Chapter 55<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0Bruce\u00a0offered\u00a0a\u00a0smooth\u00a0smile\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0gestured\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0silk\u2013wrapped\u00a0gift box\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0table.\u00a0\u201cSydney\u2019s\u00a0been<\/p>\n
buried\u00a0in\u00a0work.\u00a0She\u00a0just\u00a0dropped\u00a0off\u00a0a\u00a0present\u00a0and\u00a0left\u00a0early.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0shifted\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0box.\u00a0A\u00a0flicker\u00a0of\u00a0emotion passed\u00a0through\u00a0them.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0earlier\u00a0tension\u00a0faded\u00a0without\u00a0incident.\u00a0Everyone\u00a0drank\u00a0freely\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0second\u00a0half\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0night.\u00a0As\u00a0the\u00a0birthday<\/p>\n
star,\u00a0Bruce\u00a0kept\u00a0just\u00a0sober\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0send\u00a0off\u00a0his\u00a0guests\u00a0properly.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0seeing\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0second\u2013to\u2013last\u00a0group\u00a0of\u00a0friends,\u00a0he\u00a0returned\u00a0to\u00a0the private\u00a0room.\u00a0Julian\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0there,\u00a0calm\u00a0and<\/p>\n
composed,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0dark\u00a0as\u00a0ink\u00a0and\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell\u00a0me\u00a0the truth\u00a0about\u00a0what\u00a0happened\u00a0tonight,\u201d\u00a0Julian\u00a0said,\u00a0his\u00a0voice\u00a0tinged\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0quiet\u00a0chill.<\/p>\n
Bruce\u00a0staggered\u00a0slightly\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0crossed\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0his\u00a0head\u00a0clouded\u00a0with\u00a0drink.\u00a0He\u00a0dropped\u00a0onto\u00a0the\u00a0couch\u00a0beside\u00a0Julian.<\/p>\n
\u201cJules,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0bunch\u00a0of\u00a0women\u00a0getting\u00a0jealous,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0all.\u201d\u00a0He\u00a0lowered\u00a0his\u00a0voice.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0still\u00a0care\u00a0about\u00a0Sydney<\/p>\n
-even\u00a0just\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0sister\u2013you\u00a0should\u00a0tell\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0a\u00a0divorce.\u00a0That\u00a0kind\u00a0of\u00a0marriage\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0waste\u00a0of\u00a0time.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0rare\u00a0moment\u00a0of sincerity\u00a0from\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0cold\u00a0laugh\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0hint\u00a0of\u00a0mockery,\u00a0\u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0hell\u2013bent\u00a0on\u00a0throwing\u00a0herself\u00a0at\u00a0Caleb.\u00a0No\u00a0one\u00a0can<\/p>\n
stop\u00a0her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruce\u2019s\u00a0bloodshot\u00a0eyes\u00a0gleamed\u00a0with\u00a0sudden\u00a0clarity.\u00a0\u201cEver\u00a0think\u00a0maybe\u00a0she\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0want\u00a0to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0place\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0family\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0looked\u00a0stable\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0outside,\u00a0but\u00a0those\u00a0within\u00a0their\u00a0circle\u00a0knew<\/p>\n
better.\u00a0She\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0had\u00a0it\u00a0easy in\u00a0that\u00a0house.<\/p>\n
Take\u00a0the\u00a0online\u00a0scandal,\u00a0for\u00a0example.\u00a0Eloise\u00a0always\u00a0claimed\u00a0to\u00a0adore\u00a0her,\u00a0yet\u00a0when\u00a0the\u00a0rumors\u00a0spread\u00a0like\u00a0wildfire,\u00a0the<\/p>\n
Sterlings\u00a0said\u00a0nothing.\u00a0Not\u00a0once\u00a0did\u00a0they\u00a0step\u00a0forward\u00a0to\u00a0defend\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
If\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0been\u00a0a\u00a0real\u00a0granddaughter,\u00a0the\u00a0family\u00a0would\u2019ve\u00a0shown\u00a0their\u00a0power\u00a0by\u00a0now.\u00a0They\u00a0would\u2019ve\u00a0stormed\u00a0the<\/p>\n
Hamptons\u2018\u00a0mansion\u00a0without\u00a0hesitation.<\/p>\n
Yet,\u00a0they\u00a0had\u00a0done\u00a0nothing.\u00a0Not\u00a0a\u00a0word.<\/p>\n
And\u00a0what\u00a0had\u00a0Julian\u00a0done?<\/p>\n
\u2026<\/p>\n
The\u00a0next\u00a0morning,\u00a0Bruce\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0ceiling,\u00a0piecing\u00a0it\u00a0together\u00a0through the\u00a0fog\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0hangover.<\/p>\n
1\u00a01\/2<\/p>\n
8:43\u00a0AM\u00a0Sun\u00a024\u00a0Aug\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a055<\/p>\n
78%\u00a0<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0had\u00a0seemed\u00a0utterly\u00a0indifferent.\u00a0Maybe\u00a0his\u00a0drink\u00a0had\u00a0sloshed\u00a0slightly\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0spoken\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0cool\u00a0and\u00a0detached\u00a0voice,\u00a0like\u00a0water\u00a0sitting\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0bottom\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0well.<\/p>\n
Still,\u00a0Bruce\u00a0remembered\u00a0the\u00a0ridiculing\u00a0edge\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0tone.\u00a0\u201cShe\u00a0had\u00a0choices.\u00a0She\u00a0just\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0her\u00a0place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruce\u00a0frowned.\u00a0This\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0some\u00a0ordinary\u00a0falling\u2013out.\u00a0Something\u00a0ran\u00a0deeper\u00a0between\u00a0them,\u00a0something\u00a0unresolved.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0what?\u00a0He\u00a0sighed.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0probably\u00a0not\u00a0something\u00a0he\u00a0could figure\u00a0out.<\/p>\n
Still\u00a0bleary\u2013eyed,\u00a0he\u00a0shuffled\u00a0downstairs\u00a0to\u00a0open\u00a0his\u00a0birthday\u00a0gifts.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0pen\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0picked\u00a0out\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0rare\u00a0custom\u00a0piece\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0been\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0for\u00a0ages.\u00a0She\u2019d\u00a0always\u00a0been\u00a0thoughtful<\/p>\n
like\u00a0that.\u00a0It\u00a0made\u00a0all the\u00a0times\u00a0he\u00a0favored\u00a0her\u00a0feel\u00a0worth\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0reached\u00a0the\u00a0bottom of\u00a0the\u00a0pile,\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0pen.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0housekeeper.\u00a0\u201cHey,\u00a0where\u2019s\u00a0that\u00a0blue silk\u00a0box\u00a0I\u00a0brought\u00a0home\u00a0yesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBlue\u00a0silk\u00a0box?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0paused,\u00a0thinking.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0I\u00a0saw\u00a0one.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u00a0way.\u201d\u00a0Bruce\u00a0stood\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0grabbed\u00a0his\u00a0car\u00a0keys.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0ready\u00a0to\u00a0drive\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0club\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0suspected\u00a0that he\u00a0must\u00a0have<\/p>\n
left\u00a0it\u00a0behind.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0the\u00a0chauffeur\u00a0stepped\u00a0in\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0courtyard.\u00a0He\u2019d\u00a0overheard\u00a0and\u00a0called out,\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Wilhelm!\u00a0You\u00a0blacked\u00a0out<\/p>\n
last\u00a0night,\u00a0remember?\u00a0Mr.\u00a0Sterling\u00a0took\u00a0that\u00a0box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0took\u00a0it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u00a0He\u00a0asked\u00a0about\u00a0it.\u00a0You\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0answer,\u00a0so\u00a0he\u00a0said your\u00a0silence\u00a0meant\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0the\u00a0green\u00a0light.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Green\u00a0light,\u00a0my\u00a0ass.\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0passed\u00a0out\u00a0cold,\u2018\u00a0he\u00a0grumbled\u00a0inwardly.<\/p>\n
Bruce\u00a0scratched\u00a0his\u00a0messy\u00a0hair.\u00a0Not\u00a0even\u00a0in\u00a0his dreams\u00a0would\u00a0he\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0guts\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0Julian\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0it\u00a0back.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0he\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0head\u00a0upstairs,\u00a0something\u00a0occurred\u00a0to\u00a0him.\u00a0He\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0his\u00a0phone\u00a0and\u00a0made\u00a0a\u00a0call.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey,\u00a0Jules.\u00a0I\u00a0put\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0luck\u00a0charm\u00a0Sydney dropped\u00a0last\u00a0night\u00a0in\u00a0that\u00a0box.\u00a0Can\u00a0you\u00a0make\u00a0sure\u00a0it\u00a0gets\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0her?\u201d<\/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 55 Chapter 55 \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0Bruce\u00a0offered\u00a0a\u00a0smooth\u00a0smile\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0gestured\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0silk\u2013wrapped\u00a0gift box\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0table.\u00a0\u201cSydney\u2019s\u00a0been […]<\/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-22038","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\/22038","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=22038"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22038\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}