Her tone was so casual, her attitude so detached, that Finnian felt as if a hammer had mmed into his chest, leaving a dull, throbbing ache. His fingers tightened on her chin. "You don''t love me at all anymore?" he asked, each word heavy. If she had any feelings left for him, she couldn''t have said what she just did. The pain in his heart was sharp, but his expression only grew more intense.


    She never thought he would ask her that. She had loved him for eight years, a secret part of her life she had never wanted anyone but her closest friends to know. But he had found out. It hadn''t mattered then; they were divorced, and she was slowly letting him go. But he kept bringing it up, and each time, it felt like a fresh wound, a deep humiliation.


    She met his gaze, her jaw tight. "Of course not. Why?"


    "I don''t believe you," Finnian said, leaning closer, his voice low and insistent. "Every time we cooked together, every time we talked... you reacted to me. I could feel it. You haven''tpletely forgotten me!"


    He was so certain. Amara''s eyes widened in shock. "You knew? You knew I had feelings for you, and you still asked me to teach you how to cook, you still took me out... You were deliberately leading me on?"


    She thought she had hidden it so well, but he had seen right through her.


    In truth, Amara had concealed her


    feelings perfectly. It was Finnian''s own inability to ept that she might not love him anymore that made him bluff. He never expected his shot in the dark to hit the mark. So she really did still have feelings for him. If he If he had been s?ber, h? would have handled this delicately. But he had drunk too much at the bar, and the alcohol was clouding his judgment. He braced his hands on the arms of the sofa, cornering her. "Yes, I was," he admitted. "So what?"


    He admitted it. He admitted to toying with her feelings. Amara was so stunned, so furious, she felt like her lungs would burst. Without thinking, she swung her hand and pped him across the face.


    The blow was hard, and the corner<fn5fa8> Th?s chapter is updated by F?nd-Novel</fn5fa8>


    of Finnian''s lip split, a bead of blood welling up. He touched it with his fingers, the stinging sensation only making him feel more intoxicated. He looked at the beautiful face before him the face he had longed for. And she had just admitted she still cared...


    An overwhelming wave of emotion crashed over him. He scooped her into his arms and strode toward the bedroom.


    The world spun. Amara couldn''t believe it. She pounded on his arms. "What are you doing? Let me go!"


    Finnian didn''t seem to hear her. He carried her into the bedroom and dropped her onto therge, soft bed. Controlled by the alcohol, he finally let his desires run rampant. He loomed over her, pinning her down. One hand cupped her face as his lips crashed down on. on berstwpile the other gripped her waist with bruising force.


    The sensation of his body on hers sent a shock of terror through Amara. Her eyes flew open, and she kicked and struggled, but her resistance only seemed to fuel his aggression.