Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash ` 287
And his hand was tightly, carefully holding hers, as if it were a long–lost treasure he refused to let go of even in his sleep.
She had actually… stayed by his side and fallen asleep slumped
over like that?
Bradley’s heart felt like it had been struck by something. A
tender, aching emotion instantly spread through him, mixed
with an indescribable heartache.
Ox +
He had been exhausted yesterday, grabbing her almost by
instinct, not letting her leave, but he never expected she would
actually indulge him like this, staying with him for so long in
such an uncomfortable position.
He moved slightly and found that his body, stiff from the deep
sleep, had regained a good deal of strength. Although the
fatigue was still there, he no longer felt as drained as before.
He very slowly and carefully let go of Charlotte’s hand, afraid of
waking her.
Then, he propped himself up and sat up quietly.
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Looking at the way she was slumped over asleep, Bradley’s
brow furrowed slightly.
Sleeping like this, she would definitely be sore all over when she
woke up.
Without much hesitation, he leaned down, carefully sliding one
hand behind her neck and the other under her knees, and with
the gentlest motion possible, scooped Charlotte up into his
arms.
Charlotte murmured unconsciously in her sleep, her head
instinctively nuzzling into his chest for warmth, but she didn’t
wake up.
She seemed utterly exhausted, or perhaps just felt an
inexplicable sense of peace by his side, sleeping soundly.
Bradley’s heart melted completely at her unconscious act of
dependence.
He held his breath, as if holding fragile glass, and very slowly
placed her in the center of the bed he had just left, which still
held his warmth and scent. He pulled the thin blanket over,
carefully tucking it up to her chin.
After doing all this, he stood by the bed and watched her quietly
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for a moment.
In her sleep, Charlotte had shed her usual coldness and
distance, looking exceptionally soft and gentle.,
A deep tenderness he himself hadn’t noticed flashed in
Bradley’s eyes. He very lightly brushed the strands of hair from
her cheek, his touch as gentle as if he were touching a beautiful
dream.
Then, he straightened up and glanced around the neat but
somewhat impersonal apartment, toward the kitchen.
She must be hungry.
After watching over him for so long, she surely hadn’t eaten
anything.
Bradley turned and walked quietly to the kitchen.
He opened the fridge. The ingredients weren’t plentiful, but
there was enough to make something simple.
He took out some eggs and a few simple vegetables, and
began to prepare them with skilled, quiet movements.
Before long, the faint aroma of food began to fill the apartment,
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bringing the first touch of the warmth of worldly life into the
cold space.
The simple home–cooked meal was ready. As Bradley came out
of the room with a bowl, he found that Charlotte had woken up
at some point and was standing by the window, on the phone.
“I know, Mom. Don’t worry, I won’t… be with him.”
Bradley’s heart sank.
Him.
Was she talking about me?
After speaking, Charlotte heard a noise behind her and
awkwardly hung up.
“You’re awake?”
Bradley came over and put the plate on the table.
“The fridge is so empty. You don’t usually cook?”
“I’m usually busy with work, and… I just got back to the country
and haven’t settled in yet.”
Bradley’s words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed
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them back down.
He wanted to ask Charlotte what that phone call was about.
Who was the person she couldn’t be with.
He also wanted to ask her how long she planned to stay this
time.
He didn’t ask because right now, he just wanted to have a nice
meal with Charlotte.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a peaceful meal
with Charlotte.
“When did you learn to cook?”
Charlotte’s expression was still a bit unnatural. She quickly
changed the subject, pulling out a chair with a smile and sitting
down.
On the table was a Tomato & Egg Stir–fry and some Sautéed
Napa Cabbage. She’d forgotten when she even bought them.
“The year you left.”
Charlotte’s smile faltered slightly.
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Then she put on a relaxed expression again. “See, what did I tell
you? People grow up. Back then, with your rich–kid attitude, you
probably couldn’t even serve rice, let alone cook.”
“Yeah.”
Bradley served Charlotte a bowl of rice and handed it to her, the
corner of his mouth lifting slightly as he seemed to get lost in
old memories.
“In my first year of high school, my dad cut off my allowance
and only let me eat at the cafeteria. I refused and almost
starved to death.”
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Chapter 288
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.