Waking up with my nemesis baby novel Chapter 41

Roderick checked his calendar.

“Business dinner tonight. I’ll be late. Rest early with Kevin. Don’t

wait up.”

“Oh, another dinner,” Madeleine acknowledged.

She remembered her father’s business dinners. He’d always

return happily drunk, insisting on hugging them despite the

alcohol smell.

Those dinners meant new deals and orders.

She’d found it unpleasant then, but now the memory felt

nostalgic.

Turning to Kirsten, she announced, “No need to cook tonight.

Roderick’s dining out. I’ll take Kev to my parents‘ for dinner.”

Madeleine had always been deeply attached to her parents.

Even as a teenager at a busy summer camp abroad, she’d

found time to fly home just to see them.

Now, suddenly finding herself married and years into the future,

Chapter 41

returning to her parents‘ home felt different somehow.

This was probably what people meant about married daughters becoming guests in their childhood homes.

On the way to her parents‘ house with Kevin, Madeleine brought

gifts for everyone.

For her father, she picked out a whiskey decanter set. For her

mother, she chose skincare and cosmetics. For her cousin

Minerva, still passionate about dance, she knew dancewear

would be welcome.

Unsure of Minerva’s current size, she decided a gift card would

be better.

“Mommy.”

Kevin watched his mother’s preparations with concern.

“Are we really going to Grandma and Grandpa’s?”

“Of course.”

Madeleine looked at him, puzzled.

“Don’t you want to go?”

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The boy pressed his lips together before shaking his head.

It wasn’t about wanting to go or not.

He was afraid.

He loved his grandparents, and they adored him.

But previous visits always ended with arguments. Every time,

Madeleine made them cry.

Arriving at the Mosley’s house with their gifts, they found

Clarissa already waiting anxiously by the door.

Since Roderick’s call about Madeleine’s possible fabricated

amnesia, sleep had been elusive.

She wondered, “What’s my girl planning now? Is this some new

scheme leading to divorce?

“Roderick is such a good man. Why couldn’t Maddie appreciate

him?”

Roderick hadn’t called recently during their trip to Phelrania,

which deepened their worry…

“Mommy…”

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Madeleine’s cheerful voice carried down the path.

Her arms were full of packages, her eyes sparkling, Kevin

beside her.

Despite her concerns, Clarissa’s face lit up at the sight.

“My darlings!”

“Mommy, take these. My hands are sore.”

Madeleine pouted, sounding exactly like the teenager who once

clung to her parents.

“Of course, let me help. What’s all this?”

“Presents for you and Dad.”

“Presents?”

Clarissa was genuinely surprised.

She couldn’t recall the last time her daughter had bought them

gifts.

For years, holidays brought gifts from Roderick, always

attributed to Madeleine, though everyone knew the truth.

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Madeleine’s focus had been entirely on Edward, never

remembering such things.

All this time, Roderick had been quietly caring for them.

This truly felt miraculous.

“Grandma.”

Kevin approached, offering a small bouquet in his earnest

voice.

“These are for you.”

Madeleine pretended to pout. “He’s never given me flowers.

Your grandson clearly loves you most.”

Clarissa beamed, though her gaze lingered thoughtfully on

Madeleine.

Kevin offered a quiet correction.

“Mommy, I did give you flowers once.”

“Really?”

Madeleine scratched her head awkwardly.

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“I’ve forgotten so much.”

The boy delivered the gentle truth. “You didn’t like them. You

threw them away. So, I stopped.”

Madeleine fell silent.

Now she understood her mother’s strange look.

“Alright then, where’s Dad? Oh, I can smell something delicious!

He must be cooking for us, right?”

Flustered, Madeleine quickly changed the subject and went

inside.

Clarissa watched her go, suspicion growing.

“She’s certainly committed to this performance,” she thought.

Harold was still finishing dinner preparations. Madeleine settled

on the sofa, then noticed Kevin’s absence.

“Where’s Kev?”

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