Waking up with my nemesis baby novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

She remembered all too well how exacting Madeleine had been.

Just last month, she’d thrown an entire plate because Kirsten

used slightly too much salt in the grilled salmon.

The month before, she’d complained the seafood risotto lacked

sufficient variety, forcing Kirsten to visit the night market for

fresh ingredients and remake the dish.

The memories flooded back, each more uncomfortable than the

last.

So when Madeleine took her first bite now, Kirsten held her

breath.

“Hmm?”

Madeleine chewed and turned to her. “Kirsten, how did you

prepare this stew? It’s wonderfully light!”

Kirsten’s heart sank.

“This was definitely sarcasm!” she thought.

Chapter 38

Kirsten waited anxiously for the expected sarcasm.

But she soon realized Madeleine wasn’t being facetious. She genuinely enjoyed the food…

Within ten minutes, most of the dishes were nearly finished, though the risotto remained largely untouched.

Noticing Kirsten’s uneasy stare, Madeleine assumed it was about the uneaten risotto and quickly explained.

“My calorie intake is a bit high today, so I’m cutting back on carbs.”

“Calories?”

Kirsten was surprised, recalling her recent comment about the custard being too sweet.

“Are you dieting, Mrs. Livingston? You’re not overweight at all.”

If anything, she was slightly thin.

“Not exactly. I want to start dancing again, and my current form isn’t ideal. Kirsten, could you prepare lower–calorie meals for me from now on?”

Hearing her polite request, Kirsten couldn’t believe her ears.

Chapter 38

The former Madeleine was rarely this polite.

She nodded quickly, not daring to contradict her.

“Of course. I’m actually a certified nutritionist. I’ll ensure your

meals are both delicious and healthy.”

“Wow!”

Madeleine clasped her hands together in delight, startling

Kirsten again.

“Kirsten, you’re amazing! No wonder Kev is so tall for his age.”

Kirsten’s smile was strained.

“This wasn’t sarcasm?” she wondered.

Unaware of Kirsten’s doubts, Madeleine was thrilled.

With a healthy diet and proper exercise, she would regain her

optimal physique soon.

Another thing excited her.

She’d discovered a dance studio on the lower level of the villa,

though it was dusty from disuse.

Chapter 38

When Meagan found out, she broke into a cold sweat and immediately fetched cleaning supplies.

“This is bizarre. Mrs. Livingston hasn’t used the studio in years.

What’s gotten into her?”

After her nap, the studio was spotless.

Madeleine inspected it, utterly pleased, and immediately took a

photo to send to her cousin, Minerva.

Madeleine texted, “My dance studio. Impressive?”

Minerva replied after a while.

“Such a waste! You don’t even dance. Why keep a studio this

nice?”

Madeleine smirked.

“Says who? I’m definitely dancing again. Just wait until I’m back

on stage!”

Her body felt stiff from years of inactivity. Warm–up and

stretching alone took nearly two hours.

Her leotard was soaked with sweat. She’d bitten her lip raw but

never made a sound.

Chapter 38

This was typical for her.

When her mother first sent her to dance classes at five or six,

other children cried during stretches and leg lifts.

But Madeleine never uttered a word.

Her mother often recalled picking her up, finding her biting her

lip, tears falling silently, refusing to cry out.

Her later success in dance proved those early tears and sweat

were not in vain.

What a pity.

She’d stopped for nearly eight years.

Madeleine bit her lip harder.

What was lost couldn’t be reclaimed. All she could do was fight

time and recover what she could.

She was Madeleine. She never admitted defeat.

She had instructed Meagan and Kirsten not to disturb her

during practice.

For hours, she was alone, losing track of time.

Chapter 38

Her hands trembled as she picked up a water bottle. As she

checked the time, her eyes widened in shock.

“After five? Oh no.”

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