Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash ` 342
Chapter 342
Chapter 342
In the empty garage, there was nothing but the sound of their
ragged breaths and soft, intimate murmurs.
He didn’t know how long it was before he reluctantly let her go,
his thumb gently tracing her swollen, glistening lips. His eyes
were dark with lingering desire and deep satisfaction.
“This is just the beginning,” he said, his voice hoarse and full of
promise. “From now on, I’m going to make up for everything I
owe you, bit by bit.”
Madeleine leaned into his embrace, her cheek against his warm
chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. She felt
completely wrapped in a blanket of overwhelming happiness.
It was as if the bitterness of the past was truly being soothed and smoothed away by that deep kiss this morning.
“Ricki.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you hiding something from me?”
Chapter 342
Roderick’s body tensed almost imperceptibly.
It was just for a moment, then he chuckled, “What could I
possibly be hiding from you?”
Madeleine looked up.
“Last week, I went to your office, and you stopped talking to Gerry halfway through when you saw me. The day before
yesterday, you took a call during dinner, and you turned away
from me to take it.”
She frowned slightly.
“And today, why did you kiss me for no reason?
We’ve known each other for over twenty years. Don’t even think
about hiding things from me.”
Roderick looked away.
He always looks away like that when he’s feeling guilty.
Madeleine’s heart sank. She had only been testing him, trying to
get a reaction, but now it seemed there really was something
wrong.
She nervously grabbed Roderick’s jacket.
Chapter 342
“Is there something wrong with your health? Are the side
effects back?”
“Do you have a headache? A stomachache? Does anywhere
hurt?”
“Have you seen Edward recently?
Ricki, say something!”
Madeleine grew anxious and couldn’t help but stomp her foot,
her eyes turning red.
Roderick quickly held her by the shoulders.
“You asked so many questions at once. At least give me a
chance to answer.”
Seeing her so anxious she was about to cry, Roderick felt both
sorry for her and a little helpless.
He sighed, pulling Madeleine back into his arms, his large hand
gently stroking her back.
“No, my health is fine. Don’t worry. It’s just work stuff. I’ve been a bit busy lately, that’s all.”
“Really?”
Chapter 342
Madeleine sniffled, looking up at Roderick, still unconvinced.
The feeling of loss was too painful.
For the past few years, she had been like a body with a trapped
soul, feeling love drain away every single second.
She was terrified of enduring that kind of pain a second time.
Even more terrified of making Roderick feel that pain too.
“Yeah, really.”
Roderick said, glancing at the time, “I have a meeting soon. I’ll
take you to Leona’s place first.”
“No need. If you’re in a hurry, just drive to the office. I’ll get a
cab or wait for Mathew to come back and get me.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“It’s really fine. Your work is more important.”
Madeleine said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss the corner of
Roderick’s mouth.
“Go on.”
Chapter 342
Roderick’s taillights disappeared around the corner. Madeleine
stood there, the doubt in her heart not completely gone despite
his reassurance.
Her twenty–plus years of knowing him told her that while
Roderick’s explanation was reasonable, his initial stiffness and
averted gaze meant it was more than just being busy with work.
She sighed and took out her phone to call a car.
Sitting in the taxi, watching the street scenes fly by, Madeleine
felt more and more uneasy the more she thought about it.
She needed to talk to someone, to vent her frustration.
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. On the
other end, Rebecca’s voice came through:
“Madeleine, why are you calling me so early in the morning?
Did you miss me?”
“Rebecca, are you busy?”
“Not really, I’m not too busy.”
Rebecca said, switching the phone to her other hand and asking
in a low, worried voice, “What’s wrong? Did something happen.
Chapter 342
over there?”
“Not exactly.”
Madeleine hesitated for a moment before finally saying,
“Rebecca, I think Roderick is hiding something from me.”
She told Rebecca everything she’d observed, detail by detail,
including the conversation in the garage, and ended with a
frustrated summary:
“He said it was about work, but I just feel like something’s off.
Do you think… maybe something’s wrong with his health again, and he’s not telling me because he doesn’t want me to worry?”
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, a silence
that felt strange to Madeleine.
Normally, Rebecca would have already jumped in to help her
analyze the situation, or just declared she was going to find
Roderick and demand an explanation.
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.