Elysia smiled. "It''s not just how I feel-Keith told me himself."


    "It''s been a few months already," Elysia continued. "He came to me and said he liked you. I was honestly happy to hear it. He''s a great guy, and the two of you have always been so close. I was hoping he''d pursue you and you''d end up together."


    “But after I found out about his parents, I stopped wishing for you to marry him. Still, I didn''t say anything because I didn''t want it to affect your friendship. Who would''ve thought you''d figure it out on your own?"


    Amara was stunned.


    So Keith really did like her-and he''d told Elysia about it long before.


    Suddenly, she remembered something: when Keith first found out she was pregnant, he''d been extremely upset and even tried to pressure her into getting an abortion. At the time, she thought he was being unreasonable and got angry with him.


    Thinking about it now, his reaction made perfect sense—he liked her!


    If a man is in love with a woman, why would he want her to have another man''s child?


    Butter, Keith hade to ept it. Why? Was it because his feelings for her were so deep?


    Amara opened her mouth, but a wave of panic and helplessness washed over her.


    Elysia sighed and took her hand. "I really did hope you two would end up together. Remember when you said you needed someone for a fake marriage? I kept rmending Keith because I knew he truly liked you."


    "If he could marry you, he''d be thrilled and you two might have actually had a chance together. But I never expected his parents to be so overbearing.”


    Elysia frowned. "I''ve asked around these past few days. Edith and Nathan are incredibly old-fashioned. You absolutely must not marry Keith. If you do, you''ll just end up miserable."


    Amara was still in shock and murmured, "No, I won''t. I definitely won''t marry Keith..."


    She had already decided against the fake marriage; now, knowing how Keith really felt, there was no way she could agree to it.


    She had always seen Keith as a friend. He''d always acted like a friend too. When did things change?


    Of course—it must have been after they reunited three years ago, after her appearance was restored.


    Back then when she''d been


    considered unattractive, Keith''s feelings were purely friendly. Now


    that she looked different


    seemed


    natural that people''s attitudes


    towards her would change


    Amara clenched her fists, feelingpletely lost.


    She really valued Keith as a friend. Why did he have to fall for her? Could they even stay friends now?


    Elysia tried tofort her. “You''re feeling stuck right now, aren''t you? It''s tough Keith really does care about you, and it''ll hurt him if you


    don''t return his feelings. But there''s nothing do if you just don''t ou can feel that way."


    Amara gave a wry smile and nced down at Elysia''s hand gripping hers—her friend''s fingers were almost white.


    She asked, "What''s going on with you, though? Are you sick?"


    She leaned over and touched Elysia''s forehead. Thankfully, it didn''t feel warm.


    Elysia sighed. "I''m not sick—I''m pregnant. Ama, I''m going to have a baby I''ve been so nauseous these past few days, I can''t keep anything down. I''ve lost four or five pounds already."


    Amara was shocked. How could Elysia be pregnant?


    Most women realize they''re pregnant after missing their period for over a month— they''d go get checked out right away.