Chapter\u00a089\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0bother\u00a0arguing\u00a0with\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0nonsense.\u00a0She\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Dorothy\u00a0and\u00a0said,\u00a0\u201cGrandma,\u00a0the\u00a0incident\u00a0has\u00a0already\u00a0been\u00a0reported\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0police.\u00a0The\u00a0investigation\u00a0is\u00a0still\u00a0ongoing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0twist\u00a0the\u00a0facts!\u201d\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0rang\u00a0with\u00a0righteous\u00a0indignation,\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0mother\u00a0protecting\u00a0her\u00a0child.\u00a0\u201cTimmy\u00a0was\u00a0hurt,\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0one\u00a0there.\u00a0If\u00a0it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0you,\u00a0then\u00a0who?\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0days,\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0visited\u00a0him.\u00a0If\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0a\u00a0guilty\u00a0conscience,\u00a0what\u00a0is?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0honestly\u00a0stunned\u00a0by\u00a0how\u00a0warped\u00a0her\u00a0logic\u00a0could\u00a0be.<\/p>\n
Dorothy\u00a0fixed\u00a0her\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0sharp\u00a0gaze.\u00a0Her\u00a0tone\u00a0turned\u00a0severe.\u00a0\u201cSydney,\u00a0is\u00a0what\u00a0your\u00a0sister\u2013in\u2013law\u00a0said\u00a0true?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0true\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0there,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0no\u00a0guilty\u00a0consc\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s\u00a0enough,\u201d\u00a0Dorothy\u00a0cut\u00a0in\u00a0coldly.\u00a0\u201cWhatever\u00a0disagreements\u00a0you\u00a0may\u00a0have,\u00a0the\u00a0child\u00a0is\u00a0innocent.\u00a0We\u00a0have\u00a0guests\u00a0today,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0want\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0reflect\u00a0overnight\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0family\u00a0hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family\u00a0hall\u00a0served\u00a0two\u00a0purposes:\u00a0religious\u00a0prayers\u00a0and\u00a0enforcing\u00a0discipline.\u00a0It\u00a0sat\u00a0tucked\u00a0away\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0remote\u00a0corner\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0rear\u00a0courtyard,\u00a0cold\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0winter\u00a0and\u00a0stifling\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0summer.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0as\u00a0extreme\u00a0as\u00a0kneeling\u00a0on\u00a0gravel,\u00a0like\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Sterling\u00a0family,\u00a0but\u00a0spending\u00a0a\u00a0winter\u00a0night\u00a0there\u00a0nearly\u00a0guaranteed\u00a0a\u00a0fever.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Caleb.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0so\u00a0much\u00a0as\u00a0flinch.\u00a0She\u00a0smiled\u00a0faintly\u00a0and\u00a0said,\u00a0\u201cGrandma,\u00a0while\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0true\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0one\u00a0present,\u00a0I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0had\u00a0just\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0explain\u00a0when\u00a0a\u00a0change\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0atmosphere\u00a0near\u00a0the\u00a0staircase\u00a0drew\u00a0everyone\u2019s<\/p>\n
attention.<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0had\u00a0arrived.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0noble\u00a0Sterling\u00a0heir\u00a0was\u00a0instantly\u00a0surrounded\u00a0by a\u00a0crowd\u00a0of\u00a0socialites\u00a0and\u00a0VIPs\u00a0eager\u00a0for\u00a0his\u00a0attention.<\/p>\n
Tonight,\u00a0his\u00a0mood\u00a0seemed\u00a0unusually\u00a0light.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0brush\u00a0them\u00a0off\u00a0like\u00a0he\u00a0normally\u00a0would,\u00a0even\u00a0replying\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0casual\u00a0air.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0had\u00a0brought\u00a0a\u00a0date.<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u00a0Lindstrom,\u00a0his\u00a0secretary,\u00a0stood\u00a0beside\u00a0him\u00a0in\u00a0perfectly\u00a0tailored\u00a0dark\u00a0evening\u00a0gown\u00a0that\u00a0hugged\u00a0her\u00a0figure\u00a0with\u00a0understated\u00a0elegance.\u00a0Her\u00a0hand\u00a0rested\u00a0lihtly\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0arm.<\/p>\n
\u2018So\u00a0Charlotte\u00a0is\u00a0his\u00a0girlfriend\u2026\u2018\u00a0Sydney\u00a0thought.\u00a0\u2018She\u00a0is entle\u00a0and\u00a0graceful.\u00a0She\u00a0truly\u00a0suits\u00a0him.\u2018<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0looked\u00a0away.\u00a0Then\u00a0she\u00a0heard\u00a0Dorothy\u00a0greet\u00a0him\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cDidn\u2019t\u00a0expect\u00a0you\u00a0to\u00a0show\u00a0up\u00a0personally,\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s\u00a0tone\u00a0was\u00a0lightly\u00a0teasing,\u00a0yet\u00a0pointed.\u00a0\u201cIf\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0come,\u00a0what\u00a0would\u00a0I\u00a0do\u00a0while\u00a0my\u00a0dear\u00a0sister\u00a0is\u00a0being\u00a0falsely\u00a0accused?\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0room\u00a0fell\u00a0silent.\u00a0Since\u00a0their\u00a0falling\u00a0out,\u00a0this\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0first\u00a0time\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0publicly\u00a0acknowledged\u00a0Sydney\u00a0as\u00a0his\u00a0sister.\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0past,\u00a0some\u00a0had\u00a0hinted\u00a0or\u00a0speculated\u00a0but\u00a0he\u00a0had\u00a0never\u00a0confirmed\u00a0anything.<\/p>\n
Only\u00a0Sydney\u00a0lowered\u00a0her\u00a0gaze.\u00a0Her\u00a0expression\u00a0gave\u00a0nothing\u00a0away,\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0fixed\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0floor\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard\u00a0him.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0stopped\u00a0trying\u00a0to\u00a0guess\u00a0what\u00a0Julian\u00a0was\u00a0thinking\u00a0long\u00a0ago.\u00a0With\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family\u00a0on\u00a0one\u00a0side\u00a0and\u00a0Victor\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0other,\u00a0she\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0foolish\u00a0enough\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0enemies\u00a0now.<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a089<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Dorothy\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0subtle\u00a0glance,\u00a0urging\u00a0her\u00a0to\u00a0smooth\u00a0things\u00a0over.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0respond.<\/p>\n
Left\u00a0with\u00a0no\u00a0other\u00a0choice,\u00a0Dorothy\u00a0shifted\u00a0her\u00a0gaze\u00a0to\u00a0Penelope,\u00a0sharp\u00a0and\u00a0direct.<\/p>\n
Clearly\u00a0rattled,\u00a0Penelope\u00a0forced\u00a0a\u00a0smile.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0only\u00a0speculating.\u00a0I\u00a0had\u00a0no\u00a0intention\u00a0of\u00a0accusing\u00a0Sydney.\u00a0After\u00a0all,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0my\u00a0sister\u2013in\u2013law.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u2019s\u00a0smile\u00a0never\u00a0faltered\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0replied\u00a0with\u00a0gentle\u00a0precision,\u00a0\u201cMs.\u00a0Monroe,\u00a0if\u00a0you\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0only\u00a0speculation,\u00a0perhaps\u00a0next\u00a0time\u00a0you\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0speak\u00a0so\u00a0carelessly.\u00a0If\u00a0Sydney\u00a0is\u00a0wronged,\u00a0her\u00a0brother\u00a0will\u00a0naturally\u00a0be\u00a0very\u00a0upset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0quickly\u00a0stepped\u00a0in.\u00a0\u201cMs.\u00a0Lindstrom,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0all\u00a0family\u00a0here.\u00a0Penny\u00a0just\u00a0misspoke\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0heat\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0moment.\u00a0Of\u00a0course\u00a0the\u00a0Hampton\u00a0family\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0allow\u00a0Sydney\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0wronged.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u00a0smiled\u00a0again,\u00a0clearly\u00a0speaking\u00a0for\u00a0Julian.\u00a0\u201cThen\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0best.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u00a0handed\u00a0a\u00a0gift\u00a0to\u00a0Dorothy.\u00a0\u201cMadam\u00a0Hampton,\u00a0wishing\u00a0you\u00a0blessings\u00a0as\u00a0vast\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0sea,\u00a0and\u00a0a\u00a0life\u00a0as\u00a0enduring\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank\u00a0you.\u201d\u00a0Dorothy\u00a0accepted\u00a0the\u00a0gift\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0smile,\u00a0then\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Julian.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0rare\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0young\u00a0lady\u00a0at\u00a0your\u00a0side.\u00a0Is\u00a0something\u00a0good\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0horizon?\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u00a0blushed\u00a0but\u00a0said\u00a0nothing.\u00a0She\u00a0waited\u00a0for\u00a0Julian\u00a0to\u00a0speak.<\/p>\n
Since\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0entered\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0once.\u00a0She\u00a0stood\u00a0with\u00a0perfect\u00a0composure,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0belong.\u00a0She\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0placeholder.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0had\u00a0defended\u00a0Penelope\u00a0with\u00a0every\u00a0word.\u00a0And\u00a0the\u00a0place\u00a0beside\u00a0Julian\u00a0now\u00a0belonged\u00a0to\u00a0someone\u00a0else.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0know\u00a0where\u00a0to\u00a0rest\u00a0her\u00a0gaze.\u00a0No\u00a0matter\u00a0how\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0it,\u00a0Sydney\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0the\u00a0extra\u00a0one.<\/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 89 Chapter\u00a089\u00a0 Sydney\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0bother\u00a0arguing\u00a0with\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0nonsense.\u00a0She\u00a0turned\u00a0to\u00a0Dorothy\u00a0and\u00a0said,\u00a0\u201cGrandma,\u00a0the\u00a0incident\u00a0has\u00a0already\u00a0been\u00a0reported\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0police.\u00a0The\u00a0investigation\u00a0is\u00a0still\u00a0ongoing.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0twist\u00a0the\u00a0facts!\u201d\u00a0Penelope\u2019s\u00a0voice\u00a0rang\u00a0with\u00a0righteous\u00a0indignation,\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0mother\u00a0protecting\u00a0her\u00a0child.\u00a0\u201cTimmy\u00a0was\u00a0hurt,\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0were\u00a0the\u00a0only\u00a0one\u00a0there.\u00a0If\u00a0it\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0you,\u00a0then\u00a0who?\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0days,\u00a0and\u00a0you\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0visited\u00a0him.\u00a0If\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0a\u00a0guilty\u00a0conscience,\u00a0what\u00a0is?\u201d Sydney\u00a0was\u00a0honestly\u00a0stunned\u00a0by\u00a0how\u00a0warped\u00a0her\u00a0logic\u00a0could\u00a0be. […]<\/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-22072","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\/22072","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=22072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22072\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}