Chapter 288\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said, staring at Charlotte.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou couldn\u2019t stand it, so you secretly took me out to eat every\u00a0<\/p>\n
day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u2019s hand, holding the fork, paused for a moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, as if nothing happened, she picked up some of the\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tomato & Egg Stir\u2013fry with her fork, put it in her mouth, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
mumbled, \u201cThat\u2019s ancient history. Who even remembers?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s voice was subdued.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember everything about you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte found the food in her mouth hard to swallow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was actually delicious. The eggs were cooked just right-\u00a0<\/p>\n
tender, smooth, and savory, coated in a sweet and sour sauce\u00a0<\/p>\n
that was very appetizing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She just felt guilty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 288\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s not talk about it. Let\u2019s eat first.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMm.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley nodded, and they continued to eat in silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When they finished eating, Charlotte put down her fork, stood\u00a0<\/p>\n
up, and reached for the dishes. \u201cI\u2019ll do the dishes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
At almost the same time, Bradley also stood up, his large hand\u00a0<\/p>\n
pressing down on the back of hers as she was about to pick up\u00a0<\/p>\n
the plate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His palm was warm against her cool skin, and they both paused\u00a0<\/p>\n
almost imperceptibly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll do it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s voice wasn\u2019t loud, but it carried an undeniable tone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte instinctively pulled her hand back, as if burned by the\u00a0<\/p>\n
warmth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u00a0<\/p>\n
forced a smile, trying to lighten her tone. \u201cIt\u2019s not right to make\u00a0<\/p>\n
a guest do the dishes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 288\u00a0<\/p>\n
You should sit and rest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGuest?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s brows knitted together instantly, his face darkened,\u00a0<\/p>\n
and the gentle warmth from before vanished completely as he stared at her with sharp eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlotte, am I just a \u2018guest\u2018 to you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte was taken aback by his sudden change in attitude, knowing she had said the wrong thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked at his tense jawline and clearly displeased expression, sighed to herself, and softened her tone:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what I meant\u2026 Look, you made dinner, and it was so delicious I\u2019m stuffed. How could I let you do the dishes too?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She paused, her gaze falling on his hands\u2013with their well- defined knuckles\u2013that once only played sports and games, but\u00a0<\/p>\n
could now perform surgery and cook delicious meals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte\u2019s voice grew softer, almost like a sigh: \u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026 it\u00a0<\/p>\n
pains me. I don\u2019t want you to do any more work.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The last sentence was light as air, but it was like a feather,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 288\u00a0<\/p>\n
precisely tickling the most tender spot in Bradley\u2019s heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cold, hard aura around him just melted away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He silently watched Charlotte as she stood by the table, her\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyelashes lowered, looking a little lost.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He watched for several seconds, then let out a nearly inaudible\u00a0<\/p>\n
sigh and released his hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMm.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He gave a low hum of agreement and didn\u2019t insist, turning to\u00a0<\/p>\n
walk to the living room. His back seemed much more relaxed,\u00a0<\/p>\n
but it was still straight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte watched his back, her heart filled with mixed\u00a0<\/p>\n
emotions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She quickly cleared the dishes and carried them into the\u00a0<\/p>\n
kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The sound of the running faucet covered her somewhat erratic\u00a0<\/p>\n
heartbeat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley sat on the living room sofa. He didn\u2019t turn on the TV,\u00a0<\/p>\n
just stared intently in the direction of the kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 288\u00a0<\/p>\n
The glass door reflected her blurry, busy figure, the warm yellow light outlining her silhouette.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It pains her\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
The phrase swirled in his mind, bringing a faint sweetness that\u00a0<\/p>\n
was quickly drowned by a greater bitterness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her feelings for him\u2026 perhaps there was still some old\u00a0<\/p>\n
affection, the care of an older sister for a younger brother,\u00a0<\/p>\n
maybe even a hint of guilt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But was there any love in any of it?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even a little bit?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Charlotte was looking down, rinsing the soap off the rim of a\u00a0<\/p>\n
bowl. Outside the kitchen, Bradley\u2019s phone on the sofa began to\u00a0<\/p>\n
ring unexpectedly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley frowned and glanced at the screen. It was an unknown\u00a0<\/p>\n
number with no contact name, but the area code was local.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t want to answer, but the ringing was persistent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taking a deep breath, Bradley hit the answer button, his voice\u00a0<\/p>\n
clearly impatient. \u201cHello?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 288\u00a0<\/p>\n
A woman\u2019s whiny, tearful voice immediately came from the\u00a0<\/p>\n
other end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBradley\u2026 is that you, Bradley?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2019m your father\u2019s\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The woman\u2019s voice was choppy, crying as she spoke. Halfway\u00a0<\/p>\n
through, Bradley guessed who she was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeak.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHelp me. Can you help me talk to Mr. Kline? Please?\u00a0<\/p>\n
I know I was wrong, I really do. I don\u2019t want to break up\u2026 I\u00a0<\/p>\n
genuinely love Mr. Kline\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley\u2019s expression darkened instantly, a flash of disgust in his\u00a0<\/p>\n
eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019d seen plenty of his father\u2019s flock of mistresses. They all\u00a0<\/p>\n
claimed to be \u201cgenuine,\u201d but all they wanted was his father\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
money and status.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He instinctively looked up toward the kitchen. Behind the glass\u00a0<\/p>\n
door, Charlotte was focused on washing the dishes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bradley grew even more irritated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 289\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 289\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 ` 288 Chapter 288\u00a0 He said, staring at Charlotte.\u00a0 \u201cYou couldn\u2019t stand […]<\/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-29585","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\/29585","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=29585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29585\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}