He''d always been a man whose presencemanded the room, and now, with just a few words, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. The group exchanged uncertain nces, each person waiting for someone else to speak.


    It was Emma who recovered first, grabbing Finnian''s arm and whispering, "Come on, it''s just a casual dinner. Why are you making such a fuss? Please, take a seat."


    But Finnian knew this was no ordinary meal. He cast a look at Jenny and Ethan, both dressed as if attending a formal affair, and at Liliana''s cocktail dress-none of this matched the idea of a simple dinner.


    On top of that, Finnian was a man who hated being manipted. Right now, he could practically taste the setup, and it put him in a foul mood.


    His expression remained stony, and everyone could sense his displeasure. Jenny and Ethan hurried to his side, showering him withpliments and ttery-so much so that they seemed less like Liliana''s parents and more like subordinates trying to curry favor with their boss.


    Watching all this, Liliana gritted her teeth, struggling to bury her frustration. Forcing a smile, she slipped her arm through Finnian''s and said, “It was their idea to get everyone together-I didn''t know about it beforehand. Honestly, I got tricked intoing here too."


    "But since we''re already here, let''s just sit down and eat. If they start pushing for anything, I''ll speak up, okay? Can you not be like this, Finn?"


    There was a pleading note in her voice. Finnian looked down at her carefully made-up face, but said nothing.


    Liliana clenched her fists. She knew how much Finnian despised being yed, and now she was starting to regret going along with this dinner. But it was toote to back out; she couldn''t let things get any worse.


    In a soft voice, she added, "Finn, could you do this for me? I promise it''s just a regr dinner. Nothing bad is going to happen.”


    Finnian stayed silent, and for a moment, everyone expected him to storm out. Instead, he gave a curt nod. "Let''s sit down."


    Everyone was caught off guard-no one had expected him to agree, and relief shed across their faces.


    Ignoring the undercurrents in the room, Finnian walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.


    He had already guessed what Emma


    and Liliana''s parents were up to. This dinner was clearly meant to double as an unofficial engagement party a way to pin down his and Liana''s future together. That was why he''d kept his distance at first, making no effort to hide his displeasure.


    But Liliana had pleaded with him—twice. Remembering how she''d once risked her life for him, Finnian found his resolve softening. For her sake, he agreed to stay, at least for now.


    He figured his cold reception would be enough to scare off any talk of engagements for the evening. Sure sat


    enough, as soon as everyone en


    down the parents avoided


    эла


    mentioning marriage. Instead they focused on piling food onto his te, with Ethan and Jenny especially attentive, offering him dish after dish andying on the praise.


    Meanwhile, back at the Everly house, Hogan was growing curious about what Finnian and Emma were up to. be picked


    After a moment''s thought, he


    up his phone and dialed Finnian''s number.


    "Finnian, where''d you and Aunt Emma disappear to?" he asked.


    "Out for dinner."


    "Just the two of you?"


    "No, we''re with the Porter family. Liliana''s parents are here too."<fnb8b5> ?????? ???? FιndＮovel</fnb8b5>


    That caught Hogan off guard-dinner with both families was no small matter. What was going on between the two of them?


    He mumbled a reply and hung up, his gaze drifting instinctively toward Amara.