Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 251

"Which girl?"

Beatrice glared at him. "Cut the crap."

Hudson raised an eyebrow lazily. "What do you think?"

Choked by his nonchalant deflection, Beatrice fell silent for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh.

"I can tell you're serious about her."

"Then why ask?"

Beatrice scowled, frustrated by his attitude.

"Because I worry about you! Do you even know her background? Her mother used to be the Reeds' nanny, and her father is a convicted rapist rotting in prison. How is someone like that fit to marry into the Lancaster family?"

"If she isn't fit, then who is?"

Hudson crushed the cigarette and tossed it into the trash can. "Jade Reed?"

Beatrice stiffened, her expression turning sour.

"Jade may not be much of a prize, but at least she is the legitimate daughter of the Reed family. Her Astrological Compatibility is the perfect match for yours. She brings luck; she wards off disaster."

"What is Nora? We don't even know if her birth chart aligns with yours. What if she's cursed?"

Leaning back in his chair, Hudson looked at Beatrice, a slow, dark smirk curving his lips.

"You actually believe that garbage?"

Feeling exposed under his piercing gaze, Beatrice looked away.

"Better safe than sorry."

"Fine."

Hudson stood up, casually adjusting his cuffs. "Then let me tell you this. Jade's birth chart is toxic. The so-called perfect match you found? That data actually belonged to Nora."

"Impossible. The psychic specifically said the eldest Reed daughter..."

"I hired the psychic."

She had assumed Hudson was kept in the dark, or at most, playing along without bothering to check Nora's background.

But hearing him lay out the truth—that the entire substitute marriage was his master plan from day one—changed everything.

What was she going to do about Jade?

She had just promised the girl she could swap back.

Beatrice, who had faked her illness to get them here, pressed her fingers hard into her forehead. Now she actually had a splitting headache.

Of course. With Hudson's terrifying intellect, how could he ever let himself be played?

She had let her worry blind her.

"What's wrong? Headache? Let me rub it for you..." Hudson rolled up his sleeves, leaning in.

Beatrice slapped his hand away. "You can't keep using Jade's identity forever. Find a day to finalize the divorce and get a new certificate with the right name."

"Not yet. The time isn't right..." Hudson chuckled, leaning against the bed and massaging her temples anyway, his voice dropping to a somber pitch. "Give me a year. If I survive until then, you won't even need to ask. I'll do it."