Her diet was strictly controlled year\u2013round, not for enjoyment, but purely for physical performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The people around her only ever cared about her technique, her achievements, and whether she could keep on dancing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The feeling of being understood and cared for so meticulously, the way those two kids cared for Madeleine, was so foreign to her it felt like a luxury.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the food arrived, Leona didn\u2019t say a word, just ate silently\u00a0<\/p>\n
with her head down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine brought a bowl of soup and placed it in front of her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTry this. It\u2019s the Beef Soup, their specialty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She instinctively wanted to refuse this extra kindness, feeling it\u00a0<\/p>\n
was unnecessary and unfamiliar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leona told herself that she and Madeleine were just\u00a0<\/p>\n
competitors. Madeleine was only helping her get back to her\u00a0<\/p>\n
peak form so they could compete properly; they weren\u2019t friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 296\u00a0<\/p>\n
But when she met Madeleine\u2019s sparkling eyes, she couldn\u2019t\u00a0<\/p>\n
bring herself to refuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She lowered her head, picked up her spoon, scooped a little,\u00a0<\/p>\n
and blew on it gently before tasting it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The warm soup slid into her mouth. The flavor was light yet\u00a0<\/p>\n
savory, and a warmth slowly spread from her stomach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She paused for a moment, then spoke under Madeleine\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
expectant gaze:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really good.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her tone was still flat, but it seemed a little softer than usual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad you like it. I specifically asked the waiter to go easy on\u00a0<\/p>\n
the salt for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine beamed, then turned back to talk to the two kids.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Leona lowered her head, took another sip of the Beef Soup, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
pushed down the inconvenient feeling stirring inside her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So this is what it felt like to be understood and loved.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But why did it have to be Madeleine?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 296\u00a0<\/p>\n
How strange.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Leona, this meal tasted a little more\u2026 complicated than\u00a0<\/p>\n
she\u2019d expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After dinner, Leona left early.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minerva finally relaxed her tense back, her small body slumping\u00a0<\/p>\n
onto the chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMadeleine, next time you\u2019re having dinner with Leona, can you\u00a0<\/p>\n
give me a heads\u2013up? It\u2019s exhausting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even though Leona had never taught Minerva, she had been a\u00a0<\/p>\n
judge before, so Minerva felt a certain sense of awe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During dinner, Minerva was tense the whole time, not daring to\u00a0<\/p>\n
shrug her shoulders or cross her legs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She kept her core engaged, afraid Leona would frown at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine looked at Minerva\u2019s relieved little expression and\u00a0<\/p>\n
couldn\u2019t help but smile, reaching out to pinch her soft cheek.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh? Didn\u2019t our little Mina do a great job just now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou sat up so straight, like a little lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because Leona has such a strong presence. The\u00a0<\/p>\n
moment she looked over, I didn\u2019t dare to move. I felt like she\u2019d notice I wasn\u2019t using my core if I slouched even a little!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She sighed dramatically, like a little adult, \u201cIt\u2019s more tiring than dance class!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine found it strange, tilting her head with a smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWeren\u2019t you all puffed up before, thinking Leona was a bad person? Why the complete one\u2013eighty?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin also tilted his little face up, looking curiously at his aunt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minerva looked up, her expression turning a bit more serious,\u00a0<\/p>\n
her voice soft.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because I didn\u2019t understand before\u2026 What she said\u00a0<\/p>\n
after the last competition really wasn\u2019t very nice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She paused, her big, grape\u2013like eyes blinking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut then I saw it. Madeleine, every time you finish dancing,\u00a0<\/p>\n
even though you\u2019re tired, you\u2019re always so happy!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Leona\u2026 she\u2019s actually a very serious teacher. The\u00a0<\/p>\n
problems she pointed out, after you fixed them, Madeleine, you\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 296\u00a0<\/p>\n
really started dancing better and better!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minerva gestured with her small hands, trying hard to express her observations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though she sounds cold and doesn\u2019t smile much, when she watches you dance, Madeleine, her eyes are so bright and focused. I can tell Leona really admires you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she really wants what\u2019s best for you, Madeleine, and wants you to dance even better!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She concluded, her little face full of certainty.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I have to respect the teacher who teaches Madeleine so\u00a0<\/p>\n
seriously!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t leave a bad impression on her!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This child\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words warmed Madeleine\u2019s heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the years she was controlled by the narrative control, she lost\u00a0<\/p>\n
her passion, and it had always bothered her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But now she realized it didn\u2019t seem to bother her as much\u00a0<\/p>\n
anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 296\u00a0<\/p>\n
She still had the strength to dance, and the people around her\u00a0<\/p>\n
were all supportive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How wonderful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She leaned over and kissed Minerva, then turned to see her\u00a0<\/p>\n
son\u2019s jealous little expression, so Madeleine gave him a big\u00a0<\/p>\n
smooch too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, now that we\u2019re full, let\u2019s go shopping!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine took one by each hand and walked excitedly out of\u00a0<\/p>\n
the restaurant, heading straight for a nearby mall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\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 ` 296 Her diet was strictly controlled year\u2013round, not for enjoyment, but […]<\/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-29593","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\/29593","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=29593"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29593\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}