Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23 

“No… not at all.” Penelope quickly waved her hands. “Just asking casually, just curious.” 

Xavier sat there utterly bewildered. “What paperwork? What license? Mom, what riddles are you talking in?” 

Terrified that he would expose the truth, Penelope grabbed his arm and yanked him toward the stairs. “Enough out of you. This is grown-up business, stop being so nosy. Look at how filthy your uniform is. Go upstairs and change right now.” 

“Hey, Mom, stop pulling me…” Xavier complained, reluctantly dragged up the steps. 

Nora stood up. “I’ll go pack my things.” 

As she brushed past Hudson, his fingers gently wrapped around her wrist. 

“Take your time. There’s no rush.” 

Nora nodded. 

Once the three of them disappeared upstairs, only Hudson and Marcus were left in the living room. 

Hudson casually picked up his teacup again and took a slow, deliberate sip. 

The tea was crisp and fragrant. He lowered his eyes, watching the loose leaves settle at the bottom of the cup, saying nothing for a long time. 

Marcus shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. He licked his dry lips and finally forced himself to speak. “Um, Hudson, regarding the marriage… shouldn’t we discuss some of the details…” 

“Rest assured, Marcus,” Hudson interrupted, his voice smooth and detached. “The thirty million dollars my family promised will be in your account by tomorrow.” 

Marcus’s eyes widened in sheer joy. “Really?” 

“Furthermore,” Hudson continued, his tone flat, “the Lancaster family will take over the West District 

project.” 

Marcus was trembling with excitement. 

The West District project had been his biggest nightmare lately. The failed investment had severed his supply chain and nearly dragged the entire Reed family into bankruptcy. 

He couldn’t believe Hudson had resolved it with a single sentence. 

“That is wonderful news! Thank you, Mr. Lancaster…” In his overwhelming relief, Marcus slipped back into using the formal title. 

Penelope’s face shifted uncomfortably, and she stammered, “Jade… I’ve spoiled her too much over the years. She’s willful and naive. How could she possibly endure this kind of arrangement? She actually ran off with some broke boy. I had no other choice, so I had to ask you…” 

“So she can’t endure the hardship, but I can?” Nora turned to face Penelope. “Mom, I am your biological daughter.” 

Jade didn’t even share a drop of blood with her. 

Yet, from the time she was a little girl, Penelope had always favored Jade. Nora was expected to yield to her in everything. 

But Nora was the one born to her. 

Penelope looked away, suffocated by the guilt in Nora’s eyes. “I know I’ve wronged you. But Jade has lived a life of luxury; she couldn’t survive this kind of misery. Just consider this a favor to the family. Help your mother out, please?” 

Nora found it almost laughable. 

They were both daughters. When Jade ran away from an arranged marriage, she was just ‘naive and sheltered.’ But when Nora was forced to take her place, it was suddenly her duty. 

Just because Jade was the legitimate heiress of the Reed family, while Nora was just the baggage her mother brought from a previous marriage? 

Seeing Nora’s silence, Penelope assumed she had relented. A relieved smile broke across her face. “Nora, I always knew you were the sensible one. You…”