Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24 

Before Penelope could finish, Nora interrupted her, her tone sharp. 

“The name on the marriage certificate is Jade Reed.” 

“What?!” 

Penelope gasped, panic instantly seizing her features. “Oh my god, why didn’t you use your own ID? If you two end up divorcing later, Jade will have a divorce on her record!” 

Nora let out a cold laugh. Even now, her mother’s only concern was protecting Jade’s pristine reputation. 

“And what about me?” 

Penelope hurriedly tried to soothe her. “Be a good girl, Nora. Don’t worry. I’ve heard the rumors about Hudson’s illness-they say it’s terminal. The marriage was just a desperate superstition to bring him luck. Given his condition, he probably can’t even perform in the bedroom. Just treat it as going through the motions. Once the Reed family gets through this financial crisis, you can find a random excuse to divorce him, and both you and Jade will be free…” 

She spoke so lightly, as if orchestrating a fraudulent marriage and an eventual divorce was as simple as picking up groceries. 

“Mom.” Nora cut her off, her voice turning icy. “Have you ever stopped to think about what will happen if Hudson finds out about the swap?” 

Penelope froze. 

“Do you think he’ll spare the Reed family?” Nora stared straight into her mother’s eyes. “Do you think he’ll spare me?” 

“That…” Penelope stuttered, entirely at a loss for words. 

She hadn’t thought about it. 

Or rather, she was too terrified to think about it. 

Her most desperate priority was ensuring the Reed family survived this crisis so she could finally secure her position as the lady of the house. 

“Mom.” Nora closed her suitcase and zipped it up. “This is the last time I sacrifice myself for the Reed family. After this… we are even.” 

Penelope’s face contorted. “Nora, what are you saying? After all the years I’ve spent raising you…” Nora didn’t want to hear another word. She grabbed the handle of her suitcase and walked toward the door. 

But as she pulled it open, her blood turned to ice. Hudson was standing right outside. 

Nora nodded. 

Hudson didn’t say another word. He stepped forward and smoothly took the handle of the suitcase from her grasp. 

The moment their fingers brushed, Nora instinctively tried to pull back, but he gently caught her hand. 

His palm was broad and radiating warmth, the faint calluses on his fingers grazing the delicate skin of her hand, sending a subtle shiver down her spine. 

His eyes swept around the cramped, cluttered bedroom, and one of his dark eyebrows arched slightly. 

“Penelope…” Hudson began, his voice calm but every word sharp as a blade. “It seems Jade hasn’t been living very comfortably in the Reed household all these years.” 

Penelope blinked, entirely bewildered. “What do you mean, Hudson? Jade is the cherished daughter of our family. I’ve always treated her better than my own flesh and blood. How could she…” 

“Cherished daughter? A cherished daughter whose bedroom is used as a storage closet? With furniture from over a decade ago?” 

Hudson let out a low chuckle, though the amusement never reached his eyes. “If this is how you treat your beloved daughter, she would be better off an orphan.”