Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 740

The flame flickered briefly in the dark, illuminating his lowered eyes and tense jawline.

He took a deep drag. The harsh sting of nicotine exploded in his lungs, the long-forgotten burning sensation making him cough slightly. After a long moment, he slowly exhaled. The thick cloud of gray smoke drifted into the air, instantly snatched away by the cold wind seeping through the cracked window.

Leaning against the glass pane, he looked through the sliding door at the small figure curled up on the bed.

Nora shifted in her sleep, pulling the blanket with her and exposing a sliver of her smooth calf and delicate ankle.

She let out a soft mumble, seemingly complaining about something in her dreams, before burying her face deeper into the pillow and falling still again.

Hudson watched her. The cigarette between his fingers burned down, a long ash clinging perilously to the end. He glanced down, brought it to his lips, and took another drag.

He didn't know how long he stood there.

It wasn't until the embers burned down to the filter that he snapped out of his trance and crushed the butt into the ashtray.

Immediately, he pulled out another one and lit it. He exhaled a long breath, the blue-gray smoke curling upward, obscuring his sharp, handsome features.

Time blurred. Only when more than half the pack was gone did he finally shove the remaining cigarettes and the lighter into his robe pocket and walk into the bathroom.

After washing off the smell of smoke and drying off, he walked over to the bed. He leaned over, gently tucking Nora's exposed foot back under the blanket.

His hand was still cold from the wind. Feeling the chill, she instinctively shrank back into the warmth of the bed.

A faint smile touched Hudson's lips. He lifted the covers and slid in beside her.

As if sensing his presence, Nora dazedly rolled over, burying herself in his embrace.

Hudson looked down at her. His arms slowly tightened, pulling her completely against him, resting his chin gently on the top of her head.

Outside, the night wind continued to howl. On the balcony, a dozen crushed cigarette butts sat freezing in the ashtray.

He closed his eyes.

Forget it.

He would stop overthinking.

At the very least, she was in his arms right now.

Two months...

He still had at least two months.

Before the poison completely overtook him, he was going to pave every single road for her...

He was going to make sure she lived the rest of her life safe, happy, and entirely free of worry.

...

The next morning, Nora was woken by the deafening pop and sizzle of fireworks outside.

It was the fifth day of the Lunar New Year—the day to welcome the God of Wealth.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify