Caleb\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0hear\u00a0that\u00a0sentence.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr.\u00a0Hampton,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0here.\u201d\u00a0The\u00a0female\u00a0officer\u00a0regarded\u00a0him\u00a0calmly.\u00a0\u201cThis\u00a0could\u00a0go\u00a0either\u00a0way\u2013a\u00a0serious\u00a0case\u00a0or\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0family\u00a0matter.\u00a0If\u00a0you can\u00a0settle\u00a0it\u00a0privately,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0Her\u00a0expression\u00a0was\u00a0distant,\u00a0unreadable.\u00a0Tension\u00a0rose\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chest,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0kept\u00a0it\u00a0contained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen,\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0let\u00a0the\u00a0police\u00a0handle\u00a0it,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0long\u00a0lashes\u00a0fluttered,\u00a0though\u00a0her\u00a0face\u00a0stayed\u00a0composed.\u00a0She\u00a0meant\u00a0what\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0said\u00a0earlier.\u00a0She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0care\u00a0about\u00a0him\u2013not\u00a0even\u00a0a\u00a0little.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0frowned.\u00a0He\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0understand\u00a0why\u00a0she\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0at\u00a0least\u00a0pretend\u00a0to\u00a0be vulnerable.\u00a0If\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0just\u00a0admitted\u00a0fault\u00a0and\u00a0apologized,\u00a0he\u00a0might\u00a0have\u00a0let\u00a0it\u00a0go\u00a0for\u00a0old\u00a0times\u2018\u00a0sake.<\/p>\n
But\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0try.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0voice\u00a0turned\u00a0cold.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0may\u00a0be\u00a0family,\u00a0but\u00a0a\u00a0moment\u00a0of\u00a0weakness\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0excuse\u00a0crossing\u00a0the\u00a0line.\u00a0Actions\u00a0have\u00a0consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u00a0turned\u00a0and\u00a0walked\u00a0out.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0officers\u00a0resumed\u00a0their\u00a0procedure,\u00a0asking\u00a0Sydney\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0more\u00a0questions.\u00a0Once\u00a0they\u00a0confirmed\u00a0the\u00a0details,\u00a0they\u00a0released\u00a0her.<\/p>\n
Outside,\u00a0the\u00a0winter\u00a0chill\u00a0cut\u00a0through Sydney\u2019s\u00a0clothes.\u00a0The\u00a0air\u00a0was\u00a0biting.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0familiar\u00a0black\u00a0Maybach\u00a0waited\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0station\u00a0entrance\u00a0As\u00a0she\u00a0passed,\u00a0the\u00a0window\u00a0rolled\u00a0down,\u00a0revealing\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0composed,\u00a0impassive\u00a0face.\u00a0He\u00a0rarely\u00a0looked\u00a0this\u00a0cold.<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow\u00a0is\u00a0Grandma\u2019s\u00a0birthday\u00a0banquet.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0pick\u00a0you\u00a0up.\u00a0We\u2019ll\u00a0return\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0family\u00a0residence\u00a0together,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0announced.<\/p>\n
\u2018So\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0his\u00a0reason\u2026\u2018\u00a0Sydney\u00a0saw\u00a0it\u00a0clearly\u00a0now.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0all for\u00a0Penelope.\u00a0No\u00a0matter\u00a0how\u00a0distant their\u00a0relationship\u00a0had\u00a0become,\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0still\u00a0willing\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0show\u00a0for\u00a0his\u00a0grandmother\u2019s\u00a0sake.\u00a0He\u00a0wanted\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0pretend\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0a\u00a0loving\u00a0couple\u00a0and\u00a0maintain\u00a0the\u00a0illusion\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Hamptons.<\/p>\n
Not\u00a0this\u00a0time.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0shook\u00a0her\u00a0head.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0time\u00a0tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0needed\u00a0to\u00a0stay\u00a0focused\u00a0on\u00a0Sterling\u00a0Corp.\u2019s\u00a0project.\u00a0Her\u00a0independence,\u00a0her\u00a0future\u2013everything\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0worked\u00a0for\u2013mattered\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0appearances.\u00a0If\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0going\u00a0to\u00a0walk\u00a0away\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0name,\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0to\u00a0prove\u00a0herself.<\/p>\n
Sterling\u00a0Corp.\u00a0was\u00a0her\u00a0shot\u00a0at\u00a0doing\u00a0that.\u00a0She\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0afford\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0buried\u00a0again.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u2019s\u00a0lips\u00a0curled\u00a0with\u00a0derision.\u00a0\u201cNot\u00a0even pretending\u00a0anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n
Before\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0answer,\u00a0two\u00a0message\u00a0notifications\u00a0appeared\u00a0on\u00a0her\u00a0phone.\u00a0The\u00a0messages\u00a0were\u00a0from\u00a0Adeline.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0first\u00a0one\u00a0read:\u00a0[The\u00a0divorce\u00a0papers\u00a0are\u00a0ready.\u00a0Remember\u00a0to\u00a0attend\u00a0Grandma\u2019s\u00a0banquet\u00a0tomorrow.]<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a084<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
A\u00a0photo\u00a0followed.\u00a0A\u00a0scanned\u00a0image\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0divorce\u00a0papers\u00a0Her\u00a0name\u00a0was\u00a0printed\u00a0clearly.<\/p>\n
Relief\u00a0hit\u00a0her\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0quiet,\u00a0overwhelming\u00a0wave.\u00a0Her\u00a0shoulders\u00a0relaxed,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0slow\u00a0smile\u00a0lit\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0When\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0at\u00a0Caleb\u00a0again,\u00a0her\u00a0voice\u00a0had\u00a0softened.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0free\u00a0tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0blinked,\u00a0caught\u00a0off\u00a0guard\u00a0by\u00a0how\u00a0radiant\u00a0her\u00a0smile\u00a0suddenly\u00a0looked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u00a0did\u00a0you\u00a0say?\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0said\u00a0I\u00a0can\u00a0go\u00a0with\u00a0you.\u201d\u00a0Her\u00a0tone\u00a0was\u00a0light,\u00a0almost\u00a0cheerful.<\/p>\n
His\u00a0brow\u00a0tightened.\u00a0Ever\u00a0since\u00a0she\u2019d\u00a0checked\u00a0her\u00a0phone,\u00a0something\u00a0had\u00a0changed.\u00a0Her\u00a0entire\u00a0mood\u00a0had\u00a0changed,\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0heroine\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0drama\u00a0responding\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0lover\u2019s\u00a0message.<\/p>\n
His voice\u00a0sharpened.\u00a0\u201cWho\u00a0just\u00a0messaged\u00a0you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0personal.\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0hand\u00a0him\u00a0that\u00a0answer.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u2019s\u00a0jaw\u00a0clenched.\u00a0Even\u00a0Penelope\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0stirred\u00a0his\u00a0emotions\u00a0like\u00a0this.\u00a0Maybe\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0what\u00a0stung\u00a0the\u00a0most\u00a0being\u00a0toyed\u00a0with,\u00a0made\u00a0to\u00a0feel\u00a0small.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0narrowed\u00a0his\u00a0eyes.\u00a0\u201cSyd,\u00a0act\u00a0all\u00a0you\u00a0want.\u00a0But\u00a0infidelity?\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0where\u00a0I\u00a0draw\u00a0the\u00a0line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her\u00a0voice\u00a0turned\u00a0tender\u00a0again.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0know.\u201d<\/p>\n
They\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0married\u00a0anymore.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0saw\u00a0the\u00a0calm\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0posture.\u00a0She\u00a0looked\u00a0composed\u00a0maybe\u00a0even\u00a0submissive.\u00a0He\u00a0let\u00a0out\u00a0a\u00a0breath.\u00a0The\u00a0anger\u00a0eased\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0voice.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u00a0pick\u00a0you\u00a0up\u00a0tomorrow.\u00a0Be\u00a0ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0replied.<\/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 84 Caleb\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0expected\u00a0to\u00a0hear\u00a0that\u00a0sentence. \u201cMr.\u00a0Hampton,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0here.\u201d\u00a0The\u00a0female\u00a0officer\u00a0regarded\u00a0him\u00a0calmly.\u00a0\u201cThis\u00a0could\u00a0go\u00a0either\u00a0way\u2013a\u00a0serious\u00a0case\u00a0or\u00a0just\u00a0a\u00a0family\u00a0matter.\u00a0If\u00a0you can\u00a0settle\u00a0it\u00a0privately,\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0best.\u201d Caleb\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0Her\u00a0expression\u00a0was\u00a0distant,\u00a0unreadable.\u00a0Tension\u00a0rose\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0chest,\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0kept\u00a0it\u00a0contained. […]<\/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-22067","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\/22067","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=22067"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22067\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}