Chapter 250\u00a0<\/p>\n
He changed the subject, looking at Charlotte with a gentle gaze,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlotte, didn\u2019t you just say you had a bit of a headache?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why don\u2019t you\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wanted to give Charlotte a reason not to participate, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
also to subtly express that Bradley\u2019s actions were inappropriate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Bradley immediately cut him off, his tone even more\u00a0<\/p>\n
aggressive:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf she has a headache, she can just go rest. We\u2019ll drink our own\u00a0<\/p>\n
drinks. What, does Mr. Adler need my sister\u2019s permission?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those words were a blatant jab at Simon for being\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201chenpecked,\u201d for not being man enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBradley!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u2019s voice dropped, clearly filled with anger.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine watched from the side, stunned, and subconsciously\u00a0<\/p>\n
tightened her grip on Roderick\u2019s arm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 250\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rebecca also frowned, feeling that Bradley was going a bit too\u00a0<\/p>\n
far.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella was even more nervous, pressing her lips together, not knowing what to do.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wait, what the hell is Bradley thinking? I was supposed to be the\u00a0<\/p>\n
catalyst, so how come he\u2019s the one who blew up before I even\u00a0<\/p>\n
did anything!\u00a0<\/p>\n
?\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019s got no self\u2013control at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRicki\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine gently bumped Roderick\u2019s arm, signaling for him to\u00a0<\/p>\n
say something.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He got the hint and spoke up calmly: \u201cIf we\u2019re going to drink,\u00a0<\/p>\n
let\u2019s just enjoy it. There\u2019s no point in a drinking contest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said this to Bradley, as a warning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley took a deep breath, seeming to realize he\u2019d lost his composure, but there was no way he was going to back down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 250\u00a0<\/p>\n
He replied stiffly, \u201cOf course, we\u2019ll \u2018enjoy it.\u2018 Professor Shaw,\u00a0<\/p>\n
could you please bring the drinks? The strong stuff.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said the last two words while staring at Simon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The smile on Simon\u2019s face faded slightly, but he maintained his\u00a0<\/p>\n
composure. \u201cAlright.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing Bradley\u2019s stubborn refusal to listen, Charlotte\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
expression turned completely cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t say anything more, just picked up the teacup in front\u00a0<\/p>\n
of her, took a small sip, and stared into the distance, not\u00a0<\/p>\n
looking at anyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian got up to get the alcohol.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soon, a few bottles of what looked like high\u2013proof vodka and\u00a0<\/p>\n
whiskey were placed on the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Simon looked at the bottles of liquor and felt a little nervous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Bradley had put him on the spot, so there was no way for\u00a0<\/p>\n
him to back down now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fortunately, Adrian had someone bring over a table, along with a few bottles of fruit wine and juice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 250\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s all drink together. No need to make it a real drinking\u00a0<\/p>\n
contest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, yeah!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was the most excited, reaching for the low\u2013alcohol\u00a0<\/p>\n
fruit wine over there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pomegranate flavor. It must be delicious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before she could even touch it, a large hand stopped her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick silently took the pomegranate fruit wine away,\u00a0<\/p>\n
replacing it with completely non\u2013alcoholic coconut water.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine pouted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust drinking is no fun.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella moved a stool to sit next to Bradley, her big, sparkling\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes scanning the group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about we play a game?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat should we play?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella, with a mischievous look on her face, suggested with a\u00a0<\/p>\n
grin, \u201cThe classic, of course. Truth or Dare.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 250\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as she said that, everyone fell silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clearly, everyone was nervous.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some of them didn\u2019t dare to reveal their true feelings, while\u00a0<\/p>\n
others didn\u2019t dare to take the risk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The more that was the case, the more excited the person who\u00a0<\/p>\n
suggested the game became.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isn\u2019t this exactly what Isabella was waiting for?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, she wasn\u2019t the only one excited. Madeleine was the\u00a0<\/p>\n
first to give her full support, immediately agreeing for everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, no one objects, right?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella didn\u2019t even give them a chance to speak, nodding as\u00a0<\/p>\n
soon as she asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI can tell everyone\u2019s game.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Everyone:\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Is this how Gen Z does things these days?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Isabella briefly explained the rules: they would go in order of the\u00a0<\/p>\n
poker cards they drew, with the lowest card going first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 250\u00a0<\/p>\n
The person who drew the card could choose either Truth or\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As luck would have it, Isabella was first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, alright.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She waved her hand with a laugh. \u201cSince I suggested it, I\u2019ll set\u00a0<\/p>\n
an example. I choose Dare.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine, still thinking about her bet with Rebecca, said\u00a0<\/p>\n
deliberately, \u201cThen pick someone to do a ceremonial cross-\u00a0<\/p>\n
cupped drink with. It has to be someone of the opposite sex!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley was stunned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked at Roderick. \u201cAren\u2019t you going to do something about\u00a0<\/p>\n
that? Who does your wife learn all this nonsense from?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cT.V.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTelevision.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley: \u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Besides Bradley, there was no one else there for Isabella to\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 250\u00a0<\/p>\n
pick.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She confidently grabbed a glass and filled it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, Dr. Kline. Let\u2019s get this first drink done.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley didn\u2019t speak. He picked up his glass, glancing at\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte beside him out of the corner of his eye.\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 ` 250 Chapter 250\u00a0 He changed the subject, looking at Charlotte with […]<\/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-29547","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\/29547","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=29547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29547\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}