Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 649

"Okay, okay, no more kisses," Phoebe Vaughn said, throwing her hands up in a mock surrender. Despite her words, the teasing smile in her eyes didn't fade in the slightest.

Hudson was so ridiculously jealous... he would probably glare at a stray dog if it accidentally brushed past his sweet, beautiful wife.

"Nora, come here. Sit next to me," Hudson Lancaster demanded, his brow furrowing as he patted the empty seat beside him.

Ever since they boarded the private jet, Phoebe had monopolized Nora. He hadn't even gotten the chance to properly hold his own wife! And to top it off, this infuriating woman had just kissed her!

He never should have let her on this flight. With an ego that big, she could have flown to Northampton herself!

Phoebe's grin widened at Hudson's territorial display. Far from being intimidated, she leaned even closer to Nora, resting her chin on the younger woman's shoulder. She winked at him. "Relax, Mr. Lancaster. It's just a hug. She's not going to melt."

Hudson's voice was icy, his gaze turning somber with obvious displeasure. "Stop rubbing up against my wife. You smell."

Phoebe ducked her head, sniffing her collar. "This is a custom, limited-edition perfume. You couldn't buy it even if you tried."

"Custom perfume? It smells like absolute garbage."

"..."

Phoebe's smile froze. "Damn it, Hudson, is your mouth laced with poison? How do you even live with yourself?"

"Get the hell out of here!"

Nora couldn't help but laugh out loud.

As the two traded verbal blows, Phoebe's phone vibrated against the armrest. She glanced at the caller ID, and the amusement instantly drained from her face.

Pressing her lips together, she swiped to answer. "Hello, Dad."

A deep, heavy voice boomed through the receiver. "Phoebe, where are you right now?"

"On my way to Northampton."

"Northampton?" Alaric Vaughn's voice spiked with unmistakable impatience and anger. "What are you messing around with now? A young woman like you, constantly making a spectacle of yourself in public—what do you think you look like?"

Phoebe held the phone away from her ear, waiting until his tirade subsided before bringing it back. "I'm handling business."

"Business?" Alaric snapped, his tone rising again. "You poached all of Vincent's key personnel! You call that business? You're out of your mind!"

"If he can't retain his own employees, how is that my problem?"

"You!"

The Phoebe she knew was always so fiercely independent and unapologetic.

Nora had assumed that confidence was simply the byproduct of growing up in a wealthy family.

But after hearing Alaric's blatant sexism, it was obvious that Phoebe had endured far more prejudice and unfairness than Nora could have ever imagined.

Everything she had achieved, she had fought for with her own two hands.

"I think you're incredible," Nora said softly.

Phoebe turned her head to look at her.

Nora met her gaze steadily. "To keep chasing your dreams in an environment like that, completely ignoring what anyone else thinks... That takes real strength."

Phoebe blinked in surprise before a genuine smile curved her lips. "You haven't met my aunt. Now, she was a true force of nature."

"Your aunt?"

Phoebe nodded. "Aunt Felix was the most brilliant person in the Vaughn family. She was a top-tier scientist, the best of the best. If she were still around, Vincent and I wouldn't even be fighting over the scraps..."