Though she tried to deny it, she knew she had been a terrible mother to Finnian, treating him more like a stranger than a son. She couldn''t be sure if he would finally cut ties with her, if he would choose to protect Amara by imprisoning or even killing her. In the quiet solitude of the night, a fleeting pang of regret would sometimes surface, but it was always quickly swallowed by the rising tide of her obsession.


    It was in one of these moments that her phone buzzed with a message from Finnian. After a moment of disbelief, a wave of pure tion washed over her. She grabbed her phone and rushed downstairs, pounding on Liliana''s hotel room door. "Liliana! He agreed! Finn agreed to marry you!"


    Since the banquet had runte, both Emma and Liliana had stayed at the hotel, albeit on different floors. Liliana, jolted awake by the noise, was initially annoyed but kept it to herself. When she heard Emma''s words, however, all irritation vanished. Her eyes flew open. "He really agreed?"


    Emma showed her the text message. All of Liliana''s doubts dissolved, reced by a dizzying, overwhelming joy. It was happening. She was finally going to marry Finnian. It was the dream she had cherished since the first day sheid eyes on him in college. After all these years, her dream was finallying true. It felt surreal.


    “See?” Emma preened, her chest puffed with pride. "I told you I have influence over him. He''s my son. He has to listen to me in the end!"


    After so many failed attempts to arrange their marriage, each one publicly thwarted by Finnian, this victory was especially sweet. It finally restored her authority, not just over her son, but in the eyes of her future daughter-inw.


    Liliana smiled. She couldn''t quite figure Emma out, but she knew what the woman needed to hear. She showered her with praise and gratitude, stroking her ego. As predicted, Emma beamed, basking in the glory of her sess.


    ***


    News travels fast, especially when it''s not being kept a secret. By the next day, the entire city of Wye knew: Finnian, the chairman of the Everly Group was set to marry the renowned actress, filiana, The news" spread like wildfire.


    When Mr. Kevin Everly saw the headlines, he was so enraged that he mmed


    his cane on the ground, snapping it in two.


    Amara heard the crash and rushed


    to his side, gently patting his back. She saw the news article on the phone ying of his desk "Grandpa, please don''t be angry," she said softly. "Ms. Porter is a good person."


    "She''s beautiful, has high emotional intelligence, and knows how to handle


    herself. Her family background might be ordinary, but at least it''s clean. Mr. Everly will be happy with her."


    Saying the words felt like swallowing


    ss, but after the turmoil of the previous night, she had found a fragile sense of resolve Herpriority how was to calm Mr. Everly. At his age


    such intense anger could be dangerous.


    But Mr. Kevin Everly was beyond reason. "I''m going to find that bastard!" he roared, mming his hand on the table. "How did I raise such a disappointment? Is he trying to send me to an early grave?"