Finnian''s gaze was somber. "When I first learned the truth, I kept imagining what could have been. If Liliana hadn''t intervened, Amara and I would probably..."


    He couldn''t let himself finish the thought. The vision in his mind was so beautiful, but it only made the harsh reality feel more painful. To keep imagining an unreal future was almost unbearable.


    Dorian nodded. "Yeah, if things had gone differently, you and Amara would be happy together now. And, honestly, Liliana is unbelievably bold."


    "Faking that she slept with you was wild enough, but then to im she was pregnant on top of that..."


    "If Hogan hadn''t stepped in, Liliana would be iming to be four months pregnant by now. Wait another half a year, and she''d show up with some baby from who- knows-where, iming it was yours, and secure her position as the next Mrs. Everly."


    "She really had it all nned out. And for her to pull something like that off, she must be way more calcting than most people. That woman is definitely something else."


    As he spoke, a cold smile flickered at the corners of Dorian''s mouth.


    He''d never liked Liliana—even less so now-but now he couldn''t help feeling a grudging respect. Anyone willing to tell a lie that bold had guts most people just didn''t have. It was just a shame she didn''t put her smarts to better use.


    "Finn, are you still going to keep pursuing Amara?" Dorian asked. "It''s not like you really slept with Liliana, and her so-called pregnancy and miscarriage were both fake. You don''t have to feel guilty anymore."


    Finnian nodded of course, he was determined to win Amara back.


    Then, as if something had just urred to him, he broke into a silly smile. "I''m going to be a dad."


    There was a goofy, almost absurd happiness on his face-so much so that Dorian couldn''t even stand to look at him.


    "Are you serious right now?" Dorian nudged him with his foot under the table. "Go look at yourself in the mirror. You lookpletely ridiculous."


    Finnian shot him a look. "What''s so weird about me?"


    Dorian rolled his eyes. "Everything about you right now is weird."


    Finnian let the subject drop. "I went to see Amara yesterday, but she doesn''t want to be with me," he said, his voice a little downcast.


    Dorian nodded. "Amara''s known all along what happened between you two-and that she''s carrying your chud but she still refused to tell you the truth. Clearly, she really doesn''t want to be with you. Winning her back isn''t going to be easy.


    Finnian nced at the letter Dorian had just finished and set aside. "I think your path might be even tougher than mine."


    Dorian felt a pang of discouragement and immediately lost his confidence.


    Just then, Finnian''s phone rang. He nced at the caller ID, and his expression turned cold.


    Seeing this, Dorian asked, "Is it Liliana?"


    Finnian shook his head. "It''s my mom."


    He picked up the phone, walked over to the window, and answered-without saying a word.


    "Finnian, where did you go? Why did you leave? Didn''t I tell the staff to have you wait for me at home?" Emma''s voice stormed through the line.


    "Come over right now. To my apartment. I''m waiting for you."


    And with that, Emma hung up.


    Emma''s voice was so loud that Dorian heard every word. "Are you going to go?" he asked.


    Finnian nodded. "Yeah, I have to."


    He needed to make it clear he


    wasn''t going to marry Liliana any more, and there was no way around that conversation. He walked, to the entryway, grabbed the jacket he''d just taken off, put it back on, and went out the door.