Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash 32
Madeleine stifled a giggle, her lips twitching. Kids and their wild
imaginations–she couldn’t hold it against him.
By nine o’clock, Kirsten had given Kevin a bath.
After that, he emerged in his adorable bunny pajamas, the
floppy ears on his hood bouncing with every step.
Madeleine’s heart melted at the sight.
This kid was the perfect blend of her and Roderick.
“Sweetie,” she said, grinning, “if Daddy’s company ever goes
under, how about I sign you up to be a child model?”
Kevin tilted his head, unconcerned with modeling.
Instead, he asked seriously, “Is Daddy’s company going
bankrupt?”
Madeleine chuckled. “Just a what–if. I mean, look at your
grandpa–his company went bust, didn’t it?”
Kevin nodded, processing this with a gravity only a child could
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muster.
“Don’t worry, Mommy,” he said, his voice brimming with determination. “If Daddy’s company fails, he can work on a construction site. He won’t let you go hungry.”
Madeleine’s smile froze.
“Construction?” she echoed, blinking.
“Yeah!” Kevin said brightly. “In that show you were watching today, that’s what they did!”
Madeleine’s mouth twitched. The boy had been glued to her
side all day, and while she watched her show, he had been
playing nearby. She hadn’t noticed he was listening.
Now she realized she could never let him watch those dramas
with her again. They were corrupting him.
Roderick had been pampered since birth.
The idea of him toiling on a construction site was laughable.
She shook her head, amused. “Your dad’s not cut out for that,
buddy.”
She ruffled his hair and explained what construction work
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actually entailed.
Kevin listened intently, his little face serious.
By the end, he seemed convinced that construction required
great strength–and his dad wasn’t strong enough.
“Alright, it’s almost nine–thirty,” Madeleine said, tapping his
bunny–eared head.
“Time for bed. You’ve got kindergarten tomorrow.”
Kevin’s eyes drooped, a flicker of reluctance crossing his face.
“What’s wrong?” Madeleine asked, crouching to his level.
He shook his head quickly and squeezed his eyes shut.
Madeleine’s heart tugged. She could tell he was holding
something back. She had noticed it a few times over the past
days.
Kevin was sensitive, his emotions running deep, but he
struggled to voice them.
When it came to expressing his own needs, he couldn’t do it.
While other kids might beg for a toy or a treat, Kevin never did.
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He’d just stare with those big, hopeful eyes. And even if
someone guessed and asked, his first instinct was always to
shake his head.
Madeleine didn’t know much about psychology, but she knew
her son deserved to feel safe expressing his needs.
She sat up on the bed and flicked on the bedside lamp, its
warm glow casting soft shadows.
“Kev, can you tell Mommy what’s on your mind?” she asked
gently.
Kevin’s eyes popped open, surprised.
“Or maybe… what do you want right now?” she tried again.
He blinked, his little brain churning.
No one, except maybe Nanette, had ever asked him that before.
His dad and the household staff showered him with care,
anticipating his every need before he could even think to ask.
Madeleine saw his puzzled look and thought he didn’t
understand, so she tried again. “Is there something you’d like,
sweetheart?”
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“Kindergarten,” Kevin blurted, his eyes lighting up with hope as
he looked at her.
“Mommy, I want you to take me to kindergarten.”
Madeleine’s throat tightened, her words caught in a sudden
knot.
All that hesitation, all that quiet thinking, and this was his big
request? It was so simple, yet so heartbreaking.
“I’ve never taken you before, have I?” she asked, her lips
pressing together.
Kevin shook his head.
She could guess why. The old Madeleine–the one who’d. despised Kevin and Roderick—wouldn’t have bothered. Guilt
gnawed at her, sharp and relentless.
She reached out, stroking his hair.
“From now on, unless something big comes up, I’ll take you to
kindergarten. I promise.”
Kevin’s eyes widened, sparkling with disbelief and joy.
He felt like he’d been wrapped in a warm blanket of happiness,
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and everything was too good to be true.
“Really?” he whispered.
“Really,” Madeleine said, extending her pinky. “Let’s make it
official.”
Their fingers hooked together, and both burst into giggles, the
sound light and infectious.
***
In the study across the hall, Roderick had just finished his work.
His eyes were sore and burning.
He leaned back in his chair, pressing at the corners of his eyes.
Just then, Gerry called.
“Mr. Livingston, I’ve got the report on Mrs. Livingston’s recent
activities,” Gerry said on the other end.
Roderick’s expression hardened, his voice clipped.
“Go on.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary so far,” Gerry reported. “But the day
she met Edward, she fainted afterward. Then she took Mr.
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Kevin to the police station…”
Roderick’s jaw tightened.
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.