The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 176

Cassidy sent a barrage of texts, venting her disgust.

Her reaction perfectly mirrored Nora's.

When Nora first learned the truth, she couldn't stop replaying past events in her head either.

Looking back, all the signs had been there.

They were just too naive to believe human nature could be that vile.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith treated Valery like she was made of glass—how could anyone suspect they would subject her to something so sinister?

The two friends dissected the past together.

Caught up in the outrage, Cassidy asked: *"How is your husband planning to handle Yates?"*

Nora: *"He said he's going to force the Quigley family to cut Yates off."*

*"And then what?"*

*"I didn't ask."*

*"Ask him. Get the details. If I'm not satisfied with the outcome, I'll take care of him myself."*

*"Okay."*

Nora set her phone down and looked up, just as Maloney stepped out of the en-suite bathroom.

He wasn't wearing a robe. A crisp white towel hung dangerously low on his hips.

With one hand carelessly raking through his wet hair, he used a smaller towel to dry the damp strands. Droplets of water traced the muscular lines of his arms and chest, disappearing beneath the edge of the towel.

Catching her stare, Maloney turned his head slightly. His dark, intense eyes locked directly onto Nora's lingering gaze before she could look away.

Nora immediately ducked her head, snatched her phone back up, and frantically mashed a string of gibberish into the chat.

Maloney walked straight up to her.

"Nora," he commanded, his voice a low rumble. "Come here."

"R-right." She pocketed her phone and scrambled to stand.

Because she had been curled up for so long, her legs instantly gave out. A violent wave of pins and needles shot up her calves. She cried out in pain and tumbled clumsily back onto the sofa.

She had fully intended to brace herself for his interrogation.

With that pathetic yelp, all her bravado evaporated.

Maloney's expression darkened. He sat down beside her, lifted her ankles onto his lap, and began gently massaging her numb legs.

He worked his hands firmly from her thighs down to her calves, pressing into the arches of her feet.

"Still numb?"

"It's better."

Maloney's hands slid past her ankles, trailing dangerously high up her thighs.

Then his hands slipped around to her lower back.

He pulled her entirely onto his lap.

Her bathrobe fell open.

"Maloney." Nora clung to his shoulders nervously. "Are you mad?"

He paused for a fraction of a second. "No."

Nora switched to a declarative statement. "You're mad."

Maloney gave her a dark, unreadable look and countered, "Why would I be mad?"

Nora was silent.

She didn't know.

And the fact that she didn't know terrified her.

It had been a while since she felt this on edge.

In the early days, before everything between them was out in the open, Nora would panic like this whenever she felt insecure.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify