Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 701

Finnian's icy stare made Liana's skin crawl, but she had to maintain her facade of innocent joy. She forced her smile wider. "Is it really her? Thank God! After all these years, she's finally coming home!"

Finnian didn't even bother to hide his contempt, a mocking sneer flashing in his dark eyes. He hadn't forgotten that Liana was the one who orchestrated the imposter fiasco to sabotage their search for the real heiress.

He had to admit, Hudson's instincts were terrifying. Even without being deeply involved in the family politics, Hudson had perfectly predicted that Liana would find out about Nora before the official announcement. Hudson's ability to read people and manipulate outcomes was exactly why he ruled San Francisco with an iron fist.

Liana's heart hammered in her chest, but she maintained her perfect, supportive posture. As the adopted daughter, she had monopolized the family's affection for decades. If the true heiress returned, where did that leave her? She hadn't heard a single whisper of this. Even when Nora visited yesterday, no one had breathed a word about her true identity. Could this be another fake?

As Liana desperately tried to rationalize the situation, Xander leaned forward, his eyes bright with excitement. "What name has she been using all these years?"

Finnian arched an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint, knowing smile. "Her name is Nora Reed."

Nora Reed?!

The name hit Liana like a bucket of ice water. Her entire body locked up in sheer terror. It really was her? How was this possible? She had risked everything to bring in that knockoff specifically to derail the investigation!

"Miss Nora has arrived!" a maid announced from the grand entrance.

The entire banquet hall fell dead silent as dozens of eyes snapped toward the doorway.

Nora stepped into the hall wearing a breathtaking silk column gown in a soft, luminescent pearl shade, draped elegantly with a cashmere shawl. Her hair was pinned back with a simple jade hairpin, radiating a quiet, undeniable grace. Hudson walked by her side in a tailored charcoal suit, his imposing, predatory aura instantly dominating the room without him having to speak a single word.

Matriarch Fairchild was the first to react. She practically launched herself out of her chair, rushing forward so quickly her maids had to jog to keep her from falling.

Taking a deep breath to bury her venomous rage, Liana marched straight toward the center of the room. Her eyes welled with perfectly timed tears as she collapsed to the floor right in front of Nora, burying her face in her hands and sobbing hysterically.

"Nora, I am so, so sorry!" Liana wailed.

The entire hall went dead silent. Everyone stared at the weeping girl in utter shock.

"I was wrong..." Liana choked out, tears streaming down her face in a picture-perfect display of agony. "I shouldn't have targeted you with Scarlett Sawyer... I was just confused... I took my anger out on you because of Sienna Quigley, and I almost made a terrible mistake..."

She wept beautifully, her shoulders trembling like a fragile leaf in a storm. A few of the aunts exchanged uncomfortable glances. One moved to help her up, but Xander shot his arm out, blocking her path and shaking his head in a silent warning.

Nora looked down at the sobbing girl, her expression completely unreadable.