waking up with my nemesis' baby novel

Chapter 24 She pulled a compact mirror from her bag , checking her reflection . " My eyes got bigger? I had a little work done in Crotoronia- opened up the corners . And my nose ? The doctor who did it was a genius ." She glanced at Madeleine , her voice bright . " Want his number ? I can hook you up . " " No thanks , " Madeleine said with a dry laugh . "So she got plastic surgery , " Madeleine thought . " That explains it . " Mary launched into a glowing review of her surgeon's skills , clearly thrilled with her remade face . " Maddie , trust me , you should do it .

Your husband's been so distant lately - maybe it's because of , you know , your look . " She backtracked quickly , waving her hands . " Not that you're not gorgeous ! It's just ... guys , they chase excitement . Get a little glow - up , and he won't have eyes for anyone else . " Chapter 24 Madeleine sipped her drink , mulling it over . Roderick was distant , but she didn't peg him as the type to stray . If anything , given the chaos she'd caused over the years , his coolness felt justified . " Oh , right ! " Mary chirped , digging into her bag . She pulled out a sleek gift bag , beaming .

" Here's that perfume you asked me to grab . 60 thousand dollars . You've got my account details - just wire it over . " " 60 what ? " Madeleine choked . Madeleine's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she heard the price . She thought , incredulous , " Is this perfume or liquid gold ? " No , even gold wouldn't cost that much ! " Her curiosity piqued , Madeleine's gaze sharpened . She reached for the gift bag , eager to see what kind of perfume could justify such an outrageous price tag . She wasn't entirely clueless about luxury goods .

She knew Chapter 24 some brands released collector's edition fragrances where the price wasn't in the fragrance itself but in the jewel - encrusted bottles . " Was I really about to buy something this flashy to impress Roderick ? " she wondered , her mind racing with doubt . Peeling open the bag , she found a bottle of Aumora perfume staring back at her . Just a regular bottle , nothing extraordinary . " Huh? " She pulled it out for a closer look . It was the classic Aumora packaging . She'd been familiar with the brand since her teens .

Sure , Aumora was pricey , but their classic line usually retailed for a few thousand dollars , not the fortune Mary was quoting . Spritzing a bit on her wrist , Madeleine inhaled deeply . The scent was bold , a rich sandalwood that filled the air with warmth . " Would Roderick even like this ? " she mused . Then , a flicker of recognition hit her . She felt this smell was oddly familiar . Chapter 24 Try as she might , she couldn't place it . Shrugging , she capped the bottle and tucked it away . " 60 thousand dollars ? " Madeleine asked , her voice dripping with skepticism .

" You sure about that ? " " Oh, absolutely ! " Mary chirped , her eyes glinting with a little too much enthusiasm . " 60 grand , Maddie . And that's with the friend discount I got you . " Madeleine narrowed her eyes , studying Mary's greedy expression . A knot of unease tightened in her chest . She couldn't understand how she even ended up friends with someone like her . " Alright , " Madeleine said coolly , pulling out her phone as if to make the transfer . Mary's gaze locked onto the screen , her lips curling into a smug grin that practically screamed jackpot .

" Show me the receipt first ," Madeleine added , her tone casual but firm . " Then I'll send the money . " Mary's smile froze , her lips twitching awkwardly . " Receipt ? " she stammered , her confidence crumbling . Chapter 24 " Yeah , a receipt , " Madeleine said , tilting her head . " How else am I supposed to pay you ? " " But ... you never asked for receipts before ! " Mary protested , her voice rising an octave . Madeleine paused , her fingers hovering over her phone. She looked up , her expression unreadable .

" In that case , why don't you pull up all the receipts from our past transactions ? I'd love to go over the numbers . " Mary's face paled , her hand shooting out to grab Madeleine's wrist . " Maddie , what's gotten into you ? " We're best friends ! Don't you trust me ? " Madeleine's lips curved into a small , knowing smile . " Oh , sweetie , it's because we're such good friends that I'm doing this . Friends don't let money come between them , right ? Clear accounts make for lasting friendships , don't you think , Leticia ?

" She gently pried Mary's hand off her wrist and extended her open palm . Chapter 24 " So , hand over the receipt . " Mary's face stiffened . After a long , awkward silence , Mary mumbled , " I ... I think I lost it . " " Lost it ? " Madeleine raised an eyebrow , her voice laced with amusement . " Don't stores send e - receipts these days ? You just bought it , so it should be easy to pull up . " With a light chuckle , she slid the perfume bottle across the table . " No receipt , no deal . For all I know , this could be a knockoff . " " It's real , I swear !

" Mary blurted , her voice cracking . " I'd never get you a fake , Maddie! " Chapter 25 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.