Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 7

Two days later, Nora's injuries had mostly healed, and her voice had fully returned.

During that time, Edmond never showed up.

She did, however, receive a package from her mother in San Francisco. Inside was Jade's ID card.

Standing by the hospital window, she watched the busy street below, a faint, bitter smile tugging at her lips. It was half mocking, half resigned.

The door clicked open.

Liam walked in. He wasn't wearing his usual white coat today. Dressed in a dark gray button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, he looked less clinical and more approachable.

"Paperwork's done." He handed her a folder. "You're cleared to leave."

Nora took the file, glancing at it. "Thank you, Dr. Harrison."

Liam didn't reply. He just stood there, studying her face as if weighing his words.

"Dr. Harrison? Is something wrong?"

"You're heading back to San Francisco today?"

Nora nodded.

Liam flashed a rare, wide grin. "Fantastic!"

"Huh?" Nora looked at him in confusion, wondering why he sounded so thrilled.

She was just going home. What was so 'fantastic' about it?

Catching her bewildered look, Liam coughed lightly into his fist. "Right, well, you should get packing. Don't want to miss your flight."

"Thank you, Dr. Harrison."

After Liam left, Nora began gathering her things.

There wasn't much to pack.

She opened the drawer of her bedside table. The only thing inside was the small velvet box.

She popped it open. A simple silver men's ring rested inside. Engraved on the inner band were the words: [Edmond & Nora].

She snapped the box shut and tossed it into the trash can without a second glance.

Even though she was a brilliant music major born with perfect pitch, and she had lost her hearing because of him, she never regretted it...

She only felt a deep sense of loss.

Loss that she would never hear the piano again, loss that she could never play the music she composed, and loss that the radiant girl who once owned the stage was now a broken burden relying on someone else's care.

But now...

Nora tore her gaze away and walked out, dragging her suitcase behind her.

The door clicked shut.

She didn't look back.

...

Meanwhile, on the way to the hospital.

Edmond's brow was tightly knit.

He had been stuck dealing with Juliette for the past two days. It wasn't until he finally tried texting Nora and realized he was blocked that a creeping unease settled over him.