Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash 74
Chapter 74
It looked like he didn’t want to talk about it.
Oh well. Since Ricki didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t
bring it up. It was always right to listen to him.
Madeleine thought, glancing at Roderick’s profile.
It’s so strange. Her sworn enemy had somehow become the
person she trusted most…
The Livingston family’s residence hadn’t changed, but the
house had been renovated.
The moment Madeleine walked in, she almost thought she’d
been transported to the botanical gardens.
“I remember your dad used to like European architecture, didn’t
he?”
Roderick grunted in agreement, continuing with a deadpan
expression, “The year we got married, he took a trip to Tuscany.
He came back saying he’d had an epiphany about the true
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meaning of life.”
“What meaning?”
“That Chinese–style architecture brings wealth.”
Madeleine: …
That’s great. That’s truly a life lesson we should all master.
Just as they entered, Madeleine heard the sound of a lute from
the folk opera in the courtyard.
Looking closer, next to the artfully arranged decorative garden
rocks, a gentle–looking woman in a little black dress with her
hair pinned up was playing a lute.
And the person sipping tea and enjoying the performance
across from her was none other than Roderick’s father.
“That’s Mrs. Miller.”
Roderick reminded her in a low voice.
Before coming, the two had agreed not to mention the amnesia
for now. They would just get through lunch, and Roderick would
explain everything to his father later.
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Madeleine nodded, her eyes unable to resist studying the
woman.
She looked very young, probably not even forty.
She had the typical look of a woman from the water towns-
small, delicate features, and her voice had a soft, melodic
accent. Very gentle.
But looking at her, Madeleine felt a sense of familiarity.
That face… was so familiar.
As she was pondering, the two of them noticed the family of
three entering.
Mrs. Miller stopped playing the lute, let out a small “ah,” and
stood up. “You’re back?”
She turned and playfully scolded Owen:
“It’s all your fault, listening to that folk opera. You didn’t even
notice the kids were back.”
Owen had been smiling, but his expression clearly tightened
when his eyes landed on Madeleine.
Luckily, Madeleine was prepared and flashed her signature
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wide smile first.
Hard to be mad at a smiling face, after all.
As Madeleine got closer, before she could even say hello, Mrs.
Miller came over and affectionately took her hand.
“It’s been over half a month since we’ve seen each other. Did
you miss me?”
Madeleine stared, not making a sound, Roderick’s words
echoing in her head: stay away from her.
She slowly turned to give Roderick a pleading look.
Should I say I missed her… or not?
The moment her eyes met Roderick’s beautiful ones, it hit her.
She realized why this Mrs. Miller felt so familiar
“Didn’t you hear what Mrs. Miller said?”
Owen frowned, his tone serious.
Madeleine quickly snapped out of it and forced a laugh at the
familiar face. “Of course I did.”
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This face… she looked about sixty or seventy percent like
Ricki’s real mom!
Oh my god, isn’t this a real–life case of a stand–in for his lost
love?
His dad hadn’t forgotten his ex–wife after all these years of
being divorced, so he married a woman who looked similar to
her.
Well, for a moment, Madeleine didn’t know which couple to root
for.
Realizing she hadn’t greeted him yet, Madeleine quickly turned
to Owen. “Hello, Owen.”
As soon as she said it, Owen’s face fell.
“You don’t even call me Dad anymore. Do you two even plan on
staying together?!
Madeleine flinched and quickly corrected herself. “Dad!
I was just… joking with you.”
This is bad, so bad. She had forgotten her status as a married
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woman.
Owen kept a stern face, wanting to scold her, but seeing
Madeleine’s strained smile, he held back.
When he called that brat this morning about dinner, he’d
surprisingly said he was bringing Madeleine along.
Owen was furious.
The Livingston family had been turned upside down these past
few years, and the already cracked relationship between him
and Roderick was like an erupting volcano.
Owen didn’t understand. He used to like the young Madeleine.
But he liked the innocent, bright, and adorable little Maddie!
In the years since, what a mess she had become.
Why wouldn’t his son divorce a disaster like her sooner, instead
of keeping her around like some kind of masochist.
He was just crazy..
But on the phone, Roderick had said Madeleine had toned it
down a lot recently, and that the child couldn’t be without her.
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If he wasn’t willing to let him bring her back for dinner, then
their whole family wouldn’t come back.
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.