Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 207

Jade froze in her tracks, unshed tears still clinging to her lashes.

She openly scrutinized the man in front of her.

His features were an exact match for Archer—the same striking brow, the same straight nose, even the sharp line of his jaw was identical.

But the vibe was entirely different.

Archer was warm and radiant.

The man glaring at her was practically carved from ice, emanating a suffocating hostility that warned everyone to back off.

His eyes were pitch-black and utterly devoid of warmth. He looked at her not as a person, but as an inanimate obstacle.

Jade took a half-step back, her flushed excitement morphing into deep humiliation. "I'm sorry... I mistook you for someone else."

Arthur didn't utter a single word. He just turned and got into his car.

Rooted to the spot, Jade watched the sleek black Maybach vanish up the exit ramp, her brow furrowed tight.

How could two people look so terrifyingly similar?

If Archer hadn't sworn to her that he was an only child, she would have bet money they were long-lost twins.

Jade stood there for a few more seconds before pivoting back toward the elevators.

She made it two steps, paused, and cast one last glance at the exit.

She shook her head, forcing herself to drop it.

Whatever.

She needed to get back upstairs and check on Xavier.

Even though she had never cared much for her half-brother, she still had to keep up appearances in a crisis like this.

...

Meanwhile, at Lancaster Hall.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a dark suit strode swiftly down the corridor. He approached Lawrence and leaned in, preparing to whisper in his ear.

Lawrence raised a hand to stop him. "Speak openly. There are no secrets between me and my mother."

The aide hesitated, instinctively glancing at Beatrice before quickly dropping his gaze.

Beatrice's hand paused on her teacup. She shot Lawrence a piercing look but remained silent.

The aide licked his lips and spoke in a hushed tone. "Sir, we just received word. Hudson's brother-in-law, Xavier Reed, was brutally assaulted at school. He's currently in emergency surgery, and his condition is critical..."

Beatrice's brow creased instantly.

Lawrence's expression didn't flinch. He maintained his perfectly benign facade, though his grip on the teacup tightened marginally.

"Is that so? How did this happen? He was perfectly fine just yesterday."

The aide shook his head. "We're still gathering the details. All we know is he got into an altercation with some classmates. He took a heavy blow to the back of the head and was unconscious by the time the ambulance arrived. He's still in the OR."