Madeleine stifled a giggle, her lips twitching. Kids and their wild\u00a0<\/p>\n
imaginations\u2013she couldn\u2019t hold it against him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By nine o\u2019clock, Kirsten had given Kevin a bath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After that, he emerged in his adorable bunny pajamas, the\u00a0<\/p>\n
floppy ears on his hood bouncing with every step.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s heart melted at the sight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This kid was the perfect blend of her and Roderick.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetie,\u201d she said, grinning, \u201cif Daddy\u2019s company ever goes\u00a0<\/p>\n
under, how about I sign you up to be a child model?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin tilted his head, unconcerned with modeling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead, he asked seriously, \u201cIs Daddy\u2019s company going\u00a0<\/p>\n
bankrupt?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine chuckled. \u201cJust a what\u2013if. I mean, look at your\u00a0<\/p>\n
grandpa\u2013his company went bust, didn\u2019t it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin nodded, processing this with a gravity only a child could\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
muster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Mommy,\u201d he said, his voice brimming with determination. \u201cIf Daddy\u2019s company fails, he can work on a construction site. He won\u2019t let you go hungry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s smile froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cConstruction?\u201d she echoed, blinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah!\u201d Kevin said brightly. \u201cIn that show you were watching today, that\u2019s what they did!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s mouth twitched. The boy had been glued to her\u00a0<\/p>\n
side all day, and while she watched her show, he had been\u00a0<\/p>\n
playing nearby. She hadn\u2019t noticed he was listening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now she realized she could never let him watch those dramas\u00a0<\/p>\n
with her again. They were corrupting him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick had been pampered since birth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The idea of him toiling on a construction site was laughable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shook her head, amused. \u201cYour dad\u2019s not cut out for that,\u00a0<\/p>\n
buddy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She ruffled his hair and explained what construction work\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
actually entailed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin listened intently, his little face serious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the end, he seemed convinced that construction required\u00a0<\/p>\n
great strength\u2013and his dad wasn\u2019t strong enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, it\u2019s almost nine\u2013thirty,\u201d Madeleine said, tapping his\u00a0<\/p>\n
bunny\u2013eared head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTime for bed. You\u2019ve got kindergarten tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s eyes drooped, a flicker of reluctance crossing his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Madeleine asked, crouching to his level.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shook his head quickly and squeezed his eyes shut.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s heart tugged. She could tell he was holding\u00a0<\/p>\n
something back. She had noticed it a few times over the past\u00a0<\/p>\n
days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin was sensitive, his emotions running deep, but he\u00a0<\/p>\n
struggled to voice them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When it came to expressing his own needs, he couldn\u2019t do it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While other kids might beg for a toy or a treat, Kevin never did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019d just stare with those big, hopeful eyes. And even if\u00a0<\/p>\n
someone guessed and asked, his first instinct was always to\u00a0<\/p>\n
shake his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine didn\u2019t know much about psychology, but she knew\u00a0<\/p>\n
her son deserved to feel safe expressing his needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sat up on the bed and flicked on the bedside lamp, its\u00a0<\/p>\n
warm glow casting soft shadows.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKev, can you tell Mommy what\u2019s on your mind?\u201d she asked\u00a0<\/p>\n
gently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s eyes popped open, surprised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOr maybe\u2026 what do you want right now?\u201d she tried again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He blinked, his little brain churning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No one, except maybe Nanette, had ever asked him that before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His dad and the household staff showered him with care,\u00a0<\/p>\n
anticipating his every need before he could even think to ask.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine saw his puzzled look and thought he didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
understand, so she tried again. \u201cIs there something you\u2019d like,\u00a0<\/p>\n
sweetheart?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKindergarten,\u201d Kevin blurted, his eyes lighting up with hope as\u00a0<\/p>\n
he looked at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy, I want you to take me to kindergarten.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s throat tightened, her words caught in a sudden\u00a0<\/p>\n
knot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All that hesitation, all that quiet thinking, and this was his big\u00a0<\/p>\n
request? It was so simple, yet so heartbreaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never taken you before, have I?\u201d she asked, her lips\u00a0<\/p>\n
pressing together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin shook his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She could guess why. The old Madeleine\u2013the one who\u2019d. despised Kevin and Roderick\u2014wouldn\u2019t have bothered. Guilt\u00a0<\/p>\n
gnawed at her, sharp and relentless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She reached out, stroking his hair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom now on, unless something big comes up, I\u2019ll take you to\u00a0<\/p>\n
kindergarten. I promise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s eyes widened, sparkling with disbelief and joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He felt like he\u2019d been wrapped in a warm blanket of happiness,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
and everything was too good to be true.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d he whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally,\u201d Madeleine said, extending her pinky. \u201cLet\u2019s make it\u00a0<\/p>\n
official.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their fingers hooked together, and both burst into giggles, the\u00a0<\/p>\n
sound light and infectious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
***\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the study across the hall, Roderick had just finished his work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes were sore and burning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned back in his chair, pressing at the corners of his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Gerry called.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Livingston, I\u2019ve got the report on Mrs. Livingston\u2019s recent\u00a0<\/p>\n
activities,\u201d Gerry said on the other end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s expression hardened, his voice clipped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing out of the ordinary so far,\u201d Gerry reported. \u201cBut the day\u00a0<\/p>\n
she met Edward, she fainted afterward. Then she took Mr.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin to the police station\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s jaw tightened.\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 32 Madeleine stifled a giggle, her lips twitching. Kids and their wild\u00a0 […]<\/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-29285","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\/29285","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=29285"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29285\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}