\u201cIt\u2019s alright, sweetie. I\u2019ll keep my promises.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKindergarten and the hospital are in opposite directions,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick countered, his brow furrowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was thinking about her tendency toward low blood sugar\u00a0<\/p>\n
when fasting, but kept the concern to himself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will only take a moment. I promised our son. We sealed it\u00a0<\/p>\n
with a pinky swear. Kev, I\u2019ll go with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The little boy\u2019s pout instantly transformed into a bright smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy really is the best,\u201d he thought, remembering the\u00a0<\/p>\n
nursery rhyme about a mother\u2019s love.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick watched them silently.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While he was glad to see their bond strengthening, his fear\u00a0<\/p>\n
persisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Madeleine regained her memories, Kevin would be\u00a0<\/p>\n
devastated all over again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That fear was why he maintained his distance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His heart, already broken, could not withstand another blow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her stomach growled. Watching them eat was unbearable. She\u00a0<\/p>\n
turned to retreat to her room, then paused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRoderick, where did we hold our wedding?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cQuelcia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her expression shifted subtly. \u201cOh,\u201d she murmured. \u201cQuelcia. I\u2026 I always loved it there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said nothing, focusing instead on wiping Kevin\u2019s chin with a\u00a0<\/p>\n
napkin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy else would I have chosen it?\u201d he thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But her question puzzled him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His contemplation was interrupted. Kevin was meticulously\u00a0<\/p>\n
deconstructing his sandwich, carefully extracting the ham and\u00a0<\/p>\n
placing it on Roderick\u2019s plate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKevin.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s voice held a warning note. \u201cHaven\u2019t I told you not to\u00a0<\/p>\n
be fussy about food?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The boy flinched, withdrawing his hand and looking up with\u00a0<\/p>\n
uncertain eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick was confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you giving this to me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin wasn\u2019t a fussy eater and usually enjoyed ham.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The little boy remained silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick prompted, softening his tone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a brief silence, as if carefully choosing his words, Kevin\u00a0<\/p>\n
finally spoke up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you to eat more protein. To get stronger.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Why?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy said you aren\u2019t strong enough. That she doesn\u2019t like\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 24\u00a0<\/p>\n
you. I want Mommy to like you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s eye twitched as he spent a long while processing\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mommy said\u2026 I\u2019m not strong enough?\u201d he asked, his jaw\u00a0<\/p>\n
tightening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin nodded, his small face serious as he recalled the phrase\u00a0<\/p>\n
exactly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. She said you\u2019re too weak to be a builder.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp crack sounded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten entered just then, carrying a packed sandwich. Her eyes\u00a0<\/p>\n
went to the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGood heavens, sir! You\u2019ve broken the fork!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick looked down. The fork in his hand had snapped in two.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He frowned and discarded the pieces.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGet another one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRight away, I\u2019ll fetch it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten cleared the cutlery, muttering under her breath, \u201cThis tableware isn\u2019t sturdy at all. I must have new sets delivered\u00a0<\/p>\n
tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She returned with a new fork for Roderick and also placed a\u00a0<\/p>\n
lunchbox on the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, this is the breakfast for Mrs. Livingston. There\u2019s a custard inside. Please remind her to eat it immediately after her check-\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick gave a curt nod, his eyes still fixed on the bewildered\u00a0<\/p>\n
boy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once Kirsten was gone, he continued his questioning. \u201cWhat\u00a0<\/p>\n
else did your mother say?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing really,\u201d Kevin answered, attempting a casual shrug. He\u00a0<\/p>\n
peeked at the wall clock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDaddy, I\u2019ll be late.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick saw through the boy\u2019s attempt to escape the\u00a0<\/p>\n
uncomfortable conversation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin couldn\u2019t even tell the time yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wondered, \u201cNot strong enough?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cToo weak to be a builder?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of nonsense did Madeleine fill our son\u2019s head with?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd since when was I weak? During our intimate moments,\u00a0<\/p>\n
she was always the one pleading for me to stop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression darkened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wondered again, \u201cDid she sleep with Edward?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe thinks he\u2019s stronger than me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His investigations had shown their relationship had never\u00a0<\/p>\n
progressed physically.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp throb pulsed at his temple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe Gerry\u2019s work had been sloppy. Perhaps he\u2019d missed\u00a0<\/p>\n
something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Five minutes later, Madeleine came downstairs wearing\u00a0<\/p>\n
something completely different.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 34\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thinking about the blood tests and potential ECG, she had\u00a0<\/p>\n
chosen something looser and easier to remove.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAll set, let\u2019s go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she spoke, she detected a sharp tension hanging in the air.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something was off. It felt like someone was furious. She\u00a0<\/p>\n
glanced between Roderick and Kevin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One face was blank. The other was equally impassive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTrue father and son, like two peas in a pod,\u201d she thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you two\u2026 argue?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin shook his head, his large eyes fixed adoringly on\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine, making her smile instantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s focus immediately shifted completely to her son.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside them, Roderick felt a stab of irritation. He hadn\u2019t minded\u00a0<\/p>\n
before when Madeleine ignored them both.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But now, her attention was lavished solely on Kevin while he\u00a0<\/p>\n
remained overlooked\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
The disparity pressed heavily on his chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Off\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, we need to leave now or we\u2019ll be late.\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 34 \u201cIt\u2019s alright, sweetie. I\u2019ll keep my promises.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cKindergarten and the hospital […]<\/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-29288","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\/29288","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=29288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29288\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}