Waking up with my nemesis baby novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

He remembered that day vividly.

Three days ago, Madeleine had fainted. When she woke, she claimed she had lost her memory–and then her personality

seemed to change completely.

“Oh, and today she met with Mary,” Gerry added.

“Got it,” Roderick said, ending the call.

That name brought a sour taste.

For years, Mary had clung to Madeleine, milking her for every

penny.

Last year, she’d even conned Madeleine into investing in a shady shell company, pocketing 800 thousand dollars. Roderick

had found proof, but Madeleine’s fierce defense of her “friend”

had stopped him from pursuing it.

He massaged his temples and headed toward the bedroom.

As he passed Kevin’s room, he caught the soft lilt of Madeleine’s voice, humming a lullaby.

Chapter 33

The door was ajar, and he paused, peering inside.

Under the glow of the lamp, Madeleine sat on the edge of the

bed, her hand gently patting Kevin’s back.

The boy was curled up, fast asleep, his tiny hand clutching the

hem of her shirt.

“Sleep, sleep, my precious baby…”

Her voice was a tender whisper, soft as a summer breeze.

Roderick’s heart stirred.

This scene–so warm, so unfamiliar–hadn’t existed in their

home for years.

He waited another half hour, ensuring Kevin was sound asleep,

before knocking softly and stepping inside.

Madeleine looked up, her expression inexplicably nervous.

Roderick gave a small nod, moving to scoop Kevin up.

“What are you doing?” Madeleine asked, her voice sharp with

surprise.

“You’re not planning to sleep with him, are you?” Roderick

Chapter 33

replied, raising an eyebrow.

Madeleine froze for a beat, then her eyes widened in horror.

She clapped a hand over her mouth, gasping, “Ricki! Don’t tell

me you’re planning to sleep with me!?”

Roderick froze mid–reach, the words hitting him like a physical

blow.

He stayed bent over, his mind completely blank for a long

moment.

Drawing a sharp breath, he finally scooped Kevin up.

“Other than that one time in Phelrania,” Roderick stated flatly,

pausing as if doing mental math.

“We haven’t shared a bed in over two years.”

Madeleine’s breath caught.

Her hand was still partly covering her mouth.

That sentence stunned her more than her own earlier.

assumption.

“We … never slept together?”

Chapter 33

“No.”

“Where did you sleep?”

“The guest room.”

He hesitated, then added, “Sometimes, at my parents‘ place, I

took the floor.”

A heavy sadness settled in Madeleine’s chest.

She felt nothing for Roderick and was sure she could never care

for him, but they were married.

They had a child. Remembering her own parents‘ loving

marriage made her ache.

How had she, in her twenties, let her own relationship crumble

like this?

She wanted to say something, but, unsure of what Roderick

truly felt about her these past years, she just nodded.

“I see.”

Heat crept into her ears.

So much for thinking he wanted to sleep with her.

Chapter 33

She’d completely misread the situation.

Roderick watched the play of emotions on her face, trying to

read her mind as he once could.

But her thoughts were as unreadable as ever.*

Giving up, he said, “Get some rest. Hospital check–up

tomorrow.”

He turned to leave, then glanced back. “And ignore what Dr.

Clark said. I’m finding Kev a new therapist.”

“But I…”

She started to say it didn’t bother her, but he was already gone.

Annoyance flickered.

The day had been too much. Her mind was slowing down.

“Forget it. Sleep first,” she muttered, clicking off the lamp and

sinking into a fitful sleep.

Fragmented scenes, too vivid to be mere dreams, raced

through her mind.

They felt like forgotten memories from the lost years, flashing

Chapter 33

by too quickly to grasp.

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