It was just after nine o''clock when a frantic knocking echoed through Amara''s room. She opened the door to find Finnian leaning against the frame, his eyes red-rimmed and fixed on her.


    "Mr. Everly, what''s wrong?" she asked, taken aback.


    Something was terribly wrong. His gaze was hazy and unfocused, his eyes bloodshot, and his expression was one of intense, controlled suffering. The hand gripping the doorframe was white-knuckled, the veins on his forearm bulging. He looked like he was about to snap.


    Amara''s mind shed back to the incident a few months ago, the time she had... helped him. He had looked exactly like this. Had someone drugged him again?


    Her heart hammered in her chest, and she instinctively took a step back.


    "Amara, help me."


    Finnian followed her into the room, shutting the door with a firm click behind him before pulling her into his arms. His body was like a furnace, the heat searing through her clothes and making her face flush. She froze, not daring to move.


    "Mr. Everly, I... I was about to go to sleep," she stammered, her voice trembling. "Please leave. I can''t help you with this."


    Finnian looked down at her. She was a mother-to-be; she would certainly understand his condition. He didn''t bother exining. "I''m in agony right now. Can you please help me? I''m not asking you to sleep with me, I just want..."


    He leaned in, whispering a few words into her ear. Amara''s face turned a shade of crimson she''d never known.


    "Why... why can''t you do it yourself?" she managed, biting her lip.


    "I will do it myself," he said, his voice strained. "But I need to hold you. I can''t... I can''t do it alone."


    Amara didn''t believe him. He


    couldn''t do it alone? What about all the single men in the world? How did they manage? His excuse sounded ridiculous. Seeing the skepticism on her face, Finnian gave a bitter smile. He hadn''t been with a woman in years and normally took care of his needs himself. But this was different. The drug had pushed him past his limits; he was numb to his own touch. But how could he exin that to her? She wouldn''t


    understand.


    Without another word, he swept her off her feet. With Amara''s startled cry still hanging in the air, he carried her to the bed and gentlyid her down, his body hovering over hers.


    "What are you doing?" she cried, her eyes wide with panic as she pushed against his shoulders.


    Finnian pinned her wrists to the bed and leaned down, his lips brushing against her cheek. “I promise I won''t do anything more. It''ll be over soon. Just close your eyes and pretend you''re sleeping."


    What kind of outrageous thing was that to say? Amara was furious, struggling against his grip, but he was far too strong. She bit her lip so hard she thought it might bleed, tears welling in her eyes.


    ***


    Outside the main vi, Emma stood shivering in a thin coat, her voice shrill with desperation. “Let me in! Or at least get Finnian out here! I need to speak with him!"


    A servant stood firm, his expression apologetic but unyielding. "I''m sorry, madam, but Mr. Everly has given strict orders that you are not to enter the main house. And we have no authority to summon Mr. Finian. Please understand our position."


    Mr. Kevin Everly''s orders were absolute; Emma wasn''t getting in. He had also cklisted Liliana, who stood behind Emma, her face a mask of anxiety, unable to even set foot on the porch.


    Defeated, the two women retreated from the main house but lingered in the courtyard, unwilling to leave.


    "Mrs. Everly, what do we do now?" Liliana asked, her voice tight with panic. She should have exined everything to Finnian before he left. Even in their n failed, she couldn''t fet him think worse of her. She started to me Emma. If only she had used a stronger drug something that would have left Finnianpletely incoherent, none of this would have happened.


    "Don''t worry," Emma said, her voice low and menacing. "We''ll find a way."