Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 646

Archer and Olive immediately flashed him a thumbs-up, silently mouthing: *Artie's the boss!*

Arthur: "..."

He knew it. These two had always found following the boss too boring and strict. They vastly preferred trailing after Madam...

Watching his boss and Madam finish up the divorce paperwork, Arthur sighed inwardly, genuinely feeling a strange pang of 'divided family' grief.

As they walked out of the Bureau, Arthur immediately rushed forward to open the car door. Hudson cast a cool, brief glance at Archer and Olive trailing behind Nora. The faint ghost of a smile flickered across his lips before he ducked into the car.

After watching the black Maybach pull away, Nora finally pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

It rang twice before being picked up. River's smooth, amused voice came through the speaker. "Auntie Nora? Why are you calling me so soon? Don't tell me..."

"I just divorced Hudson. The paperwork is finalized."

Nora kept her voice tight and strained, laced with a perfectly convincing hoarseness that made her sound like she had been crying. "You promised me the Ivory Pill. It's time to hand it over."

The line went silent for a second before a light chuckle followed. "What's the rush? We'll talk in person."

"Where?"

River gave her an address—a private estate in the hills of San Francisco. It wasn't completely isolated, and it wasn't too far from the Bureau of Vital Records.

"Come alone. Don't bring anyone with you."

"Hudson already kicked me out. I have no one with me."

River laughed softly. "Then I'll trust you this once, Auntie Nora. Come over. I'll be waiting."

Hanging up the phone, Nora glanced back at Olive and Archer. Both of them gave her synchronized 'OK' signs.

Nora smirked, then walked to the curb and hailed a cab.

Half an hour later, the taxi pulled up in front of a pair of heavy, dark gray iron gates.

A middle-aged man in a black suit stood just inside the gates, offering her a completely emotionless 'this way' gesture.

Following a short stone pathway and bypassing a decorative privacy screen, she was led into a reception room.

River sat casually on a plush sofa, a freshly brewed pot of tea releasing fragrant tendrils of steam on the table before him.

"Did you bring the papers?"

Nora tossed the divorce documentation onto the coffee table, her tone icy. "See for yourself."

River picked up the document and skimmed it. In San Francisco, divorce proceedings started with the issuance of a Decree Nisi. The divorce was only legally finalized once the Decree Absolute was granted.

The Decree Nisi was authentic.

Nora held out her hand. "Where is the Ivory Pill?"

She took a deep breath. "I want to see the Ivory Pill right now. Otherwise, we're done here."

River stared at her for a few seconds before letting out a bark of laughter. "Alright. Since you're showing such good faith, Auntie Nora, I'll let you take a look at it."

Standing up, he walked over to a safe tucked in the corner. He punched in a passcode, followed by an iris scan.

The lock clicked open, and the heavy metal door popped ajar.

River pulled out a small, palm-sized black velvet box and flipped it open, presenting it directly to Nora.

Resting against the dark velvet was a milky-white pill. Faint, intricate patterns marked its edges, and it gave off a faint, herbal aroma.

Nora instinctively reached for it.

But River was faster. With a flick of his wrist, he snapped the box shut and concealed it entirely within his palm.

"Patience, Auntie Nora." Taking a half-step back, he returned the box to the safe, slamming the heavy door shut and locking it tight. He turned back to face her with a mocking smirk. "Like I said. Six weeks from now, it's yours."

Nora offered him a chilling smile. "No. I want it right now..."

*Bang!*

Before she could even finish her sentence, the door to the room was violently kicked open—