aught off guard, Madeleine met his deep eyes, a turbulent\u00a0<\/p>\n
undercurrent swirling within them that made her forget how to\u00a0<\/p>\n
react for a moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Livingston.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice dropped, laced with a barely perceptible accusation,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs your attention, perhaps, in the wrong place?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine blinked, not yet understanding. \u201cHuh?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019m making plans with someone. I\u2019ll get to see them\u00a0<\/p>\n
tomorrow\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before she could finish, Roderick\u2019s kiss had already landed,\u00a0<\/p>\n
sealing all her unspoken words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The kiss was undeniably dominant, with a hint of punishment,\u00a0<\/p>\n
stealing her breath and instantly sweeping away all thoughts of\u00a0<\/p>\n
her best friend\u2019s gossip and her friend\u2019s love life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMmph\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 240\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine let out a subconscious soft moan, her phone\u00a0<\/p>\n
slipping from her hand onto the sofa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was held firmly in his embrace, able to do nothing but\u00a0<\/p>\n
passively accept the sudden, passionate kiss. Her brain slowly\u00a0<\/p>\n
became deprived of oxygen, but her body honestly softened,\u00a0<\/p>\n
her arms involuntarily wrapping around his neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only when she was breathless, her eyes glistening, did Roderick\u00a0<\/p>\n
pull back slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His forehead rested against hers, his breathing also a little\u00a0<\/p>\n
heavy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His thumb caressed her slightly swollen lips, his voice hoarse,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs the gossip more interesting than me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hmm?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only then did Madeleine belatedly realize that her dear Ricki\u00a0<\/p>\n
was jealous, annoyed that she had neglected him,\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t help but let out a chuckle, her heart bubbling with\u00a0<\/p>\n
sweetness as she deliberately teased him:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, it\u2019s not the same. Gossip is food for the soul, and you\u00a0<\/p>\n
are\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 240\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat am I?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick narrowed his eyes, closing in menacingly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine laughed and tried to dodge, but he only held her\u00a0<\/p>\n
tighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She leaned close to his ear, her breath warm and fragrant, her\u00a0<\/p>\n
voice soft and alluring, \u201cYou\u2019re my life\u2026 Mmph\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before the words were out, she was kissed again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This time, the kiss was lingering and urgent, filled with obvious\u00a0<\/p>\n
desire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick swept her up into his arms and strode toward the\u00a0<\/p>\n
bedroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAh!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine let out a small cry, instinctively tightening her arms\u00a0<\/p>\n
around his neck, \u201cMy phone\u2026 I haven\u2019t finished making the\u00a0<\/p>\n
plans\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll deal with it tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s voice was impossibly hoarse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 240\u00a0<\/p>\n
He kicked open the bedroom door, gently placed her on the soft\u00a0<\/p>\n
bed, and then covered her with his body, his shadow completely\u00a0<\/p>\n
enveloping her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, Mrs. Livingston, you only need to focus on me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fiery kisses fell again, from her lips to her neck, leaving a trail of\u00a0<\/p>\n
suggestive marks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All of Madeleine\u2019s protests and thoughts were shattered, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
she could only sink under his lead, her fingertips digging into\u00a0<\/p>\n
his broad back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside, the moonlight was hazy; inside, the passion was in full\u00a0<\/p>\n
bloom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine woke up feeling sore all over, and as soon as she\u00a0<\/p>\n
opened her eyes, she met Roderick\u2019s satisfied and gentle gaze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Remembering last night\u2019s wildness, her cheeks flushed. She\u00a0<\/p>\n
shot him a playful glare, only to receive a deeper good morning\u00a0<\/p>\n
kiss in return.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHurry and get up, we still have to go to the private mountain\u00a0<\/p>\n
lodge!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 240\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine pushed him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her legs might have felt like jelly, but she was out of bed in a\u00a0<\/p>\n
flash.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick gave a wry smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching the drama unfold really is a primal motivation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The family got everything packed and ready to head to the\u00a0<\/p>\n
private mountain lodge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The car drove smoothly along the winding mountain road, the\u00a0<\/p>\n
scenery outside pleasant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine watched her son, who was excitedly looking all\u00a0<\/p>\n
around, and suddenly remembered something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She spoke to the little guy, her tone gentle but with a hint of\u00a0<\/p>\n
seriousness that was hard to detect:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKev, Mommy wants to tell you something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin turned his little head, blinking his big eyes, \u201cGo ahead,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mommy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 240\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetheart, a lot of uncles and aunts will be coming to play\u00a0<\/p>\n
with us today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If\u2026 um, I mean if, one of the uncles or aunts, like Mr. Shaw or\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ms. Whitman, asks you to go play with your toys or watch\u00a0<\/p>\n
cartoons in your room by yourself\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine chose her words carefully, trying to sound as natural\u00a0<\/p>\n
as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be a good boy and listen, and just play by yourself\u00a0<\/p>\n
for a little while, okay?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t suddenly run out to find Mommy and Daddy or the other\u00a0<\/p>\n
uncles and aunts. Give them a little\u2026 um\u2026 time to talk alone,\u00a0<\/p>\n
can you do that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin tilted his head, looking like he only half\u2013understood. \u201cWhy?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Can\u2019t I play with everyone?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was at a loss for words for a moment, her cheeks\u00a0<\/p>\n
feeling a little warm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t very well tell her son that if the adults were up to\u00a0<\/p>\n
something not suitable for kids, he needed to stay away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 240\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine gave a dry laugh.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s normal for kids not to understand adult stuff.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll get it when you\u2019re older.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 241\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 ` 240 aught off guard, Madeleine met his deep eyes, a turbulent\u00a0 […]<\/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-29537","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\/29537","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=29537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29537\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}