Waking up with my nemesis baby novel Chapter 21

Their plan had been to stay one more night after the show and

head home the next day.

But Roderick got a call about urgent work that needed him back

at the office.

Madeleine thought it over. Leaving him to go alone didn’t sit right. After a quick chat with Kevin, they decided to head back

that night as a family.

“Besides, you’ll get a day to chill tomorrow, Kev, and still make it

to kindergarten without missing a beat,” she said.

Kevin’s expression faltered for a split second before he nodded,

his smile returning. “Okay.”

Madeleine caught the flicker in his eyes, her maternal instincts

kicking in.

“Kev, you don’t like kindergarten?”

Roderick glanced down at their son, his gaze steady.

Kevin’s small frame stiffened briefly before he flashed a bright

Chapter 21

grin, shaking his head.

“No, I love it!”

Madeleine didn’t respond, but she wasn’t fooled. That smile

was a little too forced, and she knew her boy was hiding

something.

By the time they rolled back into Valenburg, dawn was breaking

on the second day.

The jet lag had taken its toll. Madeleine, yawning relentlessly,

collapsed onto the bed the moment they got home, sinking into

a deep, exhausted sleep.

Roderick, pressed for time with urgent work, tucked Kevin in

and headed straight to the office.

On the way, Gerry, his assistant, couldn’t resist his curiosity.

“Mr. Livingston, is Mrs. Livingston…?”

Roderick, who’d been resting his eyes, snapped them open at

the mention of her name.

Gerry, realizing he’d overstepped, clamped his mouth shut.

“Sorry, Mr. Livingston. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

Chapter 21

It was an unspoken rule. No matter how outrageous

Madeleine’s actions were, Roderick never tolerated a word

against her.

Not even a whisper of gossip was allowed.

Rumors swirled in the office that Roderick must be under some

kind of love spell, bewitched by his wife’s charm.

“Keep going,” Roderick said.

Roderick didn’t rebuke him.

Gerry blinked, caught off guard, then cleared his throat,

choosing his words carefully. “It’s just… Mrs. Livingston

seemed different this trip. More… normal, I guess.”

Compared to the old Madeleine, these past few days she’d

seemed refreshingly human.

Roderick didn’t interrupt, so Gerry pressed on, treading lightly.

“Before, whenever Mrs. Livingston spoke with you, it was like a

robot. You two couldn’t go three sentences without quarreling.

And toward Mr. Kevin, she treated him like he was someone

else’s child. But these past few days, I’ve noticed… she’s been

very good to Mr. Kevin.”

Chapter 21

Fearing he’d gone too far, Gerry quickly added, “Not that she’s

ever been unkind to you, sir.”

Roderick’s face remained unreadable, but Gerry, who’d worked

for him for years, could read the subtle signs. The slight

softening in Roderick’s eyes betrayed a flicker of quiet joy.

At the office, Roderick gave Gerry a task.

“Find out what Madeleine was doing the past few days–where

she went, who she met, and, if possible, what they talked

about.”

“Understood,” Gerry replied, nodding.

Back in his office, Roderick made a call.

The line picked up quickly, and a carefree, teasing voice came

through.

“Mr. Livingston, finally coming around? I told you, too much

abstinence isn’t good for a man’s health. Since you called, I’ll

throw a party tonight…”

“Shut it,” Roderick cut him off, his voice sharp.

The man on the other end choked on his words, pausing for a

Chapter 21

beat.

“Fine, fine, have it your way. No wonder your wife’s giving you

the cold shoulder.”

He chuckled, then turned serious. “Alright, no more joking.

You’re calling me at this hour, so it’s gotta be something big.

What’s up?”

“I need you to arrange a medical checkup.”

“For whom? You? Look, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m a

doctor, and you can tell me…”

Roderick pinched the bridge of his nose, barely containing his

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