waking up with my nemesis' baby novel

Chapter 48 Teresa immediately followed . " I've got a date with a friend ." " I'm going home for lunch . " " I'm dieting . I'll skip lunch . " Before Madeleine's awkward smile had even faded , the four of them vanished like they were avoiding the plague . Feeling a little defeated , Madeleine sighed inwardly . Just then , her phone buzzed . It was Roderick . Roderick : " Come over . " The corners of her mouth curved up again as she happily hurried off to the CEO's office . Roderick's office was spacious and stark , with a cool - toned decor .

When Madeleine pushed the door open , he was bent over his desk , working through documents . Noticing her entrance , Roderick looked up briefly . " Sit for a while . Lunch will be brought in soon . " Then he paused . " Or ... would you rather I have them send it to your desk , so you can eat alone ? " If it had been the old Madeleine , she would never have wanted to eat with him . Back when she was furious , she had once lashed out with cruel words . " Roderick , just the sight of you makes me sick . I can't even eat when you're around !

" That sentence had wounded Roderick deeply for a long time . " Let's eat together , " Madeleine said now . " Food tastes better when you share it . " After failing in her attempt to bond with the secretaries earlier , she was already feeling down . If she had to go eat alone now, she'd only feel more miserable . Though she thought this , she didn't show it on her face . Instead , Chapter 43 she looked around curiously at the items on his desk . There were numerous certificates of honor and trophies displayed , dazzling her eyes .

Suddenly , her gaze fell on one particular , slightly old trophy , which was engraved with her own name . " Wait , isn't this the ballet competition trophy I won in eleventh grade ? I remember throwing it away ." She pointed at the glass cabinet , her face full of surprise . " Why is it here ? " Roderick's hand , holding his pen , froze . In that instant , memories from the past exploded in both their minds . Back in eleventh grade , Madeleine had been training hard for the annual ballet competition , squeezing in practice even after exhausting days of study .

She had a formidable rival then . Her name was Leona Harmon . The tension between the two was much stronger than that between her and Roderick . Leona, a year older , was a gifted and hardworking dancer , her Chapter 48 skills nearly on par with Madeleine's . That citywide competition determined who would qualify for the national . The two of them practiced day and night , each desperate to claim the spot . In the end , Madeleine narrowly won , taking first place and earning the chance to represent the city at the national competition .

But then , rumors spread that her family had bribed the judges to secure her victory . When Harold heard , he was furious and tried to dispel the rumors everywhere , but the more he argued , the harsher the public backlash became . " Rich people are all the same . Poor Leona ! Her family sacrificed everything just to support her dancing . " " I feel so sorry for Leona . How could someone like Madeleine even deserve to dance ? " " Unbelievable . To think I'm in the same class as her makes me sick . " Chapter 48 The blow crushed Madeleine .

She burned with fever for days , aching so badly that she couldn't get out of bed , and ultimately missed the national competition . But there was one thing she never told anyone . What devastated her most was seeing Roderick comforting Leona with her own eyes . Though the two of them had bickered endlessly since childhood , anyone could see they were a pair of " frenemies " . Madeleine had believed , at the very least , that he trusted her . But that day , she was bitterly disappointed . That night , she threw the trophy away .

Not long after , the school was abuzz with rumors that Roderick and Leona were together . Madeleine never cared to find out whether it was true . Her relationship with Roderick only grew more distant . Even now , recalling those events , Madeleine felt her chest tighten with a sour ache . " Ricki . " Her voice was dry as she fixed her eyes on him . " This trophy ... why is it here ? " Roderick's grip on the pen tightened slightly , his fingertips Chapter 48 turning pale . Suddenly , he loosened his hold , set the pen down on the desk , and stood up . " I picked it up . " " You picked it up ?

I threw it in the trash . You went dumpster diving for it ? " A flicker of barely noticeable embarrassment flashed in Roderick's eyes . He got up , showing a trace of that familiar roguishness Madeleine knew so well . " What , I'm not allowed to have a hobby of picking through trash ? " He said gruffly as he moved closer to her . In an instant , his familiar scent enveloped her . Madeleine looked into his eyes , unable to tell if this was the teenage Roderick , or the man in his twenties standing before her ...

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.