Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 334

Penelope looked as if Nora's words had physically struck her. She clutched her chest, gasping as though she couldn't catch her breath. "How could you think of me like that? Are you trying to kill me with this attitude?"

"Are you even my biological mother?"

Nora's eyes reddened slightly, but she refused to let any tears fall.

"Of course I am!"

Penelope grew frantic. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting? I'm doing this for your own good! Mrs. Lancaster Sr. wanted Jade from the very beginning. What's the point of clinging to a position that isn't yours? You're going to get kicked out sooner or later!"

"It's better to secure an exit strategy now than to be thrown out later. That way, everyone saves face..."

"Are you done?"

Penelope's temper flared. "What kind of attitude is that? Did you hear a single word I just said?"

"I heard you," Nora replied, her voice eerily calm. "But I'm not switching places with Jade."

"You—"

"Mom, I have feelings for Hudson."

Penelope froze, her brows knitting together. "Nora, you..."

"I like Hudson," Nora repeated.

Perhaps because she had finally voiced the secret buried deep in her heart, she felt a sudden, profound sense of relief. "Not because his last name is Lancaster, and certainly not because of his family's wealth. Just because he is who he is."

"He's the first person who has ever truly cared about me and put my needs first."

"He showed me what it feels like to be cherished."

Nora looked at Penelope, her almond eyes devoid of anger or resentment—only a near-icy calmness remained.

"Mom, you probably don't know this, but I've always desperately craved love. Just a tiny fraction of kindness is enough to make me give everything I have, even if it burns me in the end..."

"I finally found someone I love this much, and I refuse to let him go."

Thinking of this, Nora took a deep breath. "Mom, consider this me begging you to drop it, alright?"

"Nora, no, it's Mom begging you..."

Penelope looked frantic. "Do you know how hard it's been for me lately? Your people beat Jade up so badly, and Marcus hasn't spoken to me in days. He thinks I failed to raise you right, which is why you're acting like this."

"If I can't fix this, I won't survive in the Reed family."

She gripped Nora's hands tightly, clinging to her like a lifeline.

"Just consider it as a favor to your mother, please? If that's not enough..."

She paused, her voice dropping into a tone of desperate finality.

"I'll collapse to the floor and grovel at your feet."

With that, her legs gave way, fully prepared to collapse in a desperate display of submission.