Years had passed, but those words still echoed in his mind. When he was older,


    he had tried to talk to her about it. Despite the pain she had caused him, she was still his mother, and a part of him had hoped to mend their rtionship. But what had she said?<fne025> Discover more novels at FιndNovel</fne025>


    That he had been a child, and all children get scolded. That he was petty for holding onto it for so long, that it was unmanly.


    After that, Finnian knew there was no point in trying tomunicate with her. Looking back, he realized that despite having two parents, he had never truly been cared for by either of them. From the day he was born, his mother had handed him over to nannies. He had received no love from his father or mother, only from his grandparents. Before he met Amara, his grandparents were the most important people in his world. As for his parents, their years of distance and abuse had slowly reduced them to mere symbols in his life.


    He looked up at Emma. "Reputation is something you earn for yourself, Mother. If you feel you''ve lost face, that''s not my fault. I am not responsible for your actions."


    "What nonsense is this?" Emma was livid. "I''m telling you, you will marry Liliana, and you will have a child immediately after! You''re thirty years old without an heir. Who do you expect to inherit the Everly Group? Have you ever thought about that?"


    "I''m not the only person in this family," Finnian said, his eyes cold as stone. "If I don''t have children, someone else will. Thepany will notck an heir." He repeated, his voice dangerously low, "I will not get married."


    His unwavering resolve infuriated Emma. She swept a tea set off the table, the porcin shattering on the floor. She stood and pointed a finger at his nose. "You little bastard, shut your mouth! I''m telling you, you will go through with this marriage whether you like it or not If you don''t, I''ll-"


    "Enough!"


    Mr. Kevin Everly emerged, leaning heavily on his cane, his aged face a mask of fury. "You have the gall toz talk about marriage? Look at the woman you''ve chosen! That actress, with her tornished reputation on what grounds do you think she is fit to marry Finnian?"


    Mr. Everly wanted Finnian to marry and start a family as much as anyone, but he would never allow Liliana Porter into their home. If she was the only option, he would rather Finnian stay single.


    "Dad, how can you say that?" Emma cried, distraught. "What''s wrong with Liliana? She''s a star, she''s famous, and she earns a good living. You shouldn''t be so prejudiced against her profession."


    "I am prejudiced against her profession," Mr. Everly dered, tapping his cane on the floor. He wasn''t just prejudiced against


    acting he was prejudiced a


    all


    beautiful women. His eldest son, Andrew, wasted his life chasing after them, and he hated it. He believed it was better to find a in looking woman with good character who knew how to manage a home. It was why he had been so fond of Amara before her looks were restored. Even after her face healed, his opinion hadn''t changed, because by then, their bond was deep, and he knew her character was unimpeachable.


    "Let me tell you something," Mr. Everly said, his voice firm. "You haven''t been a part of Finn''s life for years. You have no say in who he marries. Cancel this engagement immediately."