Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 517

Finnian's brow furrowed. He hadn't absorbed a single word Liana said, save for one glaring phrase that grated against his ears: *boyfriend*.

What boyfriend?

Wasn't he Sienna's boyfriend?

"More accurately, her ex-boyfriend..." Liana lowered her gaze, as if carefully weighing her words. "She claimed the painting was the work of her ex, Jared Quinn. She accused me of plagiarism. But I painted that piece myself. You and Dad both know that. I stayed locked in my studio for three days and nights to finish it."

Finnian remained silent, his gaze fixed on her face, analyzing the truth in her words.

Liana's spine stiffened under his intense scrutiny. She quickly added, "Finnian... speaking of which, didn't you know Jared Quinn too? Didn't you say you admired his work before?"

Finnian's frown deepened. "Why would I know Sienna's ex-boyfriend?"

"He was the student who got a job offer from your company and then died in a car crash right after. Don't you remember? You were the one who told me about it..."

"Are you saying her ex-boyfriend died in a car crash?"

Liana pouted. "I don't know what got into her. I only tried to defend myself, and she just lunged at me. Look at my face..." She pointed to the angry red scratches on her cheek, her eyes filled with venom. "If this scars, I'll never forgive her!"

Finnian's frown tightened into a harsh line. He wasn't listening to a word Liana was saying. His mind was entirely consumed by a single thought.

Why had Sienna approached him back then?

Hadn't she fallen in love with him at first sight?

Liana rambled on for a long time, and seeing that Finnian wasn't reacting, her eyes darted calculatingly. "Finnian, do you think Sienna still isn't over her ex? I really don't get her. She's with you, yet she's getting into physical fights over another man... Where does she place you in her heart?"

Finnian still didn't respond.

He hadn't even registered Liana's blatant attempt to drive a wedge between them. All that echoed in his head were the words *ex-boyfriend*.

Sienna had an ex-boyfriend.

And she had never mentioned him.

When she first pursued him, she had been relentless. She swore it was love at first sight, told him he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen, and declared she would marry no one else.

He had only found it annoying at the time.

She was just a woman with a questionable background who demanded to sleep with him the moment they met, using his sister's blood type as a bargaining chip.

He had seen countless women try to claw their way into the Fairchild family. He assumed she was just another gold digger.

"Run a background check on someone for me. Sienna's ex-boyfriend. His name is Jared Quinn... He supposedly died in a car crash a year ago. I want every single detail about their relationship."

"Yes, Finnian," his assistant replied immediately.

Finnian hung up. He stood in the bustling hospital lobby, his eyes glued to his phone screen, his thumb absentmindedly rubbing the edge of the device.

When Sienna had first thrown herself at him, he had ordered a basic background check. His requirements were low; he just wanted to ensure she had a clean history.

Because of that, he actually knew very little about her.

He only knew she was an orphan raised by her grandparents, who had both passed away two years prior. She was completely alone in the world.

He thought he was all she had. He believed she was madly, hopelessly in love with him, willing to stay by his side even if it meant giving her blood to his adopted sister.

Everyone in their circle mocked her as his Living Blood Bank, but she never seemed to care. It was as if her entire world revolved around him.

But now, Liana had revealed she had an ex-boyfriend.

Finnian didn't know how long he stood there in the corridor. When his phone finally buzzed with a call from his assistant, his legs were completely numb. He found a row of empty chairs, sat down, and answered the call.