He finally sat down on the sofa, his eyes fixed on Amara, but he still didn''t speak. His behavior was so strange it was starting to unnerve her. Just as she was about to ask him again what was wrong, he spoke.


    "Amara, I don''t want you to be with Keith."


    Seeing her about to protest, he cut her off. "I know you don''t love him right now. But if you ever decide to get married someday, don''t choose him."


    Finnian was often jealous of their rtionship, but he knew Amara wasn''t in love with Keith. If she were, given how devoted Keith was to her, they would have been together long ago. But now she was pregnant. If she ever decided she wanted a father for her child, who would be her first choice? The answer was obvious. He had to say something.


    Amara shook her head. "Mr. Everly, I''m not thinking about marriage. I don''t n on ever getting married again. You don''t need to say this." She had lost all faith in marriage. All she wanted was to raise her child on her own.


    Her conviction surprised him. "Why not?" he asked. "Have you also lost all faith in marriage?"


    Amara didn''t know why he used the word "also." She remembered him being vehemently opposed to marriage, but wasn''t he supposed to be marrying Liliana? She didn''t dwell on it. “I have no expectations for marriage. And I already have a child. I''ll be fine on my own."


    Finnian looked at her for a moment longer, then stood up and left without another word.


    Would Amara really stay single


    f.n


    forever? Would she truly never get together with Keith? Finnian believed that she meant it now, but what about in the future? He leaned against the hallway wall, his fists clenched. He didn''t want her to be with any man. He knew the thought was selfish, but in the darkest corners of his heart, it was what he truly wanted.


    But he also knew that if she did find someone else one day, he would be heartbroken, angry, and miserable but he wouldn''t stand in her way. She had the right to be happy. He just prayed that the man she chose wouldn''t be Keith, the one who already shared such a deep bond with her.


    The next day at the office, Liliana paid him a visit. She carried a box, which she ced on his desk. "Finn," she said with a bright smile, "I bought some pastries, all your favorites. You should have er."


    Finnian nced at the box and nodded without looking at her.


    Liliana''s smile faltered. He had acknowledged the gift, but not her. She gripped her purse strap tightly, a familiar wave of helpless frustration washing over her. Finnian had agreed to be with her. While be hadn''t publicly dered her his girlfriend, he hadn''t stopped her from posting that photo on social media which was a tacit admissions of their rtionship. Because of that photo, she now had unrestricted ess to the Everly Group. But something was still missing between them. A lot was missing. She yearned for him to show some initiative, to not always be the one making the emotional effort.


    "Finn," she said, trying a different approach, "there''s a new movie out tonight that


    I''d really like to see. Would youe with me?"


    He nodded. "Alright."


    Did he want to go? Of course not. But he had made a promise to Liliana, and this was a small thing he could do for her.


    ***