Since\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0gone\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0way\u00a0to\u00a0hide\u00a0it\u00a0from\u00a0Marcus,\u00a0this\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0personal.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0frowned,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0earlier\u00a0politeness\u00a0was\u00a0gone.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0recall\u00a0there\u00a0being\u00a0anything\u00a0between\u00a0us\u00a0that\u00a0requires\u00a0a\u00a0private\u00a0conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0sideways\u00a0glance,\u00a0his\u00a0tone\u00a0cool.\u00a0\u201cBruce\u00a0asked\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0return\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0you.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0argue\u00a0and\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Marcus.\u00a0\u201cMarc,\u00a0go\u00a0on\u00a0ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marcus\u00a0hesitated.\u00a0But\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0two\u00a0of\u00a0them\u00a0were\u00a0supposed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0\u201csiblings,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0figured\u00a0Julian\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0cross\u00a0a\u00a0line.\u00a0He\u00a0left\u00a0first.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0gone,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0reached\u00a0out\u00a0her\u00a0hand.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0answer.\u00a0He\u00a0slipped\u00a0a\u00a0hand\u00a0into\u00a0his\u00a0pocket\u00a0and\u00a0walked\u00a0off\u00a0toward\u00a0the\u00a0exit.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0think\u00a0of\u00a0anything\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0left\u00a0with\u00a0Bruce,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0choice\u00a0except\u00a0to\u00a0follow.<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0somehow\u00a0recognized\u00a0her\u00a0car.\u00a0He\u00a0stopped\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0it\u00a0and\u00a0pulled\u00a0the\u00a0handle.\u00a0When\u00a0it\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0open,\u00a0he\u00a0looked\u00a0back\u00a0at\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u00a0need\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0car\u00a0just\u00a0to\u00a0return\u00a0something?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0questioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy\u00a0car\u00a0was\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0Marc\u00a0home.\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0giving\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0ride?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0shot\u00a0back.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0thought,\u00a0\u2018I\u00a0never\u00a0asked\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0drive\u00a0him.\u2018<\/p>\n
Still,\u00a0she\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0forget\u00a0how\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0helped\u00a0her\u00a0out\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0estate\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0days\u00a0ago.\u00a0She\u00a0sighed\u00a0and\u00a0unlocked\u00a0the\u00a0door.<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0slid\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0passenger\u00a0seat\u00a0calmly\u00a0and\u00a0handed her\u00a0a\u00a0charm.\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0low\u00a0and\u00a0unreadable.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0think\u00a0this\u00a0thing\u2019ll\u00a0make\u00a0Caleb\u00a0come\u00a0crawling\u00a0back?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0recognized\u00a0it\u00a0instantly.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0protective\u00a0charm\u00a0that\u00a0Agatha\u00a0had\u00a0given\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u00a0snatched\u00a0it\u00a0and\u00a0shoved\u00a0it\u00a0into\u00a0her\u00a0purse.\u00a0Her\u00a0tone\u00a0turned\u00a0cold.\u00a0\u201cNot\u00a0your\u00a0business.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0say\u00a0anything\u00a0about\u00a0this.\u00a0Instead,\u00a0she\u00a0asked,\u00a0\u201cWhere\u00a0am\u00a0I\u00a0dropping\u00a0you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0flinch.\u00a0\u201cAurum\u00a0Road.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0blinked.\u00a0\u201cAurum\u00a0Road?\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0live\u00a0there.\u00a0Problem?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0expected\u00a0the\u00a0coincidence.\u00a0\u201cNo\u00a0problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0rest\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0drive\u00a0passed\u00a0in\u00a0silence.<\/p>\n
When\u00a0they\u00a0reached\u00a0Aurum\u00a0Road,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0asked,\u00a0\u201cWhich\u00a0complex?\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u00a0was\u00a0no\u00a0answer.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0turned\u00a0her\u00a0head\u00a0and\u00a0saw\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0dozed\u00a0off.\u00a0His\u00a0long\u00a0lashes\u00a0cast\u00a0soft\u00a0shadows\u00a0over\u00a0his\u00a0sharp\u00a0cheekbones.\u00a0His\u00a0features\u00a0were\u00a0striking,\u00a0even\u00a0in\u00a0sleep.<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a065<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
\u201cJulian\u2026\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0opened\u00a0her\u00a0mouth,\u00a0hesitated,\u00a0then\u00a0let\u00a0it\u00a0go.\u00a0Instead,\u00a0she\u00a0pulled\u00a0out\u00a0her phone\u00a0and\u00a0removed\u00a0Elliot\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0block\u00a0list.\u00a0Then\u00a0she\u00a0texted\u00a0him\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0address.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0moment\u00a0Elliot\u00a0saw\u00a0her\u00a0message,\u00a0he\u00a0nearly\u00a0fell\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0chair.\u00a0He\u00a0replied\u00a0right\u00a0away.<\/p>\n
Elliot:\u00a0[Ms.\u00a0Wilson,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0at\u00a0Deltan\u00a0Mansion.]<\/p>\n
Deltan\u00a0Mansion\u00a0stood\u00a0just\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0road\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0neighborhood.\u00a0It\u00a0ranked\u00a0among\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0exclusive\u00a0properties\u00a0in\u00a0Jouleston,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0access\u00a0road\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0privately\u00a0purchased.\u00a0No\u00a0one\u00a0truly\u00a0knew\u00a0who\u00a0lived\u00a0behind\u00a0those\u00a0gates.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0expected\u00a0Julian\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0the\u00a0owner.<\/p>\n
Thanks\u00a0to\u00a0Elliot\u2019s\u00a0heads\u2013up,\u00a0the\u00a0security barrier\u00a0lifted\u00a0as\u00a0her\u00a0car\u00a0approached.\u00a0She\u00a0turned\u00a0onto\u00a0the\u00a0lakeside<\/p>\n
road\u00a0and\u00a0eased\u00a0forward.<\/p>\n
Deep\u00a0winter\u00a0had\u00a0frozen\u00a0the\u00a0lake\u00a0on\u00a0both\u00a0sides\u00a0into\u00a0delicate\u00a0sheets\u00a0of\u00a0ice.\u00a0Simply\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0them\u00a0sent\u00a0a\u00a0chill\u00a0through\u00a0her.\u00a0Yet somehow,\u00a0she\u00a0felt\u00a0strangely\u00a0calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0figure\u00a0out\u00a0why,\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0low,\u00a0hoarse\u00a0voice\u00a0broke\u00a0the\u00a0quiet.\u00a0It\u00a0lacked\u00a0its\u00a0usual\u00a0sharpness.<\/p>\n
Night\u00a0had\u00a0fallen.\u00a0The\u00a0car\u00a0was\u00a0quiet\u00a0and\u00a0dim.\u00a0The\u00a0moment\u00a0reminded\u00a0her\u00a0of the\u00a0past\u2013those\u00a0nights\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0used\u00a0to\u00a0pick\u00a0her\u00a0up\u00a0from\u00a0Alan\u2019s\u00a0house\u00a0without\u00a0a\u00a0word\u00a0of\u00a0complaint.<\/p>\n
Back\u00a0then,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0asleep\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0passenger\u00a0seat.\u00a0Julian\u00a0would\u00a0never\u00a0wake\u00a0her.\u00a0He\u00a0would\u00a0carry\u00a0her\u00a0inside\u00a0and\u00a0put\u00a0her\u00a0straight\u00a0to\u00a0bed\u00a0so\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0sleep\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0night.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0tires\u00a0slipped\u00a0slightly\u00a0on\u00a0an\u00a0icy\u00a0patch.\u00a0The\u00a0jolt\u00a0snapped\u00a0her\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0present.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0pressed\u00a0her\u00a0lips\u00a0together.\u00a0\u201cYeah.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0to\u00a0notice\u00a0the\u00a0change\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0mood.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0Heard\u00a0from\u00a0Alan\u00a0that\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0joining\u00a0the\u00a0project?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
The car\u00a0rolled\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0gentle\u00a0stop\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0mansion.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0him.\u00a0Her\u00a0eyes\u00a0softened,\u00a0but\u00a0a\u00a0trace\u00a0of\u00a0hesitation\u00a0lingered.\u00a0\u201cCan\u00a0we?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she\u2019s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.<\/p>\n
When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 65 Since\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0gone\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0way\u00a0to\u00a0hide\u00a0it\u00a0from\u00a0Marcus,\u00a0this\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0personal. Sydney\u00a0frowned,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0earlier\u00a0politeness\u00a0was\u00a0gone.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0I\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0recall\u00a0there\u00a0being\u00a0anything\u00a0between\u00a0us\u00a0that\u00a0requires\u00a0a\u00a0private\u00a0conversation.\u201d Julian\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0sideways\u00a0glance,\u00a0his\u00a0tone\u00a0cool.\u00a0\u201cBruce\u00a0asked\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0return\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0you.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0want\u00a0it?\u201d \u201cFine.\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0argue\u00a0and\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Marcus.\u00a0\u201cMarc,\u00a0go\u00a0on\u00a0ahead.\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-22048","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\/22048","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=22048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22048\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}