Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 175

Edmond had seen this face many times before.

But this was the first time they were face-to-face.

Hudson was younger and far more dangerous than he had imagined.

Those dark eyes were like bottomless, ancient pools, utterly devoid of emotion.

In just those few seconds of eye contact, a chill ran down Edmond's spine.

He was someone who commanded absolute authority back in Northampton, but in front of Hudson, he inexplicably felt inferior.

Hudson didn't even have to do anything to make a person feel like nothing more than an ant.

Edmond took a deep breath, forcing himself to steady his nerves, and spoke first. "Mr. Lancaster, I want to talk to you."

Hudson pushed the car door open and stepped out. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, placed it between his lips, and tilted his head to light it. The swirling smoke blurred his sharp profile.

"What is it, Mr. Sterling?"

Edmond frowned slightly. "You know who I am?"

Hudson blew out a ring of smoke, simply looking at him.

His gaze was cold and indifferent, carrying a careless sense of scrutiny.

Edmond felt completely unsettled under his stare. He pressed his lips together and decided to get straight to the point.

"Mr. Lancaster, I'm here today to talk to you about Nora Reed."

"You might not know Nora. She's the Jade Reed you have by your side. She took her sister's place..."

Hudson didn't respond. He just stared at him, the cigarette between his fingers burning halfway down, the pale ash clinging precariously.

Thinking he hadn't understood, Edmond added more context.

"The Jade Reed you think you have isn't Jade at all. It's her younger sister, Nora. She was forced by her family into this marriage. She never wanted to marry you in the first place... As long as you let her go, name your price."

"She was by your side for two years. You know exactly how much she did for you. But how did you treat her? When she lost her hearing for a year, how many doctors did you find for her? How many times did you go with her to rehab? Where were you when she was in the hospital?"

Hudson stepped up to him, towering half a head over him. His shadow fell over Edmond, entirely engulfing him.

"You have no idea how many tears she shed for you. You have no idea how much she suffered because of you."

"All you knew was that she loved you, so you expected her to just wait for you."

"All you knew was that she couldn't leave you, so you hurt her without a second thought."

A faint, dark smirk touched Hudson's lips, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Edmond, are you even worthy of her?"

Edmond's lips trembled. "How... how do you know all this?"

Hudson's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a glacial chill. "She is my woman now. If you ever dare to harass her again, don't blame me for showing no mercy."