Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
She remembered all too well how exacting Madeleine had been.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just last month, she\u2019d thrown an entire plate because Kirsten\u00a0<\/p>\n
used slightly too much salt in the grilled salmon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The month before, she\u2019d complained the seafood risotto lacked\u00a0<\/p>\n
sufficient variety, forcing Kirsten to visit the night market for\u00a0<\/p>\n
fresh ingredients and remake the dish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The memories flooded back, each more uncomfortable than the\u00a0<\/p>\n
last.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So when Madeleine took her first bite now, Kirsten held her\u00a0<\/p>\n
breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine chewed and turned to her. \u201cKirsten, how did you\u00a0<\/p>\n
prepare this stew? It\u2019s wonderfully light!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten\u2019s heart sank.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was definitely sarcasm!\u201d she thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten waited anxiously for the expected sarcasm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she soon realized Madeleine wasn\u2019t being facetious. She genuinely enjoyed the food\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Within ten minutes, most of the dishes were nearly finished, though the risotto remained largely untouched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Noticing Kirsten\u2019s uneasy stare, Madeleine assumed it was about the uneaten risotto and quickly explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy calorie intake is a bit high today, so I\u2019m cutting back on carbs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCalories?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten was surprised, recalling her recent comment about the custard being too sweet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you dieting, Mrs. Livingston? You\u2019re not overweight at all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
If anything, she was slightly thin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot exactly. I want to start dancing again, and my current form isn\u2019t ideal. Kirsten, could you prepare lower\u2013calorie meals for me from now on?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing her polite request, Kirsten couldn\u2019t believe her ears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
The former Madeleine was rarely this polite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She nodded quickly, not daring to contradict her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. I\u2019m actually a certified nutritionist. I\u2019ll ensure your\u00a0<\/p>\n
meals are both delicious and healthy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWow!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine clasped her hands together in delight, startling\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKirsten, you\u2019re amazing! No wonder Kev is so tall for his age.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten\u2019s smile was strained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis wasn\u2019t sarcasm?\u201d she wondered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unaware of Kirsten\u2019s doubts, Madeleine was thrilled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a healthy diet and proper exercise, she would regain her\u00a0<\/p>\n
optimal physique soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another thing excited her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d discovered a dance studio on the lower level of the villa,\u00a0<\/p>\n
though it was dusty from disuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Meagan found out, she broke into a cold sweat and immediately fetched cleaning supplies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is bizarre. Mrs. Livingston hasn\u2019t used the studio in years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s gotten into her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After her nap, the studio was spotless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine inspected it, utterly pleased, and immediately took a\u00a0<\/p>\n
photo to send to her cousin, Minerva.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine texted, \u201cMy dance studio. Impressive?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minerva replied after a while.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch a waste! You don\u2019t even dance. Why keep a studio this\u00a0<\/p>\n
nice?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine smirked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSays who? I\u2019m definitely dancing again. Just wait until I\u2019m back\u00a0<\/p>\n
on stage!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her body felt stiff from years of inactivity. Warm\u2013up and\u00a0<\/p>\n
stretching alone took nearly two hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her leotard was soaked with sweat. She\u2019d bitten her lip raw but\u00a0<\/p>\n
never made a sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was typical for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When her mother first sent her to dance classes at five or six,\u00a0<\/p>\n
other children cried during stretches and leg lifts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Madeleine never uttered a word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her mother often recalled picking her up, finding her biting her\u00a0<\/p>\n
lip, tears falling silently, refusing to cry out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her later success in dance proved those early tears and sweat\u00a0<\/p>\n
were not in vain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What a pity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d stopped for nearly eight years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine bit her lip harder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What was lost couldn\u2019t be reclaimed. All she could do was fight\u00a0<\/p>\n
time and recover what she could.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was Madeleine. She never admitted defeat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had instructed Meagan and Kirsten not to disturb her\u00a0<\/p>\n
during practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For hours, she was alone, losing track of time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her hands trembled as she picked up a water bottle. As she\u00a0<\/p>\n
checked the time, her eyes widened in shock.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter five? Oh no.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s kindergarten ended at 4:30 PM. She had promised to\u00a0<\/p>\n
pick him up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh no, what a terrible mother I am. I broke my promise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She changed clothes hastily and asked Kirsten to call the driver.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Livingston, the driver has already left to fetch Mr. Kevin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Please don\u2019t worry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, he\u2019s already been sent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She started to ask why she hadn\u2019t been informed, but\u00a0<\/p>\n
remembered her own instructions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was her own fault.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten nodded, glancing at the clock. \u201cIt\u2019s just a bit strange.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They\u2019re usually back by now. Traffic must be bad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Madeleine considered going to check, a car pulled up\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 38\u00a0<\/p>\n
outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re back!\u201d she thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine hurried out, ready to apologize profusely to her son.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, she saw Nanette.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wore a beautiful floral dress, her hair elegantly pinned up\u00a0<\/p>\n
with a decorative clip, a picture of grace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stepped out of the car, leaned back in to unbuckle Kevin\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
seat belt, and carefully lifted him out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin had his back to Madeleine, so she couldn\u2019t see his\u00a0<\/p>\n
expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine stood still, a complex feeling stirring inside her.\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 38 Chapter 38\u00a0 She remembered all too well how exacting Madeleine had […]<\/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-29291","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\/29291","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=29291"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29291\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}