"Finn."


    Watching Finnian''s eyes follow Amara as she walked away, while hepletely ignored her, Liliana felt a surge of anger and jealousy.


    She tugged at Finnian''s sleeve. He nced at her, and the cold, dismissive look in his eyes sent a chill through her.


    "Finn, why are you looking at me like that?"


    Did he think her timing was too suspicious? Was he starting to get the wrong idea? Liliana''s heart raced with unease.


    In fact, Finnian had already guessed why Liliana had shown up here, but he couldn''t be bothered to get involved. He withdrew his gaze and replied coolly, "It''s nothing. You should head back. Dorian and I still have things to discuss."


    Liliana felt wronged. Why didn''t Finnian want to take her along?


    But she told herself to be patient. There would be plenty of time to win him over after they got married; she was confident that, eventually, she''d win his heart.


    After leaving the tea house, Amara first stopped by the old family estate to spend some time with Mr. Kevin Everly. She chatted with him for a while but didn''t stay for dinner—she''d promised to eat with Elysia at the vi and spend the night there.


    When Amara entered the vi, she found Elysia sitting on the sofa in a satin dress, her makeup subtle and elegant. A coat and handbag sat by her side, clearly indicating she was about to go out. Amara asked, "Are you going somewhere?”


    Elysia nodded. "Jessica messaged me. She wants to meet. I''m nning to go see her."


    Amara frowned. "What did she say?"


    Elysia handed her phone to Amara, who skimmed the message and said with annoyance, "She''s definitely up to something. But if you want to meet her, I''ll go with you."


    Elysia nodded, and the two of them set out together to a nearby coffee shop.


    In the corner of the café, Jessica sat dressed in a simple white dress.


    Objectively, Jessica had a delicate, innocent look, with a fragile charm that could easily evoke sympathy—not just from men, but from women too.


    Amara and Elysia exchanged a nce at the door, then walked over arm in arm. Jessica spotted them quickly.


    “Elysia, you''re here. Ms. Sullivan, you came too. Please, have a seat," Jessica greeted them, standing up with the polite deference of someone younger addressing her elders.


    Elysia''s voice was cold. "Drop the act. If you have something to say, just say it.”


    She set her bag down on the table with a thud, pulled out a chair, and sat, fixing Jessica with a steely gaze.


    She knew she wasn''t here to hear anything pleasant, but she''de anyway.


    Jessica looked at her and bit her lip. “Elysia, do you know how Dorian and I first met?"


    Elysia just stared at her, face expressionless. Jessica continued, "A long time ago, my brother and Dorian were very close friends. When they hung out, they would sometimes bring me along. Back then, Dorian always treated me like a little sister."


    "Then my brother got sick and passed away. My family always favored sons, so before he died, my brother knew my parents wouldn''t take good care of me after he was gone. So he asked Dorian todook after me. Dorian promised him he would."


    "After that, Dorian was always incredibly kind to me he thought of me in everything


    he did. I''ve loved him since I was a child, and I could feel that he cared for me too."


    "But," Jessica''s tone hardened,


    "when we grew up, you suddenly


    appeared and started chasing.


    Dorian getting involved with him f?r


    years. In the end you relied on your


    family''s status to marry him."