Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash 27
Chapter 27
Madeleine’s lips curved into a knowing smirk.
So her instincts had been right all along. The nouveau riche
were never truly secure. Just a few years, and Mary’s family
fortune had already crumbled.
She sighed, pulling out her card. “I used to cover you, sure. But
things are different now. My husband–my legal husband—
works hard for his money.”
She handed the card to the waiter.
“We’re splitting the bill.”
“Of course,” the waiter said. “The total is 20 thousand dollars-
10 thousand each.”
Madeleine’s jaw nearly dropped. 20 grand for lunch? If it weren’t
for Roderick’s wealth, she’d be eating bread for a month.
Mary’s face twisted, her teeth practically grinding.
She couldn’t believe Madeleine was making her pay her share.
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She wanted to argue, but with the waiter hovering, she swallowed her anger and dug out her credit card.
If she’d known it’d come to this, she wouldn’t have ordered
those two bottles of wine just to flex for Instagram. They’d cost
a fortune.
“Weren’t you saying something about shopping after this?” Madeleine asked, tucking her card away with a teasing smile.
Mary’s expression soured.
“Nah, I’m good. Got stuff to do,” she muttered, grabbing her bag
and making a quick exit.
She’d already spent enough today.
In fact, she had hoped to trick Madeleine into buying her a few
“gifts” at the mall.
But today’s Madeleine wasn’t the same fool she had been
before. Mary knew there was nothing to gain.
Once Mary was gone, Madeleine glared at the perfume bottle.
“What a spoiler,” she grumbled, tossing it into a nearby trash
can with a decisive flick.
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Better to get rid of it than risk Roderick getting the wrong idea.
She wandered the mall alone, picking out gifts for Kevin and
Roderick.
With millions in her account, she figured she deserved a bit of
fun.
As she headed out, she passed the mall’s first–floor ballet studio, where a class had just ended. Tiny dancers in tutus
spilled out, their laughter echoing.
Madeleine paused, leaning over the railing to watch, a soft
smile tugging at her lips.
She’d been one of those girls once, twirling and dreaming.
In that moment, a spark ignited in her heart.
She wanted to dance again.
As dusk settled over the city, Madeleine returned home, her
arms laden with gifts for Kevin and Roderick.
Spotting Roderick’s car in the driveway, she knew he must have finished work early.
But the moment she stepped through the door, the scene in the
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living room stopped her cold.
A young woman with a low ponytail sat cross–legged on the
floor, laughing softly as she helped Kevin with a sand painting.
Nearby, Roderick knelt beside them, gently wiping sand from
Kevin’s cheeks with a damp cloth, his movements tender and
attentive.
For a fleeting moment, Madeleine felt like she’d stumbled into a
dream. The warmth of the scene–so domestic, so whole-
made her question her place in it.
She suddenly felt that it was the real world, and in it, Roderick
had married someone else, and they were raising their sweet
boy together.
She stood here, feeling like an outsider gazing into a life that
wasn’t hers.
She lingered in the doorway, frozen, until Roderick noticed her.
He glanced up, his expression unreadable. “You’re back.”
He rose to his feet, brushing his hands on his jeans.
“Where’ve you been?”
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Madeleine didn’t answer, her mind still reeling from the sight
before her.
Her gaze slid toward the woman. She was beautiful, with a
gentle, elegant air about her.
Madeleine could almost feel the warmth of motherhood
radiating from her.
Roderick noticed her silence, and a shadow flickered in his
eyes.
“Has she remembered everything?” he wondered. “Is she
slipping back into the old Madeleine?”
“I was out shopping and grabbed lunch with a friend,”
Madeleine said finally, her gaze lingering on the woman.
“And… who’s this?”
The woman smiled, unfazed. “Mrs. Livingston, don’t you remember me?”
Kevin scrambled to his feet and ran to Madeleine, his face lighting up.
“Mommy, this is Dr. Clark!”
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The name clicked. Madeleine recalled the conversation from earlier that morning and realized this must be Kevin’s therapist.
She managed a polite smile. “Dr. Clark, nice to see you.”
Nanette’s smile was impeccable, warm yet professional. “Good to see you too.”
Roderick gestured for Kevin to step away. “Kev, go wash your hands.”
As Kevin scampered off, Roderick turned to Madeleine, his voice low. “Dr. Clark was just helping Kevin with some sand art therapy.”
Nanette pointed to the colorful creation on the floor. “Drawings like these give us a window into a child’s emotions,” she ·
explained, her tone calm and measured. “Kids often struggle to
express their inner world with words, but art makes it easier.”
She stepped closer, her smile softening as she glanced at
Roderick.
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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.