"You don''t need that," Finnian said with a small smile. "If you want to learn how to prune, I can teach you."


    Finnian rarely smiled, but when he did, it was breathtaking. Amara caught a glimpse of it from the corner of her eye and had to fight the urge to stare.


    His words left her momentarily stunned. "You know how to prune flowers, Mr. Everly?" A man of his stature, waited on by servants his whole life-how would he know how to do such manual work?


    "I do,” he confirmed, his eyes distant with memory. "The first couple of years after


    I took over the Everly Group, the pressure was immense. Whenever I felt like I couldn''t go on, I''de to the garden and watch the staff work. Over time, I picked up a few things."


    So Finnian also sought refuge in the garden when he was stressed? Amara was surprised they shared even this small simrity. But it was just one small thing, nothing more. She gave a small, self-deprecating smile.


    As he spoke, Finnian took the shears from her hand and began expertly trimming the nt at their feet. His long, elegant fingers moved with precision as he exined the steps, his voice a low, maic hum. Even a simple task like pruning flowers looked captivating in his hands.


    Amara realized that while she had first been drawn to Finnian''s character and aura, she was also deeply attracted to his appearance. It just hadn''t been her top priority. But that was all in the past. They were over. She quickly banished the stray thoughts and focused on his demonstration.


    They worked in afortable


    silence, neither of them noticing a woman in a silk dress standing a short distance away, her eyes fixed on them, burning with an almost tangible hatred. Her fingers dug into. the strap of her handbag, her expression twisted with fury.


    It was Emma, Mr. Kevin Everly had forbidden her from entering the main house; so when she''d arrived at the estate, a servant had stopped her at the door, Fuming, she had stormed back outside, only to stumble upon a scene in the garden that enraged her even further.


    Her son, Finnian, the chairman of the Everly Group, was on his knees, helping Amara prune flowers? How could he lower himself to such a menial task! Had he truly fallen so far for this woman?


    Emma was practically shaking with rage. The image of them together was seared into her mind, and by the time she got home, she was still fuming. She wanted nothing more than to destroy Amara.


    An idea began to form. Herst attempt to kidnap Amara had failed, but what if she tried again? If she could make Amara disappear from the face of the earth, Finnian would surelye back to his senses. That''s what she had always believed.


    No, she couldn''t. After the failed kidnapping, Finnian had threatened her. The cruel things he''d said still stung, but his words had also instilled a genuine fear in her. She didn''t dare provoke him again by going after Amara directly.


    So, she would have to change her target. Her eyes darkened as a new n took shape. She would go after Liliana instead.


    Emma considered her options. An idea, risky but brilliant, came to her. If it worked, the oue would be everything she desired. A cold smile spread across her face as she picked up the phone and grated Liliana''s number to exin her n.