Charlotte\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0quite\u00a0understand\u00a0what\u00a0that\u00a0line\u00a0meant,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0atmosphere\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0elevator\u00a0turned\u00a0awkward<\/p>\n
in\u00a0an\u00a0instant.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0noticed\u00a0the\u00a0flicker\u00a0of\u00a0discomfort\u00a0on\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0face\u00a0and\u00a0almost\u00a0laughed.\u00a0Then\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0met\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0direct,\u00a0unwavering\u00a0gaze.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs.\u00a0Wilson,\u00a0seems\u00a0like\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0too\u00a0busy\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0project.\u00a0No\u00a0need\u00a0for\u00a0overtime?\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u00a0was\u00a0a jab\u00a0without\u00a0bias.\u00a0He\u00a0spared\u00a0no\u00a0one.<\/p>\n
Every\u00a0word\u00a0reeked\u00a0of\u00a0textbook\u00a0capitalism,\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0he\u00a0wanted\u00a0everyone\u00a0to\u00a0work\u00a0themselves\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0ground.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s\u00a0smile\u00a0faltered.\u00a0She\u00a0replied\u00a0stiffly,\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s\u00a0left\u00a0can\u00a0be\u00a0done\u00a0from\u00a0home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh?\u201d\u00a0Julian\u00a0tilted\u00a0his\u00a0head,\u00a0thoughtful.\u00a0\u201cEven\u00a0a\u00a0hopeless\u00a0romantic\u00a0like\u00a0you\u00a0still\u00a0has\u00a0energy\u00a0for\u00a0after\u2013hours\u00a0work?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0rarely\u00a0felt\u00a0embarrassed,\u00a0but\u00a0she\u00a0wanted\u00a0nothing\u00a0more\u00a0than\u00a0to\u00a0throw\u00a0herself\u00a0down\u00a0the\u00a0elevator\u00a0shaft\u00a0right\u00a0now.<\/p>\n
Everyone\u00a0probably\u00a0assumed\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0wanted\u00a0to\u00a0marry\u00a0Caleb\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0obsessive\u00a0love.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0certainly\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0notice\u00a0her\u00a0discomfort.\u00a0If\u00a0anything,\u00a0he\u00a0looked\u00a0pleased,\u00a0chuckling\u00a0softly.\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t\u00a0tease\u00a0her.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0shy\u00a0girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a0elevator\u00a0arrived\u00a0smoothly\u00a0at\u00a0B1.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0the group\u00a0stepped\u00a0out,\u00a0another\u00a0elevator\u00a0door\u00a0opened\u00a0nearby.\u00a0A\u00a0department\u00a0director\u00a0rushed\u00a0out,\u00a0panting,\u00a0and\u00a0hurried\u00a0to\u00a0Julian.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0an\u00a0urgent\u00a0file\u00a0that\u00a0needs\u00a0your\u00a0signature.\u201d<\/p>\n
Julian\u00a0immediately\u00a0straightened.\u00a0He\u00a0took\u00a0the\u00a0folder,\u00a0pulled\u00a0a\u00a0fountain\u00a0pen\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0suit\u00a0pocket,\u00a0and\u00a0signed\u00a0his\u00a0name\u00a0in\u00a0fluid\u00a0strokes.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0recognized\u00a0the\u00a0handwriting.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0strong\u00a0and\u00a0deliberate,\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0taught\u00a0her\u00a0calligraphy\u00a0once,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0own\u00a0writing\u00a0still\u00a0carried\u00a0traces\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0style.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0was\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0away\u00a0when\u00a0her\u00a0gaze\u00a0caught\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0pen\u00a0in\u00a0his\u00a0hand,\u00a0She\u00a0froze.\u00a0\u201cMr.\u00a0Sterling,\u00a0why\u00a0do\u00a0you\u00a0have\u00a0that\u00a0pen?\u201d<\/p>\n
it\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0irthday\u00a0gift\u00a0she\u00a0had\u00a0given\u00a0Bruce.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0one\u00a0at\u00a0a\u00a0kind,\u00a0custom\u2013made\u00a0fountam\u00a0pen.\u00a0There\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0another\u00a0like\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u00a0gave\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0me,\u201d\u00a0Julian\u00a0said\u00a0casually<\/p>\n
He\u00a0raised\u00a0an\u00a0eyebrow,\u00a0capped\u00a0the\u00a0post,\u00a0and\u00a0slipped\u00a0it\u00a0blote\u00a0his\u00a0pocket.\u00a0\u201cSaid\u00a0it\u00a0suited\u00a0me.\u00a0So\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0who\u00a0gave\u00a0it\u00a0to\u00a0lum?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0respond\u00a0he\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0make\u00a0sense\u00a0of\u00a0i<\/p>\n
Why\u00a0would\u00a0Bruce\u00a0think\u00a0a\u00a0pen\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0tiny\u00a0suited\u00a0hulian?\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0seem\u00a0like\u00a0someone\u00a0who\u00a0believed\u00a0in\u00a0light\u00a0at\u00a0all<\/p>\n
After\u00a0she\u00a0and\u00a0Caleb\u00a0lett,\u00a0Charlotte\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0drifted\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0pen\u00a0still\u00a0poking\u00a0from\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0pocket.\u00a0At\u00a0last,\u00a0she\u00a0exhaled\u00a0quietly<\/p>\n
9\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a097<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
Not\u00a0long\u00a0ago,\u00a0Julian\u00a0had\u00a0suddenly\u00a0stopped\u00a0using\u00a0the\u00a0pen\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0carried\u00a0for\u00a0years.\u00a0He\u00a0seemed\u00a0to\u00a0treasure\u00a0this\u00a0new\u00a0one,\u00a0even\u00a0handling\u00a0the\u00a0daily\u00a0cleaning\u00a0himself.\u00a0He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0let\u00a0anyone\u00a0else\u00a0touch\u00a0it.<\/p>\n
For\u00a0days,\u00a0Charlotte\u00a0had\u00a0felt\u00a0uneasy.\u00a0Every\u00a0time\u00a0she\u00a0saw\u00a0that\u00a0pen,\u00a0suspicion\u00a0crept\u00a0in.\u00a0She\u00a0had\u00a0feared\u00a0he\u00a0might\u00a0be\u00a0interested\u00a0in\u00a0another\u00a0woman.\u00a0But\u00a0now\u00a0that\u00a0she\u00a0knew\u00a0it\u00a0had\u00a0come\u00a0from\u00a0Sydney,\u00a0it\u00a0made\u00a0sense.\u00a0There\u00a0was\u00a0nothing\u00a0strange\u00a0about\u00a0cherishing something\u00a0from\u00a0his\u00a0sister.<\/p>\n
Caleb\u00a0took\u00a0Sydney\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0high\u2013end\u00a0restaurant.\u00a0He\u00a0had\u00a0booked\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0entire\u00a0place.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0clearly\u00a0his\u00a0way\u00a0of\u00a0apologizing.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0meant\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0sincere.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout\u00a0what\u00a0happened\u00a0with\u00a0Timmy,\u00a0I\u00a0really\u00a0did\u00a0misunderstand\u00a0you,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0said,\u00a0sitting\u00a0across\u00a0from\u00a0her\u00a0after\u00a0they\u00a0ordered.\u00a0\u201cAs\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0harsh words\u00a0you\u00a0threw\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0the\u00a0other\u00a0night,\u00a0let\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0pretend\u00a0I\u00a0never\u00a0heard\u00a0them,\u00a0alright?\u201d<\/p>\n
With\u00a0the\u00a0restaurant\u00a0empty,\u00a0only\u00a0soft\u00a0piano\u00a0music\u00a0lingered\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0background.\u00a0It\u00a0felt\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0scene from\u00a0a\u00a0romantic\u00a0drama.\u00a0If\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0following\u00a0the\u00a0script,\u00a0the\u00a0female\u00a0lead\u00a0would\u00a0let it\u00a0go.<\/p>\n
Sydney\u00a0simply\u00a0listened\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0music\u00a0and\u00a0smiled\u00a0faintly.\u00a0\u201cAnd\u00a0what\u00a0about\u00a0Penelope?\u00a0She\u00a0accused\u00a0me.\u00a0You\u00a0once\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0apologize\u00a0to\u00a0her.\u00a0Shouldn\u2019t\u00a0she\u00a0be\u00a0the\u00a0one\u00a0apologizing\u00a0to\u00a0me\u00a0now?\u201d<\/p>\n
23<\/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 97 Charlotte\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0quite\u00a0understand\u00a0what\u00a0that\u00a0line\u00a0meant,\u00a0but\u00a0the\u00a0atmosphere\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0elevator\u00a0turned\u00a0awkward in\u00a0an\u00a0instant. Sydney\u00a0noticed\u00a0the\u00a0flicker\u00a0of\u00a0discomfort\u00a0on\u00a0Caleb\u2019s\u00a0face\u00a0and\u00a0almost\u00a0laughed.\u00a0Then\u00a0she\u00a0looked\u00a0up\u00a0and\u00a0met\u00a0Julian\u2019s\u00a0direct,\u00a0unwavering\u00a0gaze. \u201cMs.\u00a0Wilson,\u00a0seems\u00a0like\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0not\u00a0too\u00a0busy\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0project.\u00a0No\u00a0need\u00a0for\u00a0overtime?\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-22080","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\/22080","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=22080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22080\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}