Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 299

It was a night of wonderful dreams.

Nora slept deeply, naturally waking up as the morning sun filtered through the curtains. Groggy and relaxed, she reached for her phone on the nightstand. The screen lit up instantly, displaying a fresh text from Hudson.

[One day left until I see you.]

A soft smile touched Nora's lips. Pressing the phone to her chest, she rolled around in her luxurious blankets before finally kicking them off and getting out of bed.

Her phone buzzed again. Another text from him.

[Did you sleep well last night?]

Still smiling, Nora began typing out a reply when her screen abruptly switched to an incoming call. It was Chloe Caldwell.

She swiped to answer, pinning the phone between her ear and shoulder as she walked into the bathroom. "Hello?"

"Nora! Are you out of bed yet? We're supposed to go shopping today! Don't tell me you forgot!"

Nora froze mid-step.

It all came flooding back.

On Friday evening, Chloe had relentlessly begged her to hit the mall this weekend. But with her mind entirely consumed by Hudson's impending return, she had completely wiped the plans from her memory.

"I didn't forget! I'm heading out right now. Where are you?"

"Hurry up! I'm at The Times Plaza in the Financial District. I'll wait by the entrance!"

"Got it."

Ending the call, Nora rushed through her morning routine and threw on a casual outfit.

When she hurried downstairs, Olive—who had just been released from The Cooler—was in the middle of a card game with Arthur. Hearing Nora's footsteps, Olive immediately shot to her feet.

"Madam, where are you off to?"

"The Times Plaza. Financial District."

"Shopping? Take Artie!" Olive immediately pointed a dramatic finger at the man across the table.

Arthur: "..."

"Shut your mouth and go with her!" Arthur said with a deadpan glare, swatting her pointing hand away.

Olive dramatically pouted. "I hate shopping."

The two women started on the ground floor, systematically working their way through the boutiques.

Chloe tried on a dozen outfits, eventually purchasing a floral summer dress and a fresh pair of white sneakers.

Nora, however, hadn't bought a single thing, looking entirely indifferent to the luxury goods surrounding her.

Chloe finally couldn't take it anymore. "Nora, why aren't you buying anything? Look how gorgeous this top is! Just try it on."

Nora shook her head with an amused smile and kept walking.

Chloe hurried to keep pace. "Are you stressed out about something?"

"No."

"Then why do you keep checking your phone?"

Nora instinctively shoved her phone into her back pocket. "I'm not."

Catching her guilty expression, Chloe leaned in close with a wicked smirk, dropping her voice to a whisper. "You're missing your husband, aren't you? Didn't you say he was out of the country on business?"

Nora's ears flushed a delicate pink. "He's flying back tomorrow afternoon..."