Andrew''s expression didn''t flicker. He just chuckled. "You know I''m not the most serious fellow. I''m always out drinking and meeting people. I hear a lot of things, so it''s not surprising I''d know your stepmother''s name."


    *So he has some self-awareness after all,* Amara thought, mentally rolling her eyes. "I see," she said. "Well, I''ll be heading up. Goodbye, Mr. Everly."


    Andrew watched her go, his eyes narrowing slightly. He quickly caught his son''s hostile re, shot him a grin, and turned to find Mr. Kevin Everly.


    The next day at noon, Keith asked her out to lunch again. Amara got ready and met him at a restaurant on Galleria Lane.


    Dressed in casual clothes and looking positively jubnt, he immediately waved a crimson booklet at her. "I got the family papers! We can go get our marriage license."


    Amara was stunned. She took the booklet and flipped through a few pages. It was indeed the West family''s official document.


    "Did you steal this?" she asked.


    "Of course not. They gave it to me willingly," Keith said proudly. "Let''s go get our license on Sunday. I checked the calendar-it''s an auspicious day for a wedding."


    Edith and Nathan had given it to him willingly? Amara found that hard to believe.


    "Your parents were so firmly against our marriage the other day. Why would they suddenly change their minds?"


    Keith put the document away and said casually, "They were stubborn at first, but I threatened to never get married. I told them if they didn''t let me marry you, I''d stay a bachelor forever. That scared them, so they agreed."


    Amara thought that tactic might work on other parents, but Nathan and Edith were not easily intimidated. Could they really be swayed by a single threat?


    "Are you telling the truth?"


    Even though Amara wasn''t particrly shrewd, she felt something was off about his story.


    "Of course it''s true. Don''t you trust me?" Keith patted Amara''s head.


    "Getting the papers is a good thing You''ll be able to get your father''s assets soon. Stop overthinking t and let''s just focus on getting the license."


    With that, Keith picked up the menu and started ordering.


    They ordered their food together and then discussed decorating the house.


    Amara watched Keith the whole time. Something about his


    expression felt wrong. He seemed happy, yet it was as if he was trying hard to hide something. Was she just imagining it?


    The food arrived quickly, and they began to eat. Halfway through the meal, Amara excused herself to go to the restroom.


    On her way back, she paused at the entrance and saw Keith sitting at their table, chin in his hand He


    wasn''t on his phone, which was unusual; instead, he was staring out the window, lost in thought


    His expression wasn''t unhappy, but it certainly wasn''t joyful either. What was going on?


    As Amara approached, Keith''s face lit up. He waved her over andunched into an amusing story about something that had happened to him recently.


    Amara listened intently, but the strange feeling in her gut didn''t go away; it only grew stronger.


    After lunch, Keith had an errand to run and left first. Amara went over to Elysia''s house and told her about Keith getting the family papers.


    Elysia was thrilled. "That means you can get your marriage license, and Larry will have to give you the shares! That''s wonderful!"