Waking up with my nemesis baby novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

After a final glance at Gerry, who took the hint to handle the

rest, Roderick walked away.

Their earlier price negotiations had already tried Roderick’s

patience. Now they dared joke about Madeleine.

They’d crossed a line.

Frankly, even Gerry found it unacceptable.

Watching Roderick leave, Benny sobered instantly, cold dread

washing over him.

“He’s leaving? I was just joking! I didn’t mean it!”

His assistant pleaded, “Mr. Hammond, please explain! Our boss

is drunk! We can’t cancel this deal!”

“Apologies,” Gerry stated professionally.

“The decision is final. All future collaborations are terminated.”

Benny staggered.

Chapter 44

The Livingston Group was their biggest client. They’d committed their entire cash flow to this partnership.

Cancellation meant immediate financial crisis.

“Wait! We’ll keep the original price.

“We’ll lower it!”

Observing their desperation, Gerry allowed himself a faint,

contemptuous smile.

With a curt nod, he left with the team.

Roderick had made the right call. Some people weren’t worth

working with.

Roderick returned home after midnight.

Late returns were normal.

During the company’s expansion, he’d worked most nights and

attended numerous dinners.

Coming back to an empty villa had become routine.

Tonight felt different.

Chapter 44

He’d just removed his shoes when he noticed the figure on the

sofa.

The soft glow from the floor lamp illuminated Madeleine, fast

asleep.

A blanket draped over her had slipped halfway to the floor, a

book resting loosely in her hand.

His heart clenched. His body stiffened.

“Was she waiting for me?” he wondered.

He didn’t dare hope. The pain of disappointed hopes was too

familiar.

Removing his jacket, he approached and gently took the book

from her hand.

She stirred, kicking the blanket off completely. He smiled

faintly.

The early autumn night was cool. Her hands and feet felt cold.

Roderick lifted her into his arms to carry her to bed.

After a few steps, she mumbled in her sleep, rubbed her eyes,

and woke.

Chapter 44

“Hmm? Ricki?”

Her voice was thick with sleep, mind still foggy.

His face hovered so close she couldn’t tell dream from reality.

A moment later, she realized he was carrying her, her arm

around his neck.

“You’re… back?” she said, feeling awkward.

They’d known each other since they were in diapers, so ending

up as his wife and now being held so intimately felt completely

cringeworthy.

“Yes. Why sleep on the sofa?”

Noting she woke and didn’t resist, he continued upstairs.

“Just tired. Wanted to wait for you.”

His heart softened.

“Don’t wait next time. Rest early.”

“Dad made you soup. Made me promise to watch you drink it.

It’s probably cold now. Let me heat it.”

Chapter 44

“No need. I’ll handle it.”

His tone sounded different tonight. She leaned closer, sniffing.

“How much did you drink?”

She didn’t realize her movement brought her scent washing

over him.

His breath caught, heartbeat stuttered. His arms tightened

almost imperceptibly around her, his Adam’s apple bobbing in a

hard swallow.

“Not much.”

Roderick answered instinctively, his voice huskier than before.

He quickened his pace, carrying Madeleine back to the master

bedroom and laying her on the bed before he lost control.

Just as he was about to leave, his eyes fell on her feet, and his

brows instantly furrowed.

“What happened to your feet?”

Madeleine had studied ballet from a young age, so her toes

were slightly deformed.

Later, when she grew up, Edward once mocked her feet as ugly,

so she never wore ballet shoes again. She had even undergone

some cosmetic surgery to restore her toes.

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