Sydney\u00a0acted\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard\u00a0a\u00a0word,\u00a0her\u00a0cold\u00a0gaze\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0silver\u00a0acupuncture\u00a0set\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0boy\u2019s\u00a0hand.\u00a0\u201cGive\u00a0it\u00a0back.\u00a0Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alan\u00a0had\u00a0passed\u00a0down\u00a0a\u00a0prestigious,\u00a0centuries\u2013old\u00a0acupuncture\u00a0technique,\u00a0one\u00a0taught\u00a0to\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0single\u00a0prot\u00e9g\u00e9\u00a0per\u00a0generation.\u00a0At\u00a013,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0been\u00a0chosen\u00a0to\u00a0inherit\u00a0it.\u00a0Even\u00a0Marcus\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0been\u00a0granted\u00a0access.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0silver\u00a0needles\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0a\u00a0gift\u00a0from\u00a0Alan\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0began\u00a0her\u00a0training.\u00a0To\u00a0her,\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0priceless\u2013both\u00a0in\u00a0sentiment\u00a0and\u00a0significance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0won\u2019t!\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0piss\u00a0you\u00a0off!\u201d\u00a0The\u00a0angrier\u00a0she\u00a0got,\u00a0the\u00a0more\u00a0gleeful\u00a0Timothy\u00a0became.\u00a0He\u00a0yanked\u00a0the\u00a0needles\u00a0from\u00a0their\u00a0case\u00a0and\u00a0flung\u00a0them\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0floor,\u00a0stomping\u00a0on\u00a0them\u00a0with\u00a0both\u00a0feet\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0lunatic.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0grabbed\u00a0him by\u00a0the\u00a0collar\u00a0and\u00a0hauled\u00a0him\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0consultation\u00a0room.\u00a0Her\u00a0face\u00a0darkened\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0pinched\u00a0his\u00a0pudgy\u00a0cheeks,\u00a0her cold,\u00a0sharp\u00a0gaze\u00a0locking\u00a0onto\u00a0his.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf\u00a0you\u00a0come\u00a0into\u00a0my\u00a0office\u00a0again,\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0jab\u00a0every\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0those\u00a0needles\u00a0into\u00a0your\u00a0head.\u00a0Got\u00a0it?\u201d\u00a0she said\u00a0slowly.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0turn\u00a0you\u00a0into\u00a0a\u00a0chubby\u00a0little\u00a0pincushion.\u00a0Do\u00a0you\u00a0believe\u00a0me?\u201d<\/p>\n
Timothy\u2019s\u00a0bravado\u00a0collapsed.\u00a0He\u00a0trembled\u00a0all\u00a0over,\u00a0his\u00a0mouth\u00a0twisting\u00a0before\u00a0he\u00a0burst\u00a0into\u00a0wailing\u00a0sobs.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0believe\u00a0you!\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0lying!\u00a0Wahhh!\u00a0Let\u00a0go\u00a0of\u00a0me!\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0telling\u00a0my\u00a0mom!\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0released\u00a0him,\u00a0and\u00a0he\u00a0bolted\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0hallway,\u00a0bawling\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0sky\u00a0had\u00a0fallen.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0was\u00a0such\u00a0a\u00a0coward,\u00a0yet\u00a0bold\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0cause\u00a0trouble\u00a0repeatedly.\u00a0Did\u00a0Penelope\u00a0even\u00a0treat\u00a0him\u00a0like\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0child?<\/p>\n
Not\u00a0that\u00a0it\u00a0mattered\u00a0to\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0He\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0her\u00a0kid.\u00a0Why\u00a0would\u00a0she\u00a0care?<\/p>\n
Although\u00a0the\u00a0clinic\u00a0had\u00a0seen\u00a0fewer\u00a0patients\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0New\u00a0Year\u00a0approaching,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0left\u00a0her\u00a0seat\u00a0all\u00a0morning.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0see\u00a0her\u00a0final\u00a0patient\u00a0until nearly\u00a01:00\u00a0p.m.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0head\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0cafeteria.\u00a0Instead,\u00a0she\u00a0gathered\u00a0her\u00a0things\u00a0to\u00a0leave\u00a0for\u00a0Sterling\u00a0Corp.<\/p>\n
Marcus\u00a0had\u00a0gone\u00a0ahead\u00a0earlier\u00a0that\u00a0morning.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0she\u00a0stepped\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0restroom\u00a0and\u00a0turned\u00a0back\u00a0toward\u00a0her\u00a0office\u00a0to\u00a0grab\u00a0her\u00a0bag,\u00a0a\u00a0sharp,\u00a0blood-\u00a0curdling\u00a0scream\u00a0rang\u00a0out from\u00a0the\u00a0stairwell.\u00a0Then\u00a0came\u00a0the\u00a0sound\u00a0of\u00a0something tumbling\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0steps.<\/p>\n
Acting\u00a0on\u00a0instinct,\u00a0she\u00a0pushed\u00a0open\u00a0the\u00a0fire\u00a0door\u00a0and\u00a0rushed\u00a0in.\u00a0The\u00a0motion\u2013sensor\u00a0lights\u00a0snapped\u00a0on,\u00a0flooding\u00a0the\u00a0stairwell\u00a0with\u00a0harsh\u00a0white\u00a0light.<\/p>\n
Timothy\u00a0lay\u00a0crumpled\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0bottom\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0stairs,\u00a0deathly\u00a0still.\u00a0Blood\u00a0was\u00a0pouring\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0froze\u00a0for\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0second\u00a0before\u00a0racing\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0steps\u00a0to\u00a0check\u00a0his\u00a0pulse\u00a0and\u00a0breathing.<\/p>\n
Two\u00a0nurses\u00a0arrived\u00a0seconds\u00a0later,\u00a0drawn\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0noise,\u00a0ad\u00a0stood\u00a0frozen\u00a0in\u00a0shock.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0just\u00a0stand\u00a0there!\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0snapped,\u00a0calm\u00a0but\u00a0urgent.\u00a0\u201cGet\u00a0something to\u00a0stop\u00a0the\u00a0bleeding!\u00a0And\u00a0bring\u00a0my\u00a0silver\u00a0needles!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight\u00a0away!\u201d<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a079<\/p>\n
They\u00a0ran\u00a0off\u00a0and\u00a0returned\u00a0moments\u00a0later\u00a0with\u00a0their\u00a0arms\u00a0full\u00a0of\u00a0supplies.<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0grabbed\u00a0the\u00a0needles\u00a0and\u00a0began\u00a0emergency\u00a0acupuncture,\u00a0her\u00a0hands\u00a0moving\u00a0with\u00a0practiced\u00a0precision.<\/p>\n
\u201cHelp\u00a0me\u00a0stop\u00a0the\u00a0bleeding,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0not\u00a0looking\u00a0up.<\/p>\n
Snapped\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0their\u00a0panic,\u00a0the\u00a0nurses\u00a0scrambled\u00a0to\u00a0assist.\u00a0It\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0their\u00a0fault.\u00a0In\u00a0a\u00a0traditional\u00a0clinic\u00a0like\u00a0this,\u00a0traumatic\u00a0emergencies\u00a0were\u00a0rare.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0as\u00a0Sydney\u00a0inserted\u00a0the\u00a0final\u00a0needle,\u00a0Penelope\u00a0burst\u00a0in.\u00a0She\u00a0shrieked\u00a0and\u00a0shoved\u00a0Sydney\u00a0hard,\u00a0sending\u00a0her\u00a0sprawling\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0a kid!\u00a0How\u00a0could\u00a0you\u00a0hurt\u00a0him\u00a0over\u00a0something\u00a0so\u00a0small?\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0demanded.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0braced\u00a0herself.\u00a0Pain\u00a0shot\u00a0through\u00a0her\u00a0elbow\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0hit\u00a0the\u00a0floor.\u00a0She\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0Penelope,\u00a0her\u00a0expression\u00a0frosty\u00a0and\u00a0calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0was\u00a0already\u00a0like\u00a0this\u00a0when\u00a0I\u00a0got\u00a0here,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0coolly.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiar!\u201d\u00a0Penelope\u00a0broke\u00a0down\u00a0completely,\u00a0clutching\u00a0Timothy\u2019s\u00a0limp\u00a0body\u00a0as\u00a0tears\u00a0streamed\u00a0down\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0believe\u00a0how\u00a0cruel\u00a0you\u00a0are!\u00a0You\u2019re\u00a0a\u00a0monster!\u00a0You\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0deserve\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0doctor!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen\u00a0wait\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0police,\u201d\u00a0Sydney\u00a0said\u00a0coldly.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0interest\u00a0in\u00a0arguing.\u00a0She\u00a0motioned\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0nurse\u00a0beside\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0call\u00a0the\u00a0police.<\/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 79 Sydney\u00a0acted\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard\u00a0a\u00a0word,\u00a0her\u00a0cold\u00a0gaze\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0silver\u00a0acupuncture\u00a0set\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0boy\u2019s\u00a0hand.\u00a0\u201cGive\u00a0it\u00a0back.\u00a0Now.\u201d Alan\u00a0had\u00a0passed\u00a0down\u00a0a\u00a0prestigious,\u00a0centuries\u2013old\u00a0acupuncture\u00a0technique,\u00a0one\u00a0taught\u00a0to\u00a0only\u00a0a\u00a0single\u00a0prot\u00e9g\u00e9\u00a0per\u00a0generation.\u00a0At\u00a013,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0had\u00a0already\u00a0been\u00a0chosen\u00a0to\u00a0inherit\u00a0it.\u00a0Even\u00a0Marcus\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0been\u00a0granted\u00a0access. The\u00a0silver\u00a0needles\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0a\u00a0gift\u00a0from\u00a0Alan\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0began\u00a0her\u00a0training.\u00a0To\u00a0her,\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0priceless\u2013both\u00a0in\u00a0sentiment\u00a0and\u00a0significance. \u201cI\u00a0won\u2019t!\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0piss\u00a0you\u00a0off!\u201d\u00a0The\u00a0angrier\u00a0she\u00a0got,\u00a0the\u00a0more\u00a0gleeful\u00a0Timothy\u00a0became.\u00a0He\u00a0yanked\u00a0the\u00a0needles\u00a0from\u00a0their\u00a0case\u00a0and\u00a0flung\u00a0them\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0floor,\u00a0stomping\u00a0on\u00a0them\u00a0with\u00a0both\u00a0feet\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0lunatic. […]<\/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-22062","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\/22062","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=22062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22062\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}