Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 679

Liana lounged on the chaise in her living room, one arm lazily draped over the armrest while her nail technician carefully applied the final topcoat.

The heating was turned up high, allowing her to lounge comfortably in a blush-pink silk robe. Her long hair was loosely pinned back, exposing her slender, pale neck.

“This color is gorgeous,” she murmured, narrowing her eyes to admire the dusty pink polish on her fingertips. Her lips curved upward; she was in such a good mood she felt like humming.

That idiot Macy actually thought she could transform into a swan?

A cheap Imposter had the nerve to go after Jude Winslow. She clearly didn't know her place.

Liana had originally planned to wait until the heat died down, find a random excuse to ship Macy overseas, and make sure she never returned to Northampton. That would have permanently severed the Fairchild family's hopes of ever finding their lost daughter.

But Macy practically begged for a death sentence, so she couldn't be blamed for being ruthless.

The mere thought of Macy being sold off to some godforsaken backwater village filled her with absolute glee.

As she continued to revel in her victory, the doorbell suddenly chimed.

A maid hurried over to open it. Peeking through the crack, her voice instantly shifted to a respectful tone. “Mr. Fairchild.”

Liana's heart gave a violent lurch. She subconsciously sat up straighter, pulling the collar of her robe tighter together. Plastering a sweet, innocent smile onto her face, she called out, “Finnian? What brings you over today?”

Finnian strode in, the hem of his heavy coat bringing in a blast of freezing winter air. He was dressed more casually than usual, wearing a button-down shirt without a tie, the top button undone. Even so, his broad shoulders and commanding presence remained as sharp as ever. His dark eyes locked onto her face.

“Did you call Evangeline yesterday?”

Liana's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't let a fraction of her panic show. She nodded easily. “Yes, I did. I thought it would be nice to take her out shopping, grab some lunch. She's been back in Northampton for a while, and we haven't really spent any quality time together.”

She threw her hands up in an exaggerated sigh. “But she said she was busy, so I didn't push it.”

Finnian stared at her, his intense gaze tracking every micro-expression on her face. “Evangeline is missing.”

“What?” Liana's smile vanished. “Missing?!”

She shot up from the chaise. Because she moved so abruptly, the nail technician couldn't pull the brush away in time, leaving a faint streak across the fresh polish on her ring finger.

Liana glanced down at it, a brief scowl crossing her features, but she quickly looked back up, her face a mask of panicked concern. “What happened? How does someone just vanish? Was she kidnapped? Have they demanded a ransom?”

Finnian shook his head. “Not yet. I have people looking into it.”

He paused, his eyes resting on her face for a long, heavy second before shifting away. “If I find out who's behind this, I will tear them apart.”

Liana's breath caught. Her fingernails bit so hard into her palms that she felt a dull ache, but she forced an expression of desperate worry. “Finnian, you have to find her!”

Finnian nodded, saying nothing more, and turned toward the door.

Right before he stepped out, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. “Where's Lester Tate? I didn't see him on the way in.”

Once she was alone, Liana's frown deepened into a dark scowl.

This was bad!

She couldn't just sit here and wait. Finnian already knew she had called Macy. If he kept pulling that thread, it was only a matter of time before it led straight to Lester.

Lester worked exclusively for her. She couldn't hide that connection.

She had to do something before the truth blew up in her face.

Without a second thought, Liana snatched her phone from the table and dialed a number...

...

Meanwhile, outside the villa, Finnian pulled open the car door and slid into the passenger seat.

“Well?” Jude had been waiting in the car for him. “Did you get anything out of her?”

Finnian leaned his head against the headrest, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She claims she only called Macy to go shopping, and that Macy turned her down. That's all she gave me.”

Jude frowned. “Do you... still think she's involved?”

Finnian let out a cold laugh. “I think this whole thing was executed far too perfectly. If you look at all of Northampton, the people capable of making a living, breathing human being disappear without leaving a single trace can be counted on one hand... And out of that handful, only one has the motive.”