Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash `193
“I’m sorry, Miss Bell. My husband’s been waiting a long time for
me, I have to go.”
“Madeleine…”
“I don’t want to get involved in anything related to Edward
anymore. The only person who can save you is you.”
With that, she gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
It wasn’t that she was being heartless. It was just as she’d said:
if Fiona was also being controlled, she could only wake up on
her own.
Walking straight over to Roderick, Madeleine asked him why he
hadn’t gone inside to wait.
“I was worried you wouldn’t find me.”
Roderick chuckled. Without asking what they’d talked about, he
naturally put his arm around Madeleine’s waist and they walked inside together.
Fiona watched their backs as they walked away together.
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Roderick’s hand remained protectively on the small of
Madeleine’s back. That instinctual, protective gesture felt like
another heavy blow to her.
That’s what love is.
Ever since Rebecca followed Adrian into the restaurant, she’d
been on edge.
Especially since Roderick and Madeleine hadn’t arrived yet, she
felt even more anxious.
The room was full of people, some of whom she had seen at
other events.
She wondered if she would be recognized…
If she was, wouldn’t all her previous efforts be for nothing?
So, when Adrian turned his head to see if Rebecca was
following, he found she had quietly put on a mask.
“What’s wrong?”
Adrian had a gentle smile on his face, and he leaned down
slightly, close to Rebecca’s ear as he spoke.
Rebecca instinctively shrank back.
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Thankfully, with the mask and sunglasses, her slight discomfort
wasn’t noticeable.
“It’s nothing. Someone was just smoking, and I don’t like the
smell.”
“I see…”
Adrian nodded, holding back a laugh.
She should at least come up with a better lie; there was a huge
“No Indoor Smoking” sign outside the private dining room door
when they came in.
The organizers, not daring to offend anyone, were arranging the
seats according to the status of the important guests.
Rebecca felt a little nervous.
Although it was a medical seminar, in the end, this was a world
run by money.
What if they gave Adrian the cold shoulder?
Just as Rebecca was secretly wondering if she should call her
assistant to arrange some “special treatment,” she saw the head organizer respectfully leading Adrian toward the main
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table.
“Professor Shaw, your seat is right here.”
Rebecca glanced at the table; they were all industry leaders.
He nodded slightly in thanks, then said a few more words to the
organizer, the gist of which was to switch the seats so Rebecca
could sit with Mr. Livingston’s wife.
Behind her mask, Rebecca’s mouth couldn’t help but fall slightly
open.
Wait… had she underestimated Adrian?
Before long, Madeleine and Roderick arrived.
While Adrian was talking to someone, Rebecca told Madeleine
about her recent discovery.
“I told you Adrian is a real gem! I have to poach him. Whether
the Whitman group can break into the top tier of
pharmaceutical companies depends on him!”
Madeleine stifled a laugh.
Rebecca was so silly, still thinking he was just an ordinary
professor.
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Halfway through the business banquet, after a few rounds of
drinks, the atmosphere at the table gradually warmed up.
A few of the bosses were flushed from drinking, their eyes
losing focus.
One of the balding bosses, emboldened by the alcohol, scanned
the table before his gaze finally landed on Rebecca.
“This young lady must be Professor Shaw’s student, right?”
Mr. Reid chuckled, picked up a glass and the liquor decanter,
and swayed over to Rebecca’s side. “Come on, have a drink with
your uncle here, liven things up a bit.”
Rebecca froze for a second and glanced down at her outfit.
It really did look like something a student would wear…
She frowned, wondering how to handle it, as Madeleine beside
her also frowned, preparing to turn him down for her.
Mr. Reid’s eyes had initially been on Madeleine, but wary of her
being Roderick’s wife, he had quickly looked away and decided
to target Rebecca instead.
It was a common flaw in men like him, always looking for a
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young girl to entertain them when they drank.
Before Madeleine could speak, Adrian suddenly stood up.
“Sorry, Mr. Reid. My girlfriend is allergic to alcohol. I’ll drink this
one for her.”
With that, he threw his head back and downed the Vodka, his
Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.
Mr. Reid finally realized he’d been out of line and quickly forced
a smile.
“Oh, so you’re Professor Shaw’s girlfriend. My mistake, my
mistake.”
Everyone at the table looked over, surprised by what Adrian had
just said.
Adrian didn’t say anything, he just refilled his glass.
“Mr. Reid, this one’s for you.”
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.