Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 550

Hudson stared at her. Something turbulent surged in his dark eyes, but he quickly forced it down.

“If I die before you someday—”

“Stop it!” Nora slapped a hand over his mouth. “Don't jinx it! You're going to live to be a hundred.”

Muffled laughter rumbled against her palm. Hudson’s eyes were entirely soft.

He gently pulled her hand away and enveloped it in his own. “I said if. If that day ever comes, I want you to do exactly what you just said. Live a good life.”

Nora stared at him for a moment before reaching up to pinch his cheek. “Why are you being so morbid today?”

He didn't pull away, letting her squish his face as his eyes curved into a smile. “My mistake. I won't say it again.”

“Better not.”

Hudson chuckled, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “The forecast says Northampton will get its first snow at the end of the month. Let's go see it together.”

Nora paused, looking up at him with the faint traces of tears still on her face. “Really?”

“Yeah. That’s what the weather report said.”

Nora smiled brightly, hugging his arm. “Then it’s a date! We’ll watch the first snow together.”

Hudson looked down at the top of her head, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips.

“Okay.”

...

The fifth episode of the music variety show aired exactly on schedule.

The moment it dropped, two hashtags shot to the top of the trending topics on social media: #JulianAndRoseChemistry# and #TheWayJulianLooksAtRose#.

The posts were flooded with behind-the-scenes photos of Julian Vance following Nora around like an obedient puppy, his gaze fixed solely on her.

The comment sections were heavily manipulated by paid bots and Julian’s PR team, spamming phrases like, 'Younger guys are the sweetest!' They were working overtime to manufacture a romance out of absolutely nothing.

“Just wait until the episode finishes airing. I’ll buy a few more live trending keywords, and your popularity is going to explode,” Julian’s agent said, grinning as he took a drag from his cigarette.

Julian slouched on the couch, scrolling through his phone. Seeing his follower count skyrocket, a smug smile tugged at his lips.

Sure, he didn’t have much screen time.

But who cared?

As long as he had those few frames with Nora, his PR team could edit them to perfection, leading the delusional shippers exactly where he wanted them. Romance fans were the easiest demographic to manipulate; give them a crumb, and they’d eat it up.

Once his popularity peaked, he could play the victim card, bringing up the $50,000 debt he had been saddled with when he left his last agency. He had paid it off long ago, but it was excellent fodder for sympathy.

Fans loved a resilient, underdog narrative.

However, when the actual episode went live, everyone was left stunned.

Julian clicked the video the second it uploaded, dragging the progress bar from start to finish. He watched it three times.

He wasn't in it.

Seeing that everything was performing perfectly, she finally relaxed.

“Olive, let's head home.”

“On it, Boss!”

Olive O’Neil had been practically vibrating with anticipation all day.

The DNA results she had secretly commissioned days ago had finally arrived at Cloudwater Estate.

She was dying to know the truth.

If her suspicions were right...

Everyone was going to have to praise her genius!

“Olive, slow down,” Nora gasped, her back pinned against the seat by the force of the acceleration.

Olive voiced her agreement, but her foot remained heavy on the gas pedal. She didn't slow down at all, though her handling was at least smoother than usual.

Exasperated, Nora could do nothing but grip her seatbelt and endure the fighter-jet-like ride back to the estate.

The moment the car came to a halt, Olive leaped out and sprinted inside to tear open her package.

Inside the living room, Hudson sat on the sofa with a document resting on the coffee table. Liam stood beside him, looking solemn.

“Boss, the results are in. Nora and Arnold Vance are definitely not biologically related.”