\u201cRicki!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was speechless and playfully punched his arm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten, who was on the balcony watering the plants, didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
quite hear and poked her head in, watering can in hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSir, Ma\u2019am, who\u2019s going to kiss a turtle?\u00a0<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t kiss those things. Back home, someone I know had\u00a0<\/p>\n
their finger bitten off by a turtle.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She shivered as she said it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you kissed it, it would bite right through your lips\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s mouth twitched when she heard what Kirsten said,\u00a0<\/p>\n
and she looked embarrassed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, Kirsten, nobody\u2019s kissing a turtle. We were just joking.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kirsten sighed in relief and smiled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou young people are so funny, you can joke about anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 219\u00a0<\/p>\n
After sitting for a while longer, seeing it was about time,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick patted the bottom of Madeleine\u2019s foot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo get changed. It\u2019s time to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cUgh\u2026 is it time already?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine turned to look at the time and sighed in frustration,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is so annoying. I have to see that face again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Roderick raised an eyebrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you can just look at me the whole time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine burst out laughing, \u201cWouldn\u2019t my neck get sore\u00a0<\/p>\n
then?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The smile on Roderick\u2019s face vanished, replaced by a serious\u00a0<\/p>\n
expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stared at Madeleine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m the one you have to look at, I\u2019m more than willing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe it was because Roderick\u2019s gaze was too intense,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s heart started pounding.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t help but stammer, \u201cI, uh, you know, I\u2019m going to get\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 219\u00a0<\/p>\n
changed. Wait for me, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, Madeleine quickly pulled her legs back from Roderick\u00a0<\/p>\n
and bolted out of the study.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick watched her retreating figure and couldn\u2019t help but\u00a0<\/p>\n
smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still so easy to fluster. He hadn\u2019t even really tried.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ten minutes later, Madeleine and Roderick left, having changed\u00a0<\/p>\n
their clothes. Roderick had prepared the outfits, intentionally\u00a0<\/p>\n
choosing similar colors so they looked like a matching couple\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
set.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine didn\u2019t even have to think to figure out his little\u00a0<\/p>\n
scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t help but chuckle, turning to poke Roderick with her\u00a0<\/p>\n
finger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRicki, you really haven\u2019t changed a bit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHm?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo petty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t the first time Madeleine had called Roderick petty,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 219\u00a0<\/p>\n
but every time, she found his pettiness was always about her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She giggled and linked her arm through Roderick\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick was in a great mood, a smile on his face as they\u00a0<\/p>\n
entered the venue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the venue.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward was sitting in the front row with an empty seat beside\u00a0<\/p>\n
him, one he had saved for Fiona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Fiona hadn\u2019t come.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward frowned, taking out his phone to text a subordinate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[Where\u2019s Fiona?]\u00a0<\/p>\n
The subordinate replied quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[Sorry, sir. I haven\u2019t been able to reach Fiona yet.]\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward\u2019s frown deepened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t like Fiona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the past, whenever he had an event, she would always come, and even thoughtfully help him prepare the clothes he needed\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 219\u00a0<\/p>\n
to wear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But this time, not only did she not prepare his clothes, she didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
even show up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Did something happen?\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment\u2019s hesitation, Edward found Fiona on Facebook\u00a0<\/p>\n
and sent her a message.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[Fiona?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why didn\u2019t you come to the bid meeting?]\u00a0<\/p>\n
He sent the message and stared at his phone for a full two\u00a0<\/p>\n
minutes, but there was no reply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His breath hitched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This unusual behavior made him feel a strange sense of panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why did it seem like everything was spinning out of his control\u00a0<\/p>\n
lately?\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he was pondering, a commotion erupted behind him, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward turned his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was Roderick and Madeleine, walking in together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 219\u00a0<\/p>\n
A handsome man and a beautiful woman always draw\u00a0<\/p>\n
everyone\u2019s eyes, and some people couldn\u2019t help but start\u00a0<\/p>\n
whispering with envy:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIsn\u2019t that Mr. Livingston and his wife? I saw them at a party last\u00a0<\/p>\n
time. They seem so close.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I remember hearing rumors that they were just putting\u00a0<\/p>\n
on a show and were about to get a divorce.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did say they were rumors\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that she liked Mr. Carroll.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s even more ridiculous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every word reached Edward\u2019s ears. His face darkened, and his\u00a0<\/p>\n
hand tightened around his phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As if he didn\u2019t know whether it was ridiculous or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He glanced over once, then quickly turned away, watching the\u00a0<\/p>\n
host on stage with an indifferent expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It started over ten minutes ago, and they\u2019re just now showing\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 219\u00a0<\/p>\n
Playing it cool, are they?\u00a0<\/p>\n
They won\u2019t be so relaxed once the bidding results are\u00a0<\/p>\n
announced.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick and Madeleine were seated up front; very close to\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine had said before they came in that she didn\u2019t want to\u00a0<\/p>\n
see him, so Roderick really did pull her to sit in the back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At this kind of event, the seating was mostly arranged\u00a0<\/p>\n
according to the status and rank of the attendees.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 220\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 220\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 ` 219 \u201cRicki!\u201d\u00a0 Madeleine was speechless and playfully punched his arm.\u00a0 Kirsten, […]<\/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-29516","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\/29516","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=29516"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29516\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}