Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 204

Ending the call, she spun around and sprinted for the door. She made it two steps before realizing she was still in her house slippers. She scrambled back to change into her sneakers, her hands trembling so badly that she fumbled the laces twice.

"What's wrong?"

A deep, familiar voice demanded from behind her.

Nora looked up. Hudson was taking the stairs two at a time, his collar undone and jacket discarded, having clearly rushed down at the commotion.

Liam was right on his heels, his expression equally grim.

Nora's voice broke, her eyes brimming with frantic tears. "Xavier... Xavier is getting jumped at school. The phone was still connected—they were beating him. I already called the cops..."

Hudson crouched down and swiftly tied her laces for her. Then he took her icy, trembling fingers in his warm, steady grip.

"Let's go. I'm coming with you."

...

By the time their car skidded to a halt outside St. Paul's Preparatory, the ambulance was already there.

Xavier lay on the gurney, his face bruised and battered. His uniform was entirely soaked in blood, the navy fabric stained a horrific dark purple. His eyes were bruised shut, and his lips were deathly pale.

EMTs were pressing heavy gauze to the back of his head. The bandages were quickly saturated, crimson seeping through their gloved fingers and dripping onto the crisp white sheets, blossoming into terrifying red stains.

Nora's knees buckled.

Hudson's strong arm caught her instantly, anchoring her waist and pulling her securely against his chest.

"Xavi! Xavi..."

The figure on the gurney lay completely still, alarmingly pale.

The ambulance doors slammed shut. The sirens blared to life, casting strobing arcs of red and blue light across the frantic scene.

Hudson practically lifted Nora into their SUV, telling the driver to tail the ambulance straight to the hospital.

Due to the severe trauma to the back of his head, Xavier was rushed straight into the operating room.

Nora sat rigid on the corridor bench, her icy hands clasped tightly in her lap.

Was that Hudson Lancaster?

Jade's feet glued themselves to the floor, her gaze lingering on his striking face.

His features were flawlessly carved, his jawline utterly ruthless. He looked composed yet predatory, possessing a gravitational pull that commanded absolute submission.

Jade let out a quiet scoff.

He was ridiculously handsome, sure.

What a waste.

Being hot didn't matter when you were a terminal invalid who would be dead in a few months anyway.

She was just about to look away when she caught a glimpse of a maddeningly familiar figure down the hall. Her eyes widened in shock...

Archer?