The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 144

She hadn't even mentioned Cassidy's name!

"Oh."

Snatching her phone, Nora retreated beneath the safety of the covers.

She didn't immediately fire off a text to her best friend.

First, she urgently changed her lock screen passcode.

Having someone figure out your password felt exactly like having them hold a knife to your throat!

It was utterly terrifying.

A moment later, Nora mumbled, "It was Jasper Zale."

"Got it." Maloney wrapped his arms around the lumpy bundle of blankets holding his wife.

He had bullied her a little just now; she needed some comforting.

Nora poked her head out from the duvet.

Maloney leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to her earlobe.

Since he had been teasing that exact spot for most of the night, the skin was hyper-sensitive. A violent shiver racked Nora's frame, and she instantly ducked back out of sight.

"Any other burning questions?" he asked softly.

"No," came her muffled reply from the darkness.

"I have to step out for a bit. Get some rest."

"Okay."

Once Maloney left the room, Nora dragged herself out of bed and went to wash her face.

The bathroom mirror reflected the deep plunge of her unbuttoned silk pajamas, exposing a collarbone painted with dark, bruised kisses.

Heat instantly flooded her cheeks.

Unwanted, searing images of last night's feverish intimacy flashed through her mind.

Maloney had absolutely been angry last night.

He had practically devoured her.

The marks on her collarbone were actually the mildest ones.

The real damage was further down.

Nora didn't even dare glance down at her own thighs.

She just couldn't figure out what had set him off.

And dumping all those millions in diamonds on her lap out of nowhere.

It was bizarre.

She should have pressed him on it just now.

But the whole Cassidy text debacle had totally derailed her.

She'd just have to consult Cassidy for an analysis later.

Drying her face, Nora walked back to the bed and grabbed her phone. Several new notifications were waiting.

The first was from Leona York.

She added: [A few people saw Maloney picking you up last night. Do you want me to gag order them so your identity doesn't leak?]

Nora: [It's fine. I really don't mind.]

Honestly, Nora didn't harbor the deep insecurities Leona was projecting onto her.

She simply preferred to fly under the radar.

She wouldn't flaunt her wealth, but she wasn't going to lie to cover it up, either.

She was completely at peace with her situation.

Leona: [Oh, I see.]

[You're so confident in your own talent that you don't give a damn what the tabloids or the haters say.]

[And honestly, you were the top scholar in the state. Every time you trend, it's about your sheer brilliance. Tacking 'billionaire's wife' onto your resume isn't going to overshadow that.]

Nora: [Mhm.]

She really hadn't thought that deeply about it.

Though Leona's flawless logic did sound pretty badass.

Leona messaged again: [Still, knowing the media vultures, with a background like yours, they would have dug up your marriage the second you went viral.]

[Someone powerful has definitely been suppressing the press.]

Nora blinked, staring at the screen.

A soft smile curved her lips as she typed: [Yeah. My husband takes very good care of me.]