"Barry picked the same filming lot as us. As it happens, I''ve got a new show shooting there too. Looks like we''ll be neighbors for a while-don''t be a stranger, all right?"


    Cedric and Amara had always gotten along well. He genuinely admired her talent and character, so his easy warmth was no surprise.


    Amara set her fork down and smiled. "I am working with Director Barry on my next show, but unfortunately, we won''t be neighbors after all."


    "Oh?" Cedric looked puzzled. "Howe?"


    She took a small sip of her drink, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "Well, I won''t be staying with the crew for this next project. I''m leaving Wye for a few months to travel—something I nned a long time ago.”<fn55c8> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find~novel</fn55c8>


    After finishing Whispers of Winter, she would be heading out of town to wait for her baby''s arrival. She''d still be writing scripts for ie, but wouldn''t be with the crew, working remotely with directors and cast online, just like she used to.


    This was something Amara had decided on long ago, but aside from Elysia and Keith, she hadn''t told anyone else. So when she mentioned it at the table, everyone was clearly surprised.


    Across from her, she could feel a piercing gaze-she didn''t have to look to know who it was. Amara forced herself not to nce over.


    "Where are you traveling to?" Cedric asked. "And for so long! I never took you for the adventurous type."


    Everyone had always seen Amara as calm, reserved a homebody, really. No one expected her to up and travel, and the revtion left them all a little shocked.


    Amara just smiled, bringing out the excuse she had prepared in advance. "I''ve wanted to travel for ages but never had the courage to go alone. This time, I fmally made up my mind."


    It sounded perfectly reasonable, and Cedric didn''t question it—he started sharing


    his own travel stories instead.


    But through it all, that gaze across the table never let up-steadily growing sharper, more intense, impossible to ignore. Amara''s scalp began to prickle. She could hardly wait to escape.


    Of course, it was Finnian watching her. Ever since she''d mentioned leaving Wye to travel, he hadn''t taken his eyes off her.


    Liliana, sitting beside him, grew anxious. She tugged lightly at Finnian''s sleeve and said, "I had no idea Ms. Sullivan was nning a trip. She''s braver than I thought."


    Finnian still didn''t say a word. His fist, resting on his knee, clenched tighter and tighter as he reyed Amara''s words in his mind. The news tormented him.


    Dinner finally wound down. Keith, always busy with showbizmitments, had to rush off to another event. He dropped Amara at the entrance to her apartmentplex before heading out.


    It was after nine, the sky pitch ck, but theplex was lively and well-lit even at this hour. Amara walked in alone, utterly unafraid.


    She strolled at an unhurried pace through the courtyard. When she reached her building, she noticed a figure leaning against the wall outside her door, making her pause mid-step.


    He stood tall and poised, the sharp lines of his profile striking and intense. Even in the dingy stairwell, he changed the whole atmosphere-made it feel charged, expectant.


    Amara didn''t need to look twice to


    know who it was. She bit her lip and climbed the steps one by one, fishing her keys from her bag. Sliding one into the lock, she asked, as casually as she could, "Was there something you needed, Mr. Everly?"