Finnian hadn''t expected to find himself standing in the kitchen, staring at Amara''s graceful profile. He blurted out, "Amara, have you ever been with another man?"


    The question was intensely personal, catching Amara off guard and leaving her feeling awkward and shy.


    "Why won''t you answer?" Finnian pressed when she remained silent.


    Amara quickly recovered but was still baffled by the question. She countered, "What exactly are you getting at, Mr. Everly?"


    "Nothing, just curious," he replied nonchntly.


    "Well, I have the right not to answer, and I choose not to."


    The only man she''d ever been with was him, but he had been with others, including Liliana, whom he clearly favored more. The thought of it always left Amara feeling hurt.


    That Finnian would bring it up so casually made her even less inclined to engage with him.


    "Why not just answer?" Finnian''s tone turned icy.


    If she hadn''t been with anyone else, she could simply say no. What did her refusal


    to answer imply? The thought weighed heavily on Finnian.


    "That''s a very private question. Isn''t it normal for me not to answer?" Amara''s face grew tense.


    She was telling the truth, and Finnian fell silent, offering no response.


    Amara turned her back to him, saying, "Mr. Everly, you have a child with Ms.


    Porter. Why are you even asking me this? It''s absurd... just leave."


    When it came to having a child with Liliana, Finnian was always on the wrong side of the argument. He said nothing more, only giving Amara a Tong, searching look before leaving


    as


    her apartment.  s


    Back at his ce, Finnian opened the door to find Dorian sprawled on the living room rug, hopelessly drunk and reaching for an unopened bottle of whiskey.


    Finnian strode over, snatching the bottle from Dorian''s grip. "That''s enough," he said sternly.


    Dorian blearily lifted his head. "Where''ve you been?"<fn72d4> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn72d4>


    Finnian settled onto the couch, pulling Dorian up beside him. "Went to see Amara."


    Mentioning Amara only reminded Dorian of Elysia, of her being with another man, and he wished her


    CO


    The


    drink himself into oblivion. He


    reached for the bottle again.


    belongs to s


    Finnian, now exasperated, returned the bottle to the fridge, then sat back down. "If


    you really don''t care for Elysia, let her go. If you do, then make it work."


    "What do you mean I''m not trying?" Dorian slurred, lifting his head in a drunken haze.


    Finnian dragged him to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and doused Dorian with cold water, jolting him awake. "What the hell, man!" Dorian shouted.


    "Feeling sober now?" Finnian asked, shutting off the water. "If you think you''ve been making an effort with Elysia, then keep on this path."


    Without waiting for Dorian''s reaction, Finnian grabbed a spare nket, shoved his friend into the guest room, and shut the door before heading to bed.


    In the darkness, Finnian stared at the ceiling, his mind racing.


    He hadn''t expected Elysia''s situation to affect him, but with Amara and Elysia being so close, he couldn''t help but wonder if Amara had secrets of her own.


    Recalling Amara''s earlier


    indifference only added to his headache. He forced himself to close his eyes trying to push his thoughts aside and finally get some sleep.  s