Finnian''s fever burned all day, but by evening, his head had cleared. He got up, took a shower, ate a simple meal, and got dressed for the office.


    Emma blocked his way, frowning. "You''re still sick. What are you doing going to work? Stay home and rest."


    "I''m fine. It won''t affect my work."


    His voice was ice. He turned to leave, but Emma''s eyes widened in frustration, and she moved to chase after him.


    "Finn is a grown man," Mr. Kevin Everly admonished her. "Let him do what he wants. Stop trying to control him all the time and just give it a rest."


    Emma bristled at his words. Finnian was her son; she had every right to manage his life. Who was his grandfather to tell her otherwise? But Mr. Kevin Everly was her elder, and she didn''t dare talk back, so she forced herself to swallow her anger.


    Once in his office, Finnian quickly sorted through the day''s backlog of documents, pulling out the two most urgent files. He intended to deal with them immediately, but after reading only a few lines, his focus dissolved. He had been in a feverish haze for most of the day, which had mercifully pushed thoughts of Amara from his mind. But now, with a clear head, her words came rushing back, and the pain in his chest was sharp and real. He felt like an empty shell, a body without a soul, adrift and without purpose.


    Just then, Will came in. "Mr. Everly, how are you feeling?"


    “I''m fine,” Finnian said. “Did you look into what happened yesterday?"


    "I''ve already assigned people to it. We should have some results in a day or two."


    Will knew how much Mr. Everly cared about Ms. Sullivan and had anticipated the order. He had sent his men to investigate the kidnapping that morning, long before Finnian had even asked.


    Finnian nodded and returned to the files. About half an hourter, he had finished the most critical


    documents. He started on the rest,


    of


    but after getting up for a ss water, he couldnt regain hiso concentration. He was a man of immense willpower and focus; suchpses were rare, and the few times they had urred were always because of Amara. This time was no different. His mind waspletely consumed by her, leaving no room for anything else.


    Will, quietly organizing papers nearby, knew exactly what was troubling his boss. "Mr. Everly," he ventured Ms. Sullivan is still in the hospital, isn''t she? Perhaps you should pay her a visit."


    When Finnian didn''t respond, Will pressed on. "She and your grandfather are so


    close. You could say you''re visiting on his behalf."


    Finnian paused, looking up from the documents, his lips pressed into a tight line.


    Sensing an opening, Will stepped


    forward. "She went through a terrible


    ordeal yesterday. She must still be


    shaken, and she was injured. It''s a time when she needsfort and visitors. If you have a moment, you should go see her. Besides you were the one who rescued her it''s only natural that you''d check in on her."


    Finnian stood up, speaking as much to himself as to Will. "A visit might be good.


    It''s not like she has much else to do, stuck in a hospital room."


    With that, he strode out of the office, his pace much quicker than when he had arrived. Will smiled to himself.


    Soon, Finnian was at the hospital, standing outside Amara''s room. He knocked, and when he heard a faint "Come in," he pushed the door open.


    Amara was talking with Elysia. She had assumed the knock was a nurse on her rounds and was startled to see Finnian. A wave of unease washed over her.


    ***