Just then, Mr. Kevin Everly came back downstairs. Seeing the two of them sitting in silence, he sighed and made his way over, leaning on his cane.


    "Finn, I''ve already spoken to your mother," he said, his voice stern. "From now on, she is not to set foot in this house without my express permission. If she tries, I''ll have her thrown out myself!"


    Emma had attacked Finnian right here in this housest night. Mr. Everly had been out, and when he returned to find his grandson covered in blood, the eighty- year-old man''s heart had nearly given out from shock and fury. He had decided then and there that, daughter-inw or not, Emma was no longer wee. She could also stop calling him ''Dad.'' He refused to acknowledge her. The woman had not only kidnapped Amara, whom he loved like his own granddaughter, but had also brutally beaten his most cherished grandson. It was time Emma learned a lesson.


    Amara sighed, knowing how upset Mr. Everly must be. She stood up and offered him a few words offort.


    He took her hand. "Ama, I heard you''re not traveling anymore, and you''ve given up your apartment. Why don''t you stay here with me for a while?" he said. "Don''t worry, the people you don''t want to see won''t being around. You can stay here with peace of mind."


    If Emma wasn''t going to be there, Amara had no reason to refuse. She nodded, though she knew she couldn''t stay forever. She would have to start looking for a ce of her own.


    With such severe injuries, Finnian couldn''t go to the office for a few days. Will brought all the necessary documents to the house for him to sign. For some reason, instead of using his study, Finnian set up his workspace at the coffee table in the living room. So every time Amara came downstairs, she would see him there. And every time he heard her footsteps, he would look up from his work. Their eyes would meet for a fraction of a second before Amara quickly looked away, but his gaze would linger on her.


    That evening, Amara, Finnian, and Mr. Kevin Everly sat down for dinner. Mr. Everly did most of the talking, with Amara and Finnian listening attentively and chiming in asionally. It was a pleasant, harmonious meal.


    After dinner, Amara went to her room to read, but she couldn''t focus. She had several things to figure out. First, since she was staying in Wye, people like Mr. Everly and Larry would eventually find out about her pregnancy. She needed to tell them before she started showing, but how? Second, filming for *Letters from the Past* was about to begin. Should she join the crew on set? And third, she needed a ce to live. If she was going to settle in Wye for the long term, should she buy a house?


    As she was lost in thought, a knock came at the door. She opened it to find


    Finnian standing there, holding a first-aid kit, his eyes fixed on her.


    "Amara, can you help me change my dressing?" he asked directly.


    Her immediate instinct was to refuse. The Everly family had doctors on call; he could simply phone one of them. Even without a doctor Lisa and the other staff were far more experienced with this sort of thing. Why ask her?


    But the word "no" caught in her throat. No matter how you looked at it, he had been beaten because of her. He was already in such a pitifu state; the least she could do was help. It was a small way to repay him for saving her life. She sighed inwardly and stepped aside to let him in.


    Finnian was surprised she had agreed so readily. He had expected to have to persuade her.


    ***