Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sent a restaurant address, and Madeleine\u2019s jaw dropped when she saw it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The place was fancy, and a single dinner there could easily run into tens of thousands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine thought about checking on Kevin\u2019s therapy session but decided against interrupting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Standing outside his room, she could only make out the soft, soothing voice of a woman through the door\u2019s thick insulation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGuess I\u2019ll deal with it later,\u201d she muttered, turning away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
***\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was about to call a cab. But when Kirsten spotted her\u00a0<\/p>\n
heading out, she said, \u201cMrs. Livingston, let me get the driver for\u00a0<\/p>\n
you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDriver? Didn\u2019t he take Roderick to the office?\u201d Madeleine asked,\u00a0<\/p>\n
confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten hesitated, her voice timid. \u201cMr. Livingston assigned you\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
a driver. Mathew\u2019s back\u2013he was discharged yesterday.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Madeleine\u2019s eyes lit up, a grin tugging at her lips. \u201cWell,\u00a0<\/p>\n
props to Ricki for thinking of me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her memory was still stuck at eighteen, when she had just\u00a0<\/p>\n
gotten her license and had barely driven at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWait. Discharged?\u201d She caught Kirsten\u2019s earlier words, turning\u00a0<\/p>\n
back. \u201cWas he sick?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten and Meagan, who\u2019d been passing by, exchanged a\u00a0<\/p>\n
glance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their eyes held a strange mix of confusion, wariness, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
something like fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When neither spoke, Madeleine played up a wince, pressing her fingers to her temple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, I bumped my head a few days ago. Everything before that\u2019s a bit\u2026 fuzzy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten and Meagan visibly relaxed, their tension melting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No wonder she\u2019d been acting so strange\u2013she\u2019d forgotten everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMathew was in the hospital because\u2026\u201d Kirsten started, but Meagan grabbed her arm, cutting her off with a forced smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMathew\u2019s getting up there in age,\u201d Meagan said smoothly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth issues come with the territory. Nothing to worry about,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mrs. Livingston.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine could tell they were holding back, but she didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
push. She changed into fresh clothes and headed out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as she left, Kirsten turned to Meagan, baffled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy\u2019d you stop me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meagan scoffed. \u201cWhat, you really buy that she \u2018forgot\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
everything? Don\u2019t be so naive. She\u2019s probably fishing for dirt. Even if she\u2019s blank now, what happens when her memory\u00a0<\/p>\n
comes back? If she gets mad, we\u2019re done for.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes narrowed, her voice dropping. \u201cYou haven\u2019t forgotten how Mathew ended up in the hospital, have you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten shuddered, clapping a hand to her chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you are right\u2026 Thank God you stopped me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the car, Madeleine leaned forward, noticing the bandage on\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
driver Mathew Bryant\u2019s forehead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMathew?\u201d she said softly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mathew Bryant stiffened at her voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Mrs. Livingston?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to your head?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mathew\u2019s eyes widened with panic, his hands trembling on the\u00a0<\/p>\n
steering wheel, his fear palpable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine sighed inwardly. Whatever happened, she was\u00a0<\/p>\n
clearly at the center of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She reached out, giving his shoulder a gentle pat. \u201cNever mind,\u00a0<\/p>\n
don\u2019t worry about it. Let\u2019s just go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She gave him the address and turned to the window, pretending\u00a0<\/p>\n
to be absorbed in the passing scenery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mathew\u2019s heart was still racing. For a moment, he\u2019d thought she\u00a0<\/p>\n
was displeased and was about to silence him for good.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the way, Madeleine texted Roderick and finally pieced\u00a0<\/p>\n
together what happened to Mathew.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Two weeks ago, Roderick had asked Mathew to keep tabs on\u00a0<\/p>\n
her. Desperate to meet Edward, she\u2019d stepped in front of\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mathew\u2019s car to stop him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Panicked, Mathew swerved to avoid hitting her, crashing into a\u00a0<\/p>\n
tree.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The multimillion\u2013dollar car was nearly totaled, and Mathew\u00a0<\/p>\n
thought his career\u2013and maybe his life\u2013was over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick, to his credit, handled it fairly. He knew it was\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s fault and covered Mathew\u2019s medical bills, urging\u00a0<\/p>\n
him to focus on recovery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Grateful for Roderick\u2019s kindness, Mathew returned to work the\u00a0<\/p>\n
moment he was discharged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Madeleine asked about his injury, he\u2019d braced for a\u00a0<\/p>\n
repeat of that nightmare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Slumped in the back seat, Madeleine let out a heavy sigh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The past few years, she\u2019d really made a mess of things.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mathew drove smoothly, delivering her to the restaurant in no\u00a0<\/p>\n
time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mary had arrived first and texted that she\u2019d secured a table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaddie! Over here!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mary\u2019s voice rang out as Madeleine stepped inside, her hand\u00a0<\/p>\n
waving enthusiastically from a window table.*\u00a0<\/p>\n
True to form, Mary was decked out in designer gear, her hair\u00a0<\/p>\n
perfectly styled, every detail polished to perfection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine studied her, a quiet astonishment blooming in her\u00a0<\/p>\n
chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mary looked\u2026 different from high school.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d seen Mary\u2019s Instagram and chalked it up to filters or\u00a0<\/p>\n
editing apps.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But now, seeing her in person, she realized the change was real.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour eyes\u2013are they bigger? And your nose, it\u2019s so\u2026 refined,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine said, squinting. \u201cMary, I almost didn\u2019t recognize you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMadeleine!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mary\u2019s eyes widened in panic, darting around before she tugged\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine into a seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI told you, don\u2019t call me that\u2013it\u2019s so tacky. It\u2019s Leticia Sampson\u00a0<\/p>\n
now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash 23 Chapter 23\u00a0 She sent a restaurant address, and Madeleine\u2019s jaw dropped […]<\/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":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-heart-surgeons-last-patient-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29274","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=29274"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29274\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29274"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}