Waking up with my nemesis baby novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Yes. For instance, you never used to eat oranges. And you hated the color pink, but you went and bought a whole

wardrobe of pink dresses.”

Madeleine was shocked.

Had she really changed that much? It sounded like she was a

different person altogether.

Wait… Another person?

Had she been possessed?

It felt like one of those novel plots where a protagonist

transmigrated or was reborn into a host body to complete a

mission.

Maybe that was it. It was the only logical explanation for such a

drastic and sudden change in personality.

Just as Clarissa was about to speak, her phone rang.

It was Roderick.

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“Hello, Roddy.”

Roderick’s deep voice came through the speaker. “Hi, Clarissa.

Is Madeleine with you?”

“Yes, she is. What’s the matter?”

Roderick fell silent for a while.

Then he said, “Did she tell you she’s lost her memory?”

“Yes, she did.”

“It’s just an excuse to divorce me, Clarissa. She’s even bought

plane tickets to go abroad with Edward.”

Hearing this, Clarissa widened her eyes at Madeleine.

Had it all been an act?

Madeleine had no idea what was going on.

She had only seen Clarissa answer Roderick’s call, her

expression shifting drastically before she stepped out onto the

balcony with the phone.

When Clarissa returned after some time–long enough for

Madeleine to eat two oranges–she looked deeply preoccupied.

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“What happened, Mom? What did Roderick want?” Madeleine

asked.

Clarissa’s gaze was complex and slightly strained. Her eyes, slightly unfocused, rested on Madeleine for a long moment.

“Nothing important. Roddy was just checking to see if you were

here.”

Madeleine curled her lip.

“Ricki’s so paranoid.”

Clarissa sat down in silence, her mind a whirlwind.

Roderick had claimed that Madeleine’s amnesia was a ruse and

that she had already decided to go to Phelrania to find Edward.

Clarissa had been suspicious. After all, the Madeleine of today acted exactly like the girl from eight years ago, just as she

would if she had truly lost her memory.

Roderick hadn’t explained much, only asking her not to confront Madeleine and to wait until the next day to see if she would

actually go to Phelrania.

Madeleine was genuinely astonished by Harold’s exceptional

Chapter 7

cooking. The table was laden with dishes, each one more

delicious than the last, and she couldn’t decide where to begin.

“Yum!”

She held the fork in her right hand and gave Harold a

continuous stream of thumbs–up with the other hand, which

pleased him so much that he broke into a hearty grin.

Just then, the doorbell rang, and Madeleine stood up to answer

1. it.

Her world seemed to crumble when she saw the pretty little girl,

about eight years old, standing at the door.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned around.

“Dad, Mom, did you think I was a lost cause, so you found a

replacement?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Clarissa said, stepping forward. She took

the little girl’s hand and gently led her inside. “This is Mina, your

uncle’s daughter.”

Madeleine’s eyes widened as she stared at the adorable child.

How had her uncle managed to have such a beautiful daughter?

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Then it dawned on her–her aunt was a renowned beauty. The

little girl must have taken all her looks from her mother.

Her cousin was called Minerva Hatfield, aged seven. Her

parents were abroad on business, so she had been living with

Harold and Clarissa during the school term for the past two

years.

From the moment she stepped inside, Minerva’s gaze remained

fixed on Madeleine.

“Are you Madeleine?” she asked.

Madeleine grinned and nodded eagerly.

“That’s right.”

Minerva was as adorable as Kevin, the kind of child who could

instantly win anyone’s heart.

To her utter surprise, Minerva’s face darkened.

“Clarissa, Harold, why did you let Madeleine in? What if she

makes you angry and gets you sick again?”

With that, Minerva spread her arms and stood protectively in

front of Clarissa.

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“Don’t you hurt Clarissa! Come at me if you dare!”

The grin on Madeleine’s face froze. It was becoming painfully clear just how terribly she must have behaved all these years— even a little girl seemed to despise her.

Clarissa guided Minerva to the dining table. “It’s alright, Mina. Maddie knows she was wrong and has come to apologize.”

“Apologize? Her?”

Minerva gave Madeleine a look of pure skepticism.

“No way. Clarissa, Harold, she’s lied to you countless times. Why would you still believe her? Don’t be fools.”

Hearing this, Clarissa could only sigh inwardly, reminded of

what Roderick had said.

Perhaps she was a fool. But Madeleine was her daughter, her

own flesh and blood.

More than anyone, she clung to the hope that the real

Madeleine would someday return–that sweet, sensible girl she

once knew.

Chapter B