Waking up with my nemesis baby novel Chapter 20

“I mean, come on, the guy just took your picture. Did you have

to go that hard?

“That made you like a bully, you know.”

She wrinkled her nose, then quickly added, turning to him with a

grin, “I mean back then, okay?

“You’re not nearly as insufferable now.”

Roderick paused, sifting through faded memories. It wasn’t

easy to dig up the past like that.

After a moment, he said carefully, “You still don’t know what

those guys were photographing, do you?”

Madeleine stopped in her tracks.

“Wasn’t it just you?”

Roderick’s brow creased.

“They took pictures… under your skirt.”

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“What?” Madeleine’s voice spiked, her mind reeling.

Under her skirt? That kid had been snapping photos of that?

And Roderick had fought him over it?

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, her cheeks flushing

with indignation.

“You let me think you were just some hotheaded bully!”

Roderick shot her a sidelong glance. “I did tell you. You were

asleep. Didn’t hear a word.”

“Oh.” Madeleine blinked, momentarily stumped.

The sudden truth hit her like a splash of cold water–she’d

misjudged him, and now a twinge of guilt crept in.

Rubbing her nose awkwardly, she mumbled, “Well, I was young,

okay? Kids always sleep like a rock. Totally normal.‘

Eager to move past the embarrassment, she flashed a cheeky

grin.

“Didn’t peg you for such a stand–up guy, though. Tell you what—

when we sell these cufflinks, I’ll split the cash with you. Deal?”

Roderick’s expression didn’t budge. “I’m the one who paid for

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them.”

Madeleine’s grin faltered, the air growing thick with

awkwardness.

This conversation was going nowhere fast.

Forcing a laugh that sounded more like a cough, she pivoted.

“Nice weather today, huh? Oh, where’s our kid? I should check if

he’s eating properly.”

She darted past Roderick, her movements quick and evasive.

He turned, watching her scurry off, and a soft smile tugged at

his lips before he could stop it.

It wasn’t until moments later that he realized he’d been smiling

-truly smiling, from somewhere deep inside.

He touched his mouth, startled.

He could hardly remember the last time he had felt that kind of

warmth.

The matter of Edward and the cufflinks was silently buried.

Neither of them brought it up again.

After a bit more wandering, the family of three headed to the

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grand theater for a performance.

When Madeleine saw her childhood idol, Annabelle, take the

stage, her eyes welled up.

Eight years had passed.

Annabelle, once a bold, youthful swan, had transformed into a poised, elegant goddess of ballet.

Madeleine watched, her heart twisting as she thought of

herself.

How could she have given up her own ballet dreams?

She’d spent countless nights imagining herself on a stage like this, spinning under the spotlight, weightless and free, just like

Annabelle.

As the performance ended, the audience erupted in applause.

Madeleine’s emotions broke free. Covering her face, she slipped away to the bathroom, her chest tight with unshed

tears.

“Daddy.”

Kevin tugged at Roderick’s hand, his small face etched with

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worry.

“Is Mommy okay?”

Roderick’s brow furrowed, but he said nothing.

He’d seen the shift in Madeleine’s eyes–regret, frustration,

longing.

It had to be the ballet. Back then, no matter how others had

urged her, she’d been adamant about quitting the stage.

They’d fought bitterly over it once.

She’d snapped at him, told him he had no right to meddle.

His fist clenched, and a pang of regret hit him.

Maybe he should’ve pushed harder and forced her to keep

dancing. He felt that if he had, she wouldn’t have looked so

heartbroken just now.

But Madeleine’s moods were like summer storms–fierce but

fleeting. By the time she emerged from the bathroom, she was

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