Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 513

"Me what?"

Douglas cut him off, tilting his chin up defiantly. "You couldn't even protect the people closest to you, and you stand here bragging to me about having a perfect family?"

The hallway was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Henry's face cycled through shades of sickly pale and furious red, the veins throbbing at his temples.

Douglas didn't spare him another glance, turning on his heel and striding toward the exit.

Jude quickly followed. "Professor, let me walk you out."

Douglas waved him off without breaking stride. "I can get back to the hotel myself. You young people have fun."

At the entrance, he paused and shot Jude a sideways glance. "You're getting up there in age and still single. People are going to start blaming me for not teaching you properly."

Jude was speechless.

He stood there, watching Douglas's figure disappear into the night, letting out a helpless sigh.

By the time he returned to the group, Henry had already left, leaving only the younger generation in the lobby.

Everyone appeared composed, seemingly unfazed by the intense verbal crossfire they'd just witnessed—except for Liana, who was biting her lip, her eyes rimmed red as if she'd suffered a grave injustice.

"Finnian, does Mr. Campbell hate me?"

Finnian couldn't be bothered to coax her, replying flatly, "He wasn't targeting you. Don't overthink it."

Liana pouted, pivoting to latch onto Jude's arm with a deeply aggrieved expression. "Jude, why is your professor so mean... I didn't even do anything to him..."

Jude pulled his arm away expressionlessly. Without thinking, he cast a glance at Nora. When he realized what his subconscious had just done, his heart skipped a beat...

Why was he looking at her?

Was he afraid she might misunderstand his relationship with Liana?

What the hell was he thinking?

"My professor was targeting your status as the Fairchild ward, not you personally. Besides, what did he even say about you that was so terrible?" Jude's face darkened, his words carrying a biting edge.

Liana stared at Jude in disbelief, completely caught off guard by his sudden burst of anger.

And in front of everyone, no less—giving her no dignity whatsoever.

In the past, if she just acted a little wronged and complained, Jude would always comfort her. Why was he being so hostile now...

"Jude, I didn't mean to imply your professor was bad..."

Before Liana could finish, Jude was already walking over to Finnian.

"I heard the Fairchild tech stocks have been surging lately, hitting the daily limit every single day. Seems like that partnership with the Vaughn family is paying off..."

Finnian's lips curved into a smirk. "What? Your professor finished his passive-aggressive tirade, and now it's your turn?"

Jude laughed, the gloomy aura around him dissipating as he returned to his usual polite demeanor.

Hearing this, Jude also looked at Hudson, his face full of curiosity.

Hudson chuckled, sweeping his gaze over the two men. "Stop poking into my wife's business."

"..."

Finnian couldn't help but shake his head with a laugh, taking no offense and dropping the subject.

But the smile on Jude's face stiffened. He met Hudson's piercing gaze, and a silent, intense friction sparked between them. In the end, it was Jude who looked away first.

This guy!

He was so possessive he'd probably get jealous of a passing dog!

Jude admitted to himself that he had a slight fondness for Nora, but it ended there.

No matter how flawed Jude was, he would never stoop so low as to steal another man's wife!

Since when was Hudson such a furiously jealous romantic?

...

Meanwhile, inside the hotel restroom.

Liana was touching up her makeup at the sink, cursing that old geezer Douglas violently in her head!

What an arrogant old fossil! She had politely greeted him, and he had the nerve to insult her with his passive-aggressive venom?