Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 720

To think that Vincent Vaughn and Phoebe Vaughn were actually... her cousins?

The world was impossibly small.

After everything they went through, they were all family.

"Actually, I tried looking into your mother, Felix Vaughn, a while back. But her files are classified top-secret. Normal people can't access them..."

He had stumbled across it while casually investigating Finnian Fairchild's mother. Finding a completely blank file had made him suspicious, and combined with Finnian relentlessly asking him to find Felix, he started piecing the puzzle together.

Later, he tricked Finnian into confirming it—Felix Vaughn was actually Finnian's biological mother!

And in the process, he had verified Felix's connection to the powerful Vaughn family.

It seemed this trip to the Fairchilds was completely necessary.

If the Vaughns genuinely accepted his Nora, it would add another massive layer of protection for her.

He had never felt entirely confident relying solely on his newly-discovered father-in-law.

This trip to the Fairchild estate would be the perfect time to test the waters.

"Then I'll just ask Finnian. He definitely knows. If he refuses to tell me, I'll go tattle to Grandma!" Nora looked up at him determinedly.

"That's the spirit."

Hudson smiled, pressing a warm kiss to the top of her head. "My wife is getting tougher by the day."

The compliment sent a rush of heat to her ears. She turned her head away, but she couldn't suppress the proud smile forming on her lips.

In the past, she could only hide behind him, letting him block the wind and rain.

But everything was different now.

She was the eldest daughter of the Fairchild family, with an entire empire backing her.

And now, potentially the Vaughns as well!

She was going to seize all these resources tightly in her hands.

Because she wanted the power to stand fiercely by his side and hold the umbrella for him when the storm came.

...

January 2nd.

The skies over Northampton were a dull, wintry gray. The forecast predicted snow by the afternoon, but it hadn't started yet.

By the time Hudson and Nora's private jet touched down, two luxury SUVs were already waiting on the tarmac.

"Welcome back, Nora. Young Master Finnian sent us to pick you up," the driver announced respectfully.

Nora was still getting used to being treated like royalty, but she offered a polite nod. "Thank you."

Xander felt immensely satisfied hearing that respect. He cleared his throat, preparing to flaunt his authority as her overprotective brother, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Nora was about to drop the mountain of envelopes. He quickly changed his tune. "Let's get inside first! It's freezing out here, we don't want Nora catching a cold."

The massive group swarmed around Nora, ushering her into the grand hall. Hudson trailed half a step behind, his eyes fixed on her slender figure surrounded by her adoring family, his smile deepening.

Refreshments were already set out in the main living room.

Matriarch Fairchild wore a stunning dark red silk column gown today. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, and she looked incredibly energetic. She smiled warmly, gesturing for Nora to come over.

"Come, Nora, come sit next to Grandma."

Nora obediently walked over and took the seat beside her.

Seeing the huge crowd eagerly chatting and laughing around Nora, Hudson sat quietly off to the side, watching with an affectionate smile. It wasn't until he spotted Finnian slipping out to take a phone call that he finally stood up and followed.

Finnian had just finished answering a holiday greeting from a major business partner. The moment he hung up and turned around to head back inside, he locked eyes with a dark, piercing gaze.

"What is it? Something on your mind?"

Hudson leaned casually against the pillar, pulling a mint from his pocket, unwrapping it, and tossing it into his mouth. "Yeah. I have some questions for you."

Finnian looked at him, pulled a silver cigarette case from his pocket, and offered him one.

"Quit," Hudson mumbled around the mint.

Finnian's hand paused mid-air before a sudden realization hit him. He raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you guys trying for a baby?"