Finnian insisted that nothing was going on between him and Liliana, but Amara didn''t believe a word of it. His concern for Liliana was written all over his face- anyone with eyes could see it.


    "Mr. Everly, whatever you and Liliana have is none of my business," Amara said, digging her nails into her palm to force herself to keep going. "But you keep showing up around me, acting like you care so much. That''s going to ruin any chance I have of moving on."


    It was the biggest lie she''d ever told, and as the words left her lips, her heart ached. She hadn''t truly gotten over Finnian at all.


    But she had to make it final. If she didn''t draw a firm line, they''d both remain tangled in this mess, and nobody would win.


    Finnian''s face twisted with disbelief as he grabbed her wrist. "You want to be with someone else?"


    A bitter smile flickered at Amara''s mouth. "Do you really want to y this game, Mr. Everly? You''re already with Liliana-don''t deny it. You two have a child together. So, tell me, is it so wrong for me to move on?"


    Finnian said nothing, only tightened his grip on her hand, his whole body trembling.


    Pain stabbed through Amara''s chest. Slowly but firmly, she pulled free. "Let''s leave it at this, Mr. Everly. We''re just not meant to be. Unless it''s something important, don''t contact me again. I''m leaving."


    She walked away, each step heavy, while Finnian stared after her, her words— about being with someone else echoing in his mind.


    His heart felt as if it had been carved open, raw and helpless. Was this really the end for him and Amara?


    Meanwhile, Liliana''sst phone call was from her family doctor. She rushed over, barely waiting to get through the door before blurting out, "Is it true? Is the baby really gone?"


    "Yes," the doctor replied. "Two hours ago, the woman fell and miscarried. She''s suffered some physical trauma and is receiving treatment now."


    Liliana bit her lip hard and tossed her purse onto the sofa. What now? How could this have happened?


    She''d never actually been


    pregnant-she had lied to Finnian


    about it and prepared a backup n just in case. She''d found a pregnant woman, paid her handsomely and nned to swap the babies at birth-her own nonexistent child for the real one.  s


    She would have imed the first grandchild of the Everly family''s new generation, securing her status and her rtionship with Finnian once and for all.


    But now, with the news that the baby was gone, what was she supposed to do? Find another pregnant woman?<fnbc2a> This content belongs to f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnbc2a>


    "Don''t worry," the family doctor said. "We''ll just look for someone else. It''s not that hard to arrange."


    "Let me think about it," Liliana snapped, closing her eyes. She didn''t agree immediately.


    If not for the situation with Hogan, she would have found a


    recement in a heartbeat. But now, with both the lost baby and the troubl@with Hogan, the weight pressing on her chest only grew, heavier, her thoughts more conflicted.  s


    She left the doctor''s house and didn''t go home right away, wandering the streets instead.


    These past few days, she''d been plotting to get rid of Hogan for good.


    But Hogan was a member of the


    Everly family Mr. Hogan Everly—and his status was beyond ordinary. Mr. Kevin Everly had issued strict orders: whenever anyone visited logan one of the Everly staff had to be present, and apparently, they''d even installed security cameras in the house.  s