Waking up with my nemesis baby novel Chapter 25

But her flustered demeanor told a different story.

She fumbled with her phone, her hands trembling as she tried

to cover her tracks. After a moment, she thrust the screen

toward Madeleine.

“See? 60 thousand dollars, just like I said.”

Mary yanked the phone back almost immediately, but not

before Madeleine caught a glimpse.

It did look like an Aumora transaction for 60 grand.

“Let me see that again,” Madeleine said, her tone deceptively

sweet.

“What?” Mary’s voice was tight, her grip on the phone

tightening.

“The phone. I didn’t get a good look.”

Mary’s jaw clenched, but she reluctantly held out the phone again. Before she could pull it back, Madeleine snatched it from her grip and started scrolling.

Chapter 25

“Aumora’s new envelope clutch, crocodile leather handbag, iris red diamond necklace, Moments in Time perfume…”

Madeleine read aloud, her voice dripping with amusement that quickly turned to exasperation.

She let out a sharp laugh. “Mary, you went on a shopping spree for yourself and thought I’d foot the bill?”

Mary, who’d been so confident just moments ago, now looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

She’d always relied on Madeleine’s blind trust, throwing out inflated prices and watching the money roll in. Madeleine had always paid without question, joking that “that man’s money is meant to be spent.”

But today? Today, Madeleine was different. She hadn’t

expected Madeleine to be so hard to trick.

“What’s gotten into her?” Mary wondered, her mind racing. “Did that guy cut off her allowance or something?”

Scrambling to pivot, Mary latched onto a familiar tactic.

“Maddie, what’s wrong? Did you and Roderick have a fight? Is that why you’re in a mood? Did he tighten the purse strings?”

Chapter 25

Madeleine’s smile was all sugar and spice. “Oh, no. He just

wired me 8 million dollars, actually.”

Mary’s eyes flashed with envy, her thoughts spiraling.

“8 million? Why does Madeleine get to live like this, with men

throwing millions her way, while I’m stuck scraping by?

“That selfish little bitch. She’s swimming in cash but won’t even

spare 60 thousand dollars for me.

“The richer they are, the stingier they get!”

Madeleine tossed the phone onto the table with a casual flick.

“The perfume is 5,000 dollars. I’ve sent you the payment.”

Mary glanced at her phone, her heart sinking. Sure enough,

5,000 dollars–nothing more, nothing less.

She bit back her frustration, forcing a smile to keep up

appearances.

Madeleine was her golden goose, after all. A bit temperamental,

sure, but so easy to manipulate when she was head–over–heels for that man.

Mary knew all too well how love could cloud a woman’s

Chapter 25

judgment. If Madeleine was suddenly sharp–witted, it was

probably because she hadn’t seen Edward in a while.

“Get them back together, and she’ll be putty in my hands again,”

Mary schemed.

“Thanks, Maddie,” Mary said, her smile strained and unnatural.

“I messed up and got confused with my own purchases on the bill. Silly me. I knew that perfume wasn’t that expensive.”

Just then, the waiter arrived with their food, and Mary seized the chance to change the subject. “Oh, I was starving earlier, so I ordered ahead. Hope that’s okay!”

“Maddie, see if there’s anything else you’d like. I ordered all our favorites.”

Madeleine glanced at the table, now laden with an array of

extravagant dishes–mostly molecular gastronomy, all style and no substance.

She raised an eyebrow. “Since when do I like this stuff?” she thought, feeling oddly disconnected from her own tastes.

The comfort foods she kept at home seemed far more appealing.

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“This is fine,” Madeleine said, waving off the offer to order

more.

Even without more, the table was already full, the plates crowding every inch of space.

Mary had even ordered a bottle of red and a bottle of champagne.

She asked the waiter to pour the wine, then shoved her phone into Madeleine’s hands.

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