"Amara! Stop right there!"


    Edith hurried after her, blocking Amara at the entrance to the hall. Her voice was sharp and unforgiving: "Whose child are you carrying?"


    Amara frowned. "That''s my personal business—I don''t have to tell you. Please let me go."


    She didn''t bother with any polite niceties anymore; she was desperate to get out.


    But the more anxious Amara seemed, the more convinced Edith became that she was hiding something. Edith''s tone grew even harsher. "Why won''t you answer me? Amara, is that baby your ex-husband''s?"


    She nced back at Finnian before turning to Amara again, her voice rising. "Or is the baby Finnian''s?"


    Tina had only hinted at this earlier with a look-never saying it out loud-so people hadn''t quite grasped the situation. But now, with Edith spelling it out for the whole room to hear, there was no room for doubt. The shock rippled through the crowd, and once again, every eye turned to Finnian.


    Seemingly oblivious to themotion she had caused, Edith jabbed a finger toward Amara''s belly. "You''re pregnant with your ex-husband''s child and still trying to marry my son? How shameless can you be?"


    "I could tell something was off between you and your ex-husband that day. Why don''t you just get back together with him instead of clinging to my son? You really have no shame!"


    Her usations were relentless. Amara closed her eyes for a moment, fighting the urge to shout back. Why did Edith have to expose everything in front of everyone? She had almost made it out of the hall-just a few more steps and she would have been safe...


    Tina''s silent warning had left things ambiguous, but Edith''s outburst had pushed the situation past the point of no return.


    Just then, Finnian and Keith strode over. Keith quickly grabbed Edith, pulling her aside and whispering, "Mother, please, that''s enough. We need to leave."


    He tried to lead Edith away. She resisted, clearly wanting to continue her confrontation with Amara, but Keith was stronger and managed to escort her out.


    Meanwhile, Finnian stepped in front of Amara and led her outside. He spoke, each word measured and intense: "What''s going on? What did she mean your child is mine?"


    It was just after six in the evening. The winter night in Wye was pitch ck,


    the the two of them stood in the corner for the soft w?rm


    glow of the lights. "Amara''s face


    looked even paler in the yellowish light.


    Finnian''s eyes were dark and searching, fixed on her, his expression impossible to


    read.


    Amara''s mind was a mess. She''d


    long since convinced herself that the baby had nothing to do with Finnian, but now-confronted by him so directly-she couldn''t help but panic alittle. "


    "The baby has nothing to do with you. Don''t overthink it."


    After a moment, Amara realized she shouldn''t let herself be intimidated. Tina hadn''t said anything outright, and Edith was just guessing—Finnian had no proof. Her confidence returned.


    She shook Finnian off and said coldly, "Tonight is your rehearsal dinner. You should go find your fiancée. Don''t talk to me. Did you forger we agreed not to see each other in private anymore?


    Trying to keep herposure, Amara pushed past Finnian, took Tina by the hand,


    and quickly left the Everly family estate.


    Finnian wanted to go after her, but Emma appeared and grabbed his arm, demanding to know what had happened.


    Back in the hall, the guests were abuzz with gossip, everyone whispering about what they''d just witnessed. Finnian had no choice but to go back inside and deal with the chaos.