Just as she''d made a few edits, there was a loud, insistent knocking at the door, as if the person on the other side was ready for a fight.


    Amara found the knock oddly familiar and walked over, asking, "Who''s there?"


    "It''s me, open up!" came Hogan''s voice.


    A wave of irritation washed over Amara. What was he doing here again? Thest time he''d shown up, he had attacked her for no reason. What could he possibly want this time? Another fight?


    She yanked the door open and said coolly, "What do you want?"


    Hogan didn''t say anything right away, but Amara loathed him so much that her face twisted into an expression of pure disdain the second she saw him.


    Hogan was there to settle a score on behalf of Liliana. Liliana had mentioned wanting to embarrass Amara in front of Finnian by revealing her face without a mask. When Hogan followed up on the n, Liliana had been evasive, so he assumed she''d been humiliated by Amara again. That assumption fueled his anger and prompted him to confront Amara.


    What Hogan didn''t expect was to be greeted by a stunningly beautiful woman ring at him. Her eyes were clear yet alluring, her nose perfectly shaped, lips naturally soft and full, and her skin smooth and delicate. She was more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen.


    If he covered the lower half of her face, he knew exactly who she was his former sister-inw, Amara. So, this was Amara?


    Hogan was dumbstruck. How could Amara look like this without a mask? Wasn''t her face supposed to be scarred?


    "Do you have something to say?" Amara asked, noticing his speechlessness. She realized this was the first time Hogan had seen her without a mask.


    She didn''t want to give Hogan any sort of satisfaction, so she said in a low voice, "If you have nothing to say, get lost."


    The only reason she opened the door was to avoid Hogan''s incessant knocking drawing attention from the rest of the crew.


    "Amara." Hogan started, but he was at a loss for words.


    The tension was thick when a figure strode over, giving Hogan a cold re. "What are you doing here?" Finnian asked.


    "Finnian?" Hogan was surprised by Finnian''s presence and quickly said, "I just needed to talk to Amara."


    "I told you not to bother her again," Finnian interrupted.


    "Leave now."


    Hogan couldn''t possibly have any good reason to see Amara; he was simply there to cause trouble.


    After Hogan''s tast visit, Finnian had arranged for a couple of crew members to keep an eye on him. If Hogan showed up again, they were to notify Finnian immediately. He hadn''t expected Hogan to return so soon.


    IMS


    Feeling his pride wounded by Finnian''s blunt dismissal, Hogan opened his mouth


    to argue, but Finnian''s sharp gaze shut him up. Clenching his teeth, Hogan turned and left.


    With the area finally quiet, Finnian nced at Amara. His eyes barely lingered on her face before shifting to a nearby potted nt. "He didn''t do anything to you, did he?" he asked.


    "No," Amara shook her head.


    She hadn''t expected Finnian to show up and defend her so quickly.


    She wanted to thank him, but the atmosphere between them felt strange, and she couldn''t find the words.


    Finnian was typically a calm and


    reserved person, but Amara couldn''t shake the feeling that he seemed even more distanttely, especially toward her, as if he was constantly on edge.