Finnian''s words left the living room in uneasy silence.


    He and Amara had already registered their marriage, but everyone knew he had no desire to marry Liliana. Liliana''s expression darkened, and Emma''s anger was palpable.


    "Finn, did you not sleep wellst night?” Emma asked.


    Liliana, recognizing this wasn''t the time for sulking, approached Finnian and gently


    took his arm, testing his mood. "You should get some rest. We still have time to prepare a small reception. I''ll handle everything with your mother. You just focus on resting."


    But Finnian quietly pulled his arm away, nodded, and headed upstairs without another word.


    Liliana watched him go, anxiety creeping into her heart. How could things havee to this? She thought that since Finnian hade home and hadn''t called off the wedding, it meant Amara''s baby had nothing to do with him. Yet the event had truly happened, and she couldn''t shake her growing unease.


    Finnian had no intention of actually resting at the estate. He went upstairs only to gather his things, then left and returned to his own apartment.


    Emma came out of her room after collecting some clothes, only to discover Finnian was gone. After asking around, she learned he''d already left for his apartment and was furious. “He''s run off again? He''s so irresponsible! He''s driving me crazy!"


    As Emma started to lose her temper, Liliana hurried tofort her. "Mrs. Everly, please don''t be upset. Finn''s probably just exhausted. The estate is crowded and noisy-it''s no ce for him to rest..."


    Hogan stood by, observing the scene with cool detachment.


    He knew Finnian didn''t truly want to marry Liliana; he was only doing it because he had no other choice. Yet his aunt was so fond of Liliana. The whole thing felt like a farce.


    Emma noticed Hogan and called him over. "Hogan,e here. Take this suit to Finnian''s apartment. He''ll need it for tonight."


    Hogan didn''t object-he wanted to check on Finnian anyway-so he took the suit and headed out.


    When he arrived at Finnian''s apartment, Hogan sat down on the sofa, poured himself a ss of water, and then asked about what happened the previous day.


    "Finnian, what exactly happened yesterday? Is Amara''s baby yours?"


    He was genuinely shocked-could Amara''s child really be Finnian''s? It seemed impossible.


    Finnian shook his head. "No."


    "No?" Hogan pressed, "How far along is Amara?"


    "Four months," Finnian replied.


    Four months... Something about that struck Hogan as odd.


    He felt like he was on the verge of connecting the dots-just a few key details and he''d see the truth. But he couldn''t quite recall what those details were and if let him frustrated.


    Finnian reclined on the sofa, already changed into soft,fortable loungewear. He took a sip of


    whiskey and said,


    on''t you he


    have


    things to do? You should go need


    to rest for a while."


    Clearly in a foul mood and seeking solitude, Finnian made it clear he wanted to be left alone. Hogan didn''t push him further, just reminded him not to drink too much before leaving.


    Once the living room was quiet again, Finnian tried calling Amara, only to find that he was still blocked. He sighed.


    Returning to his bedroom, hey down on therge bed, staring nkly at the ceiling, eyes vacant.


    It was true-he had never actually slept with Amara. The only time they''de close was that day...


    He''d been set up by Emma and Liliana. Ovee by desire, he''d rushed back to the estate to find


    k?r


    Amara, ending up using her legs, hands... but they hadn''t actually gone all the way.


    So perhaps it was because he wanted so badly for there to be something between


    them that he let his imagination run wild.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!