Roderick checked his calendar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBusiness dinner tonight. I\u2019ll be late. Rest early with Kevin. Don\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
wait up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, another dinner,\u201d Madeleine acknowledged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She remembered her father\u2019s business dinners. He\u2019d always\u00a0<\/p>\n
return happily drunk, insisting on hugging them despite the\u00a0<\/p>\n
alcohol smell.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those dinners meant new deals and orders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d found it unpleasant then, but now the memory felt\u00a0<\/p>\n
nostalgic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Turning to Kirsten, she announced, \u201cNo need to cook tonight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s dining out. I\u2019ll take Kev to my parents\u2018 for dinner.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine had always been deeply attached to her parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even as a teenager at a busy summer camp abroad, she\u2019d\u00a0<\/p>\n
found time to fly home just to see them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, suddenly finding herself married and years into the future,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
returning to her parents\u2018 home felt different somehow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was probably what people meant about married daughters becoming guests in their childhood homes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the way to her parents\u2018 house with Kevin, Madeleine brought\u00a0<\/p>\n
gifts for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For her father, she picked out a whiskey decanter set. For her\u00a0<\/p>\n
mother, she chose skincare and cosmetics. For her cousin\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minerva, still passionate about dance, she knew dancewear\u00a0<\/p>\n
would be welcome.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unsure of Minerva\u2019s current size, she decided a gift card would\u00a0<\/p>\n
be better.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin watched his mother\u2019s preparations with concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre we really going to Grandma and Grandpa\u2019s?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine looked at him, puzzled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you want to go?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
The boy pressed his lips together before shaking his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t about wanting to go or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was afraid.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He loved his grandparents, and they adored him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But previous visits always ended with arguments. Every time,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine made them cry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arriving at the Mosley\u2019s house with their gifts, they found\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa already waiting anxiously by the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since Roderick\u2019s call about Madeleine\u2019s possible fabricated\u00a0<\/p>\n
amnesia, sleep had been elusive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wondered, \u201cWhat\u2019s my girl planning now? Is this some new\u00a0<\/p>\n
scheme leading to divorce?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRoderick is such a good man. Why couldn\u2019t Maddie appreciate\u00a0<\/p>\n
him?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick hadn\u2019t called recently during their trip to Phelrania,\u00a0<\/p>\n
which deepened their worry\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s cheerful voice carried down the path.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her arms were full of packages, her eyes sparkling, Kevin\u00a0<\/p>\n
beside her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite her concerns, Clarissa\u2019s face lit up at the sight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy darlings!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy, take these. My hands are sore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine pouted, sounding exactly like the teenager who once\u00a0<\/p>\n
clung to her parents.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, let me help. What\u2019s all this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPresents for you and Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPresents?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa was genuinely surprised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t recall the last time her daughter had bought them\u00a0<\/p>\n
gifts.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For years, holidays brought gifts from Roderick, always\u00a0<\/p>\n
attributed to Madeleine, though everyone knew the truth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s focus had been entirely on Edward, never\u00a0<\/p>\n
remembering such things.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All this time, Roderick had been quietly caring for them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This truly felt miraculous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandma.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin approached, offering a small bouquet in his earnest\u00a0<\/p>\n
voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine pretended to pout. \u201cHe\u2019s never given me flowers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Your grandson clearly loves you most.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa beamed, though her gaze lingered thoughtfully on\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin offered a quiet correction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy, I did give you flowers once.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine scratched her head awkwardly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve forgotten so much.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The boy delivered the gentle truth. \u201cYou didn\u2019t like them. You\u00a0<\/p>\n
threw them away. So, I stopped.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine fell silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now she understood her mother\u2019s strange look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright then, where\u2019s Dad? Oh, I can smell something delicious!\u00a0<\/p>\n
He must be cooking for us, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Flustered, Madeleine quickly changed the subject and went\u00a0<\/p>\n
inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa watched her go, suspicion growing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s certainly committed to this performance,\u201d she thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold was still finishing dinner preparations. Madeleine settled\u00a0<\/p>\n
on the sofa, then noticed Kevin\u2019s absence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere\u2019s Kev?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She searched around and found him dragging a stool toward the cabinet, reaching for something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKev, what are you looking for?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The boy carefully lifted down a first\u2013aid kit, turning to her with\u00a0<\/p>\n
wide eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first\u2013aid kit? Are you feeling unwell?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin looked flustered, trying unsuccessfully to hide the large\u00a0<\/p>\n
kit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine took it from him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you need? I\u2019ll help.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s hesitation, the boy knelt and retrieved two\u00a0<\/p>\n
familiar bottles: emergency medication for hypertension and\u00a0<\/p>\n
heart conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine stared, confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa\u2019s heart ached watching this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKev worries about his grandfather.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine looked to her mother for an explanation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 41\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you truly forgotten? You used to make your father so\u00a0<\/p>\n
angry that he\u2019d have heart attacks. His heart hasn\u2019t been well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He needs this medicine now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa\u2019s eyes moistened as she stroked Kevin\u2019s hair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKev saw his grandfather have an attack last time. It frightened\u00a0<\/p>\n
him. Now he always finds the medicine first, ready to help.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She knelt to reassure him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s alright, darling. Your grandpa\u2019s much better now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine felt unsteady.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She knew her older self had been difficult, but not to this\u00a0<\/p>\n
extent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 42\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 42\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 41 Roderick checked his calendar.\u00a0 \u201cBusiness dinner tonight. I\u2019ll be late. Rest […]<\/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-29294","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\/29294","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=29294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29294\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}