Madeleine felt she had nowhere to hide under his gaze, that old bit of jealousy and her youthful feelings brought to the surface.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Embarrassed, she buried her face in the crook of his neck, her\u00a0<\/p>\n
voice coming out muffled:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026E\u2013even if a little bit\u2026 was because you were talking to her\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
just a little bit!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
(Which side couple should we see first? I\u2019m taking suggestions\u00a0<\/p>\n
on this.)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Already thin\u2013skinned, Madeleine felt her ears burning hot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seriously, wasn\u2019t she supposed to be the one questioning\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick?\u00a0<\/p>\n
How did she end up being the one getting played?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou went to see Leona. What did you two talk about?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe and I made a three\u2013month agreement.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick frowned. \u201cWhat three\u2013month agreement?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
29\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 269\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine recounted their conversation, and Roderick\u2019s frown\u00a0<\/p>\n
deepened after hearing it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? You don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good idea?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine sat up and looked at Roderick strangely. He always\u00a0<\/p>\n
supported all her decisions, but this time he didn\u2019t voice his\u00a0<\/p>\n
opinion right away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not that it\u2019s a bad idea.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick sighed softly and stroked Madeleine\u2019s hair. \u201cI\u2019m just\u00a0<\/p>\n
worried about you. You\u2019re already overwhelmed with starting\u00a0<\/p>\n
your business, and now you have to train too. What if your body\u00a0<\/p>\n
can\u2019t take it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine was silent for a moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a bit of an overload, but Ricki, I could see the unwillingness\u00a0<\/p>\n
in Leona\u2019s eyes. She felt that way for me. You should know,\u00a0<\/p>\n
giving up ballet these past few years\u2026 was a huge blow to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Roderick nodded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the Madeleine of the past, ballet was an indispensable part\u00a0<\/p>\n
of her life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 269\u00a0<\/p>\n
If there was a chance to get it back, it would indeed be a good\u00a0<\/p>\n
thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s only for three months. I believe I can handle it, and I\u2019ve\u00a0<\/p>\n
already figured it out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine narrowed her eyes, stroking her chin. \u201cI\u2019m going to\u00a0<\/p>\n
have ambitions for my father\u2019s success!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
What Madeleine meant by having ambitions for her father\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
success was calling back Harold, who was idly playing poker.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetheart, you\u2019ve organized this information so thoroughly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There\u2019s nothing left for your dad to do, is there?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold flipped through the pile of documents Madeleine\u00a0<\/p>\n
brought over, unable to help but be amazed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Was this still the pampered daughter he had raised? When did\u00a0<\/p>\n
she become so capable?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe paperwork is all done, but I\u2019m having some trouble with the\u00a0<\/p>\n
factory side of things.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine scratched her head sheepishly. \u201cDad, I might need\u00a0<\/p>\n
you to come out of retirement and keep an eye on the factory.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 269\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as she said that, Clarissa, who was standing by, was all\u00a0<\/p>\n
for it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really need to find something for your dad to do. He\u2019s been\u00a0<\/p>\n
so addicted to playing poker these past two days that his neck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
problems are acting up. Ugh, I can\u2019t even be bothered to talk\u00a0<\/p>\n
about him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLook at you, look at you, saying these things in front of our\u00a0<\/p>\n
daughter. Don\u2019t embarrass me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou still care about being embarrassed? You\u2019re in your fifties\u00a0<\/p>\n
and still so addicted to cards. You should hurry up and help our\u00a0<\/p>\n
daughter more while you still can.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright, alright, I\u2019ll listen to you, dear.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The couple went back and forth, and when they turned their\u00a0<\/p>\n
heads, they found Madeleine\u2019s eyes brimming with tears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold panicked, scrambling to get a tissue to wipe his\u00a0<\/p>\n
daughter\u2019s tears.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaddie, what\u2019s wrong? Why are you crying? Dad didn\u2019t say he\u00a0<\/p>\n
wouldn\u2019t help.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine sniffled and wiped her tears. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing, Dad. I\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 269\u00a0<\/p>\n
just\u2026 I just feel really bad. If it weren\u2019t for all this messy\u00a0<\/p>\n
business, you should be enjoying a peaceful retirement right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
now, just like Roderick\u2019s father.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSilly child, there\u2019s no need to feel bad among family.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harold patted Madeleine\u2019s head lovingly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat silly things to say. You\u2019re now Mrs. Livingston, whom\u00a0<\/p>\n
everyone envies. Logically, you could just stay home and enjoy\u00a0<\/p>\n
life, but you don\u2019t. You\u2019re working hard for your dreams, for the\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mosley family\u2019s business. Dad couldn\u2019t be happier.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said, raising an eyebrow proudly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat \u2018enjoying a peaceful retirement\u2018? That\u2019s what old men\u00a0<\/p>\n
with no ambition hope for. Your dad can still continue to\u00a0<\/p>\n
contribute in retirement, be a rock for my dear Maddie. You\u00a0<\/p>\n
have no idea how fulfilling that is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clarissa also ruffled Madeleine\u2019s hair and put an arm around her daughter\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWe\u2019re family, we don\u2019t say such things. We\u2019re so happy to support you as you get back on your feet and do what you want to do. How could you ever be a\u00a0<\/p>\n
burden?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at her parents\u2018 concerned faces, the sour feeling in\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 269\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s heart was gradually replaced by a deep warmth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She nodded hard, smiling through her tears. \u201cThanks for the support, Mom and Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With her family as her backup, Madeleine felt the road ahead didn\u2019t seem so difficult anymore. She immediately<\/p>\n
?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at her parents\u2018 concerned faces, the sour feeling in\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 269\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s heart was gradually replaced by a deep warmth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She nodded hard, smiling through her tears. \u201cThanks for the support, Mom and Dad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With her family as her backup, Madeleine felt the road ahead didn\u2019t seem so difficult anymore. She immediately threw herself wholeheartedly into the strict plan Leona had made for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
threw herself<\/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 ` 269 Madeleine felt she had nowhere to hide under his gaze, […]<\/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-29566","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\/29566","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=29566"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29566\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}