Chapter 218\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian\u2019s fingers slowly tightened with a force that couldn\u2019t be\u00a0<\/p>\n
resisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes, usually as gentle as water, now looked like a bottle of\u00a0<\/p>\n
ink had been spilled in them, swirling with darkness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca had been alive for over twenty years; she wasn\u2019t some\u00a0<\/p>\n
naive young girl.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With just one look, she could tell what was in Adrian\u2019s desire-\u00a0<\/p>\n
filled eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And that almost blunt thing he said\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
She gritted her teeth and yanked her arm back with all her\u00a0<\/p>\n
might.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Professor Shaw was above worldly desires, with only\u00a0<\/p>\n
academics on his mind.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian let out a soft laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDisappointed to find out I\u2019m just an ordinary man?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 218\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca pressed her lips together and said nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian hid the look in his eyes and said indifferently, \u201cRebecca,\u00a0<\/p>\n
all men are the same.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, they\u2019re not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s reply was firm, Leo\u2019s image echoing in her mind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019s different.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In that brief moment she was distracted, Adrian instantly read\u00a0<\/p>\n
the thought in her eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had denied what he just said. Did that mean there was a\u00a0<\/p>\n
different\u2026 man in her heart?\u00a0<\/p>\n
The corners of Adrian\u2019s eyes turned a little red, and he\u00a0<\/p>\n
uncontrollably clenched his fists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca didn\u2019t look at Adrian again, her tone flat. \u201cI have\u00a0<\/p>\n
something to do, so I\u2019ll be going. Thanks for bringing me the\u00a0<\/p>\n
keys, Professor Shaw.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, Rebecca turned and left without a hint of hesitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just like her usual style.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 218\u00a0<\/p>\n
Never one to drag things out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Always decisive and efficient.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back at the car, Madeleine leaned halfway out the window and\u00a0<\/p>\n
asked,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca, what took you so long?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing. I just exchanged a few words with them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca looked perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened at\u00a0<\/p>\n
all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even if Madeleine noticed something was wrong, she didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
press the issue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She knew Rebecca. When she couldn\u2019t hold it in anymore, she\u00a0<\/p>\n
would talk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since she wasn\u2019t willing to talk, she must still be thinking it over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was better to give her some time to think.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The next day was the bid meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 218\u00a0<\/p>\n
The bid meeting started at ten, but at nine\u2013twenty, Madeleine\u00a0<\/p>\n
and Roderick were still at home, eating fruit and watching TV.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca called, her voice a furious shout.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know what time it is? Where are you two?!\u00a0<\/p>\n
!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was sitting on the sofa with her legs propped on\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s lap. He was watching TV while massaging her\u00a0<\/p>\n
calves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine exercised a lot but usually didn\u2019t have much time to\u00a0<\/p>\n
stretch her muscles. Every night, as she was drifting off to\u00a0<\/p>\n
sleep, Roderick would give them a massage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was really enjoying it right now. She had to admit,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick was pretty good at this.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If the company ever went under, he could always learn a trade.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Rebecca, we\u2019re on our way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBullshit! I can hear the music from your bubblegum romance\u00a0<\/p>\n
series!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca put her hand to her forehead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 218\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had no idea why Madeleine loved watching those kinds of\u00a0<\/p>\n
shows. She\u2019d watched quite a few with her during the days she\u00a0<\/p>\n
stayed at Madeleine\u2019s place, and now she could recognize it\u00a0<\/p>\n
just by the sound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Caught in her lie, Madeleine gave an embarrassed grin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re so smart, Rebecca~ We haven\u2019t left yet. We\u2019ll head out\u00a0<\/p>\n
as soon as this episode is over.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Are you two crazy? It starts at ten, and you\u2019re not\u00a0<\/p>\n
coming?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, why go so early? We can get in even after it starts.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two are really confident. Aren\u2019t you worried Edward won\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
fall into the trap you\u2019ve set?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cImpossible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That was Roderick. He took the phone from Madeleine\u2019s hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEdward signed the contract with the bank yesterday.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe signed another one?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 218\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just how much more did he commit!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was eating grapes and popped one into Roderick\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He bit into it, the sweet juice bursting in his mouth, and said\u00a0<\/p>\n
calmly, \u201cFor the next two years, Edward\u2019s cash flow is going to\u00a0<\/p>\n
be tight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When a company ties up its capital in a long\u2013term project, the\u00a0<\/p>\n
quiet years that follow are when it\u2019s most vulnerable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Want to go after Edward?\u00a0<\/p>\n
There will be plenty of opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca gasped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he insane?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not insane. He\u2019s just too desperate to beat me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine giggled and raised her voice to add into the phone,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Rebecca, at today\u2019s bid, all we have to do is sit in the back\u00a0<\/p>\n
and enjoy the show.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two are really something else\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 218\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo peas in a pod.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The call ended. Madeleine spat out a grape seed and suddenly\u00a0<\/p>\n
asked, \u201cSo between us, who\u2019s the turtle and who\u2019s the green\u00a0<\/p>\n
bean?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick raised an eyebrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m the turtle, then you\u2019re kissing a turtle. If you\u2019re the turtle\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
hmm, I won\u2019t deny 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 ` 218 Chapter 218\u00a0 Adrian\u2019s fingers slowly tightened with a force that […]<\/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-29515","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\/29515","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=29515"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29515\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29515"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29515"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}