Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 718

Outside the window, the night breeze carried the faint scent of smoke through the courtyard, gently swaying the string of festive lights.

A brand-new year had officially begun amidst a night of dazzling brilliance.

...

On New Year's Day, Hudson and Nora followed tradition and visited Lancaster Hall to pay their respects.

As their car pulled into the estate, bright red lanterns hung by the entrance, and fresh holiday banners adorned the doorframes. The air held a faint mix of firecracker smoke and floral tributes.

Refreshments were already set out in the main hall. Beatrice Lancaster sat in the seat of honor, dressed in a dark red silk column gown. Eleanor Lancaster sat below her, wearing a modest navy blue gown, pouring tea for the older woman.

Tiffany Lancaster had woken up early and was currently curled up on the sofa scrolling through her phone. When she saw the two walk in, her eyes lit up. She stood up and waved at Nora. "Nora! Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year." Nora pulled a thick envelope of holiday cash from her pocket and handed it over. "Here's your holiday bonus."

Tiffany took it, instantly feeling how thick it was, and a massive grin spread across her face. "Thanks, Nora! You're the best!"

Beatrice's gaze swept over the couple. She took a sip of her tea, her expression relatively mild. "You're here. Have a seat."

Hudson led Nora to the seats beside him and took the tea offered by a servant.

After a brief silence, Beatrice spoke up first. "Arthur's situation... have you heard?"

Hudson leaned back in his chair, his tone utterly indifferent. "I've heard."

"The house was burned down, and the whole family is in the hospital. I was told River suffered severe burns on his leg, and Miles was stabbed." Beatrice set her teacup down, fixing her eyes on his face. "Did you do this?"

Hudson met her gaze, letting out a dry scoff. "If you want to believe that, then sure."

Beatrice frowned deeply. "Hudson, family harmony is everything. Even if your uncle was out of line, pushing things this far is enough."

Hudson's fingers paused on his teacup. He raised his eyes, his voice low, but every single word dripped with a terrifying, suffocating coldness. "When my two uncles teamed up to destroy my parents over a decade ago, why didn't you tell them that 'family harmony is everything'?"

A dead silence fell over the living room.

Beatrice's expression shifted drastically. She opened her mouth, but not a single word managed to come out.

Hudson set his teacup down expressionlessly and stood up, pulling Nora up with him. "It's a holiday, so I won't ruin your mood any further. We'll be leaving."

"Hudson."

He paused mid-step, looking back at her over his shoulder.

Sitting at the head of the room, Beatrice opened her mouth, looking as though she desperately wanted to say something, but ultimately, she simply waved her hand. "...Go."

Hudson didn't linger for another second. Gripping Nora's hand tightly, he strode out of the main hall.

Tiffany ran to the door, calling out a quick goodbye, before retreating back inside. Taking one look at Beatrice's gloomy face, she wisely returned to the sofa and quietly peeled a tangerine, not daring to ask a single question.

The living room plunged back into heavy silence.

After an agonizingly long time, Beatrice finally let out a heavy sigh. "Are you really going to divorce Arthur?"

"Yes." Eleanor nodded. "I couldn't find him before, so I didn't have the chance. But now that he's back, I might as well step aside and give up my spot."

The black Maybach sped along the tree-lined avenues of Azure Bay.

The cabin was completely silent.

Finally, Hudson broke the tension with a soft chuckle. "What's wrong? Ask whatever you want to ask."

Nora pursed her lips, a little afraid of tearing open Hudson's old wounds.

Back at the old estate, the things he had said to Beatrice...

"You want to know about my parents?"

Since he had brought it up himself, Nora realized that hiding her curiosity would only make things awkward. She nodded immediately. "Hudson... how did your parents... pass away?"

Hudson glanced at her sideways. His expression didn't change, and a faint smile even touched his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"They went overseas for an academic exchange on a scientific research project. They got caught up in a local riot... and they never came back."

He said it so casually, as if he were talking about someone else's life entirely.

But Nora noticed his fingers, resting on his knee, curl inward before slowly releasing.

She immediately reached out and placed her hand over his.

Hudson's fingers paused before he turned his hand over, lacing his fingers tightly through hers.

"Ironically enough, the day my parents died, I was being hunted by assassins..."