\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 115\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t let things slide even if I\u2019m wrong.\u201d Julian\u2019s tone was mocking, yet each word landed with precision. \u201cTell me, why should I let someone off when I\u2019m the one in the right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The world had long called him an arrogant king of the underworld. Caleb hadn\u2019t expected him to be this ruthless-so ruthless that even their old brotherhood meant nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The standoff\u2019s tension thickened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Caleb shifted his gaze to the bedroom door. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we let Syd decide?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, Sydney\u2019s hand rested on the doorknob. She had heard everything. A faint, cold smile touched her lips as she opened the door and stepped out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Julian\u2019s expression eased slightly when he saw her. He ground out his cigarette, ready to beckon her closer, but she met his gaze and said quietly, flatly, \u201cLet\u2019s just drop it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His brows snapped together. \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice sounded calm as still water, yet his tone made her blood run cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her hands trembled, her face paling with each second. \u201cI said, let it go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure about that?\u201d His relentless dark eyes pinned her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her lashes quivered as she lowered her gaze. \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Julian let out a cold laugh and rose. His eyes stayed fixed on her so long that she almost crumpled under their weight. Finally, he spat the words, slow and dismissive. \u201cThen don\u2019t ever think anyone owes you a damn thing again. You asked for every mess you end up in.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He strode out, and his men followed without a word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Raymond had not expected it to end like this. He placed a small vial of medicine on the table. \u201cTake one more dose before bed. By tomorrow, you should be almost fully recovered.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sydney accepted it. \u201cThank you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had met Raymond before and knew that among Julian\u2019s so-called friends, he was the closest. Yet he rarely came to the Sterling estate, especially while she still lived there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After he left, Sydney closed her eyes, drew a long breath, and waited for her strength to return. Then she prepared to leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Caleb stepped forward, reaching to steady her. \u201cSyd, let me thank you on Penny\u2019s-\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She pulled back, stared straight at him, and said sharply, \u201cThank me? Isn\u2019t this exactly what you arranged? She should be thanking you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hadn\u2019t spoken it aloud before, but Adeline\u2019s repeated phone calls had jolted her awake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the line, Adeline had tried every tactic-soft words, threats-warning her not to escalate. \u201cPenny still carries the Hampton name. She\u2019s Timothy\u2019s birth mother. She can\u2019t afford scandal.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then came the threat: if Sydney caused trouble, Adeline would tell Eloise her divorce was finalized.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was almost laughable. She had nearly been defiled, yet she was the one being threatened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Caleb\u2019s brows tightened. \u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before Sydney could answer, his phone rang. After hanging up, his frown deepened. He glanced at her, concerned. \u201cYou\u2019ll be okay getting home by yourself?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/2\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018So fake,\u2019 she thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s smile was brittle. \u201cAnd if I said no, would you actually take me home?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Or would he, as before, dump her in some office and leave her there, forgotten?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSyd, I really do have work.\u201d His expression was earnest, yet he still tried to soothe her like a spoiled child. \u201cThe organizers will deliver the piece I bought tonight to Aurum Road in a couple of days. Remember to sign for it, alright?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGot it,\u201d she said flatly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He seemed relieved. Checking the time, he added, \u201cHead home early. I\u2019ll go first.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After he left, Sydney leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Pale, fragile, steeped in despair, she replayed Adeline\u2019s demands. Initially, she hadn\u2019t agreed. She had told Adeline to go ahead and inform Eloise. At worst, she would kneel for a few days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Adeline\u2019s voice had turned cruel. \u201cI heard she once killed your own dog. Now you\u2019re trying to seduce her most beloved grandson. When word reaches her, who do you think she\u2019ll harm this time? Maybe that best friend of yours, the lawyer?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
When The Ocean Learned My Name and Whispered It Back to You by Aurelia Novel 115 \u00a0 Chapter 115\u00a0 \u201cI […]<\/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-22097","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\/22097","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=22097"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22097\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}