Her cheeks were so soft, just a slight tilt and Finnian''s lips met hers. Her lips were even softer, smooth and enticing, much like a perfectly ripe peach, full and luscious.


    Finnian couldn''t help himself; he opened his mouth and gave her a yful nibble. Amara''s eyes widened in shock, her eyelids trembling in disbelief.


    Without a second thought, she pushed Finnian away, scrambling out of the bathtub, grabbing a towel to cover herself as she dashed out.


    Finnian remained seated in the tub, watching as the steam slowly cleared, revealing the pristine white tiles. It dawned on him what had just happened.


    He was filled with regret, so much so that he felt like giving himself a p. Had he really just kissed Amara on impulse? And not just her cheek—he had gone for the lips too?


    Finnian gritted his teeth, slowly standing up from the tub. He nced below his waist, his expression darkening. Only when he feltposed again did he nervously step out of the bathroom.


    For someone who hadmanded respect in the Wye business circle for years, who had faced countless challenges with unwavering confidence, it was the first time Finnian felt this level of uncertainty.


    In the bedroom, Amara was already dressed. She sat on the edge of the bed, wearing a mask, her eyes red and puffy, looking utterly miserable.


    Finnian''s guilt intensified. He approached Amara, his expression troubled, and said, "I''m really sorry for earlier. I overstepped."


    Amara shook her head. "I''m okay."


    Her eyes were red, resembling a wounded bunny, which made Finnian feel even worse.


    He sat down next to Amara, at a loss for words to exin what had happened. After a moment, he realized


    there wasn''t much to exin-it was his own foolish mistake. How could he put that into words?


    "I was out of line earlier. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" he offered.


    Hearing this, Amara felt a sting in her heart.


    She understood Finnian''s


    perspective. Caught up in the mood and under the influence of alcohol he had kissed a woman he had no intentions with, and now he was apologizing. It was a rationab response.


    But for Amara, ever since she left the bathroom, she had been reying the scene in her mind. Why had Finnian kissed her? Had he mistaken her for Liliana?


    With the steamy bathroom obscuring their faces and Finnian having had quite a bit to drink, a mix-up seemed usible.


    So, the little thrill Amara had felt from the kiss was quickly reced by a cold reality. And now, Finnian was apologizing to her.


    From Amara''s perspective, they


    were married; kissing was perfectly normal Yet, Finnian was apologizing and offeringpensation, making her feel like she was being treated like a hooker.


    She shook her head. "It''s okay, really, it''s not a big deal."


    After speaking, she turned away to tidy up her things, not wanting Finnian to see how upset she was.


    Finnian watched her back, his brows furrowed in confusion.


    This wasn''t right. Even under the influence of the alcohol, he shouldn''t have felt such a strong impulse towards Amara.


    He was known for his self-control,


    able to brush off advances from even the most beautiful


    supermodels. Moreover, due to past experiences, he had always been cautious around women, even if his body reacted, his mind didn''t.


    Yet, earlier, he hadn''t been able to resist kissing Amara. Now, with a clear head, he found his behavior perplexing when recalling what he had done.