Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 689

The words made Nora's breath catch in her throat.

Evie?

Wasn't that the name of the Fairchild Family's missing daughter?

Why was he calling her Evie?

Did he mistake her for someone else?

But that red cord...

While Nora stood there in shock and confusion, Finnian was too overwhelmed to explain properly. Abandoning all dignity and restraint, he untied the red cord from his wrist and held it out to her. "Do you remember this?"

Nora's eyes fell on the faded red string.

The knot was uniquely woven, and the gold bead at the end was worn smooth and shiny from years of friction, glowing with a soft luster.

She instinctively took it from his hand, her fingertips brushing against the gold bead.

This was the very bracelet she had pawned when she and Penelope Reed first arrived in San Francisco, desperate for money.

It was because of this bracelet that they had survived their toughest early days in the city, eventually allowing Penelope to climb the social ladder and replace the original lady of the Reed family.

"Yes, I remember. I took this to the pawnshop..."

Finnian's eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Mom tied this around your ankle the day you were born... She created this weaving pattern herself. No one else knows how to make it."

Fearing she wouldn't believe him, he quickly pulled out his phone, opened a photo, and handed it to her. "This was taken on your second birthday. Look at the red cord on your ankle. Isn't it exactly the same as the one in your hand?"

Nora stared at the screen, completely stunned.

It really was identical.

But...

Just then, Hudson, who had been silently watching, spoke up. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's head back to the villa."

Finnian finally snapped out of his daze, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, and nodded repeatedly.

The group walked across the sand and along the wooden boardwalk back to the villa.

Arthur poured hot tea for them before stepping outside to stand guard.

As soon as he sat down, Finnian looked at Nora with an impatient yet incredibly fragile expression. "Could I... could I ask for a strand of your hair? I want to run a DNA Paternity Test..."

Nora hesitated for a second before nodding.

She pulled a few damp strands from the ends of her hair and placed them into the sealed bag Finnian handed her.

Finnian carefully sealed the bag and tucked it securely into his breast pocket.

"Then I won't bother you any longer. Once I get the DNA Paternity Test results, I will contact you immediately..."

Before he could finish, Hudson interrupted with a flat, cold tone. "Don't be in such a rush to leave. Leave your sample, too."

He ripped open the car door and slid into the seat.

"To the nearest DNA testing center."

"Right away, Mr. Fairchild."

Jude got in the passenger side. As soon as he buckled his seatbelt, the car shot forward, merging onto the main road and speeding toward the island's town.

The scenery outside blurred, the shadows of palm trees stretching into dark streaks.

The car was silent, filled only with the faint hum of the AC and the sound of tires rolling over the asphalt.

"Finnian?"

Finnian instinctively turned to look at Jude.

"If..." Jude pressed his lips together. "If Nora really is Evangeline, does our engagement... still count?"

Hearing those words, Finnian's grip on the sealed bag tightened imperceptibly.

He had completely forgotten about Jude's hidden, unspeakable feelings for Nora...

But...

It was impossible before, and even with a childhood engagement tying them together, it was completely impossible now.

Nora was already Hudson's wife.