Madeleine let out a snort of laughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just giving an example, just kidding.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s expression darkened. \u201cNot even as an example or a\u00a0<\/p>\n
joke.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This was a serious matter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had already promised to spend the rest of her life with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What\u2019s all this talk about kicking her out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
No, I\u2019ll have to teach her a lesson tonight. She can\u2019t just say things like that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching the two of them interact so sweetly, Harold and\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa exchanged a look, both smiling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Maddie, when you talk about \u2018building a career,\u2019 what\u00a0<\/p>\n
exactly do you mean?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine adopted a serious expression, cleared her throat, and sat up straight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 160\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to start a company!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The room was silent for a moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine studied each of their faces.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Obviously, no one was taking her seriously.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, why are you all looking at me like that? I\u2019m serious!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She even took out her phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, I\u2019ve been learning a lot about it lately, taking notes and\u00a0<\/p>\n
everything. I even signed up for two online courses to get\u00a0<\/p>\n
certified.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick was a bit stunned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine had been really dedicated lately. Whenever she had\u00a0<\/p>\n
free time, she would ask Roderick and Gerry a lot of questions\u00a0<\/p>\n
about business and companies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At first, Roderick found it strange, thinking she was genuinely\u00a0<\/p>\n
interested in Gerry\u2019s job as a special assistant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He hadn\u2019t expected her ambition to be so much greater than he\u00a0<\/p>\n
thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 160\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaddie, you\u2019re not really joking, are you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cI remember you used to hate business,\u00a0<\/p>\n
didn\u2019t you? You used to complain when I was running my\u00a0<\/p>\n
business.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was young and foolish back then.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine gave an awkward grin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was more than just being foolish; she had single\u2013handedly\u00a0<\/p>\n
ruined her family\u2019s company. She was practically a walking\u00a0<\/p>\n
disaster.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as she said that, the sound of a car pulling in came from\u00a0<\/p>\n
outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine turned her head to look through the floor\u2013to\u2013ceiling\u00a0<\/p>\n
window and saw it was Bradley.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is he here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI invited him. To play Poker with Mom and Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley seemed quite familiar with Madeleine\u2019s parents. He\u00a0<\/p>\n
greeted them warmly as he walked in, holding gifts he had\u00a0<\/p>\n
prepared for them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 160\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two look younger every time I see you. Tsk, tsk, I really\u00a0<\/p>\n
hope I can look this good when I\u2019m your age.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley, who was usually carefree and flippant around them,\u00a0<\/p>\n
was like a completely different person in front of the elders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine thought to herself: He\u2019s putting on an act.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa smiled. \u201cKeeping a youthful mindset is more important\u00a0<\/p>\n
than anything. Of course, the most important thing is to have\u00a0<\/p>\n
someone you love by your side.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She linked arms with Harold, continuing to hit Bradley where it\u00a0<\/p>\n
hurt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBradley, when are you going to bring a girlfriend over?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley showed no embarrassment from his parents nagging\u00a0<\/p>\n
me to get married, just smiled and replied, \u201cSoon, soon. Don\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
you worry.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright then, we\u2019ll see if we\u2019re attending your wedding reception\u00a0<\/p>\n
or Rebecca\u2019s first!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine and Roderick exchanged a look, the same helpless\u00a0<\/p>\n
expression flashing across both their faces.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 160\u00a0<\/p>\n
As expected\u2026 whenever the elders were around, parents\u00a0<\/p>\n
nagging me to get married and the baby talk were eternal\u00a0<\/p>\n
topics.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luckily, Bradley was an old pro at this. He handled it with ease,\u00a0<\/p>\n
and knowing the old couple had recently taken a liking to Poker,\u00a0<\/p>\n
he quickly urged them to play a couple of rounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know how to play?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine looked at the three of them and quickly asked\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick, afraid the Poker game wouldn\u2019t happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick raised an eyebrow and nodded smugly. \u201cOf course.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ever since he found out his father\u2013in\u2013law and mother\u2013in\u2013law\u00a0<\/p>\n
enjoyed playing Poker, Roderick had scoured all sorts of\u00a0<\/p>\n
materials and studied for two days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Winning over his in\u2013laws? A piece of cake.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was annoyed. \u201cHow come you all know how to play?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll go play with Kev then.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as she was about to turn, Roderick pulled her back with\u00a0<\/p>\n
one arm, a smile on his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 160\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMom and Dad rarely get to visit. Spend more time with them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I don\u2019t know how\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll teach you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin, who had been watching them from the side, came\u00a0<\/p>\n
scampering over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDad, Mom, I want to go with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick looked at him and said seriously, \u201cNo, kids can\u2019t be\u00a0<\/p>\n
around that stuff.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick said with a straight face, \u201cBecause playing poker is\u00a0<\/p>\n
bad for your health.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instantly, Kevin looked like his world was ending.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After his dad and mom went upstairs to the game room, he just\u00a0<\/p>\n
stood there, stunned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only a few words echoed in his mind: Bad for your health!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, the smartwatch on his wrist buzzed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 160\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin looked down and opened it. It was a voice message from\u00a0<\/p>\n
his grandpa on Facebook.\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 160 Madeleine let out a snort of laughter.\u00a0 \u201cI was just giving […]<\/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-29457","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\/29457","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=29457"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29457\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}