waking up with my nemesis' baby novel

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 . Although her toes were still not in perfect shape , they no longer looked weird . But now , her feet bore deep marks , and in some places , blood even seeped out . " I practiced dancing today . " Madeleine said with a sigh of frustration . " My body feels like a block of wood , so stiff . " Roderick almost refuted her .

Her body was anything but stiff . It was soft and smelled good . It was nothing like a block of wood . He went to fetch the medicine box . " Don't push yourself too hard . " He sat by the bed , placed her feet on his knees , and began carefully disinfecting and applying medicine with a cotton swab . Madeleine , who had been a little drowsy , was now completely awake . Looking at his side profile , she felt that her heart suddenly skipped a beat . His long fingers held her ankle so gently , as though he were handling a fragile treasure .

His warm palm pressed against her cold feet , and her whole body grew warm . " Does it hurt ? " Roderick suddenly lifted his head , his deep gaze meeting hers . She quickly averted her eyes , the tips of her ears turning red . " No. " Compared to what she had endured before , it was nothing . His gaze lingered briefly on her flushed ears , and the corner of his lips curved . 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.