And his hand was tightly, carefully holding hers, as if it were a long\u2013lost treasure he refused to let go of even in his sleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had actually\u2026 stayed by his side and fallen asleep slumped\u00a0<\/p>\n
over like that?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s heart felt like it had been struck by something. A\u00a0<\/p>\n
tender, aching emotion instantly spread through him, mixed\u00a0<\/p>\n
with an indescribable heartache.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ox +\u00a0<\/p>\n
He had been exhausted yesterday, grabbing her almost by\u00a0<\/p>\n
instinct, not letting her leave, but he never expected she would\u00a0<\/p>\n
actually indulge him like this, staying with him for so long in\u00a0<\/p>\n
such an uncomfortable position.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He moved slightly and found that his body, stiff from the deep\u00a0<\/p>\n
sleep, had regained a good deal of strength. Although the\u00a0<\/p>\n
fatigue was still there, he no longer felt as drained as before.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He very slowly and carefully let go of Charlotte\u2019s hand, afraid of\u00a0<\/p>\n
waking her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, he propped himself up and sat up quietly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 287\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking at the way she was slumped over asleep, Bradley\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
brow furrowed slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sleeping like this, she would definitely be sore all over when she\u00a0<\/p>\n
woke up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without much hesitation, he leaned down, carefully sliding one\u00a0<\/p>\n
hand behind her neck and the other under her knees, and with\u00a0<\/p>\n
the gentlest motion possible, scooped Charlotte up into his\u00a0<\/p>\n
arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte murmured unconsciously in her sleep, her head\u00a0<\/p>\n
instinctively nuzzling into his chest for warmth, but she didn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
wake up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She seemed utterly exhausted, or perhaps just felt an\u00a0<\/p>\n
inexplicable sense of peace by his side, sleeping soundly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s heart melted completely at her unconscious act of\u00a0<\/p>\n
dependence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He held his breath, as if holding fragile glass, and very slowly\u00a0<\/p>\n
placed her in the center of the bed he had just left, which still\u00a0<\/p>\n
held his warmth and scent. He pulled the thin blanket over,\u00a0<\/p>\n
carefully tucking it up to her chin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After doing all this, he stood by the bed and watched her quietly\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 287\u00a0<\/p>\n
for a moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In her sleep, Charlotte had shed her usual coldness and\u00a0<\/p>\n
distance, looking exceptionally soft and gentle.,\u00a0<\/p>\n
A deep tenderness he himself hadn\u2019t noticed flashed in\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s eyes. He very lightly brushed the strands of hair from\u00a0<\/p>\n
her cheek, his touch as gentle as if he were touching a beautiful\u00a0<\/p>\n
dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, he straightened up and glanced around the neat but\u00a0<\/p>\n
somewhat impersonal apartment, toward the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She must be hungry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After watching over him for so long, she surely hadn\u2019t eaten\u00a0<\/p>\n
anything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley turned and walked quietly to the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He opened the fridge. The ingredients weren\u2019t plentiful, but\u00a0<\/p>\n
there was enough to make something simple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He took out some eggs and a few simple vegetables, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
began to prepare them with skilled, quiet movements.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before long, the faint aroma of food began to fill the apartment,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 287\u00a0<\/p>\n
bringing the first touch of the warmth of worldly life into the\u00a0<\/p>\n
cold space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The simple home\u2013cooked meal was ready. As Bradley came out\u00a0<\/p>\n
of the room with a bowl, he found that Charlotte had woken up\u00a0<\/p>\n
at some point and was standing by the window, on the phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, Mom. Don\u2019t worry, I won\u2019t\u2026 be with him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s heart sank.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Was she talking about me?\u00a0<\/p>\n
After speaking, Charlotte heard a noise behind her and\u00a0<\/p>\n
awkwardly hung up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re awake?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley came over and put the plate on the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fridge is so empty. You don\u2019t usually cook?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m usually busy with work, and\u2026 I just got back to the country\u00a0<\/p>\n
and haven\u2019t settled in yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 287\u00a0<\/p>\n
them back down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He wanted to ask Charlotte what that phone call was about.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Who was the person she couldn\u2019t be with.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He also wanted to ask her how long she planned to stay this\u00a0<\/p>\n
time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t ask because right now, he just wanted to have a nice\u00a0<\/p>\n
meal with Charlotte.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He couldn\u2019t remember the last time he\u2019d had a peaceful meal\u00a0<\/p>\n
with Charlotte.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did you learn to cook?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u2019s expression was still a bit unnatural. She quickly\u00a0<\/p>\n
changed the subject, pulling out a chair with a smile and sitting\u00a0<\/p>\n
down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the table was a Tomato & Egg Stir\u2013fry and some Saut\u00e9ed\u00a0<\/p>\n
Napa Cabbage. She\u2019d forgotten when she even bought them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe year you left.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u2019s smile faltered slightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 287\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she put on a relaxed expression again. \u201cSee, what did I tell\u00a0<\/p>\n
you? People grow up. Back then, with your rich\u2013kid attitude, you\u00a0<\/p>\n
probably couldn\u2019t even serve rice, let alone cook.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley served Charlotte a bowl of rice and handed it to her, the\u00a0<\/p>\n
corner of his mouth lifting slightly as he seemed to get lost in\u00a0<\/p>\n
old memories.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my first year of high school, my dad cut off my allowance\u00a0<\/p>\n
and only let me eat at the cafeteria. I refused and almost\u00a0<\/p>\n
starved to death.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 288\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 288\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 ` 287 And his hand was tightly, carefully holding hers, as if […]<\/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-29584","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\/29584","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=29584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29584\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}