Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash 11
hapter 11
The excitement in his eyes dimmed slightly.
Was she having second thoughts?
“Kevin,” Madeleine said suddenly, her tone serious.
Kevin’s face immediately paled.
“Who bought you these pajamas? You look like a little old man,”
she declared.
Kevin was dumbfounded.
What was she talking about?
He looked down at his dark blue silk pajamas. They were a
simple, classic style without any fancy designs.
They were exactly like the ones Roderick wore.
Did that make Roderick an old man?
“This won’t do. I’m taking you shopping tomorrow for some new
clothes. You’re much too cute to be dressed so plainly. It’s
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practically a crime.”
She had wanted to complain when she saw him in that stuffy
little suit jacket earlier in the day–it was far too formal and not
at all suitable for a child his age.
“Why are you still standing there? Aren’t you cold? Come over
here. I’ve warmed up your side of the bed.”
She patted the empty space beside her, her own heart fluttering
with a mix of anticipation and excitement.
She got to sleep cuddling such an adorable little boy tonight.
The very thought of it made her incredibly happy. No one had
ever told her that having a child–and skipping all the pain of
childbirth–could feel this wonderful.
Kevin was overjoyed. His face lit up as he scrambled onto the
bed toward her.
It was so warm and carried a faint, pleasant fragrance. Was this
what Mommy smelled like?
He had never felt happier.
“Alright, Kev, time for sleep. Tomorrow, after we get up, we’ll go
shopping, and then you’ll accompany me to a performance in
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the evening. Sound good?”
“Yes!”
“Great. Now, time for some bedtime stories,” Madeleine
offered.
Kevin stared at her, his eyes wide.
Really? Was she going to tell him stories? Roderick was always
the one who did that.
Having no experience in coaxing a child to sleep, Madeleine
thought for a moment and began telling him classic tales like
Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood.
But he listened with rapt attention, occasionally interrupting to
ask, “And then what happened?”
She was surprised. “You’ve never heard these stories before?”
He shook his head.
“Daddy has never told me any of these.”
“Then what does he tell you?”
Thinking for a while, Kevin answered, “Lately? ‘Einstein’s
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Autobiography“.”
Madeleine was rendered speechless.
The world had truly gone mad.
Roderick had been the most rebellious and unruly child she knew. How, during the years she couldn’t remember, had he morphed into such a serious figure?
Kevin was just a little boy. Why did he need to know about Einstein’s life? This was the age for him to be filled with fairy
tales!
“Kev,” she promised, “if you like the stories I tell, I’ll tell you one every single day from now on. How does that sound?”
Kevin was on the verge of tears.
This felt like a dream–a wonderful, happy dream.
Why else would Madeleine suddenly be so kind to him?
He fought back the tears and nodded vigorously.
After she finished another story, they both yawned, nestling close to each other before drifting into a deep, sound sleep.
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Even as he fell asleep, Kevin kept a tight grip on Madeleine’s
finger, afraid that if he let go, he would wake up and find it all
had been a dream.
At 5:30 a.m. in Phelrania.
The plane touched down. Roderick and Gerry switched on their
phones simultaneously.
A bank notification about his card being used abroad
immediately popped up on Roderick’s screen, which he
forwarded to Gerry. Within five minutes, Gerry had traced the
transaction to a downtown hotel.
In a hotel…
With each step, Roderick’s footsteps grew heavier, a bitterness
so profound it threatened to suffocate him.
Madeleine came all this way just for Edward.
“How many rooms did she book?”
“One…”
Before Gerry could finish speaking, Roderick halted abruptly, his
eyes burning with fury.
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Only one room? Where was Kevin supposed to be?
Was Madeleine so shameless that she would bring Kevin with her while she was doing it with Edward?
He knew her. She’d probably left Kevin waiting outside the door!
“Madeleine, how could you? How could you be so heartless?”
He cursed under his breath, his eyes reddening.
He knew she didn’t love him, but to treat Kevin with such cruelty… Kevin had never done anything to deserve this.
Following behind, Gerry felt a lump form in his own throat, his eyes distressed as he watched Roderick’s rigid back.
He didn’t understand. Roderick was exceptional in every way.
Why was his affection fixated solely on Madeleine?
Was it merely because they were childhood sweethearts? Yet,
she had shattered his heart so ruthlessly…
“To the hotel,” Roderick commanded.
“OK.”
Gerry nodded and quickly retrieved the car from the airport, a
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sense of unease growing inside him.
He was now driving Roderick to catch Madeleine in the act. Now, only one thought filled his mind–would he be silenced
afterwards?
He could only hope the impending confrontation wouldn’t be
too ugly.
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.