Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 110

He wasn't taking the medication.

Hudson Lancaster was off his meds.

Did anyone realize how monumental that was?

Ever since the incident two years ago, Hudson hadn't gone a day without his prescriptions.

Any emotional spike required chemical suppression.

Liam assumed that after the assassin infiltrated the club and nearly harmed Nora, followed immediately by Silas's provocation, Hudson would have heavily relied on his pills to cope.

Yet here he was, admitting he hadn't touched them.

Was it because of Nora?

Still, going off meds without professional therapy was playing Russian roulette...

"Mr. Lancaster, if you feel the slightest bit off, you have to tell me immediately."

Hudson ignored him, walking toward the door.

"I got it. Stop nagging," he tossed over his shoulder dismissively.

Liam let out a breathy laugh, finally exhaling the tension he'd been holding in.

As Nora and Leona returned from the garden, they saw Hudson leaning against the doorframe of the private room.

The overhead hallway lights cast harsh shadows across the sharp planes of his face, his lips set in a grim line, radiating a cold, untouchable aura that demanded everyone keep their distance.

Hearing their footsteps, he looked up.

The moment his eyes met Nora's, the glacial chill vanished, replaced instantly by a soft, captivating smile.

Nora’s steps faltered, her heart skipping a beat. A sudden, blossoming warmth took root deep inside her chest...

...

Late that night.

The Starlight Media executive suite in Northampton was completely lit up.

Edmond Sterling sat at his desk, staring blankly ahead. The ashtray in front of him was a graveyard of cigarette butts.

The room was so thick with smoke it stung the eyes.

When Ferris Quinn pushed the door open, the stench of nicotine practically shoved him back, but he braced himself and stepped inside.

Edmond didn't reply, patting his desk to search blindly for his cigarettes.

The pack was empty.

Swearing softly, he crushed it and tossed it into the trash.

Ferris quickly pulled a fresh pack from his pocket and offered it.

Edmond took it, lit a cigarette, and took a deep, dragging hit. As the nicotine flooded his lungs, the crushing weight on his chest eased just a fraction.

Two years ago, Starlight Media had been a complete joke.

It was Nora who had relentlessly leveraged her connections to recruit top-tier talent, even poaching A-list celebrities.

Under her guidance, Starlight exploded, becoming a premier entertainment empire in under a year.

But ever since the accident that ruined her hearing, she rarely stepped foot in the building.

It had been so long that he had genuinely forgotten one simple truth: without her, Starlight Media would be nothing...

Watching the smoke curl into the air, Edmond felt a sudden, sickening wave of absurdity wash over him.

When exactly did he lose her?