This kid\u2026 where did he learn to be such a smooth talker at his\u00a0<\/p>\n
age?\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t remember being like that when he was little.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick had booked the restaurant, a top\u2013tier luxury place\u00a0<\/p>\n
perfect for a family dinner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, Harold and Clarissa had to be invited; they were\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minerva\u2019s aunt and uncle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Somehow, Owen found out. He called and said he wanted to\u00a0<\/p>\n
come over too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Madeleine found out, she made a point to talk to the\u00a0<\/p>\n
head chef and switch out a few dishes for ones suitable for a\u00a0<\/p>\n
pregnant woman.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The whole family was gathered together around a large table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, let\u2019s all raise our glasses and toast to our little Mina\u00a0<\/p>\n
for winning the championship!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 235\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold stood up. After he spoke, his eyes reddened without him\u00a0<\/p>\n
realizing it, and he instinctively turned to look at Madeleine, who\u00a0<\/p>\n
was sitting nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was puzzled by his stare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Dad?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why are you looking at me like that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just thinking how fast time flies. I still remember when\u00a0<\/p>\n
you were little and won awards, I threw banquets to celebrate\u00a0<\/p>\n
for you, too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he spoke, Harold raised a hand and wiped the corners of his\u00a0<\/p>\n
moist eyes with the back of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this made Madeleine\u2019s heart ache a little, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yeah, time really flies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold was a sensitive and sentimental man, but Owen was the\u00a0<\/p>\n
complete opposite.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He clicked his tongue and raised his glass to clink with\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHarold, look at you. Why are you saying such sad things on a\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 235\u00a0<\/p>\n
happy day like this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what if time flies? Isn\u2019t it great that we\u2019re surrounded by our\u00a0<\/p>\n
children and grandchildren?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He finished speaking, shook his head, and muttered under his\u00a0<\/p>\n
breath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re just being dramatic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold laughed when he heard that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, let\u2019s not talk about that stuff.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He smiled, shook his head, and downed the wine in his glass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just be happy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The atmosphere became lively again. The dishes, exquisite and\u00a0<\/p>\n
delicious, were served one after another, and everyone was\u00a0<\/p>\n
laughing constantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Owen and Madeleine\u2019s parents would occasionally tell funny\u00a0<\/p>\n
stories about the young couple\u2019s childhood, making Minerva\u00a0<\/p>\n
giggle while clutching her stomach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine put her hand on her forehead, wishing she could\u00a0<\/p>\n
cover her son Kevin\u2019s ears right now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 235\u00a0<\/p>\n
How embarrassing. How was she, as his mom, supposed to\u00a0<\/p>\n
keep any respect in front of her son after this?\u00a0<\/p>\n
While they were eating, Madeleine\u2019s phone rang.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She picked it up and looked at it, a little surprised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKev, your kindergarten is having an art festival?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin nodded, looked up, and said, \u201cMommy, I\u2019m going to play\u00a0<\/p>\n
the piano for the art festival.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s mouth fell open in surprise when she heard that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t just her; everyone else at the table looked over in\u00a0<\/p>\n
surprise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKev, did you volunteer to perform?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaddie, when is it? Can Grandma come and watch?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandpa just bought a new camera. I\u2019ll take pictures of you\u00a0<\/p>\n
then, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone was talking at once, and Kevin didn\u2019t know who to\u00a0<\/p>\n
answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 235\u00a0<\/p>\n
So he didn\u2019t answer anyone and just turned to look at\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy, can you come to the kindergarten for the art festival?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The two of them, one big and one small, locked eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s eyes, twinkling like stars, were quivering.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2026 he actually asked for something on his own.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And it was an earnest request, full of hope.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is wonderful\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine felt a sting in her nose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thinking about how the little guy used to be so sensitive,\u00a0<\/p>\n
suppressing his needs and too scared to say what he really felt,\u00a0<\/p>\n
made Madeleine\u2019s heart ache.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She took a deep breath, fighting back her emotions and\u00a0<\/p>\n
nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, Kev. How could Mommy miss your event?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s eyes grew even brighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 235\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine stroked her son\u2019s little cheek and smiled happily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The little guy turned his head to look at Roderick, who didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
wait to be asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019ll go with Mom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s great.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Kevin got happy, his little face flushed, looking incredibly\u00a0<\/p>\n
cute.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, the four grandparents couldn\u2019t sit still.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His mom and dad were going.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What about the grandpas and grandmas?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Owen coughed and asked casually, \u201cFor these kindergarten events, how many family members are usually allowed to\u00a0<\/p>\n
come?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as Owen said this, the dinner table fell silent for a\u00a0<\/p>\n
second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Immediately after, Clarissa put down her fork and looked at\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine. \u201cMaddie, for this kind of event, how many parents\u00a0<\/p>\n
can usually go?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 235\u00a0<\/p>\n
Are there enough seats?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold chimed in, \u201cYes, that\u2019s a very important question.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We need to plan out who\u2019s attending ahead of time<\/p>\n
What about the grandpas and grandmas?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Owen coughed and asked casually, \u201cFor these kindergarten events, how many family members are usually allowed to\u00a0<\/p>\n
come?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as Owen said this, the dinner table fell silent for a\u00a0<\/p>\n
second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Immediately after, Clarissa put down her fork and looked at\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine. \u201cMaddie, for this kind of event, how many parents\u00a0<\/p>\n
can usually go?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 235\u00a0<\/p>\n
Are there enough seats?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold chimed in, \u201cYes, that\u2019s a very important question.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We need to plan out who\u2019s attending ahead of time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember the auditorium at Kevin\u2019s kindergarten isn\u2019t small.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the last Seniors\u2018 Day Festival, I think each family had three\u00a0<\/p>\n
or four people.\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 ` 235 This kid\u2026 where did he learn to be such a […]<\/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-29532","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\/29532","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=29532"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29532\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}