Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 676

He didn't return to Fairchild Manor. Instead, he ordered his driver to head straight to the apartment where Evangeline was currently staying.

Standing under a streetlamp outside the building, he pulled out his phone and gave her a call.

A few minutes later, Macy walked out, bundled up tightly in a heavy puffer coat.

“Finnian... Why didn't you come upstairs to talk? It's freezing out here.”

Northampton's winters were brutally cold.

She had been perfectly warm and comfortable in her apartment with the floor heating on. The last thing she wanted was to stand in the freezing wind.

Finnian didn't respond to her complaint. He simply turned and opened the car door. “Get in. We'll talk inside.”

Macy pressed her lips together. Seeing his icy demeanor, she knew instantly that he had found out about her agreeing to marry Jude.

Was he here to interrogate her?

As her anxiety spiked, Finnian reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a lollipop. He handed it to her. “Here. Orange-flavored. Your favorite when you were a kid.”

“Thank you, Finnian...”

Macy quickly pasted on a delighted smile and took it from him.

Finnian watched her with a raised brow. “Aren't you going to eat it?”

Macy's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. She obediently unwrapped the candy, brought it to her lips, and took a delicate lick.

The overpowering, artificial citrus flavor exploded on her tongue. It was absolutely disgusting!

After one taste, she wanted nothing more than to throw it out the window.

But Finnian had just said this was Evangeline's favorite childhood candy.

If she showed even the slightest hint of distaste, he would immediately suspect her identity...

With that terrifying thought in mind, Macy forced herself to take a few more licks.

Once the sickly-sweet artificial flavor thoroughly coated her mouth, she pulled it away, pretending to be reluctant. “Mmm, it's so good. Just like I remember. But... I've been watching my sugar intake lately to stay in shape, so I can't eat too much...”

Finnian's gaze lingered on the lollipop in her hand before he reached out to take it. “I'll hold it for you. You don't want your hands getting sticky if it melts.”

“Thank you.” Macy smiled, her expression radiating eager compliance.

“Do you... like Jude?”

The moment the question dropped, Macy's heart did a nervous flip. She knew the real reason for his late-night visit had arrived.

Finnian stared directly into her eyes. “Evangeline, have you really thought this through? Do you actually want to marry him?”

Macy shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze, but she forced a shy, wavering smile. “I know you're still upset that I don't want to return to the Fairchild family. But I'm an adult now. I really don't need my family hovering over me. Jude is different...”

She lowered her head, playing the part of a bashful girl in love. “To be honest, I fell for him the first time I saw him. So, even if you think I'm being selfish... I still want to marry him.”

Finnian lowered his eyes. He didn't press the issue any further. He simply gave a curt nod. “Alright. I understand.”

Macy couldn't read his expression at all. When he remained silent for a long moment, she nervously moistened her lips. “Um... if there's nothing else, I'm going to head back upstairs...”

“Go ahead.”

And every single time, he watched that hope shatter in front of his eyes.

Time after time, he chased shadows. Time after time, he was met with crushing disappointment.

Yet, whenever a new lead appeared, his pulse would still race. He couldn't help but ask himself—what if?

What if this time it was real?

What if he gave up, and that one-in-a-million chance turned out to be his sister?

He had long since grown accustomed to disappointment. He was practically numb to it.

But this time was different.

If this woman wasn't Evangeline...

Where did she get the DNA sample to pass the initial test?

She had to know where the real Evangeline was...

Unable to sit still any longer, Finnian shot up and began pacing the living room floor.

The house was dead silent. The only sound was the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock, each second striking his chest like a hammer.

He had never felt time drag so agonizingly slowly.

Finally, just as the clock's hour hand ticked past 1 AM, his phone vibrated.

Finnian swiped to answer before it could even finish the first ring. “Hello? What is it? What are the results?”