Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine nodded numbly, her thoughts a tangled mess.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She retreated to her room, sinking onto the bed and staring\u00a0<\/p>\n
blankly at the ceiling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d been naive, thinking she could fix everything so easily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, a darker thought crept in: maybe the only way to protect\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin from her past self was to leave, to divorce Roderick and\u00a0<\/p>\n
walk away for good.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her heart twisted, a chaotic whirl of guilt and fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a child, she\u2019d always dreamed of growing up. Now, she\u00a0<\/p>\n
longed for the simplicity of those days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
***\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick stepped into Kevin\u2019s room, clutching the drawing his\u00a0<\/p>\n
son had made earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin called, pausing as he tidied his bookshelf.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
His small face lit up with concern. \u201cWhere\u2019s Mommy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s in her room,\u201d Roderick said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He walked over and said, \u201cI need to ask you something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He set the drawing on the desk, pointing to the woman, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
asked, \u201cIs this Dr. Clark?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin tilted his head, puzzled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, that\u2019s Mommy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s stern expression softened, a flicker of relief in his\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the ones you drew before?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s gaze dropped, his little brows knitting together. He\u00a0<\/p>\n
twisted the edge of his shirt, unsure how to answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s heart clenched. He understood instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mom knows about those other drawings, Kevin. She\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
really hurt.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s head shot up, his eyes wide with panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tears welled up, his small hands fidgeting nervously as he bit\u00a0<\/p>\n
his lip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The thought of his mother being upset because of him\u2013of her\u00a0<\/p>\n
maybe not loving him anymore\u2013sent a wave of fear through his tiny frame.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s brow furrowed as he studied his son.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does Dr. Clark talk to you about during your sessions?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
he asked, his voice low and measured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin blinked up at him, confusion clouding his small face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment, he shook his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Clark says it\u2019s a secret.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s lips pressed into a tight line, but he didn\u2019t push.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin was a stickler for rules\u2013once he\u2019d promised something,\u00a0<\/p>\n
there was no budging him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nanette had made it clear from the start that therapy was confidential, even from parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick considered this for a moment before softening his\u00a0<\/p>\n
tone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you still want to see Dr. Clark?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin hesitated. \u201cIf I keep seeing Dr. Clark\u2026 will I still get to see\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mommy?\u201d he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you\u2019ll still see Mommy,\u201d Roderick assured him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin bit his lip, then murmured, \u201cI want to keep seeing her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was something about Nanette that tugged at Kevin\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
heart. He couldn\u2019t put it into words, but Roderick understood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nanette had filled a void, offering the warmth and care Kevin\u00a0<\/p>\n
had craved from his mother.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even now, with his wounds still raw, Kevin clung to that\u00a0<\/p>\n
connection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright,\u201d Roderick said, reaching out to ruffle Kevin\u2019s hair gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He felt maybe he was overthinking things. Nanette\u2019s confrontation with Madeleine could have come from genuine concern for Kevin\u2019s well\u2013being.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But one thing was certain: Roderick wouldn\u2019t let it happen\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy,\u201d Kevin said, his eyes still shimmering with unshed tears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I go see Mommy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d Roderick replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWill\u2026 will Mommy stop liking me?\u201d Kevin\u2019s voice trembled,\u00a0<\/p>\n
heavy with worry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s mind drifted, caught in a memory, before he snapped\u00a0<\/p>\n
back to the present.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, she won\u2019t. Go on, buddy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even with his father\u2019s reassurance, Kevin\u2019s steps were hesitant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clutching his drawing tightly, he left the room, his little heart still\u00a0<\/p>\n
heavy with doubt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine lay sprawled on her bed, lost in thought, when a soft\u00a0<\/p>\n
knock broke the silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome in,\u201d she called.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She propped herself up and saw Kevin peeking around the door,\u00a0<\/p>\n
his small face cautious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, sweetheart!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine forced a bright smile, though it felt strained, like\u00a0<\/p>\n
pulling a heavy curtain across her unease.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even Kevin could tell it wasn\u2019t quite real.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on in, why are you hovering by the door?\u201d she said, her\u00a0<\/p>\n
voice warm but tinged with concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin lingered, unmoving, and Madeleine\u2019s instincts prickled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something was off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She slid off the bed and opened the door wide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Up close, she noticed his red\u2013rimmed eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, honey, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d she gasped, kneeling to touch his\u00a0<\/p>\n
cheek, her heart lurching with worry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you feeling sick?\u201d she asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin shook his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid your dad scold you?\u201d she tried again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another shake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine frowned, puzzled. As she pulled him into a gentle hug, she noticed the crumpled paper clutched in his hands. It\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 30\u00a0<\/p>\n
was the drawing from earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She guided Kevin into the room, settling them both on the\u00a0<\/p>\n
couch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBaby, why were you crying? You can tell me anything, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
she said softly, her voice laced with tenderness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin stayed silent, his lips pressed tight as if fighting back\u00a0<\/p>\n
tears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s heart ached at his struggle. She leaned closer, her\u00a0<\/p>\n
tone soothing.\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 30 Chapter 30\u00a0 Madeleine nodded numbly, her thoughts a tangled mess.\u00a0 She […]<\/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-29283","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\/29283","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=29283"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29283\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}