Chapter 54<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0okay.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0reddened\u00a0hand.\u00a0Compared\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0maids\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate,\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0slap\u00a0was<\/p>\n
nothing.\u00a0Over\u00a0the years,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0grown\u00a0tough\u00a0and\u00a0thick\u2013skinned.\u00a0Her\u00a0pain\u00a0tolerance\u00a0far\u00a0exceeded\u00a0most\u00a0people\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Tiffany\u00a0still\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0convinced.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ll\u00a0stop\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0pharmacy\u00a0later and\u00a0get\u00a0something\u00a0for\u00a0it.\u00a0You\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0try\u00a0to<\/p>\n
dodge.\u00a0Why\u2019d\u00a0you\u00a0let\u00a0her\u00a0hit\u00a0you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0stayed\u00a0soft\u00a0and\u00a0steady.\u00a0\u201cBecause\u00a0getting\u00a0hit\u00a0was\u00a0more\u00a0effective.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tiffany\u00a0was\u00a0momentarily\u00a0at\u00a0a\u00a0loss\u00a0for\u00a0words.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0always\u00a0thought\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0Sydney\u00a0well,\u00a0but\u00a0something\u00a0about<\/p>\n
tonight\u00a0left\u00a0a\u00a0weight\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0chest.\u00a0She\u00a0knew\u00a0what\u00a0kind of\u00a0person\u00a0Sydney\u00a0was\u2013pure,\u00a0kind,\u00a0quietly\u00a0resilient.\u00a0And\u00a0around<\/p>\n
her,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0always\u00a0stayed\u00a0cheerful,\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0little\u00a0beam\u00a0of\u00a0sunshine.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0Sydney\u00a0noticed\u00a0her\u00a0silence,\u00a0she\u00a0rubbed\u00a0her\u00a0palm\u00a0and\u00a0asked,\u00a0\u201cDo\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0too\u00a0calculating?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tiffany\u00a0glared\u00a0at\u00a0her,\u00a0tears\u00a0already\u00a0sliding\u00a0down\u00a0her\u00a0cheeks.\u00a0\u201cAre\u00a0you\u00a0dumb\u00a0or\u00a0what?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0wiped\u00a0them\u00a0away\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0head\u00a0a\u00a0rough\u00a0rub.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0upset\u00a0because\u00a0I\u00a0care,\u00a0okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0imagine\u00a0what\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0endured\u00a0to\u00a0become\u00a0so\u00a0careful\u00a0around\u00a0people.\u00a0Back\u00a0when\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0younger,<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0often\u00a0looked\u00a0after\u00a0her\u00a0because\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0messy home\u00a0life.\u00a0But\u00a0in\u00a0truth,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0always\u00a0had\u00a0it\u00a0worse.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0quiet\u00a0warmth\u00a0rose\u00a0in\u00a0Sydney\u2019s\u00a0chest.\u00a0She\u00a0smiled.\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s\u00a0nothing\u00a0to\u00a0feel\u00a0bad about.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0all\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0past.\u201d<\/p>\n
Things\u00a0now\u00a0were\u00a0a\u00a0thousand\u00a0times\u00a0better\u00a0than\u00a0before.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0wanna\u00a0eat?\u00a0My\u00a0treat,\u201d Sydney\u00a0offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0Tiffany\u00a0thought\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0second,\u00a0then\u00a0clung\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0arm.\u00a0\u201cLet\u2019s\u00a0go\u00a0grocery\u00a0shopping.\u00a0We\u00a0can\u00a0cook\u00a0at\u00a0home\u00a0and\u00a0make<\/p>\n
some\u00a0stew.\u00a0Sound\u00a0good?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds\u00a0perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
This\u00a0winter\u00a0was\u00a0especially\u00a0cold\u2013the\u00a0perfect\u00a0weather\u00a0for\u00a0homemade\u00a0stew.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0the\u00a0white\u00a0Audi\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0lot,\u00a0a\u00a0sleek\u00a0black\u00a0Bentley\u00a0eased\u00a0in.\u00a0The\u00a0two\u00a0cars\u00a0nearly\u00a0brushed\u00a0past\u00a0each\u00a0other.<\/p>\n
Elliot\u00a0squinted\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0license\u00a0plate,\u00a0frowning.\u00a0\u201cIsn\u2019t\u00a0that\u00a0Ms.\u00a0Wilson\u2019s\u00a0friend\u2019s\u00a0car?\u00a0It\u00a0looked\u00a0like\u00a0someone\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0the<\/p>\n
passenger\u00a0seat\u00a0too.\u00a0Didn\u2019t\u00a0the\u00a0party just\u00a0start?\u00a0She\u00a0already\u00a0left?\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0tablet,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0narrowing.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0did\u00a0you\u00a0say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter\u00a0glanced\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0rearview\u00a0mirror\u00a0and\u00a0said,\u00a0\u201cHe\u00a0said\u00a0Ms.\u00a0Wilson\u00a0already\u00a0left.\u00a0That\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0right.\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0car\u00a0is\u00a0still\u00a0out<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
8:43\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a054<\/p>\n
front.\u00a0Weren\u2019t\u00a0they\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0arrive\u00a0together?\u201d<\/p>\n
78%\u00a0<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why\u00a0did\u00a0it\u00a0suddenly\u00a0feel\u00a0like\u00a0his\u00a0employer\u2019s\u00a0gaze\u00a0had\u00a0turned\u00a0dangerous?\u00a0Had\u00a0he\u00a0said\u00a0something\u00a0wrong?\u00a0Wasn\u2019t\u00a0it\u00a0normal\u00a0for\u00a0couples\u00a0to\u00a0arrive\u00a0together?<\/p>\n
That\u00a0sharpness\u00a0vanished\u00a0the\u00a0moment\u00a0they\u00a0stepped\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0private\u00a0suite\u00a0and\u00a0saw\u00a0Penelope\u00a0seated\u00a0next\u00a0to\u00a0Caleb.<\/p>\n
Something\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0felt\u00a0off.<\/p>\n
Bruce\u00a0was\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0middle\u00a0of\u00a0what\u00a0looked\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0mild\u00a0argument\u00a0with\u00a0Caleb.\u00a0But\u00a0as\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0Julian\u00a0walked\u00a0in,\u00a0everyone\u00a0lit\u00a0up,<\/p>\n
pretending\u00a0nothing\u00a0was\u00a0wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0Julian!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u00a0you\u00a0made\u00a0it!\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0scanned\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0lazily\u00a0and\u00a0tossed\u00a0a\u00a0gift\u00a0box\u00a0at\u00a0Bruce.\u00a0\u201cHappy\u00a0birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruce\u00a0caught\u00a0it\u00a0and\u00a0raised\u00a0a\u00a0brow.\u00a0\u201cThanks,\u00a0Jules.\u2018<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0look\u00a0particularly\u00a0engaged.\u00a0He\u00a0picked\u00a0a\u00a0seat\u00a0with\u00a0little\u00a0interest,\u00a0his\u00a0gaze\u00a0drifting\u00a0toward\u00a0Caleb\u00a0and\u00a0Penelope.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0smirked.\u00a0\u201cDidn\u2019t\u00a0bring\u00a0your\u00a0number\u00a0one\u00a0tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0jab\u00a0landed\u00a0right\u00a0on\u00a0cue.\u00a0Whatever\u00a0calm\u00a0had\u00a0barely\u00a0settled\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0shattered\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0two\u00a0women\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0mouthed\u00a0off\u00a0earlier\u00a0were\u00a0now\u00a0wondering if\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0too\u00a0late\u00a0to\u00a0slip\u00a0out.\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0smile\u00a0froze.<\/p>\n
What\u00a0did\u00a0that\u00a0mean?\u00a0If\u00a0Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0number\u00a0one,\u00a0then\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0she?\u00a0Number\u00a0two?\u00a0And\u00a0what\u00a0did\u00a0that\u00a0make\u00a0her?\u00a0A<\/p>\n
mistress.\u00a0A\u00a0side\u00a0piece.\u00a0Someone\u00a0who\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0stay\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0dark.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0that\u00a0barb\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0meant\u00a0for\u00a0her\u2013it\u00a0was\u00a0aimed\u00a0straight\u00a0at\u00a0Caleb.\u00a0A\u00a0man\u00a0like\u00a0Julian\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0bother\u00a0humiliating\u00a0a<\/p>\n
woman\u00a0like\u00a0her\u00a0unless\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0bigger\u00a0point\u00a0to\u00a0make.<\/p>\n
Caleb didn\u2019t\u00a0flinch.\u00a0\u201cSyd\u00a0had\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0handle.\u00a0She\u00a0left\u00a0early.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh?\u00a0So\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0here?\u201d\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0tone\u00a0was\u00a0flat,\u00a0like\u00a0he\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0be\u00a0bothered\u00a0to\u00a0care.<\/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 54 Chapter 54 \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0okay.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0reddened\u00a0hand.\u00a0Compared\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0maids\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate,\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0slap\u00a0was nothing.\u00a0Over\u00a0the […]<\/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-22037","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\/22037","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=22037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22037\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}