waking up with my nemesis' baby novel

Kirsten froze , her hands stilling on the flowers , her expression one of stunned confusion . " Mrs. Livingston , did you forget ? Dr. Clark is Mr. Kevin's therapist ." Madeleine's breath caught , her mind racing . Her anxiety spiked , and she pressed for details . Kirsten , though puzzled by Madeleine's reaction , explained everything . As the words sank in , Madeleine's face drained of color . Kevin's nightmare two nights ago wasn't just a bad dream - it was tied to psychological issues . Beyond that , he struggled with deep insecurities , trust issues , and ... " You're saying Kev ...

hurt himself to get attention ? " Madeleine's voice trembled , barely above a whisper . Chapter 22 Kirsten sighed , her eyes soft with sympathy . " Yes . It broke Mr. Livingston's heart . " He was overseas on business , but he chartered a plane to get back that same night . Thankfully , Mr. Kevin was okay ." Madeleine's lips quivered , words failing her for a long moment before she managed to choke out , " And me ? What was I doing ? " " Well ... " Kirsten hesitated , her expression uneasy . She glanced at Madeleine , reluctant to answer .

" It's okay , just tell me , " Madeleine urged , bracing herself . Kirsten sighed again , her voice low . " You said Mr. Carroll from the Carroll Group had a cold . You went to deliver medicine , so you weren't home . " Madeleine's heart plummeted , a wave of guilt crashing over her like a cold tide . Those choices weren't made by the eighteen - year - old her , but the weight of them - her role as Kevin's mother - pressed heavily Chapter 22 on her now , filling her with aching regret . She took a deep breath , steadying herself . The past was done , unchangeable .

All she could do now was make up for the pain she'd caused . " Thanks , Kirsten ," she said softly . " Could you whip up something to eat? " Kirsten blinked , thrown by Madeleine's gratitude . " Oh ! Sure , give me a moment . " She headed to the kitchen , still puzzled , while Madeleine's heart churned with bittersweet emotions . Food was the last thing on her mind , but she sat down to eat anyway . Kirsten was a wonderful cook . She prepared two delicious dishes and even a small dessert .

Madeleine had been raised to believe that eating food prepared by others with sincerity was a form of respect . As she savored Kirsten's dishes , she showered her with praise , leaving Kirsten flustered and blushing . Chapter 22 After lunch , Kirsten slipped away to chat with Meagan Velez , who was in charge of cleaning . Their conversation turned to Madeleine's odd behavior. " Meagan , do you think Mrs. Livingston's planning to fire me ? " Kirsten fretted . Meagan clicked her tongue . " Could be . You know how she is- unpredictable .

If she's acting this weird , you probably ticked her off somehow . " Kirsten's face drained of color . She regretted every word she had said earlier . Meagan patted her arm . " Don't stress . Mr. Livingston's the one who calls the shots . Just be extra careful for a bit ; don't ruffle her feathers ." Kirsten sighed . " Guess that's all I can do ." Madeleine , completely unaware that her staff was secretly painting her as a tyrant , was debating whether to check in on Kevin's session . Suddenly , her phone buzzed with a WhatsApp message . It was from someone labeled " Mary .

" Madeleine drew a blank- she had no memory of this person . The message included a Chapter 22 photo and a note . The note read , " Maddie , got that perfume you asked me to grab . Your hubby's gonna love this one . When are you swinging by to pick it up ? " The tone suggested a friend , but Madeleine couldn't remember anything about her . She checked their chat history , only to find it wiped clean . Curious , she tapped into Mary's Instagram . " Holy ... " Madeleine yelped , nearly jumping out of her skin .

This " Mary " was none other than the flashy , nouveau - riche girl she'd despised back in the day . She couldn't figure it out . How on earth had they become friends ? Back in her sophomore year of high school , a girl named Mary Sampson transferred to Madeleine's school . The details of Mary were fuzzy in Madeleine's mind , but one memory stood out vividly : the day Mary strutted into class , she was dripping in designer labels . Her neck , ears , and wrists sparkled with gaudy jewelry . Chapton D She reeked of new money , the kind that screamed for attention and made people cringe .

Worse , she was a bully , leading the charge against classmates with a cruel edge . When SATS loomed , Mary's grades were abysmal , so she pivoted to art . It didn't help - she flunked her way out of art school and wasn't accepted to a single university . Madeleine vaguely recalled hearing she'd gone abroad to study . Never in a million years did Madeleine expect to find herself , in her twenties , calling this girl a friend . Sitting there , arms crossed , curiosity gnawed at her . She had to know more , so she decided to meet Mary in person .

She typed out a quick message, " Can I swing by now ? " Mary replied instantly , " Totally ! How about this place ? I'm craving their food so bad . " Cedella Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella's storytelling style is immersive and addictive-perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.