Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 440

Time dragged on. At first, Nora was wired with excitement, her mind replaying all the shocked, delighted expressions Hudson might make when he saw her. But as the minutes ticked by, her eyelids grew incredibly heavy.

It had been an exhausting day—dealing with the police, catching a flight, not to mention it was well past her usual bedtime.

She checked her phone. It was almost eleven o'clock. Hudson still wasn't back.

She wanted to call and ask when he'd return, but she didn't want to ruin the surprise. What if he was already on his way?

Instead, Nora texted Arthur.

[Arthur, if Hudson comes back to the hotel, let me know immediately.]

[Will do.]

Satisfied with his reply, she rolled over happily, clutching the duvet as she continued to wait.

A little while later, her eyelids began to droop. Her head bobbed, nearly hitting the pillow before she jerked awake, forcing her eyes open.

No, she couldn't sleep. She had to wait for him.

But the exhaustion crashed over her in relentless waves. She lifted her head from the pillow for what felt like the hundredth time, her vision blurring as her eyelids turned to lead.

Just five more minutes. Five minutes...

Her head hit the pillow again. This time, she didn't lift it.

...

At midnight, a sleek black sedan glided to a stop outside the five-star hotel in Northampton.

Hudson took a deep breath, slipping the phone back into his pocket as his Adam's apple bobbed.

Behind him, Arthur pressed his lips into a tight line, glancing at his own screen. He had sent Nora multiple messages, but hadn't received a single reply.

She had to be asleep.

Arthur found himself in a difficult position. He wasn't sure if he should tell his boss that his wife was in Northampton. But if he did, it would completely ruin the surprise she had worked so hard to set up.

While he debated his next move, the elevator doors chimed open.

Hudson and Arthur stepped out into the quiet, dimly lit sixth-floor hallway. Arthur followed three paces behind. Out of habit, he glanced at the room next to Hudson's, but the door remained firmly shut with zero signs of life inside.

What should he do? Should he speak up or stay quiet?