Bradley was looking down at his phone, only looking up when\u00a0<\/p>\n
he sensed someone walking toward him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A young girl in a Thai\u2013style school uniform skirt approached\u00a0<\/p>\n
him. She was slender, with her hair in a high ponytail, and her\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes were full of life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked around, her eyes locking onto Bradley. She smiled,\u00a0<\/p>\n
revealing her canines.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, are you Dr. Kline?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley stood up and nodded, \u201cHello, I\u2019m Bradley.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy name is Isabella Martinez, you can just call me Isabella.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The girl was very lively. She sat down and gave a simple\u00a0<\/p>\n
introduction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 23, about to graduate with my master\u2019s and applying for a\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ph.D. program. I guess you could say we\u2019re sort of in the same\u00a0<\/p>\n
field.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSort of?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 173\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella nodded, her two canines showing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019m in forensic medicine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley: \u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
A doctor and a forensic pathologist. They really were only sort\u00a0<\/p>\n
of colleagues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine almost couldn\u2019t hold it in when she heard that,\u00a0<\/p>\n
finding herself inexplicably shipping them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley laughed too and handed her the menu.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t sure what you like, so I haven\u2019t ordered yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella took it and smiled a little awkwardly, \u201cUm, Dr. Kline, I\u2019m\u00a0<\/p>\n
so sorry, but I actually invited a friend to join us. She\u2019ll be here\u00a0<\/p>\n
any minute. If you don\u2019t mind\u2026 could we all sit together?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She quickly added, \u201cOf course, if you mind, just forget I said\u00a0<\/p>\n
anything. I can have her sit at another table.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley hadn\u2019t taken the blind date seriously anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was just a meal. What difference did one more person make?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 173\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two of them chatted, with Isabella glancing at the entrance\u00a0<\/p>\n
from time to time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She smiled and raised her hand, waving.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlotte, over here!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That name\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley subconsciously looked in the direction she was\u00a0<\/p>\n
pointing. His pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, and the\u00a0<\/p>\n
knuckles of the hand holding the water glass turned slightly\u00a0<\/p>\n
white.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It really was her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte was wearing a beige trench coat over a black knit\u00a0<\/p>\n
dress. Her long, slightly curled hair was draped over her\u00a0<\/p>\n
shoulders, and she exuded an air of mature elegance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A stark contrast to the energetic Isabella in her school uniform\u00a0<\/p>\n
skirt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u2019s gaze also clearly paused when it fell on Bradley, but\u00a0<\/p>\n
she quickly recovered her composure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 173\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlotte.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella happily stood up and pulled her over to sit. \u201cThis is Dr.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kline. Dr. Kline, this is my friend, Charlotte.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s whole body went stiff, his Adam\u2019s apple bobbing with\u00a0<\/p>\n
difficulty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as he was about to ask when she had come back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte sat down gracefully and extended her right hand:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Kline, it\u2019s a pleasure to meet you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
First time meeting?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley froze for a moment, then his facial muscles twitched\u00a0<\/p>\n
stiffly, as if he\u2019d been punched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He reached out his hand, feeling the coolness of her fingertips,\u00a0<\/p>\n
and resisted the urge to grip it tightly. Their hands touched and\u00a0<\/p>\n
parted in an instant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Hayes, hello.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice was as steady as if he were truly greeting a stranger\u00a0<\/p>\n
for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 173\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte smiled and pushed the menu toward Bradley. \u201cAfter\u00a0<\/p>\n
you, Dr. Kline.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Bradley took the menu, his fingertips accidentally brushed\u00a0<\/p>\n
the back of her hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They both pulled away as if they\u2019d been burned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you like to eat, Charlotte?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley asked, feigning casualness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. \u201cAnything\u00a0<\/p>\n
is fine. I\u2019m not a picky eater.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley chuckled inwardly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Liar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She clearly hated carrots and celery.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have the filet mignon then, medium\u2013well. Would you like the\u00a0<\/p>\n
same, Charlotte?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte, feeling uncomfortable at his question, could only\u00a0<\/p>\n
nod.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley added to the waiter, \u201cAnd no carrot garnish on hers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 173\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u2019s hand, stirring her lemonade, suddenly stopped, her\u00a0<\/p>\n
breath catching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella looked at Bradley in surprise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you know Charlotte doesn\u2019t eat carrots, Dr. Kline?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley picked up his water glass, his expression unchanged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a guess. A lot of my patients don\u2019t like it.\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 173 Bradley was looking down at his phone, only looking up when\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-29470","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\/29470","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=29470"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29470\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}