hapter 262\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 262\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho has the time to laugh at you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine muttered under her breath, her fingers\u00a0<\/p>\n
unconsciously fiddling with a chess piece. \u201cI\u2019m just curious,\u00a0<\/p>\n
what\u2019s really going on between you and Charlotte?\u00a0<\/p>\n
You two seem\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
You seem to care so much about each other, yet you\u2019re both so\u00a0<\/p>\n
awkward about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine didn\u2019t say that last part out loud.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley tugged at the corner of his mouth. He didn\u2019t answer, asking instead, \u201cDid she say anything when she left?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust that the case was urgent, and she went back with Mr.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adler.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine watched his expression and added carefully, \u201cShe\u00a0<\/p>\n
seemed fine, it\u2019s just\u2026 it seemed like she didn\u2019t want to talk\u00a0<\/p>\n
about you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s Adam\u2019s apple bobbed. He was silent for a moment,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 262\u00a0<\/p>\n
then suddenly gave a self\u2013deprecating laugh. \u201cThat\u2019s normal. When has she ever wanted to talk about me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stood up, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation,\u00a0<\/p>\n
and no longer in the mood for chess.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not playing anymore?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine looked up at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s no fun.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley waved a hand dismissively and walked towards the\u00a0<\/p>\n
house, his back looking a bit lonely. \u201cI lose, okay? Happy now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine watched him walk away and pursed her lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t about losing a game. It was clearly about losing a\u00a0<\/p>\n
person.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As afternoon approached, the rain started again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian said that rain could easily bring mountain fog, which\u00a0<\/p>\n
would make driving unsafe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 262\u00a0<\/p>\n
The group discussed it and decided to end their short autumn\u00a0<\/p>\n
trip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the way back, Rebecca wanted to drive her own car, but\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adrian pulled her into his.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine watched them with a knowing smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thank goodness for Professor Shaw\u2019s pushy and competitive\u00a0<\/p>\n
nature. Otherwise, who knows how long Rebecca would have\u00a0<\/p>\n
kept her feelings bottled up before realizing them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin tugged on Madeleine\u2019s sleeve, his eyes a little downcast\u00a0<\/p>\n
as he looked at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine looked over, confused. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Kev? Oh, are\u00a0<\/p>\n
you unhappy because we have to go home?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mommy will take you out again next time, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMmm.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The little guy hesitated for a moment, uncharacteristically not\u00a0<\/p>\n
agreeing to Madeleine\u2019s suggestion right away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 262\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s little face was a bit red as if he\u2019d been struggling\u00a0<\/p>\n
internally for a while before finally speaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNext time, can we not play with so many people?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine opened her mouth, thinking the little guy\u2019s past\u00a0<\/p>\n
psychological issues were acting up and he didn\u2019t like being\u00a0<\/p>\n
around people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as she was about to ask, Kevin said with some\u00a0<\/p>\n
disappointment, \u201cThere are too many people. Mommy always\u00a0<\/p>\n
has to talk to a lot of people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t have much time to spend with him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine froze, feeling awkward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yikes\u2026 This is bad, this is bad.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She really had been a bit too obsessed with watching the drama unfold these past two days, completely neglecting to spend quality time with her son.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that thought, Madeleine quickly and guiltily stroked the little guy\u2019s head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 262\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Mommy\u2019s fault, Kev. Next week, how about Mommy\u00a0<\/p>\n
spends time only with you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly with me? What about Daddy?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick\u2019s ears perked up. He raised an eyebrow but said\u00a0<\/p>\n
nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exactly, what about him?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet your daddy go play by himself. Hmph, my Maddie is the\u00a0<\/p>\n
most important.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick: \u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Great. He was feeling pretty hurt right now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Next week, huh?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alright, then the week after next, he\u2019d find an excuse to send\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin to his grandparents\u2018 place, and then take Madeleine out\u00a0<\/p>\n
for some alone time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the first time, Roderick felt that having a son was so in the\u00a0<\/p>\n
way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the family was laughing and talking, Madeleine\u2019s phone\u00a0<\/p>\n
rang.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 262\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s this? It\u2019s an unknown number.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Muttering, Madeleine answered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, who is this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A familiar female voice came from the other end of the line.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine didn\u2019t recognize it at first, and after thinking for a\u00a0<\/p>\n
moment, she asked tentatively, \u201cAre you\u2026 Leona?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing the name, Roderick, who was beside her, immediately\u00a0<\/p>\n
turned to look, his expression wary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leona?\u00a0<\/p>\n
He hadn\u2019t gone to settle scores with her, and now she was\u00a0<\/p>\n
contacting Madeleine first?\u00a0<\/p>\n
What was she up to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the other end of the line, Leona held her phone, gazing out\u00a0<\/p>\n
the window.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you free? I\u2019d like to talk to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 262\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s expression grew a little more serious.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned her head to look at Roderick, and Roderick\u00a0<\/p>\n
instinctively wanted Madeleine to hang up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t like it when Madeleine\u2019s mood was affected by other,\u00a0<\/p>\n
irrelevant people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the Madeleine of today wasn\u2019t so fragile. She was silent for\u00a0<\/p>\n
a moment before speaking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there something you need?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, about the past, and the future. There are some things I\u00a0<\/p>\n
hope to tell you in person.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine nodded. \u201cOkay, you name the time and place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 263\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 263\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 ` 262 hapter 262\u00a0 Chapter 262\u00a0 \u201cWho has the time to laugh […]<\/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-29559","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\/29559","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=29559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29559\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}