Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 778

He was barely thirty, towering and broad-shouldered. His sharply defined features carried the innate, arrogant coldness typical of old money elites. His predatory gaze made him look inherently intimidating, demanding respect without uttering a word.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes swept the grand hall, landing instantly on Liana huddled in the corner.

She was sitting with her head bowed, her shoulders slightly hunched, hands gripping the hem of her shirt. She looked like a perfectly obedient, suffering victim.

Jasper's brow instantly pulled into a fierce scowl.

"Grandmother." He greeted Matriarch Fairchild first, his tone technically polite, but the barely contained fury radiating from him was palpable.

The Matriarch's eyes lit up. "Jasper? When did you get back? Why didn't you call ahead?"

"Just got in. Wanted to surprise everyone." Having delivered his excuse, Jasper immediately locked eyes with Nora.

His gaze was a calculating, icy sweep, sizing her up from head to toe like she was a foreign object that had rudely intruded into his home. It wasn't overtly hostile, but the cold rigidity behind it made it clear he was looking for a fight.

"So this is Nora?" he asked, his voice deadpan.

The Matriarch nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes! This is your sister, Nora. Come on, you two should introduce yourselves."

Nora met his gaze, instantly reading the raw hostility and blatant rejection in his expression.

She was perceptive enough to piece it together immediately. Seeing his hyper-protective posture and the way he had immediately sought out Liana upon entering, she knew exactly what game was being played.

She didn't get angry, nor did she rush to defend herself. She simply met his stare with unflinching calm and offered a polite smile. "Hello, Jasper."

Jasper completely ignored her greeting. Offering a dismissive "Hmph," he turned on his heel and walked straight over to Liana. Reaching out, he ruffled the top of her hair, his voice instantly softening. "You've lost weight."

Liana looked up, her eyes rimmed with red. Playing the part of the long-suffering victim who had finally found her savior, she let a slight, nasal tremor bleed into her voice. "Jasper... you're back."

Seeing her like this pushed Jasper's anger past the boiling point. But restraining himself out of respect for the Matriarch, he simply patted Liana's shoulder. "Come on. Let's go get you something good to eat. You're so thin you're losing the color in your cheeks."

With that, he wrapped a protective arm around Liana's shoulders and escorted her out of the hall, never sparing Nora a second glance.

The grand hall descended into awkward silence.

The smile stiffened on the Matriarch's face. She opened her mouth to intervene, but Jasper and Liana were already out the door.

Leaning back in his chair, watching the pair disappear, Hudson suddenly let out a low chuckle.

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