Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 372

Sitting up in bed, Penelope stiffened instinctively. She clearly hadn't expected Hudson to show up.

"Mom, are you okay?" Nora asked, stepping forward.

"It's just a minor scratch, nothing serious," Penelope replied with a forced, rigid smile. "I told you to just come by yourself. Why did you have to drag Hudson all the way out here? You really lack manners..."

Hudson's voice was utterly flat. "It wasn't a bother. I was picking Nora up from work anyway, so we came together."

Penelope nodded hastily, offering an eager, almost terrified smile.

For a moment, no one spoke. The air in the hospital room felt suffocatingly thin.

Marcus had planned to have a serious sit-down with Nora once she arrived.

But with Hudson standing right there...

He couldn't form a single word.

Penelope was even more useless.

Just moments ago, she had confidently promised him that Nora was soft-hearted and would listen to whatever she commanded.

But now, with Hudson's imposing presence, she didn't even dare to look up, shrinking back like a frightened quail.

Marcus sighed inwardly, realizing Penelope was a lost cause.

He would have to handle this himself.

After all, Hudson's stance was what truly mattered. Right now, the man was holding onto Nora while legally married to Jade. Marcus only had two daughters, and he wasn't about to let Hudson monopolize both of them.

Clearing his throat, Marcus carefully rehearsed his words in his head. Just as he was about to speak, a knock interrupted the tense silence.

"Room one, time for a dressing change."

A nurse wheeled a medical cart into the room, stocked with iodine, gauze, tape, and a stack of cotton swabs.

When Nora remained silent, Penelope's frown deepened. "Right now, you're nothing but an illegitimate homewrecker. If you know what's good for you, step aside and give Jade her rightful place. If you do that, your dad will appreciate it and make sure you're well compensated."

Nora had thought hearing these words would break her heart, but to her surprise, she felt absolutely nothing. She just sat there, staring blankly at Penelope.

Penelope shifted uncomfortably under her intense gaze. "Why are you staring at me like that? Did you hear a word I just said?"

"I heard you."

Nora stood up slowly. "Mom, this is the last time I'm ever going to call you that..."

Penelope's face drained of color.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm cutting ties with you."