Madeleine was scrolling through her phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t we need to book in advance? The nice places with good\u00a0<\/p>\n
food and high ratings are hard to get into.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca thought for a moment. \u201cI\u2019m tired of all those places.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s go eat something else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething else?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine turned to look at her, confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAny recommendations?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019ll take you there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Rebecca drove, she started to think she must be out of her\u00a0<\/p>\n
mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her mind was completely filled with the restaurant where she\u00a0<\/p>\n
had eaten with Adrian last time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After that, they had been back twice\u2013once just the two of them,\u00a0<\/p>\n
and once for a team dinner with the whole lab group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 213\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian seemed to know the owner of the restaurant very well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every time they met, it was like a family member coming home\u00a0<\/p>\n
for a meal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The more she thought about it, the more Rebecca felt\u00a0<\/p>\n
something was wrong with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian, Adrian\u2026 She was supposed to be thinking about the\u00a0<\/p>\n
restaurant, so why was her head full of Adrian?\u00a0<\/p>\n
They hadn\u2019t even known each other that long. Had Adrian cast\u00a0<\/p>\n
some kind of spell on her?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as they were about to reach the restaurant, Rebecca\u00a0<\/p>\n
changed her mind again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what, let\u2019s go somewhere else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her voice clearly lacked confidence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSomewhere else?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine turned her head, puzzled. \u201cI just looked up the reviews online. It\u2019s not a big place, but it\u2019s a historic establishment. Everyone says it\u2019s pretty good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 213\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m worried you won\u2019t like the food.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The closer they got, the more agitated Rebecca felt, so she just\u00a0<\/p>\n
made up a random excuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow could I not like it? Don\u2019t worry, Rebecca, \u2018I\u2019m not a picky\u00a0<\/p>\n
eater.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just an ordinary little restaurant\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been eating the Spicy Numbing Hot Pot from the stall by\u00a0<\/p>\n
the school for years. Do I look like I care about that stuff?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Madeleine said this, she was already watching Rebecca\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
expression out of the corner of her eye.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hmm\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Something\u2019s not right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s not acting right!\u00a0<\/p>\n
There\u2019s something fishy about that restaurant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t ask, just patiently decided to investigate once they\u00a0<\/p>\n
got there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They arrived before the dinner rush, so the restaurant wasn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 213\u00a0<\/p>\n
too crowded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And because of that, the owner looked over from inside and\u00a0<\/p>\n
recognized Rebecca immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s you, aren\u2019t you\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, owner.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca cut the owner off, pointing to Madeleine and saying, \u201cI brought a friend to eat here today. I want her to try your chef\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
cooking.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The owner was a simple and honest\u2013looking middle\u2013aged man of about forty\u2013five. Hearing this, he immediately broke into a\u00a0<\/p>\n
smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat, great, sit anywhere. Don\u2019t worry, you won\u2019t be\u00a0<\/p>\n
disappointed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said as he personally brought over the menus, ready to take\u00a0<\/p>\n
their order.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember you like the Spicy Saut\u00e9ed Kidney. Want one?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, and a Mulberry Leaves in Superior Broth\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 213\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca ordered a few dishes, and Madeleine found it strange.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Except for the Spicy Saut\u00e9ed Kidney, the others seemed to be\u00a0<\/p>\n
all her favorites.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She rested her chin on her hand and looked at Rebecca.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca, how did you know what I like to eat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMe?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked up, a speechless expression on her face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow would I know?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
They hadn\u2019t really eaten together that much, and when they did,\u00a0<\/p>\n
it was mostly simple, low\u2013calorie Minimalist Western meals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca, looking completely exasperated, took out her phone,\u00a0<\/p>\n
found her chat history with Roderick, and handed it to\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSee for yourself. I can\u2019t even be bothered to talk about it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine looked down. It was a message from two days ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick had sent Rebecca a document.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She tapped it open, and her eyes went wide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 213\u00a0<\/p>\n
All the Foods Madeleine Likes to Eat\u00a0<\/p>\n
A Complete List of Foods Madeleine Hates\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brands Madeleine Likes\u00a0<\/p>\n
A dozen pages long, the entire document was filled with notes\u00a0<\/p>\n
on Madeleine\u2019s preferences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stunned, she scrolled through it a bit. It was all her habits, no\u00a0<\/p>\n
doubt about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis\u2026 when did he do this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine murmured in a low voice, her voice a little choked up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho knows.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca shrugged, crossing her arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was just exasperated, not particularly surprised or shocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After all, when it came to Madeleine, nothing Roderick did, no\u00a0<\/p>\n
matter how over\u2013the\u2013top, would surprise Rebecca.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As Madeleine scrolled, her vision started to blur.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 213\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was truly touched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you crying now? Don\u2019t tell Roderick about this. What if\u00a0<\/p>\n
he finds out you cried and blames me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine forced a smile and held back her tears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, Rebecca.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The phone in her hand vibrated twice, and Madeleine quickly\u00a0<\/p>\n
handed it to Rebecca.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks like a work message. You should check it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a glance at the message, Rebecca\u2019s brow furrowed\u00a0<\/p>\n
slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 214\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 214\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 ` 213 Madeleine was scrolling through her phone.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t we need to […]<\/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-29510","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\/29510","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=29510"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29510\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}