031\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}