Sydney\u00a0paused\u00a0for\u00a0a moment.\u00a0She\u00a0swallowed\u00a0the\u00a0swirl\u00a0of\u00a0emotions\u00a0inside\u00a0her,\u00a0then\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Julian\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0crisp,\u00a0detached\u00a0tone,\u00a0\u201cThen\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0leaving\u00a0now.\u00a0Thank\u00a0you\u00a0for\u00a0earlier,\u00a0Mr.\u00a0Sterling.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMs.\u00a0Wilson-\u201cElliot\u00a0began.<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s\u00a0mocking\u00a0voice\u00a0echoed.\u00a0\u201cEnough.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0embarrass\u00a0yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0brushed\u00a0her\u00a0fingers\u00a0across\u00a0her\u00a0palm\u00a0without\u00a0thinking,\u00a0but\u00a0her steps\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0falter\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0walked\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
Watching\u00a0the\u00a0black\u00a0Maybach\u00a0fade\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0night,\u00a0Elliot\u00a0muttered,\u00a0\u201cThat\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0total\u00a0ambush.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0are\u00a0you\u00a0mumbling\u00a0about?\u201d\u00a0Julian\u00a0snuffed\u00a0out\u00a0his\u00a0cigarette\u00a0and\u00a0slipped\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0car.\u00a0His\u00a0silhouette,\u00a0framed\u00a0by\u00a0the<\/p>\n
harsh\u00a0winter\u00a0wind,\u00a0looked\u00a0strangely\u00a0desolate.<\/p>\n
Elliot\u00a0climbed\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0passenger\u00a0seat.\u00a0\u201cNothing.\u00a0Just\u00a0thinking\u00a0how\u00a0much\u00a0slack\u00a0Ms.\u00a0Wilson\u00a0gives\u00a0Caleb.\u00a0Every\u00a0time\u00a0we<\/p>\n
run\u00a0into\u00a0her,\u00a0she\u2019s clearly\u00a0still\u00a0angry\u00a0at\u00a0you.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u00a0not\u00a0at\u00a0Caleb?\u00a0That\u00a0guy\u00a0cheated\u00a0on\u00a0her,\u00a0never\u00a0comes\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0estate\u00a0with\u00a0her,\u00a0lets\u00a0her\u00a0take\u00a0all\u00a0the\u00a0punishment-\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly,\u00a0the\u00a0air\u00a0inside\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0felt\u00a0heavy,\u00a0and\u00a0Elliot\u00a0shivered.<\/p>\n
Peter\u00a0Reyes,\u00a0driving\u00a0up\u00a0front,\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0notice\u00a0the\u00a0shift\u00a0and\u00a0took\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0conversation.\u00a0\u201cOf\u00a0course\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0lenient.\u00a0She\u00a0likes\u00a0him.\u00a0Women\u00a0always\u00a0forgive\u00a0the\u00a0ones\u00a0they\u00a0love.\u00a0Boundaries\u00a0get\u00a0pushed\u00a0further\u00a0and\u00a0further.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elliot\u00a0frowned.\u00a0\u201cThat\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0sound\u00a0like\u00a0Ms.\u00a0Wilson\u00a0at\u00a0all.\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0buy\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether\u00a0you\u00a0buy\u00a0it\u00a0or\u00a0not\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0matter,\u201d\u00a0Peter\u00a0said,\u00a0glancing\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0rearview\u00a0mirror.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0what\u00a0do\u00a0you<\/p>\n
think?\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s\u00a0deep\u00a0features\u00a0were\u00a0cast\u00a0in\u00a0shadow\u00a0beneath\u00a0the\u00a0streetlamp.\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0low\u00a0and\u00a0sharp\u00a0as\u00a0ice.\u00a0\u201cWhen\u00a0did\u00a0you<\/p>\n
get\u00a0so\u00a0chatty?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence\u00a0ensued\u00a0immediately.<\/p>\n
They\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0said\u00a0anything\u00a0outrageous,\u00a0so\u00a0why\u00a0was\u00a0he\u00a0upset\u00a0again?<\/p>\n
The\u00a0road\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0estate\u00a0to\u00a0Viridian\u00a0Garden\u00a0was\u00a0wide\u00a0open\u00a0tonight\u00a0but\u00a0iced\u00a0over.<\/p>\n
Jack\u00a0drove\u00a0cautiously,\u00a0unwilling\u00a0to\u00a0speed.\u00a0The\u00a0car\u2019s\u00a0heater filled\u00a0the\u00a0cabin\u00a0with\u00a0warmth,\u00a0creating\u00a0a\u00a0comfortable\u00a0silence.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
8:41\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a040<\/p>\n
\/W%<\/p>\n
415\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
It\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0while\u00a0for\u00a0Sydney\u00a0to\u00a0shake\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0chill\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0limbs.\u00a0She\u00a0finally\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0Caleb\u00a0and\u00a0was\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0speak<\/p>\n
when\u00a0he\u00a0beat\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0it.\u00a0\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0mad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0answered\u00a0honestly.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0mad.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0being\u00a0stood\u00a0up by\u00a0now.\u00a0At\u00a0most,\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0lingering\u00a0disappointment.<\/p>\n
What\u00a0surprised\u00a0her\u00a0was\u00a0that\u00a0after\u00a0texting\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0he\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0come,\u00a0he\u00a0suddenly\u00a0appeared.\u00a0The\u00a0surprise\u00a0outweighed\u00a0the<\/p>\n
hurt.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0kept\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0on\u00a0her,\u00a0watching\u00a0her\u00a0downcast\u00a0lashes and\u00a0quiet\u00a0face,\u00a0\u201cThen\u00a0what\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u00a0You\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0said\u00a0a\u00a0word\u00a0since\u00a0getting\u00a0in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018You\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0speak\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0either,\u2018\u00a0she\u00a0thought.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0spoke\u00a0plainly.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0just\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0expect you\u00a0to\u00a0show\u00a0up.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0thought\u00a0about\u00a0it.\u00a0The\u00a0Sterling\u00a0family\u00a0would\u00a0probably\u00a0punish\u00a0you.\u201d\u00a0Caleb\u00a0remained\u00a0gentle\u00a0and\u00a0composed,\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0warm.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0stop\u00a0worrying,\u00a0so\u00a0I\u00a0figured\u00a0I\u2019d\u00a0come\u00a0get\u00a0you\u00a0first.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0felt\u00a0caught\u00a0off\u00a0guard,\u00a0even\u00a0momentarily\u00a0dazed.\u00a0If\u00a0she\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0found\u00a0those\u00a0photos\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0study,\u00a0she\u00a0might\u00a0have<\/p>\n
actually\u00a0believed\u00a0he\u00a0cared.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0saw\u00a0her\u00a0silence\u00a0and\u00a0chuckled.\u00a0\u201cWhat,\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0give\u00a0a\u00a0damn\u00a0whether\u00a0you\u00a0live\u00a0or\u00a0die?\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0was\u00a0joking,\u00a0but\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0exactly\u00a0what\u00a0she\u00a0believed.\u00a0Not\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0would\u00a0ever\u00a0admit\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
Instead,\u00a0she\u00a0smiled\u00a0faintly,\u00a0the\u00a0shallow\u00a0dimple\u00a0appearing\u00a0and\u00a0fading\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0whisper.\u00a0She\u00a0looked\u00a0well\u2013behaved,\u00a0obedient.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u00a0I\u00a0just\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0interfere\u00a0with\u00a0your\u00a0work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0fine.\u00a0The\u00a0meeting\u00a0got\u00a0pushed\u00a0to\u00a08:30\u00a0last\u00a0minute.\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0watch.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0time\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0you\u00a0home.<\/p>\n
Want\u00a0to\u00a0wait\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0office?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0can\u00a0just\u00a0head\u00a0back\u00a0first.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0take\u00a0long.\u00a0Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0refuse.\u00a0\u201cAlright.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0followed\u00a0Caleb\u00a0into\u00a0Hampton\u00a0Corp\u2019s\u00a0headquarters.\u00a0Despite\u00a0the\u00a0late\u00a0hour,\u00a0the\u00a0building\u00a0glowed\u00a0like\u00a0daytime.\u00a0Staff\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0project\u00a0department\u00a0waited\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0conference\u00a0room.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0Caleb\u00a0went\u00a0inside,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0walked\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0CEO\u2019s\u00a0office\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0hall.<\/p>\n
2\/3<\/p>\n
8:41\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a049<\/p>\n
78%\u00a0<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
She\u00a0probably\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0slept\u00a0well the\u00a0night\u00a0before.\u00a0She\u00a0curled\u00a0up\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0office\u00a0couch,\u00a0hugging\u00a0a\u00a0pillow,\u00a0and\u00a0drifted\u00a0off<\/p>\n
before\u00a0she\u00a0realized\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
One\u00a0by\u00a0one,\u00a0the\u00a0lights\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0building\u00a0flicked\u00a0off.\u00a0Only\u00a0the\u00a0top\u00a0floor\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0offices\u00a0still\u00a0glowed.<\/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 49 Sydney\u00a0paused\u00a0for\u00a0a moment.\u00a0She\u00a0swallowed\u00a0the\u00a0swirl\u00a0of\u00a0emotions\u00a0inside\u00a0her,\u00a0then\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0Julian\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0crisp,\u00a0detached\u00a0tone,\u00a0\u201cThen\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0leaving\u00a0now.\u00a0Thank\u00a0you\u00a0for\u00a0earlier,\u00a0Mr.\u00a0Sterling.\u201d \u201cMs.\u00a0Wilson-\u201cElliot\u00a0began. Julian\u2019s\u00a0mocking\u00a0voice\u00a0echoed.\u00a0\u201cEnough.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0embarrass\u00a0yourself.\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-22032","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\/22032","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=22032"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22032\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22032"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22032"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22032"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}