Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 72

"Can't you just beg Hudson, for my sake?"

Nora took a deep breath. "Mom, I already told you last time. Taking Jade's place at the altar was the absolute last time I'd help. From now on, my debt to this family is paid in full..."

"Nora, I'm begging you." Penelope's voice broke with a sob. "Just this one last time. Help your father, help the family. Please?"

Nora's fingers curled into fists.

Seeing her silence, Penelope's expression gradually shifted.

"If it hadn't been for you, I never would have left my hometown and fled thousands of miles to San Francisco..."

She pressed her lips together. "According to my calculations, that man will be getting out in a year."

Nora's body went completely rigid.

"If he gets out and tracks us down..."

"Nora, do you know what that means? If anyone finds out about our past, do you think Marcus will still tolerate me? The old Mrs. Reed would throw me out on the street in a heartbeat..."

"Mom..." Nora's voice was tight.

"I don't want to force you." Penelope clutched her hand, tears welling in her eyes. "But I really have no other choice. If Marcus goes down, the family goes down, and I won't be able to stay here. You don't want that man finding us either, do you?"

Nora felt an invisible fist clench tightly around her chest.

Her heart rate skyrocketed, her breathing turned shallow, and a cold sweat broke out across her back.

Here it came again.

That suffocating sensation, like she was drowning.

Just hearing a mention of that man was enough to trigger a severe panic attack, hitting her fast and hard.

She closed her eyes, digging her nails into her palms, desperately trying to use the sting to ground herself against the overwhelming wave of terror.

"Nora?"

Penelope finally noticed something was wrong. "What's the matter? You look pale."

Nora took a shuddering breath, forcing her voice steady. "It's nothing... just low blood sugar. I'm a little dizzy."

Nora opened her eyes.

Xavier was standing at the top of the stairs in his loungewear, sporting terrible bedhead, clearly having just woken up.

He paused when he saw her face, then quickly jogged down the steps.

"What's wrong with you? You look awful."

Nora forced a faint smile. "I'm fine. Just a blood sugar drop. It'll pass."

Xavier gave her a skeptical look but didn't press the issue.

He flopped onto the sofa, stayed quiet for a moment, and then blurted out, "I know everything."

Nora was still trying to get her emotions under control, so she answered absently, "Know what?"

"About the wedding."

Xavier looked up, his teenage eyes burning with indignation. "How could Mom and Dad do that? Make you marry a dying man just to bring him good luck?"