\u201cWhat\u00a0about\u00a0Sydney?\u00a0You\u00a0think\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0average?\u201d\u00a0Penelope\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0answer.<\/p>\n
Since\u00a0their\u00a0marriage,\u00a0he\u00a0and\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0barely\u00a0spent\u00a0time\u00a0together,\u00a0let\u00a0alone\u00a0worked\u00a0side\u00a0by\u00a0side.\u00a0All\u00a0he\u00a0really\u00a0knew\u00a0was\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0quietly\u00a0working\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0clinic\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0past\u00a0few\u00a0years,\u00a0never\u00a0drawing\u00a0much\u00a0attention.\u00a0If\u00a0anyone\u00a0there\u00a0praised\u00a0her;\u00a0it\u00a0would\u00a0probably\u00a0be\u00a0because\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0Marcus\u2018\u00a0junior.<\/p>\n
Recalling\u00a0the\u00a0scene\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0restaurant,\u00a0Caleb didn\u2019t\u00a0wait\u00a0for\u00a0Sydney\u00a0to\u00a0return\u00a0home.\u00a0He\u00a0called\u00a0her\u00a0directly.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0picked\u00a0up\u00a0almost\u00a0immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0is\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0was\u00a0calm\u00a0and\u00a0distant,\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0throw\u00a0him\u00a0off.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0you\u00a0think\u00a0you\u00a0owe\u00a0me\u00a0an\u00a0explanation\u00a0for\u00a0what\u00a0happened\u00a0at\u00a0dinner\u00a0tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExplain\u00a0what?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0asked\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0soft,\u00a0cool\u00a0laugh.\u00a0\u201cWhy\u00a0I\u00a0exposed\u00a0the\u00a0fact\u00a0that\u00a0my\u00a0husband\u00a0cheated\u00a0on\u00a0me?\u00a0Or\u00a0was\u00a0it\u00a0something\u00a0else?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0expected\u00a0him\u00a0to\u00a0have\u00a0the\u00a0nerve\u00a0to\u00a0call\u00a0and\u00a0question\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0frowned.\u00a0Something\u00a0felt\u00a0different\u00a0about her.\u00a0The\u00a0first\u00a0few\u00a0times\u00a0she\u00a0snapped\u00a0at\u00a0him,\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0assumed\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0anger.\u00a0But\u00a0this\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0feel\u00a0the\u00a0same.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0told\u00a0you,\u00a0Penny\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0think.\u00a0Are\u00a0you\u00a0really\u00a0not\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0stop\u00a0until\u00a0you\u00a0drive\u00a0her\u00a0away?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0said,\u00a0dropping\u00a0the\u00a0last\u00a0of\u00a0her\u00a0polite\u00a0veneer.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0sharpened,\u00a0every\u00a0word\u00a0colder\u00a0and\u00a0more\u00a0precise.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0stop\u00a0until\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0gone.\u00a0So?\u00a0Has\u00a0she\u00a0left\u00a0yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0swallowed\u00a0that\u00a0bitterness\u00a0for too\u00a0long.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0tried\u00a0to\u00a0let\u00a0it\u00a0go.\u00a0All\u00a0she\u00a0wanted\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0divorce.\u00a0Nothing\u00a0else\u00a0mattered\u00a0anymore.<\/p>\n
What\u00a0she\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0expected\u00a0was\u00a0for\u00a0Caleb\u00a0to\u00a0turn it\u00a0around,\u00a0act\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0victim,\u00a0demand\u00a0answers\u00a0and\u00a0question\u00a0her.\u00a0As\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0were\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0at\u00a0fault.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d\u00a0better\u00a0forget\u00a0it!\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0snapped.<\/p>\n
This\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0truly\u00a0gone\u00a0toe\u2013to\u2013toe\u00a0with\u00a0him,\u00a0and\u00a0Caleb\u00a0barely\u00a0recognized\u00a0the\u00a0woman\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0line.\u00a0He\u00a0was\u00a0furious,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0reminded\u00a0himself\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0young.<\/p>\n
Forcing\u00a0down\u00a0his\u00a0anger,\u00a0he\u00a0softened\u00a0his\u00a0tone.\u00a0\u201cSydney,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0different\u00a0to\u00a0me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0flinch.\u00a0Her\u00a0voice\u00a0dripped\u00a0with\u00a0sarcasm.\u00a0\u201cfferent\u00a0how?\u00a0Because\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0hotter\u00a0when\u00a0the\u00a0little\u00a0brother\u2013in\u2013law\u00a0hooks\u00a0up\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0big\u00a0sister\u2013in\u2013law?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut\u00a0up!\u00a0Are\u00a0you\u00a0insane?\u201d\u00a0Caleb\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0expected\u00a0those\u00a0words\u00a0from\u00a0her.\u00a0A\u00a0vein\u00a0pulsed\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0temple.\u00a0\u201cII\u00a0living\u00a0in\u00a0this\u00a0house\u00a0is\u00a0so\u00a0unbearable\u00a0for\u00a0you,\u00a0fine!\u00a0Let\u2019s\u00a0get\u00a0divorced!\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0realized\u00a0what\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0said\u00a0until\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0already\u00a0out.\u00a0And\u00a0by\u00a0then,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0too\u00a0late.<\/p>\n
On\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0end\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0line,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0paused for\u00a0a\u00a0momer,\u00a0then\u00a0hung\u00a0up.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0walked\u00a0over\u00a0and\u00a0cracked\u00a0open\u00a0a\u00a0window,\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0a\u00a0breath\u00a0of\u00a0fresh\u00a0air.\u00a0Before\u00a0he\u00a0could,\u00a0someone\u00a0knocked\u00a0loudly\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0study\u00a0door.<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a072<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
\u201cUncle\u00a0Caleb!\u00a0Mommy\u2019s\u00a0washing\u00a0fruit.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0going\u00a0downstairs\u00a0to\u00a0eat!\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0opened\u00a0the\u00a0door\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0Timothy\u2019s\u00a0hair\u00a0a\u00a0quick\u00a0ruffle.\u00a0\u201cGo\u00a0on\u00a0ahead.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0just\u00a0wash\u00a0my\u00a0hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay!\u201d\u00a0Timothy\u00a0nodded\u00a0and\u00a0dashed\u00a0off.\u00a0He\u00a0loved\u00a0the\u00a0house\u00a0now.\u00a0That\u00a0mean\u00a0lady\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0shown\u00a0up\u00a0in\u00a0ages.\u00a0Everything\u00a0felt\u00a0right\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
After\u00a0washing\u00a0up,\u00a0Caleb\u00a0was\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0turn\u00a0off\u00a0the\u00a0tap\u00a0when\u00a0he\u00a0noticed\u00a0something\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0sink.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0pendant.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0expression\u00a0softened.<\/p>\n
Earlier,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0asked\u00a0him\u00a0what\u00a0was\u00a0so\u00a0\u201cdifferent.\u201d\u00a0Maybe\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0ran\u00a0his\u00a0fingers\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0smooth\u00a0pendant,\u00a0an\u00a0ache\u00a0rising\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chest\u00a0he\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0quite\u00a0name.\u00a0Then\u00a0he\u00a0froze.\u00a0Leaning\u00a0in,\u00a0he\u00a0examined\u00a0the\u00a0carving\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0back.\u00a0name had\u00a0been\u00a0etched\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0metal:\u00a0Precious.<\/p>\n
\u201cCal,\u00a0I\u00a0live\u00a0on\u00a0Swetham\u00a0Road!\u00a0You\u00a0better\u00a0come\u00a0visit\u00a0me\u00a0sometime,\u00a0okay?\u201d\u00a0Precious\u00a0had\u00a0told\u00a0him.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0called\u00a0Penelope\u00a0that\u00a0nickname\u00a0in\u00a0years.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0Penelope\u00a0appeared\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0doorway\u00a0holding\u00a0a\u00a0fruit\u00a0platter.\u00a0She\u00a0frowned.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0thought\u00a0maybe\u00a0you\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0feeling\u00a0well\u00a0after\u00a0drinking\u00a0so\u00a0much.\u201d<\/p>\n
At\u00a0dinner,\u00a0once\u00a0everyone\u00a0realized\u00a0who\u00a0he\u00a0was,\u00a0the\u00a0toasts\u00a0had\u00a0come\u00a0nonstop.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0spotted\u00a0the\u00a0pendant\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0hand,\u00a0tilted her\u00a0head,\u00a0and\u00a0lifted\u00a0her\u00a0chin.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0forgot\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0that\u00a0back\u00a0on\u00a0after\u00a0my\u00a0shower.\u00a0Help\u00a0me\u00a0with\u00a0it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0stepped\u00a0forward\u00a0and\u00a0bent\u00a0slightly\u00a0to\u00a0clasp\u00a0the\u00a0chain\u00a0around\u00a0her\u00a0neck.\u00a0His\u00a0voice\u00a0dropped,\u00a0low\u00a0and\u00a0hoarse.\u00a0\u201cPrecious,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0just\u00a0glad\u00a0I\u00a0found\u00a0you\u00a0again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penelope\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0narrowed.\u00a0The\u00a0words\u00a0slipped\u00a0out\u00a0before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0stop\u00a0them.\u00a0\u201cPrecious?\u00a0Who\u2019s\u00a0Precious?!\u00a0You\u2019ve\u00a0never\u00a0called\u00a0me\u00a0that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a073<\/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 72 \u201cWhat\u00a0about\u00a0Sydney?\u00a0You\u00a0think\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0average?\u201d\u00a0Penelope\u00a0asked. Caleb\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0answer. Since\u00a0their\u00a0marriage,\u00a0he\u00a0and\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0barely\u00a0spent\u00a0time\u00a0together,\u00a0let\u00a0alone\u00a0worked\u00a0side\u00a0by\u00a0side.\u00a0All\u00a0he\u00a0really\u00a0knew\u00a0was\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0quietly\u00a0working\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0clinic\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0past\u00a0few\u00a0years,\u00a0never\u00a0drawing\u00a0much\u00a0attention.\u00a0If\u00a0anyone\u00a0there\u00a0praised\u00a0her;\u00a0it\u00a0would\u00a0probably\u00a0be\u00a0because\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0Marcus\u2018\u00a0junior. Recalling\u00a0the\u00a0scene\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0restaurant,\u00a0Caleb […]<\/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-22055","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\/22055","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=22055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22055\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}