Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 697

Nora had simply stepped out to use the restroom, but she immediately spotted Liana lingering by the staircase. With a cold glance, Nora completely ignored her and headed down the hall.

Liana hadn't expected to be dismissed so casually. Her face darkened with venom. As soon as Nora emerged from the powder room, Liana stepped directly into her path, blocking her way.

"What are you doing here?" Liana demanded.

Nora had zero interest in entertaining her. She attempted to step around the girl, but Liana, unaccustomed to being ignored in her own domain, violently grabbed Nora's sleeve.

"I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?"

Nora's brow furrowed. She looked down at the hand clutching her clothes, her voice dropping to a glacial chill. "Let go."

Liana let out a haughty scoff. "And if I don't? What are you going to do about it? This is the Fairchild estate. This is my home. What, are you going to hit me?"

It was a calculated provocation. If Nora dared to lay a hand on her, Liana knew her doting grandmother and father would immediately brand the newcomer as an unhinged, violent guest.

"Your home?" Nora let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Aren't you just the charity case they took in? What, did the knockoff play princess for so long that she actually thinks she wears the crown?"

Liana's face flushed a violent, ugly red, as if she had just been slapped across the face. She had lived in the lap of luxury for over twenty years, treated like royalty by everyone in Northampton. No one had ever dared utter the word 'adopted' in her presence, let alone call her a knockoff!

"You..." Liana trembled with absolute rage, her rational thoughts incinerated by the insult. Without thinking, she raised her hand, ready to strike Nora across the cheek.

"What do you think you are doing!"

A voice cracked through the hallway like a whip. Liana's hand froze mid-air. She turned slowly, her blood running cold. Matriarch Fairchild stood in the doorway, her face thunderous, her sharp gaze locked onto Liana's suspended hand as if she wanted to sever it from her wrist.

"Grandmother..." Liana stammered, frantically retracting her arm.

The Matriarch ignored her completely. She rushed to Nora's side, her eyes scanning her frantically to ensure she hadn't been harmed. Only when she was satisfied did she turn her terrifying glare back to Liana.

As Hudson and Nora walked out, Liana stood in the hallway, dripping with anxious sweat as she tried to formulate her next lie.

"Liana, what the hell is wrong with you?" Finnian demanded furiously. "Why do you constantly target Nora?"

Liana burst into a fresh wave of theatrical tears. "I didn't! She just hates me! She insulted me..." She covered her face, sobbing loudly. "I know I'm just the adopted daughter, not a real heiress. I just wanted to know why she was here, and she completely degraded me!"

Henry let out a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Enough, Finnian. Stop yelling at your sister. You're terrifying her."

"Dad?" Finnian stared at him in disbelief.

"That's enough," Henry dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "Go arrange a formal meeting with Hudson. I need to speak with him."

Furious but powerless, Finnian gritted his teeth. "Yes, sir."