Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 572

Hudson gazed into her wide, astonished eyes, a faint, tender smile curving his lips. He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingertips lingered on her skin as his voice dropped to a soft, husky murmur. "You idiot. Because I've been in love with you for twelve years." At first, he hadn't realized that the feeling was love. He only knew that thinking of her made him happy, and that he wanted to see her every single day. It wasn't until he turned eighteen and saw some guy publicly handing her a love letter that he finally understood. Even though she rejected the boy, Hudson still couldn't hold back—he had his men beat the kid to a pulp. He silently watched over his little moon, secretly hoping that one day, she would be his alone. Then Edmond Sterling appeared. She fell for Edmond, defying her family and following him all the way to Northampton. By that time, Hudson's illness had deeply ravaged his body. He hadn't expected to live much longer. He had convinced himself that if she was truly happy, he could accept it. But a tragic car accident shattered everything. The moment he heard she had lost her hearing, he wanted to fly to Northampton and tear Edmond apart piece by piece. His precious little moon—the girl he cherished so much he felt unworthy to even look at—had been deafened because of that bastard. Without a second thought, he dispatched Liam to Northampton. From there, he began carefully laying the trap for the substitute bride... all just to lure her back to San Francisco. He had reasoned that his days were numbered, so he allowed himself this one selfish indulgence. His will was already finalized. If he died, everything he owned would belong to her. It was his way of compensating her. Call it a bride price or a dowry. It was the only worthy thing he could offer to make the moon his own. ... Nora stood frozen, feeling as though the blood in her veins had completely stilled. Twelve years. Not two years. Not ten. A full twelve years. Tears welled up in Nora's eyes, blurring her vision. A suffocating wave of heartbreak and overwhelming love consumed her. She wanted to hold him. She needed to hold him right this second. For twelve years, she hadn't cast a single glance his way. She hadn't even known he existed. How did he survive the agonizing wait? Just how deeply did he love her to go to such extreme lengths? Seeing her devastating expression, Hudson's heart ached. He pulled her into a tight embrace. Was a twelve-year secret love too heavy a burden for her? He hadn't originally planned to tell her everything. But after his only hope for a cure had been brutally destroyed today, he felt a desperate need to prove his devotion. He gently stroked her hair. "Hey, twelve years really isn't that long. I've always been right by your side, quietly watching over you, so I was never truly lonely." Nora couldn't hold back her tears any longer. They cascaded down her cheeks like broken pearls, soaking into his dress shirt and leaving dark, damp patches over his chest. "You absolute idiot... Who loves someone for twelve years without ever confessing?" Hudson let out a low chuckle. He rested his hand against her back, gently soothing her. "I was afraid of scaring you away." "Weren't you afraid someone else would steal me?" "I was terrified," he murmured, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice strained with emotion. "But in the end, I managed to trick you into coming back to me, didn't I?" Laughing through her tears, Nora weakly punched his chest. "You actually sound proud of that?" Hudson caught her hand, holding it securely in his palm, and pressed a tender kiss to her fingertips. "My Lady is right to hit me. I won't do it again. Next time I fall for a girl, I'll confess immediately." Nora glared at him. "Hudson Lancaster!" Hudson laughed softly, pulling her even tighter against his chest. But beneath his playful facade, a deep, inescapable sorrow lingered in his eyes. Whatever. He would allow himself to be selfish for just one more day. ... Meanwhile, back at the Whitman estate. The main hall was thick with the scent of burning floral tributes, the black ribbons hanging heavy in the gloomy air. Cade couldn't stand the suffocating atmosphere for more than half an hour. Using a flimsy excuse, he slipped out, navigating the corridors until he reached the rear drawing room. It was significantly warmer here. The heating was cranked up high, blasting him with a wave of hot air the moment he stepped inside. A man sat elegantly in a mahogany chair, leisurely sipping a cup of coffee. He wore a dark gray overcoat with a fine black cashmere collar, which only accentuated his dangerously pale and striking features. His face possessed an almost androgynous, lethal beauty. Cade's eyes lit up the moment he saw him. Closing the distance in three long strides, he pulled a generic plastic pill bottle from his pocket and slammed it onto the table. "I got what you wanted." The man set his cup down. His gaze lingered on the plastic container for a moment before he picked it up and twisted off the cap. A faint, unique medicinal fragrance wafted out. He took a subtle sniff, and a slow, satisfied smile curved his lips. "You kept your word, Mr. Whitman." He pocketed the bottle and retrieved a sleek set of car keys from his coat, sliding them across the table toward Cade. "Here is the car I promised you." Cade's eyes gleamed with absolute greed. He snatched the keys, turning them over in his hands, grinning from ear to ear. A global limited edition. Only ten existed in the entire world. He had wanted one for ages, but no amount of money could buy it. He never imagined it would be this easy.