\u201cOf course,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0nodding\u00a0at\u00a0the old woman.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0good\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0again,\u00a0Esme.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0woman,\u00a0Esme,\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0briefly,\u00a0but didn\u2019t\u00a0say\u00a0a\u00a0word\u00a0as\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0drifted\u00a0back\u00a0home.\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0around,\u00a0wondering\u00a0if\u00a0anyone\u00a0had\u00a0noticed\u00a0this, but\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0surprise,\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0were\u00a0hardly there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u00a0still\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0spoken\u00a0a\u00a0word,\u201d\u00a0Zachary\u00a0said,\u00a0almost\u00a0thoughtfully,\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0stared\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0glass\u00a0of\u00a0red\u00a0wine\u00a0that\u00a0sat\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0him.\u00a0\u201cNot\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0day\u00a0Lila\u00a0was\u00a0born.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave\u00a0you\u00a0seen\u00a0a\u00a0healer?\u00a0Perhaps\u00a0something is wrong\u00a0with her\u00a0vocal\u00a0chords.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve\u00a0seen\u00a0many,\u201d\u00a0Zachary\u00a0answered.\u00a0\u201cNo\u00a0One\u00a0knows\u00a0what\u00a0is\u00a0wrong\u00a0or what\u00a0to\u00a0do\u00a0to\u00a0fix\u00a0it.\u00a0There\u2019s\u00a0nothing\u00a0medically\u00a0wrong;\u00a0they\u00a0all\u00a0say\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0as healthy\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0horse.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0just\u00a0mute.\u201d<\/p>\n
A\u00a0mute?<\/p>\n
I\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0woman\u00a0in\u00a0shock;\u00a0if\u00a0she\u00a0was\u00a0mute,\u00a0then\u00a0how\u00a0did\u00a0she\u00a0speak to\u00a0me\u00a0in\u00a0my dreams?\u00a0Maybe\u00a0that\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0only way\u00a0she\u00a0could\u00a0communicate\u2026\u00a0but\u00a0if\u00a0that\u00a0were\u00a0the\u00a0case,\u00a0then\u00a0why\u00a0did\u00a0she\u00a0choose\u00a0to\u00a0communicate\u00a0with\u00a0me?\u00a0Who\u00a0was\u00a0this woman\u00a0to\u00a0me?<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0sorry\u00a0to\u00a0hear\u00a0that,\u201d\u00a0Gavin replied.\u00a0\u201cMy\u00a0father\u00a0had\u00a0said\u00a0wonderful\u00a0things\u00a0about\u00a0Madam\u00a0Esme.\u201d<\/p>\n
At\u00a0the\u00a0mention\u00a0of\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0father,\u00a0Zachary\u2019s\u00a0eyes\u00a0noticeably\u00a0darkened\u00a0until\u00a0thye\u00a0were\u00a0practically\u00a0black.\u00a0A\u00a0coldness\u00a0fell\u00a0upon\u00a0the\u00a0room,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0shivered.\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0hold\u00a0on my\u00a0hand\u00a0tightened\u00a0as\u00a0if he\u00a0could\u00a0feel it\u00a0as\u00a0well.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour\u00a0father\u2026\u00a0right,\u201d\u00a0Zachary\u00a0murmured.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0suppose that\u2019s\u00a0the\u00a0reason\u00a0why\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0here,\u00a0am\u00a0I\u00a0right?\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0asked.\u00a0The\u00a0tension\u00a0was\u00a0so\u00a0thick,\u00a0it\u00a0could\u00a0be\u00a0cut\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0knife.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t\u00a0we enjoy\u00a0our\u00a0meal first\u00a0before\u00a0we\u00a0speak\u00a0of\u00a0business?\u201d\u00a0Selene\u00a0asked,\u00a0raising\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0husband,\u00a0who met\u00a0her\u00a0gaze\u00a0with\u00a0a hard\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0own.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs\u00a0there\u00a0business\u00a0to\u00a0speak\u00a0of?\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0asked.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0assumed\u00a0you\u00a0invited me here\u00a0to\u00a0ask\u00a0some\u00a0questions<\/p>\n
regarding\u00a0the\u00a0gem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zachary\u00a0tensed\u00a0at\u00a0his\u00a0words.\u00a0He\u00a0cleared\u00a0his\u00a0throat\u00a0before\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0met\u00a0Gavin\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis\u00a0was\u00a0more\u00a0for business\u00a0than\u00a0anything.\u00a0But\u00a0yes,\u00a0I\u00a0do\u00a0have\u00a0questions\u00a0as\u00a0well.\u00a0However,\u00a0as my\u00a0wife<\/p>\n
said,\u00a0it\u00a0should\u00a0wait\u00a0until\u00a0after we\u00a0enjoy our\u00a0meal.\u201d<\/p>\n
As\u00a0if\u00a0on cue,\u00a0servants\u00a0ghosted\u00a0in\u00a0with\u00a0dishes\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0recognize:\u00a0dark\u00a0breads\u00a0fragrant\u00a0with anise,\u00a0meat\u00a0seared\u00a0almost\u00a0blue,\u00a0a\u00a0wine\u00a0that\u00a0looked\u00a0like\u00a0garments\u00a0dissolving.\u00a0I reached\u00a0for\u00a0water\u00a0and\u00a0kept\u00a0my\u00a0hands<\/p>\n
still\u00a0to\u00a0hide\u00a0the\u00a0tremor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fruits,\u00a0vegetables,\u00a0and\u00a0many\u00a0other\u00a0dishes\u00a0were\u00a0also\u00a0served,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0mouth\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0water at\u00a0the\u00a0sight of<\/p>\n
1\/3<\/p>\n
Chapter\u00a0748<\/p>\n
+15\u00a0BONUS<\/p>\n
them\u00a0all.\u00a0I\u00a0realized\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0eaten\u00a0since\u00a0this morning,\u00a0and\u00a0both\u00a0my\u00a0baby\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0were\u00a0starving.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease,\u00a0enjoy\u00a0the\u00a0meal,\u201d\u00a0Zachary\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0put\u00a0food\u00a0onto\u00a0his\u00a0own\u00a0plate.\u00a0\u201cThe\u00a0cooks\u00a0worked\u00a0hard\u00a0to\u00a0prepare\u00a0these\u00a0dishes\u00a0for\u00a0this\u00a0evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead\u00a0of\u00a0putting\u00a0food\u00a0on\u00a0his\u00a0own plate,\u00a0Gavn\u00a0started\u00a0to\u00a0put\u00a0food\u00a0on\u00a0mine.\u00a0The\u00a0gesture\u00a0warmed\u00a0my\u00a0heart.\u00a0The\u00a0way\u00a0he\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0me\u00a0made my\u00a0heart\u00a0skip\u00a0a\u00a0beat,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0but\u00a0smile\u00a0at\u00a0my\u00a0mate.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u00a0long\u00a0have\u00a0you\u00a0two\u00a0been\u00a0together?\u201d\u00a0Selene\u00a0asked\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0sipped\u00a0her\u00a0wine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve\u00a0known\u00a0one\u00a0another\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0couple\u00a0of\u00a0years,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0replied.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0we recently\u00a0mated\u00a0a\u00a0few\u00a0months\u00a0ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded\u00a0in\u00a0agreement\u00a0as\u00a0I\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0bite\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0juicy\u00a0and\u00a0delicious\u00a0meat\u00a0on my\u00a0plate.\u00a0I\u00a0practically\u00a0moaned\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0flavors\u00a0hit\u00a0my\u00a0taste\u00a0buds.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0hit\u00a0the\u00a0news\u00a0yet,\u201d\u00a0Selene\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0keeping\u00a0it\u00a0a\u00a0secret.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0had\u00a0a\u00a0proper\u00a0ceremony\u00a0or\u00a0announcement\u00a0yet,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0explained.\u00a0\u201cBut\u00a0it\u2019ll\u00a0happen\u00a0soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWill\u00a0there\u00a0be a wedding\u00a0as\u00a0well?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0answered,\u00a0giving\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0smile.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0started\u00a0to put\u00a0food\u00a0onto\u00a0his\u00a0own\u00a0plate.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0wonderful\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0blooming\u00a0love.\u00a0Isn\u2019t\u00a0it,\u00a0darling?\u201d\u00a0Selene\u00a0asked her\u00a0husband,\u00a0a\u00a0twinkle\u00a0of\u00a0something\u00a0I<\/p>\n
couldn\u2019t\u00a0figure\u00a0out\u00a0in\u00a0her\u00a0eyes.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0hummed\u00a0in\u00a0agreement\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0took\u00a0a\u00a0bite\u00a0of\u00a0his\u00a0food.<\/p>\n
\u201cLove\u00a0that\u00a0can overcome\u00a0all,\u201d\u00a0Lila\u00a0remarked,\u00a0smiling\u00a0as\u00a0our\u00a0eyes\u00a0met.\u00a0\u201cSuch\u00a0a\u00a0rarity\u00a0these\u00a0days.\u201d<\/p>\n
My\u00a0eyes\u00a0shifted\u00a0to\u00a0her\u00a0chest,\u00a0where\u00a0I\u00a0noticed\u00a0something\u00a0gleaming;\u00a0my heart\u00a0dropped.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0the\u00a0moon\u00a0gem\u2026\u00a0the\u00a0one stolen\u00a0from\u00a0Gavin\u2019s\u00a0mother.\u00a0I\u00a0wondered\u00a0if\u00a0Gavin\u00a0had\u00a0noticed\u00a0it\u00a0as well.\u00a0I\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0Gavin,\u00a0who\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0even\u00a0bothered\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0Lila,\u00a0as\u00a0if\u00a0the\u00a0thought\u00a0of\u00a0looking\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0made\u00a0him\u00a0sick.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0opened\u00a0my\u00a0mouth\u00a0to\u00a0say\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0him\u2026\u00a0though\u00a0I\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0sure\u00a0what\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0say\u00a0in\u00a0front\u00a0of\u00a0everyone.\u00a0Maybe\u00a0something\u00a0to\u00a0get\u00a0his\u00a0attention.\u00a0But\u00a0before\u00a0I\u00a0could,\u00a0the\u00a0doors\u00a0opened,\u00a0drawing\u00a0my\u00a0attention\u00a0to\u00a0the<\/p>\n
entryway.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0interruption,\u201d\u00a0a\u00a0deep\u00a0and\u00a0dark\u00a0voice\u00a0said.\u00a0\u201cIs\u00a0it\u00a0too\u00a0late\u00a0for\u00a0me\u00a0to\u00a0join\u00a0for\u00a0dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n
My\u00a0heart\u00a0nearly\u00a0stopped\u00a0in\u00a0my\u00a0chest.<\/p>\n
Noah\u00a0Blackwell.<\/p>\n
Ruby is a master of holiday romance and slow-burn love stories that warm the heart like a crackling fire. Her novels weave festive magic with lingering glances and tender moments, drawing readers into cozy worlds where love unfolds one snowflake at a time. Off the page, she\u2019s baking cookies and dreaming under twinkling lights.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 748 \u201cOf course,\u201d\u00a0Gavin\u00a0said,\u00a0nodding\u00a0at\u00a0the old woman.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0good\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0you\u00a0again,\u00a0Esme.\u201d\u00a0 The\u00a0woman,\u00a0Esme,\u00a0looked\u00a0at\u00a0him\u00a0briefly,\u00a0but didn\u2019t\u00a0say\u00a0a\u00a0word\u00a0as\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0drifted\u00a0back\u00a0home.\u00a0I\u00a0looked\u00a0around,\u00a0wondering\u00a0if\u00a0anyone\u00a0had\u00a0noticed\u00a0this, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shadow-slave-by-author-novelnozi-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21817\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}