Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 516

"Yeah."

The two figures walked down the corridor one after another, their footsteps fading as they rounded the corner.

The hallway returned to silence.

Hudson looked down at Nora. Seeing that her eyes were still fixed on the direction Sienna had disappeared, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "Come on. Let's head back too."

Nora followed him out. After a few steps, she suddenly asked, "Do you think... what Liana said is true?"

"What did she say?"

"About Jared Quinn's painting..." Nora paused. "Liana claimed she was able to steal it and claim it as her own because of Finnian."

Hudson didn't break his stride, his tone indifferent. "Finnian might look cold and detached, but he has an incredibly strong sense of pride. Taking someone else's work just to dress up his adopted sister's reputation is entirely beneath him."

Nora pursed her lips and nodded silently.

Deep down, she also felt Finnian wasn't that kind of person...

There had to be a misunderstanding.

Or perhaps Liana had deliberately lied just to drive a wedge between the two of them.

Hand in hand, the couple walked outside.

Once they reached the entrance, Hudson was just reaching for the car door handle when he felt a gentle tug on his coat.

He instinctively glanced back, meeting her bright, clear eyes.

"We aren't far from the hotel. How about we walk back?"

Hudson chuckled and shoved the car door shut. He shot a look at Olive, who was waiting behind them. "You and Arthur go ahead."

"Yes, Boss."

Olive didn't hesitate, immediately hopping into the passenger seat. Soon, the vehicle merged onto the main road, disappearing into a sea of taillights.

It was already November in Chicago. The late autumn night wasn't freezing; instead, the cool evening breeze felt refreshing against their skin.

"What's on your mind? Are you upset?"

"No. I just feel awful for Sienna..."

She had always blamed herself for Jared's death. How could anyone move on when they were carrying the weight of another person's life?

She had held a lot of disdain for Finnian, writing him off as a toxic jerk who prioritized his ward over his own girlfriend's health. But after tonight, it was obvious he genuinely cared for Sienna.

But if Jared's stolen masterpiece was truly tied to Finnian...

While Nora was lost in her spiraling thoughts, a pair of large hands suddenly cupped her face.

Startled, she let him tilt her head up, her gaze locking onto Hudson's dark, fathomless eyes.

"I have an exclusive secret recipe for instantly lifting someone's mood. Want to try?"

Nora blinked in confusion. "What is it?"

Their shadows stretched long against the pavement, leaning closely into each other.

Nora looked down at their overlapping shadows, a subconscious smile tugging at the corners of her mouth—

She had to admit, her mood really was a lot better...

...

In another car on the other side of the city, the atmosphere couldn't have been more different.

Liana leaned back against her seat. The color had returned to her face, and her lips were no longer pale, though her eyes remained red, painting the picture of a horribly wronged victim.

Finnian sat rigid in his seat, his jaw clenched tight and his brow furrowed. He stared blankly at the passing streets, his eyes unfocused.

The silence in the car was suffocating.

After what felt like an eternity, Finnian finally shattered the quiet. "Spit it out. What exactly happened back there? Why did Sienna attack you out of nowhere?"

Liana's eyelashes trembled.

She knew that since Sienna was aware of the truth, there was no keeping it buried anymore.

Rather than letting that bitch tattle on her, it was better to strike first!

Taking a moment to compose her story, she bit her lip and murmured, "I have no idea why she lost her mind... She accused me of plagiarizing my early award-winning painting, claiming it belonged to her boyfriend..."

"Boyfriend?"