Madly Yours (Nora Reed) novel Chapter 521

The man standing at the door was dressed in a tailored suit that emphasized his tall, commanding frame. A dark, oppressive weight hung over his sharp features, radiating a chilling intensity.

Sienna froze for only a split second before she recovered. She let out a soft scoff, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "What's wrong? Did the hospital run out of blood? Finally remembered your Living Blood Bank? The one you used for sex and nothing else?"

Sitting inside, Nora had just been about to pop a cherry tomato into her mouth. Hearing Sienna's bold declaration to the delivery guy, she nearly choked.

She didn't even need to look to know who was standing at the door.

But given the explosive tension, revealing herself felt like a terrible idea. Interrupting their argument would be incredibly awkward. As she debated whether she should slip away or hide, she heard Finnian's raw, gravelly voice.

"Who is Jared Quinn?"

Dead silence fell over the room.

Nora instinctively looked at Sienna, her heart leaping into her throat.

Sienna stood absolutely rigid, the fake smile locked on her face. For a moment, it felt as though all the blood in her veins had turned to ice.

When she didn't answer, Finnian's expression darkened into something terrifying. His voice was hoarse, each word forced out with agonizing precision. "I asked you a question. Who is Jared Quinn? Who is the architecture PhD student who looks exactly like me?"

The question hit Sienna like a bucket of ice water dumped over a blooming peony. She visibly withered, curling inward as the ugly, jagged scars of her past were dragged into the light.

Watching the immediate, devastating shift in her demeanor, Finnian felt as though a blade had been driven straight into his chest. The pain was so suffocating he could barely breathe.

It was laughable. He thought discovering the truth had been painful enough, but just seeing that look on Sienna's face made him feel like he was dying.

"So, you used me as a substitute?"

He spat the word out like poison.

Sienna finally snapped back to reality. She took a slow, deep breath, burying the chaotic swirl of emotions deep down.

Whatever.

He knew. It was over.

Secrets couldn't stay buried forever. Besides, she owed him nothing. She had freely given her blood to his sister, and she had let him use her body for a year.

"Yes."

One sharp, unwavering word. It hit him right in the heart like a bullet.

Finnian stumbled backward, barely keeping his balance.

He was the untouchable heir of the Fairchild family. He had never looked so pathetic in his entire life.

Even knowing the truth, he couldn't stop himself from asking, his voice cracking, "So... did you ever like me? Even a little?"

Sienna looked into his bloodshot eyes. Her lips parted slightly.

Finnian grabbed her arm, his grip desperate and pleading. "Say you did!"

*Say it! Say you liked me, even just a little!*

If she just nodded, he could forgive everything. He would let it all go.

Nora stared at her nonchalant expression, at a total loss.

Sienna took a bite of the cake, her words slightly muffled. "Nora, stop looking at me like that. We were just using each other. He wanted my blood, and I wanted his face. It was a fair trade. We're even."

"But I can tell he genuinely likes..."

"Likes me?" Sienna laughed, a bitter, cynical sound. "Nora, let me ask you one question. Would Hudson ever let you give your blood to his sister?"

Nora immediately realized her mistake.

No. Hudson wouldn't. He couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt. Because he loved her.

But Finnian had allowed it.

So what kind of love was that, really?

...

Nora stayed with Sienna a while longer. Sienna finished her cake, poured herself another half-glass of wine, and curled up on the couch to scroll through her phone. She let out a laugh every now and then, looking far more relaxed than Nora, who had come to comfort her.

Nora watched her closely for a long time. Once she was certain Sienna wasn't just putting on a brave face, she finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"I should probably head back."

Sienna waved at her without looking up, her smile bright and careless. "Go on. Don't let me keep you. Your husband is probably about to check up on you anyway."