Was I seeing things?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGet in. It\u2019s fine to sit in the passenger seat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca smiled and nodded. After getting in and buckling her\u00a0<\/p>\n
seatbelt, she turned her head and noticed Adrian was staring at\u00a0<\/p>\n
her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Professor Shaw? Is\u2026 something wrong with\u00a0<\/p>\n
me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look\u2026 very different today, too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca heard him, her smile looking a little forced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course!\u00a0<\/p>\n
He should think about what kind of event this is. It might be a\u00a0<\/p>\n
medical seminar, but the organizers specifically said they\u00a0<\/p>\n
invited a lot of guests from other industries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She, Rebecca, was at least somewhat well\u2013known in the\u00a0<\/p>\n
financial world; she could easily be recognized, you know\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 189\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, before she left the house, Rebecca picked out an outfit that\u00a0<\/p>\n
was the complete opposite of her usual style.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As low\u2013key as it gets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian looked away and said nothing, simply starting the car\u00a0<\/p>\n
and heading toward the venue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The venue was packed with influential figures and big shots.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine followed by Roderick\u2019s side, thinking she was just\u00a0<\/p>\n
there to watch, but he started pulling her around to meet people\u00a0<\/p>\n
as soon as they walked in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is Ethan Allen from Spark Capital. Mr. Allen, hello. This is\u00a0<\/p>\n
my wife, Madeleine. She\u2019s starting her own business recently,\u00a0<\/p>\n
please look out for her in the future.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Sampson, I heard your nephew is taking on office\u00a0<\/p>\n
renovation projects recently?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes, my wife is setting up a company, so we\u2019ll contact you if we\u00a0<\/p>\n
need anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLinda Gill\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 189\u00a0<\/p>\n
From the moment they entered, Roderick introduced his\u00a0<\/p>\n
connections to Madeleine one by one, putting in a good word\u00a0<\/p>\n
for her both directly and indirectly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having been in the financial world for so many years, Roderick\u00a0<\/p>\n
knew that introducing his connections so bluntly wasn\u2019t exactly\u00a0<\/p>\n
a good thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Using up favors is, in essence, a kind of expense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But she was the one he loved, so all the favors and expenses\u00a0<\/p>\n
were worth it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a round of socializing, Madeleine\u2019s face was stiff from\u00a0<\/p>\n
smiling, and her mouth was dry from talking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When there was finally a break from people, she poked\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick in the waist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you had another reason for bringing me here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick chuckled, \u201cMy wife is building her career, I have to\u00a0<\/p>\n
support her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour way of supporting is pretty special, huh?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine said with a grin, \u201cBut I like it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 189\u00a0<\/p>\n
Truly loving someone isn\u2019t about giving them unconditional\u00a0<\/p>\n
help, but about lifting them up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s about putting her in a comfortable position to work hard\u00a0<\/p>\n
from, bringing her a little closer to success.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not long after the two sat down, the seminar began.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Most of it was obscure technical knowledge that Madeleine\u00a0<\/p>\n
didn\u2019t understand, so she couldn\u2019t help but let her mind wander.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, the host announced that they were inviting Adrian to\u00a0<\/p>\n
speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine immediately perked up, straightening her back and\u00a0<\/p>\n
staring at the stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian walked slowly onto the stage, his suit giving off an aura\u00a0<\/p>\n
of calm and reserved confidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his black suit was\u00a0<\/p>\n
well\u2013tailored, making his shoulders look even broader.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His tie was knotted impeccably, its dark, subtle pattern faintly\u00a0<\/p>\n
visible under the lights, exuding a low\u2013key nobility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at his face, his features were sharp: brows like blades,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 189\u00a0<\/p>\n
a high\u2013bridged nose, and a clean, sharp jawline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Behind his glasses, his eyes were deep and sharp, as if they\u00a0<\/p>\n
could see right through a person.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His thin lips were slightly pursed, giving him a\u2019somewhat\u00a0<\/p>\n
distant air when he wasn\u2019t smiling, yet it was strangely eye-\u00a0<\/p>\n
catching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s so handsome\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine couldn\u2019t help but sigh. This was a world away from\u00a0<\/p>\n
the old fossil she had imagined.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside her, Roderick heard her sigh and couldn\u2019t help but frown,\u00a0<\/p>\n
pinching Madeleine\u2019s fingertips with a hint of jealousy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She understood and smiled, leaning close to Roderick\u2019s ear to\u00a0<\/p>\n
coax him softly, \u201cNot as handsome as you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only then did Roderick\u2019s brow slowly smooth out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After stopping, Adrian adjusted the microphone height with one hand, his long, strong fingers with their distinct knuckles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When he spoke, his voice was deep and clear, with a cool,\u00a0<\/p>\n
metallic quality to it: \u201cColleagues, it\u2019s an honor to be here today\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 189\u00a0<\/p>\n
to share my views\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian\u2019s voice was very steady. Probably knowing that not\u00a0<\/p>\n
everyone in the audience was an expert, he finished the\u00a0<\/p>\n
technical part with a few brief words and began to analyze the research project\u2019s goals and returns from a business\u00a0<\/p>\n
perspective.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick listened very attentively, occasionally leaning over to\u00a0<\/p>\n
explain the technical terms Adrian mentioned and their\u00a0<\/p>\n
meanings to Madeleine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine found it strange.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t Professor Shaw a researcher?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick chuckled, \u201cHe has connections.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s eyes widened, \u201cNo wonder he turned down\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s family\u2019s invitation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Turns out he wasn\u2019t short on money at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes Rebecca know about this?\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 `189 Was I seeing things?\u00a0 \u201cGet in. It\u2019s fine to sit in […]<\/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-29486","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\/29486","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=29486"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29486\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}