Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash 21`
Their plan had been to stay one more night after the show and
head home the next day.
But Roderick got a call about urgent work that needed him back
at the office.
Madeleine thought it over. Leaving him to go alone didn’t sit right. After a quick chat with Kevin, they decided to head back
that night as a family.
“Besides, you’ll get a day to chill tomorrow, Kev, and still make it
to kindergarten without missing a beat,” she said.
Kevin’s expression faltered for a split second before he nodded,
his smile returning. “Okay.”
Madeleine caught the flicker in his eyes, her maternal instincts
kicking in.
“Kev, you don’t like kindergarten?”
Roderick glanced down at their son, his gaze steady.
Kevin’s small frame stiffened briefly before he flashed a bright
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grin, shaking his head.
“No, I love it!”
Madeleine didn’t respond, but she wasn’t fooled. That smile
was a little too forced, and she knew her boy was hiding
something.
By the time they rolled back into Valenburg, dawn was breaking
on the second day.
The jet lag had taken its toll. Madeleine, yawning relentlessly,
collapsed onto the bed the moment they got home, sinking into
a deep, exhausted sleep.
Roderick, pressed for time with urgent work, tucked Kevin in
and headed straight to the office.
On the way, Gerry, his assistant, couldn’t resist his curiosity.
“Mr. Livingston, is Mrs. Livingston…?”
Roderick, who’d been resting his eyes, snapped them open at
the mention of her name.
Gerry, realizing he’d overstepped, clamped his mouth shut.
“Sorry, Mr. Livingston. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
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It was an unspoken rule. No matter how outrageous
Madeleine’s actions were, Roderick never tolerated a word
against her.
Not even a whisper of gossip was allowed.
Rumors swirled in the office that Roderick must be under some
kind of love spell, bewitched by his wife’s charm.
“Keep going,” Roderick said.
Roderick didn’t rebuke him.
Gerry blinked, caught off guard, then cleared his throat,
choosing his words carefully. “It’s just… Mrs. Livingston
seemed different this trip. More… normal, I guess.”
Compared to the old Madeleine, these past few days she’d
seemed refreshingly human.
Roderick didn’t interrupt, so Gerry pressed on, treading lightly.
“Before, whenever Mrs. Livingston spoke with you, it was like a
robot. You two couldn’t go three sentences without quarreling.
And toward Mr. Kevin, she treated him like he was someone
else’s child. But these past few days, I’ve noticed… she’s been
very good to Mr. Kevin.”
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Fearing he’d gone too far, Gerry quickly added, “Not that she’s
ever been unkind to you, sir.”
Roderick’s face remained unreadable, but Gerry, who’d worked
for him for years, could read the subtle signs. The slight
softening in Roderick’s eyes betrayed a flicker of quiet joy.
At the office, Roderick gave Gerry a task.
“Find out what Madeleine was doing the past few days–where
she went, who she met, and, if possible, what they talked
about.”
“Understood,” Gerry replied, nodding.
Back in his office, Roderick made a call.
The line picked up quickly, and a carefree, teasing voice came
through.
“Mr. Livingston, finally coming around? I told you, too much
abstinence isn’t good for a man’s health. Since you called, I’ll
throw a party tonight…”
“Shut it,” Roderick cut him off, his voice sharp.
The man on the other end choked on his words, pausing for a
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beat.
“Fine, fine, have it your way. No wonder your wife’s giving you
the cold shoulder.”
He chuckled, then turned serious. “Alright, no more joking.
You’re calling me at this hour, so it’s gotta be something big.
What’s up?”
“I need you to arrange a medical checkup.”
“For whom? You? Look, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m a
doctor, and you can tell me…”
Roderick pinched the bridge of his nose, barely containing his
irritation.
If this fool had been in front of him right now, he would have
punched him senseless.
The man, sensing Roderick’s rising temper, dropped the act.
“Alright, alright, I’m serious now. What kind of checkup? What’s
the focus?”
“Brain,” Roderick said, pausing before adding, “It’s for
Madeleine.”
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“Madeleine?”
The man gasped, his tone turning grave. “Well, it’s about time. I’ve said it all along–your wife’s brain definitely isn’t normal.”
Roderick hung up before the guy could say another word, his
patience worn thin.
One more jab, and he’d have driven across town to deck him.
***
Madeleine woke in the early afternoon, her body heavy with the
lingering haze of sleep. A hot shower and a fresh change of
clothes finally revived her.
As she headed downstairs, she spotted Kirsten arranging a
bouquet of freshly bought flowers.
“Kirsten, where’s Kev?”
“Mrs. Livingston, Mr. Kevin’s in his room with Dr. Clark,” Kirsten
replied.
“Dr. Clark?” Madeleine’s heart skipped, her voice tightening with
worry. “Is something wrong with Kev?”
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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’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
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