ã€ŠUnder the Veil I Ruleã€‹


 Chapter 1

    "Mrs. Everly, here are the divorce papers. Please have a look, and if everything''s alright, just sign at the bottom."

    Amara stared at the papers in front of her, feeling a buzzing silence in her mind that drowned out everything else.

    "Mrs. Everly?"

    Seeing her lost in thought, Will Zade waved a hand in front of her eyes to get her attention.

    Snapping back to reality, Amara asked, one of bafflement, "Finnian wants to divorce me?"

    Her face was partially hidden behind a mask, but her dewy eyes, filled with confusion and sadness, were visible. Will felt a pang of sympathy and looked away.

    "Yes, Mr. Finnian Everly mentioned that with Mrs. Grace Everly''s passing, there''s no need to continue this marriage, so he wants to proceed with the divorce."

    Amara felt a sharp pain in her heart, but it was apanied by a strange sense of relief, as if a weight had finally been lifted off her shoulder.

    Three years ago, to bring some joy to Grace in her final days, Amara, the second daughter of the Sullivan family, who had once been disfigured, married into the Everly family and became Finnian''s wife.

    In those three years, she''d only seen Finnian a couple of times-once on their wedding day, and another a month ago at Grace''s funeral.

    Throughout those three years, Finnian never came home, clearly disregarding her as his wife. She had always known that once Grace passed, a divorce would follow.

    "Mrs. Everly?"

    After a few minutes of silence, Amara suddenly picked up a pen and signed her name decisively. Will quickly reminded her, "You haven''t checked the terms of the agreement yet."

    "No need."

    Amara capped the pen and pushed the divorce papers back to him.

    She wasn''t concerned about how much money Finnian was offering her. When the Everlys initially approached her, they hadpensated her generously, enough for her to livefortably for the rest of her

    life.

    Besides, marrying Finnian had never been about money for her. She had liked Finnian since high school, an infatuation thatsted eight years. Agreeing to marry him three years ago was just a way to fulfill her own dream.

    "Could you let him know I''ll be moving out in the next couple of days? He cane back home then." Keeping a woman he didn''t love at home and avoiding it for three years¡ªit must have been tough for him.

    Amara''s lips curled into a bitter smile, and she turned to head upstairs, holding back the tears threatening to spill.

    "Ely, I''m divorced."

    She stood by the window, calling her friend Elysia Moon, who sounded shocked. "You got divorced? Did Finnian ask for it?"

    "Yes."

    "How could he be so heartless! Noting home for three years was bad enough, but now he wants a divorce too!"

    Hearing her friend''s indignation,

    Amara pressed her lips together. "It''s no big deal, He told me from the start that he was marrying me just to make Mrs. Grace Everly happy. He never intended to fall in love with me."

    Her fingers gripped the window sill tightly as she spoke. Even though she told herself to move on, talking about it still hurt.

    "Oh, Amara, how could you be so silly?" Elysia sighed.

    As Amara''s closest friend, Elysia knew better than anyone how deeply Amara doved Finnian. Remembering all the things Amara had done for Finnian over the years, she felt it was all so unfair.

    "You worked so hard these three years to remove those scars, hoping Finnian would at least notice you. Now that you''ve finally seeded, this is what happens."

    "It''s fine. My face is my own, and getting it back to normal is good for me too."

    "True, just think of it that way! You''re free now. Live your best life, and let that jerk be wherever he wants to be!"

    Elysia''s words brought a smile to Amara''s face, easing the tension for just a moment. But then her eyes fell on

    the wall where a lone wedding photo hung, causing her heart to ache once more.

    She removed her mask, gazing at her reflection¡ªa beautiful face tinged with mncholy.

    After all these years of marriage,

    Finnian had no idea what she truly looked like, She had been Mrs. Everly in name only for three years, the subject of gossip in their social circle. Now it was over, and perhaps,

    was a new beginning.

 Chapter 2

    "Hey, Ama, don''t be upset. Let''s go out for a bit. I''ll treat you to some delicious food!" Elysia suggested. "Alright, let me just grab my things, and we can head out."

    Life has to go on, Amara thought, as she tidied herself up and drove to Galleria Lane. She met Elysia at an upscale shopping mall.

    Amara stood tall at 5 feet 7, with a perfectly bnced figure. If it wasn''t for the mask she wore to protect her sensitive skin, she would surely turn heads everywhere.

    The duo took the esctor up to the second floor, which was dedicated to women''s handbags. Elysia, eager to celebrate Amara''s divorce, insisted on gifting her a purse. Despite Amara''s protests, Elysia was persistent.

    "Ama, let''s check out that section. The sales associate said they just got some new arrivals. Maybe you''ll find something you like," Elysia said, pointing excitedly toward the CAVELLE disy.

    Amara nodded and walked toward the sleek, elegant counter. But as soon as she spotted the man standing there, she froze in her tracks.

    The man was tall, about 6 feet 2, dressed in a ck shirt and tailored pants, his profile facing Amara, standing with one hand casually in his pocket. His gaze slightly lowered, his demeanor was nonchnt, yet he looked like he could step right into any movie scene.

    Amara was puzzled. Why was her husband, Finnian, who was always so busy running multiplepanies, here at the mall in the middle of the day?

    Just then, a beautiful woman with long, wavy hair approached and wrapped her arm around Finnian''s. She pointed to a red handbag on the shelf and cooed, "Finn, I want that one. Doesn''t it go perfectly with my dress today?"

    Finnian nced at it and instructed the sales associate, "Wrap that one up."

    At that moment, Amara''s mind went nk, a loud buzzing filling her head. She stared hard at the profile of the woman in the red dress, unaware that her nails were digging into her palm.

    "Who is that woman?" Elysia''s eyes became wide. "Is she Finnian''s..."

    Though Elysia held back the word "lover", Amara understood all too well. Despite the summer heat, she felt as if she had plunged into icy waters, chills running through her bones.

    So Finnian wanted a divorce not only because she was no longer of use to the Everly family but because he had someone else all along?

    The woman in red giggled. "Aren''t you going to ask the price?"

    Finnian, always distant and exuding a natural elegance, remained detached to everyone, and yet at the moment he just allowed that woman grasping his arm and acting all coquettish. He uttered, "The price doesn''t matter. If you like it, that''s all that counts."

    Amara took two steps back, clutching her aching heart, wishing she could disappear right then and there. Suddenly, she noticed Elysia''s actions and panicked. "Ely! What are you doing?"

    Elysia squeezed between Finnian and the woman in red, leaning on the counter with a yful grin. "Lina, I want that red bag. I messaged you about it yesterday. Wrap it up for me"

    She pped a ck card on the counter and shed a smile at the woman in red, though her eyes were devoid of any humor.

    Seeing this unfold, Amara felt her head spin. Reluctantly, she walked over, avoiding Finnian''s gaze, and tugged Elysia''s arm as she gently said, "Ely, let''s just go."

    Finnian, initially ring at Elysia, suddenly recognized the familiar presence. His eyes focused on Amara. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his well-shaped brows furrowing as he stared into Amara''s bright eyes. Despite their infrequent meetings, he knew her instantly. She was hiswful wife, Amara.

    Amara turned, trying to steady her trembling voice. "We''re just shopping. Sorry if we''re intruding."

    Irritated by Amara''s mild attitude, Elysia was about to retort when the woman in the red dress sized up Amara and extended her hand confidently.

    "You must be Ms. Sullivan. I remember seeing you at Mrs. Grace Everly''s funeral. I''m Liliana Porter."

    Liliana? Amara''s face turned pale.

    For eight years, she had loved Finnian, and countless times she had heard the name Liliana¡ªFinnian''s first love. This name was etched into her heart like a haunting nightmare.

    Though she was aching inside, Amara showed no sign of it. She reached out and shook Liliana''s hand.

 Chapter 3

    For the past three years, she had really tried with Finnian.

    She poured her heart into mastering the art of cooking, showing up at Finnian''s office every day with a warm meal, hoping he''d enjoy a hot dish after work. But he never even took a bite, and he wouldn''t evene out to see her.-

    Amara spent her hard-earned money from writing to buy Finnian clothes, piece after piece, only for Will to subtly point out that they just piled up, gathering dust in the corner, never worn.

    These things left Amara feeling pretty down. She figured Finnian must find her unattractive.

    Before they got married, Finnian had seen a picture of her, her once-simple face marred by two severe scars. Even she found it hard to look at herself, so shepletely understood Finnian''s feelings.

    So, she thought, she''d just have to make herself more attractive before approaching Finnian again.

    Finnian was top-notch in every way, and only a woman who matched his caliber could stand by his side, she thought. She got that.

    What she hadn''t expected was that all her efforts over the past three years would be in vain, because Finnian already had someone else.

    "Are you shopping too, Ms. Sullivan?" Liliana withdrew her hand and smiled.

    Just as Amara was about to speak, Elysia jumped in, "Not Ms. Sullivan, she''s still Mrs. Everly, so please show some respect."

    Amara had just signed the divorce papers that morning. It would take a few days for the divorce to be finalized, so Elysia wasn''t wrong. Liliana''s face turned sour.

    Finnian nced at Amara with a cold expression and said, "Come over here."

    Amara had no idea what Finnian wanted to talk about, and she felt a bit nervous as she followed him to a nearby hallway.

    Finnian looked down at her, his voice bone-chilling icy. "Keep your friend in check."

    Amara clenched her fists.

    His words were pretty harsh on Elysia, but to be fair, Elysia had been giving the other woman a hard time. Was Finnian upset because his beloved was getting hassled?

    She gripped her fists tighter and said, "I know, Elysia just misunderstood something earlier, she didn''t mean anything by it. You don''t have to worry."

    With that, Amara maintained aposed demeanor as she walked away, grateful she was wearing a mask. At least Finnian wouldn''t see the pallor of her face.

    In the parking lot, Elysia eximed, fumed, "Those two are unbelievable! I just want to give them few kicks!" Amara chuckled, patting her on the shoulder to calm her down, though her own gaze grew somber. "Actually, Finnian didn''t do anything wrong," she said quietly. "He just doesn''t love me."

    Elysia understood all that. If Finnian simply didn''t love Amara, then Amara walking away with a few million dors could be considered a good deal, but...

    "Are you still not going to tell him about what happened a month ago?"

    That question made Amara''s face go pale.

    Most people thought she and Finnian had only met twice, but the truth was, they''d met three times.

    A month ago, Finnian had been

    drugged and, in a haze, ended up at the Everly family estate. Amara had been there taking care of Grace, and they ended up getting intimate.

    The next morning, Amara was in a rush to deal with work and left early. When she finally finished her tasks, she intended to tell Finnian about it, but Grace suddenly fell critically ill and passed away within two days, leaving the Everly family in chaos.

    By the time the funeral was over, Finnian had gone abroad for over half a month, and when he finally returned, she was greeted with divorce papers.

    "And what good would telling him do? He''d just add another line to the divorce settlement," Amara said with a bitter smile.

    Elysia sighed and gave Amara a hug.

    "Well, that''s that. Just keep the

    money and let me look out for you from now on. Oh, by the way, did you..." Elysia suddenly remembered. After that night, with the chaos of Grace''s passing, she wasn''t sure if Amara had taken any precautions.

    But just then, Amara''s phone rang, and Elysia decided to bring it upter. Unfortunately, she forgot to mention

    it entirely.

 Chapter 4

    At that evening, Amara received a call from Kevin Everly, inviting her over for dinner at the family estate. Without hesitation, she made her way there.

    Upon entering the house, she was surprised to see Finnian was also present. It was unusual since he typically made himself scarce whenever she visited, perhaps deliberately avoiding her.-

    Ignoring Finnian, she walked straight to Kevin. "Grandpa, I''m here."

    "Oh, Ama, there you are! Let me have a look at you," Kevin said, reaching out his hand.

    "My friend dropped by earlier with a figurine of St. Nichs, and I decided to keep it. When are you and Finn going to give me a great-grandchild? I''d love nothing more than to hold one in my arms."

    A great-grandchild?

    Presumably out of some psychological effect, the thought made Amara feel a wave of nausea, which she quickly suppressed. Her eyes drifted to the St. Nichs figurine on the table, and she couldn''t help but smile bitterly.

    They were on the brink of divorce; there wasn''t going to be a child.

    "Grandpa, there''s something I need to tell you."

    She decided it was time to face facts, especially with Finnian there. With resolve, Amara began, "Actually, the two of us have already di-"

    Kevin suddenly erupted into a fit of coughing so violent it seemed like his chest might burst. Startled, Amara and Finnian rushed to support him back to his bedroom.

    "Grandpa, what''s wrong? Are you feeling okay?" Amara''s voice wasced with concern.

    "I''m fine, just feeling lonely. Ever since Grace left, this big ol'' house is just so empty. Why don''t you two stay here for a while? It''ll be a perfect time for you to start a family."

    Kevin''s hopeful gaze was so intense that Amara couldn''t bring herself to refuse him outright, so she lowered her eyes in silence.

    Later, in their room, she turned to Finnian. "When are we going to tell Kevin about the divorce?"

    Previously, it was Will who had approached her with the divorce papers, and they had never discussed it directly until now.

    Finnian leaned against the doorframe, his face half-shadowed by the light. "Let''s wait until Grandpa''s medical results are in and see how he is. He hasn''t been welltely."

    "Alright."

    Kevin was the only person who had treated her kindly since she married into the Everly family three years ago. She genuinely cared about his well-being and had no objections to the n.

    That night, under Kevin''s watchful eye, they found themselves sharing a room.

    The room had just one bed and one nket, with no room for a makeshift sleeping arrangement on the floor. Fortunately, the bed wasrge enough for them to sleep at afortable distance apart, avoiding any awkwardness.

    After freshening up, Amara got into bed in her pajamas. In the stillness of the night, the sound of her own heartbeat seemed loud in her ears. She felt uneasy sharing a bed with Finnian but willed herself to clear her mind and try to sleep.

    Suddenly, she felt movement from his side of the bed. The sensation of him turning towards her made her heart race.

    "Amara," Finnian''s voice broke the silence, low and smooth.

    "That chicken soup you made earlier was really good."

    Amara asked, unable to hide her surprise. "You actually drank it?"

    "Yes."

 Chapter 5

    Amara clutched the nket tightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought you tossed it away."

    She didn''t dare nce at Finnian''s face, sensing his surprise through the heavy silence that hung in the air. Then came his voice, a slight lilt at the end. "It''s good, why would I do that?"

    Amara pressed her lips together, staying silent. Every time she had tried to bring him a meal, he''d refuse to see her. She''d even witnessed his assistant tossing out the food she''d lovingly prepared.

    "Why so quiet?"

    Finnian''s voice broke the silence, as deep and resonant as a cello in the night.

    "It''s nothing. Let''s just sleep," Amara murmured back.

    There was no point in dwelling on why Finnian might have drunk the soup she made. They were heading for a divorce, after all, and fussing over these things wouldn''t change a thing.

    What mattered now was figuring out how to navigate life afterwards.

    Morning broke bright and clear.

    Amara woke up groggily to a buzz from her phone on the nightstand. Instinctively, she reached out and saw a message from Cedric Zade, [We''ve cast the lead actress. She''s a new starlet this year. Let me know what you think.]

    Amara was a professional screenwriter, and hertest script, "Whispers of Winter", was about to begin filming. Casting was in full swing.

    She opened the photo and stared at the image of a gorgeous woman with cascading curls. It was none other than Liliana, Finnian''s first love, whom she''d seen at the mall yesterday.

    Amara''s body convulsed, her phone nearly slipping out of her hand.

    Finnian''s phone buzzed on the other side of the bed. It was his personal phone without any trade secret contained, which wasn''t set to hide notifications. Amara couldn''t help but see Liliana''s message sh across the screen, [Finn, I''m pregnant. We''re going to have a baby!]

    Amara''s eyes widened slowly. They were having a child? An overwhelming sharp pain spread across her chest.

    The bathroom door opened with a bang, and Finnian emerged, a towel wrapped around his waist, steam rising off his freshly showered skin.

    Amara quickly turned away, her fingers gripping the nket tightly to hide her red-rimmed eyes. Even as she tried to keep herposure, her knuckles whitened, alerting Finnian that something was off. "What''s wrong?" he asked.

    Amara bit her lip, fighting back the urge to choke up and replied steadily, "I''m fine."

    As she released her lip, a deep crimson mark was left behind. Finnian had only asked out of courtesy. Seeing her dismiss the question, he picked up his phone.

    Amara knew what he was doing. She didn''t look back, pretending to be engrossed in her own phone, though her vision blurred.

    Soon, Finnian left the room, and Amara rushed into the bathroom, sshing water on her face, forcing herself to stay calm.

    She scrutinized Liliana''s r¨¦sum¨¦ once more, responding to Cedric, [Her acting is decent, but she doesn''t quite match the essence of Isabe Winter. I don''t think she''s right for the role.]

    [Alright, I''ll look for someone else.]

    Amara sent back an [OK], set down her phone, and pped her cheeks lightly as she thought to herself, "So what if Liliana is pregnant? She''s divorcing Finnian anyway. It doesn''t matter who he has a child with."

    She kept repeating these words, using every ounce of strength to numb herself.

    As she descended the stairs, she passed by the study where a heated argument was taking ce behind the slightly ajar door.

    "I told you to break up with that actress, and you said you did, but clearly you didn''tpletely cut ties, did you? Now there''s a child involved. Aren''t you ashamed?"

    "Sir, please stop. You''ll hurt him."

    The door swung open with a bang, and Finnian stood there, his face a mask of anger. His shirt bore the marks of spilled tea, suggesting a cup had been hurled his way.

 Chapter 6

    "Are you okay?" Amara was startled and blurted out the question instinctively.

    Finnian remained silent. Just then, Kevin hobbled out with his cane, clutching Amara''s hand as he wailed, "Ama, our family has been cursed with such a disgrace! I''m so sorry for you!"

    Finnian turned his head, speaking coldly, "Once Liliana''s child is born, I''ll have him added to the Everly family lineage. Isn''t a sessor what you wanted? Well, here you go."

    "You''re saying this just to spite me! Get lost!"

    Kevin waved his cane furiously, and Finnian left without sparing a nce at Amara.

    Holding back the urge to watch him leave, Amara helped Kevin back to his bedroom before pulling Lisa aside and whispering, "What happened?"

    "Mr. Finnian Everly told Mr. Kevin Everly first thing this morning that he''s divorcing you, and then he mentioned Liliana''s pregnant. It really upset Mr. Kevin Everly."

    Amara was taken aback. Finnian had just learned about Liliana''s pregnancy and immediately told Kevin? He must really care about Liliana, not wanting her to suffer without a proper status, which was why he did it.

    "But Kevin''s health..."

    "Ah, Mr. Kevin Everly''s health report came back fine. As long as he eats properly, he''ll be okay."

    Amara nodded. Finnian was a filial person; if Kevin''s health were really in jeopardy, he wouldn''t have acted so defiantly.

    With that in mind, there was no reason for her to stay here out of concern for Kevin''s health. She promptly returned to the house she shared with Finnian, nning to pack up and move out quickly.

    Back at the vi, Amara pulled out a suitcase she hadn''t used in a while and began folding her clothes neatly, a deep distress settling in her heart.

    She was about to leave the ce she''d called home for three years. Once she moved out, she and Finnian would truly have no future together. The thought made her heart ache.

    She thought about Liliana again, recalling Kevin''s words about "that actress."

    So, was Liliana Finnian''s ex-girlfriend?

    Perhaps when they were dating before, Kevin disapproved of someone from the entertainment industry, leading to their breakup, and now they were back together?

    The stomach was the organ that reacted to emotions, and Amara''s twisted in pain as she thought about this. A wave of nausea hit her, and she rushed to the bathroom to vomit.

    She emptied her stomach of everything she atest night, feeling somewhat relieved, only to find her clothes stained with vomit, some of it even on her arm. She took them off, deciding to shower.

    She hadn''t brought a towel with her before the shower and couldn''t wear the soiled clothes back out. Thinking it through, and remembering she was the only one in the vi, she dried herself with a towel and stepped out of the bathroom stark naked.

    And then, she felt a shadow moving towards her, and before she knew it, she had collided with someone. Amara let out a short gasp, instinctively pushing against the person''s chest.

    Their legs tangled together, and they both fell, with Amaranding right on top of the man''s chest.

    The unexpected encounter left her terrified, but in that brief instant, she recognized the man as her husband. Amara reacted quickly, unsure which part of herself to cover. She quickly pped a hand over his eyes and used his chest as leverage to try and get up. Her movements made the man beneath her tense, a vein throbbing at his temple.

    Few minutes ago, Finnian was about to enter the bathroom. Just as he reached for the door, swung open from the inside, and a sh of bare skin collided into him.

    The warmth and softness in his arms made his mind go nk, a loud ringing in his ears. Then, the person in his arms began to squirm.

    First, a soft little hand covered his eyes, and then another warm hand pressed against his chest. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, his body tensing as he growled, "Stop moving!"

    The person on top of him seemed as startled as he was, freezingpletely.

 Chapter 7

    The air felt like it had frozen solid.

    Amara was perched awkwardly on Finnian''s stomach, her knee digging into his abs, one hand bracing on his firm chest while the other covered his eyes. She hovered over him, breathing heavily.

    She intended to get off him immediately, but when he suddenly barked, "Stop moving," she froze.

    Her mind was still a bit foggy, tinged with a hint of hurt. After all, she was the one who had been bumped into and now her bare skin was prickling with goosebumps from the cold air.

    She hadn''t meant to take advantage of the situation. She just wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Why did Finnian have to yell at her?

    With a small bite to her lip, she decided she couldn''t just let him have thest word. She spoke softly, "Close your eyes, and I''ll get out of here right away."

    With that, Amara cautiously lifted her hand. Seeing that Finnian had his eyes tightly shut, hisshes trembling slightly and his jaw clenched, she quickly scrambled off him and dashed towards the bedroom.

    Finniany there, his breathing in heavy gasps. He heard a door m shut, and he propped himself up, ncing downward, his expression darkening.

    In the bedroom, Amara tried to calm her racing heart as she got dressed, making sure her mask was securely in ce.

    After checking her reflection from the mirror to ensure everything was in order, she stepped out of the room.

    A consultation with her doctor revealed that her new delicate skin couldn''t make direct contact with the air even though her face had been fully treated. The skin would turn to normal in three months, during which she needed to use the face mask.

    As she faced Finnian again in the living room, both of them felt a tad awkward.

    In the three years since their marriage, Finnian hadn''t oncee home. Now, on the rare asion he did, they''d been caught in such an embarrassing situation; the two looked diforted.

    Turning her back to him, Amara asked casually, "What brings you here?"

    Finnian replied coolly, "To pack my things."

    Amara paused. Just as she was about to ask what he meant, Finnian''s gaze fell on the open suitcase on the bedroom floor, and he looked up at her, questioning, "You''re moving out?"

    Amara nodded, feeling a twinge of bitterness. Since he was nning to divorce her, could she really justify staying here?

    Finnian continued, "Didn''t you read the divorce agreement? This house is yours."

    Amara was shocked and immediately replied, "No, that''s too much."

    This house was worth 15 million! She could never earn that much in her lifetime. Besides, the Everly family had already given her so much money, it felt overwhelming to take on more.

    Finnian gave her a curious look. In their circles, during a divorce, both parties would typically try to squeeze as much out of the other as possible.

    Why was she so willing to give up?

    "Don''t overthink it."

    Finnian''s voice turned a shade colder. "If I say it''s yours, then take it."

    Years of being in charge had lent amanding tone to his voice, leaving no room for argument. Amara initially wanted to protest. But she realized, in the past three years, she was the only one who had lived there. The house was filled with traces of her life, and Finnian likely wouldn''t return. So, leaving the house to her was a way of managing the situation.

    Dropping her gaze, she said, "Alright, you go ahead and pack. I''m going out."

    During their marriage, the Everly family''s staff had brought some of Finnian''s belongings over, but not much. He would probably finish packing quickly, so Amara decided to take a walk and return once he was done.

    As she left, Finnian''s eyes lingered on her retreating form before he finally turned away.

    Amara always wore a mask, which drew attention to her eyes as he gazed at her. Her eyes were always so bright and captivating, as if they could pull him in.

    Suddenly, he recalled the earlier moment of her soft warmth, the silky touch of her skin, and felt a flush of heat rising in him, his stomach tightening.

    Finnian cursed under his breath, fetched some clothes from the wardrobe, and headed for a cold shower.

    Outside, Amara wandered around the garden when her phone buzzed. Answering it, she heard Kevin''s exasperated voice.

    "How dare you pull this stunt? Get back here right away!"

    Amara was bewildered butplied with his request and headed to the family''s estate.

    For the past three years, Kevin had been kind to her, often buying her things, and it was he who had helped when her stepmother and stepsister caused trouble at the vi.

    Upon entering the estate, she found him seated in arge armchair, ring at her with fury.

    Before Amara could speak, he mmed a hand on the armrest and shouted, "You''ve got some nerve, trying

    to divorce! I''ve already had the paperwork pulled from the courthouse. You''re not leaving us, and that actress Liliana is not stepping foot in this family!"

 Chapter 8

    Amara''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    Kevin had revoked her divorce agreement? That was quite the shocker! And in this day and age, why the bias against celebrities? They earned good money, after all.

    "Grandpa, please, don''t do this.¡±

    She approached him, saying, ¡°Finnian and I should have informed you before deciding on the divorce. It was our fault, but we''ve thought this through. We''re just not meant to be together.¡±

    Saying that, she lowered her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. The truth was, she and Finnian weren''t ipatible¡ªthey had never even lived together.

    In the three years they had been married, Finnian hadn''te home once, leaving her to live alone in the mansion. She had be the butt of jokes among the high society circles in Wye.

    Kevin knew all too well about her plight, and his tone softened as he took her hand.

    "Ama, it''s Finn who''s let you down. These three years have been tough on you, I know."

    Every time Finnian''s long absences were mentioned either directly or subtly, Kevin looked genuinely remorseful.

    Amara pressed her lips together tightly, deciding not to defend Finnian in front of Kevin like she used to, and simply listened quietly.

    After Kevin had spoken his fill, she stepped into the hallway to call Finnian, intending to tell him about the revoked divorce agreement.

    But after dialing three times and receiving no answer, she had no idea what Finnian was up to.

    Amara pondered for a moment, deciding to speak with Kevin again to make it clear she truly really didn''t want to stay with Finnian. Just then, she received a call from an unfamiliar number.

    "Hello, who''s this?"

    The call was from Wye, so she figured it wasn''t a spam call and answered. To her surprise, it was Liliana. "Ms. Sullivan, it''s me. We met yesterday in front of CAVELLE at Luxora Square, do you remember?"

    The voice on the other end was soft and pleasant. Amara paused.

    Yesterday, she had only met two people in front of CAVELLE-Finnian and Liliana. She hesitated briefly before responding, "Ms. Porter, is there something you need?"

    Liliana hadn''t directly introduced herself, opting for a more ambiguous approach.

    She had two reasons for doing this: referring to Amara as "Ms. Sullivan" without stating her own name established a subtle power y, as if she held the upper hand.

    Secondly, by intentionally obscuring her name, she indirectly masked her identity¡ªnot as an actress, but as someone close to Finnian.

    Being a screenwriter, Amara had a knack for understanding conversational psychology and saw through Liliana''s little tricks, though she didn''t let it show. She directly asked what Liliana wanted.

    Liliana said, ¡°Finn mentioned you''re at home now. Let''s meet up.¡±

    Amara''s fingers slowly clenched, her knuckles turning a bit pale. So, Finnian and Liliana were close enough that he casually shared details like her being at home.

    Well, Liliana was carrying Finnian''s child, after all. With such an intimate bond, what couldn''t they share?

    But why did Liliana not even ask, ¡°Could we meet up?" and instead issued amand? Did she think Amara was a pushover?

    Amara''s lips curved slightly. Sure, she could be easy to push around, but only when she was powerless to fight back. She wasn''t someone everyone could bully.

    ¡°Ms. Porter, I don''t want to meet with you.¡±

    The other end of the line went silent for a few seconds, as if Liliana hadn''t expected such a response, momentarily caught off guard, and quickly thought of a counter.

    Then, Lilianaughed softly and said something. Amara froze for a moment, her fingers, which clutched the window sill, tensing up.

    Standing by the hallway window, with the phone pressed to her ear, she stayed silent for a few seconds before saying, ¡°Alright, send me the address."

    Amara ended the call, nced at the message Liliana sent, left the Everly estate, and headed to a caf¨¦ on Galleria Lane.

 Chapter 9

    When Amara arrived at the caf¨¦, Liliana was already seated by the window, waiting for her.

    In the entertainment industry, Liliana was considered average-looking, but she had a certain allure about her. She always sported voluminous waves and bold red lipstick, exuding an air of seductive femininity.

    Amara took a seat across from Liliana and said calmly, "Ms. Porter, please go ahead."

    Earlier, Liliana had called, saying she wanted to discuss her college days with Finnian, so Amara came. She knew this was like rubbing salt in her own wounds, but she was desperate to learn about Finnian''s past.

    Liliana pulled out her phone, showing a picture of her and Finnian. They wore the typical college attire, looking much more youthful than they did now.

    "Ms. Sullivan, Finn and I were together back in college. At the time, Mr. Kevin Everly looked down on my family and forced us to break up. But Finn didn''t want to be apart from me and was ready to fight with his family over it. Even though we eventually parted ways for other reasons, Finn hasn''t been with another woman since. He''s been waiting for me all these years. He''s truly devoted."

    Amara hung her head, hiding her expression, but inside, her heart felt like it was being squeezed tight.

    "Ms. Sullivan, don''t you have anything to say?" Liliana asked, curious.

    Amara wore a mask, concealing any hint of emotion, and Liliana was eager to learn her reaction. Amara lifted her head, her eyes clear and bright. "Why are you trying to tell me with all this?"

    Liliana''s lips curled into a smile, but her voicecked warmth.

    "Ms. Sullivan, you''re the one who begged Mr. Kevin Everly to retract the divorce application, aren''t you? Finn''s heart isn''t with you, and your efforts are in vain."

    Amara''s body stiffened slightly. How did Liliana know about Kevin retracting the divorce application?

    That didn''t matter. What mattered was that Liliana was using her unfairly. Amara replied calmly, "Ms. Porter, you''re overthinking it. I didn''t do that."

    Liliana clearly didn''t believe her, curling her lips upward as she said, "It''s normal for you to love Finn. After all, he''s such a charming man, but it''s important to know one''s ce. You and Finn are worlds apart. Even if you stay together, you''ll end up resenting each other. Do you know what people have been saying about you these past three years? They say you''re ridiculous and pitiable."

    Amara remained silent, her fingers trembling slightly. She wanted to snap back with, "I already told you it wasn''t me. Can''t you understand in words?" But her upbringing prevented her from speaking so harshly. Just then, a figure suddenly appeared, grabbing the coffee from the table and sshing it all over Liliana. "Liliana, can''t you understand in words? She already said it wasn''t her, yet you keep running your mouth. Are you deliberately trying to upset people?"

    "Ely?"

    Amara jumped up, shocked to see Elysia standing there, whose face filled with anger.

    "What are you doing here?"

    Elysia held the dripping coffee cup, giving Liliana a once-over.

    Liliana''s hair was soaked with coffee, sticking to her face in a mess. She red at Elysia, her arms trembling with rage.

    Elysia nced at Liliana, and then turned her attention back to Amara. "I came here to meet a client. Just wrapped up."

    With a loud thud, she ced the coffee cup back on the table and looked at Liliana again.

    "Liliana, get a grip. No matter what, the two of them are legally married. You''re the one ying the homewrecker here. Aren''t you ashamed?"

 Chapter 10

    Liliana clenched her jaw, practically steaming with anger. But she quicklyposed herself, pulling a few napkins to dab away the coffee stain on her face. Her movements were slow and elegant.

    "Amara, whether I said the truth or not, you know it pretty well. And for the record, I''m not a homewrecker. You can ask Finn yourself if you don''t believe me."

    With that, Liliana shot her a disdainful look, picked up her handbag, and left with an air of sophistication.

    Elysia watched her retreating figure, cussing out fiercely, "That wretch is such a hypocrite. How shameless!" Amara pressed her lips together tightly, choosing to stay silent.

    The fact that Liliana suggested she ask Finnian whether she was the other woman implied that Liliana was confident Finnian would defend her. Their rtionship must be strong.

    Suddenly, Amara clutched her stomach, feeling a wave of difort. "Ely, I''m not feeling well."

    "What''s wrong?" Elysia asked, rmed, quickly steadying Amara by the arm.

    Amara shook her head. It was just a sudden bout of nausea that disappeared as quickly as it came. Strange. Her stomach had always been sensitive since she was a child, so she brushed it off.

    Elysia''s client returned at that moment. After ensuring Amara was okay, Elysia went back to her meeting, and Amara hailed a cab back to her house.

    As soon as she stepped through the door, her phone buzzed. She answered it, "Hello?" "Amara," Finnian''s voice was edged with anger. "What did you say to Liliana this afternoon?" Amara paused, her hand stretching to take off her shoes. "Nothing much, why?"

    "She''s in the hospital now with contractions," Finnian said. "The baby almost didn''t make it."

    Amara''s hand froze mid-way, her body shivering slightly. After a few seconds, she found her voice again. "Is she at Novus Health? Send me the room number."

    Novus Health was the closest hospital to the caf¨¦, so Amara guessed Liliana would be there.

    Soon enough, Finnian confirmed it, and Amara slipped her shoes back on and grabbed her keys, heading out the door.

    She wanted to clear things up in front of both of them. It was Kevin''s decision not to divorce, not hers, and she wanted Liliana to stop interfering in her life.

    At Novus Health, Amara knocked on the hospital room door. A voice from inside called, "Come in," and she stepped inside.

    Liliana was propped up on a pillow, with Finnian sitting attentively by her side, the picture of a happy couple.

    Amara felt a pang in her chest, like a needle prick, and she clenched the door frame vehemently before moving closer to the bed.

    "You''re here," Finnian said, his expression frigid.

    Amara nodded, about to speak when the pale Liliana lifted herself slightly, speaking first. "Ms. Sullivan, I''m sorry for misunderstanding you earlier."

    Amara frowned. "What do you mean?"

    Liliana looked at her apologetically. "I realized afterward that Mr. Kevin Everly must have chosen you for your good character, so you must be a good person and wouldn''t cling to Finn. My contractions had nothing to do with you. The doctor said it was probably the coffee, and I''ve already exined that to Finn."

    With that, Lilianay back down, looking weak but content. Amara''s hands curled into fists.

    It felt like punching a pillow, utterly ineffective. She looked into Liliana''s eyes, which were soft and innocent, like a delicate daisy. But why was she doing this?

    It dawned on Amara then. Liliana must have been worried Amara had recorded their conversation and was preemptively covering her bases.

    As she considered her next move, a inly dressed middle-aged woman on the sofa stood up, her voice agitated.

    "It wasn''t the coffee! You''ve been drinking it all week, so why didn''t you have contractions before? It was today, after this woman''s friend called you a homewrecker and spilled hot coffee on you, that you got upset and started bleeding there."

    "Mom!" Liliana interrupted, ncing at Finnian with an embarrassed expression.

 Chapter 11

    Finnian wore a troubled expression. A month ago, he had been ensnared in a trap, only to be rescued by Liliana, because of which, she was pregnant with his child. Liliana wasn''t as unpleasant as others might believe.

    He rose and said calmly, "Could you step outside for a moment?"

    After that, Finnian walked out of the room. Amara''s face turned pale as she followed him. In the hallway, Finnian spoke, "I''ll make sure Liliana doesn''t bother you again. Please, let your friend know to stop insulting her."

    Amara bit her lip so hard it was a wonder it didn''t draw blood, though her mask hid it from Finnian''s view. She nodded, wanting to say, "Alright, I understand," but the words wouldn''te out.

    She felt a deep difort at the moment, a desperate need to leave the ce quickly.

    Noticing her distress, Finnian asked, "What''s going on?"

    Amara shook her head. "I''m fine. I should go now."

    With that, she hurried away, afraid she''d start crying if she stayed any longer.

    What kind of person was Finnian, really? He wasn''t exactly a viin. From the start, he''d been transparent about their arrangement¡ªshe was married into the Everly family to bring joy to Grace. Their marriage was nothing more than a transaction. He wouldn''t love her but wouldpensate her handsomely.

    For three years, Finnian had wired her money every month, and at their wedding, he''d shared a substantial amount of his assets with her. By those measures, he hadn''t done anything wrong.

    Yet Amara''s heart ached terribly. Because she loved him, and in his eyes, there was only room for Liliana. Outside the hospital, Amara clutched her chest, steadying herself against the wall to keep from copsing. After a moment, she caught a taxi back to the vi, just as Finnian returned to the hospital room.

    "Finn," Liliana said, raising herself slightly, "Ms. Sullivan seemed a bit off earlier. Is she alright?"

    "She''s fine," Finnian replied coolly.

    Liliana gave him a probing look as she asked, "When can we move in together? I asked the doctor during my check-up, and he said it''s better for both parents to be involved in the prenatal activities."

    Finnian settled back into his chair before replying, "Amara and I aren''t officially divorced yet. It wouldn''t be fair to her."

    That was as good as saying he didn''t n on moving in with her, and Liliana''s eyes reddened instantly.

    "Finn, do you not love me anymore? Are you still upset about me leaving you in college? I know I was wrong." Back then, Finnian and Liliana had been an item. Kevin had investigated Liliana''s family and found that her parents were blue-cor workers, and she was a film student with aspirations of bing an actress¡ªa future he found wholly uneptable. He''d forced the couple to break up, though Finnian had resisted.

    Not long after, Liliana had broken up with Finnian herself for certain reason, and actually, she didn''t mean it, just hoping to test him, but it had backfired. Finnian didn''t try to win her back like she had expected, so in a fit of fury, she went abroad.

    A yearter, when Liliana had calmed down and returned to find him, she was met with news of Finnian''s marriage.

    "I don''t hate you. There''s no need to overthink it," Finnian said after a brief silence.

    Then he stood up. "I need to get back to the office for a meeting. Rest well, and call me if you need anything."

    As Finnian left the hospital, his thoughts wandered back to Amara''s eyes. They seemed to hold a certain magic. Whenever he spoke to her, he couldn''t help but be drawn to them, trying to decipher her emotions through their depths.

    Today, she hadn''t seemed happy. What was troubling her?

    But Finnian shrugged off the thought; Amara was insignificant in his life, after all. He quickly pushed the notion aside.

    On his way back to thepany, however, a strange feeling of unease crept over him, as if something was missing. Upon arriving at the office, he passed by the secretary''s desk and nced at the empty table, suddenly realizing what was absent.

    It was Wednesday, and for the past three years, Amara had always brought him a bowl of chicken soup on Wednesdays. Today, it was nowhere in sight.

    Averting his gaze, Finnian returned to work, leaving the Everly Group an hourter to have dinner at the Everly family estate.

    As he approached the estate, he noticed a figure hesitating at the entrance, unsure of whether to go in. After parking his car, he walked over and asked, "Why are you standing out here?"

    Amara looked up, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I don''t know if I should go in."

 Chapter 12

    Half an hour ago, Kevin called her again, insisting she must not divorce Finnian and that she should stay with him at the estate for the time being. This left Amara in a bind.

    "Grandpa has withdrawn the divorce application and wants me to stay here, but....."

    Amara hesitated. Finnian cast his eyes down and said, "Let''s go inside first. I''ll handle this."

    "Alright."

    The two of them walked in together. Just as they were about to enter, Finnian suddenly asked, "Do you have someone you have feelings for?"

    Amara was taken aback, instinctively replying, "No, why?"

    Why was Finnian asking this? Could he have figured out that she had feelings for him?

    "It''s nothing," Finnian responded in a calm voice. "If you did, you could have him pick you up."

    Was he considering her feelings? Amara closed her eyes, cursing him inwardly for being foolish.

    Upstairs, Finnian asked for Kevin''s whereabouts and proceeded directly to the study, while Amara waited outside.

    The door to the study was slightly ajar, allowing Amara to hear Finnian greet Kevin. His voice, cold and devoid of emotion, followed, "I want to divorce Amara. Please don''t stand in the way."

    "You anger me on purpose, don''t you?" Kevin sounded upset.

    "You should preserve your marriage. Don''t you understand that?"

    "What''s there to preserve in a marriage without love?"

    Finnian''s voice was chilly and indifferent, tinged with a hint of disdain. Amara''s gentle demeanor paled a bit. Kevin was furious, scolding, "What kind of attitude is that? How can you treat marriage like a game?" Finnian let out a dryugh, his tone icy. "Have you forgotten how this marriage came to be?"

    This statement silenced Kevin and made Amara clench her fists outside the door.

    Unable to contain his anger, Kevin tapped his cane sharply. "Regardless, you''re married now, and you should make it work."

    Finnian''s patience was wearing thin, his voice turning more frigid. "Must I spell it out? This marriage was merely a transaction."

    A transaction, fundamentally involving someone selling and the other buying. The Everly family had given her a substantial amount of money to bring her into the family to lift their spirits.

    Amara knew Finnian meant no offense, but she couldn''t help feeling humiliated. She knocked on the door. "Kevin, I''ming in!"

    The voices inside paused. Amara patted her face, telling herself, "It''s okay, I can handle this," and mustered the courage to walk in.

    Inside, Amara saw Finnian standing in front of therge oak desk, one hand in his pocket, his handsome face shadowed with brooding. She lowered her eyes and approached Kevin.

    "Kevin," she said, her tone calm yet resolute.

    "Finnian and I don''t have feelings for each other. Our personalities just don''t mesh well. It''s better to part ways, or we''ll both be miserable."

    She thought about what Liliana had said¡ªthat they''d end up as a couple filled with resentment if they stayed together¡ªand couldn''t help but smile bitterly.

    Kevin was about to argue but was stopped by the disappointment in Amara''s eyes. Indeed, given Finnian''s attitude, he clearly didn''t see Amara as his wife. How could she continue under such circumstances?

    After a moment of thought, he waved a hand. "I''ll think about it. You two go on for now."

    Amara and Finnian left the study, and she quickly made her way downstairs.

    Being in the same space with Finnian made her ufortable now. She couldn''t stop reying his words in her mind, and it made her want to cry.

    As Finnian watched her hurried departure, his gaze hardened. She seemed to avoid being near him. Did she really not have someone she was into?

    After a while, Lisa came downstairs and said Mr. Kevin Everly wanted to see them again, asking them to return to the study.

    Amara and Finnian went back, finding Kevin now changed from sitting behind the desk to sitting on the oak sofa. He sighed and said, "Fine, you can divorce. I agree."

    Amara was taken aback. Kevin was notoriously stubborn, a fact she had be well acquainted with over the past three years. She hadn''t expected him to relent so quickly.

    At that moment, she didn''t know whether to feel sad or relieved.

    "But," Kevin continued, shifting the conversation, "wait until a month after Grace''s gone. You two got married to lift her spirits, and if you divorce now, she''d be upset if she''s here."

 Chapter 13

    Until Grace passed? Amara was momentarily stunned, unable to make sense of what she just heard.

    Then it clicked. In some local traditions here, people often said that after someone passed away, it took about forty-nine days for them to fully move on.

    That was roughly two months, which was probably why Kevin had suggested it. Amara nced over at Finnian, who was already looking her way. She quickly said, "I''m fine with whatever."

    Seeing no objection from her, Finnian replied coolly, "Alright."

    Kevin nodded. "Then, for now, you two should stay at here and keep herpany."

    Amara hesitated. She wanted to say that Grace wasn''t particrly fond of her and might get upset if she stayed there. But thedy had passed, and it seemed unnecessary to bring it up. Besides, she would soon be busy with her film crew and wouldn''t have much time at home anyway, so she nodded.

    Finnian, on the other hand, was a workaholic, spending most of his day at the office. To him, home or a hotel was all the same, so he too agreed.

    Once outside, Lisa whispered her doubt, "Mr. Kevin Everly, are you really going to let them split up?"

    A gleam shed in Kevin''s eyes. "Of course not."

    It was his dying tactics. Finnian had been away for three years, and it was natural that their rtionshipcked warmth. He was confident that spending a month together would reignite something between them.

    "Mr. Finnian Everly, Mrs. Amara Everly, are you staying for dinner?" a servant asked respectfully as they left the study. It was already past five.

    Amara felt her stomach rumble. She was indeed a bit hungry. Just then, Finnian said, "I''d like some chicken soup."

    His request was directed at Amara, who was momentarily taken aback. She nodded, saying, "Sure, I''ll make it."

    She wondered why Finnian suddenly wanted her chicken soup. Was it because it tasted good?

    Quietly, she headed to the kitchen, gathering ingredients and spices, lighting the stove, and starting her preparations. She reminded herself repeatedly that as long as they were married, it was her duty to do these things for Finnian, and not for any other reason.

    Finnian leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching her busy silhouette, momentarily lost in thought.

    Over the years, he would asionally imagine what this woman was like.

    Amara, his legal wife, could make dozens of delicious soups and various pastries. She was quite the cook. She never intruded on his space, leaving meals with his secretary and sending him a quiet text before slipping away.

    She seemed like a gentle person, maybe a bit timid. Will had mentioned she wasn''t a stay-at-home wife but a screenwriter.

    Three years ago, Amara married him after graduating college. She continued writing scripts at home, producing a couple of works and creating some memorable characters, indicating she was talented and understanding.

    Although Finnian had never been home much, he had a vague idea of what kind of person his wife was, even if her image was somewhat blurry in his mind.

    Soon, the soup was ready. Amara carefullydled it into a bowl, and a slender hand reached over. "Let me."

    Amara paused, and then handed him the bowl. "Alright."

    She had only served one bowl, nning to have herster. Finnian was about to ask why she wasn''t joining him but hesitated when he noticed the mask on her face.

    Amara left the kitchen, intending to rest upstairs, when her phone buzzed with a call from Cedric.

    "Ama, we''re starting production next week. I''ve found a new lead actress, Ste. What do you think?"

    Ste? An actress with a few years in the industry, known for her good looks and solid acting skills. Amara replied, "I think she''s a good choice."

    "Great," Cedric said. "We''ve also secured Keith West for the male lead."

    Keith had burst onto the scene three years ago, charming audiences with his looks, impressive acting, and great personality, bing a top star. Getting him onboard was quite a feat, so Cedric wasn''t really asking Amara''s opinion, just informing her.

    But after he spoke, Amara was silent, prompting Cedric to ask curiously, "Ama, why so quiet? We got Keith! Aren''t you excited? Happy? Thrilled?"

    "I am, I''m really happy."

    "Haha, I knew it! You''re so thrilled you''re speechless, right?"

    "Keith just won Best Actor, and there''s talk of him leaving TV for film. Having him in our project is a huge deal."

    Cedric could be a chatterbox, and Amara listened for a while before hanging up. She wandered to the window, lost in thought.

 Chapter 14

    Finnian had just finished his soup when he walked over and asked, "Hey, what''s up with you?"

    Amara shook her head. "I''m fine."

    She spoke without meeting Finnian''s eyes, and then she worriedly headed upstairs.

    Watching her retreating figure, Finnian furrowed his brows. What''s going on with her? She''d been distracted ever since earlier.

    Back in her room, Amara scrolled through her contacts and found Keith, someone she hadn''t been in touch with for ages.

    When she checked Keith''s Facebook, she noticed she was blocked. No wonder she hadn''t seen any updates from him in so long. Amara couldn''t help butugh wryly at the situation.

    Later that evening, Finnian was on his way back to the office for ate meeting when he received a call from Liliana.

    "Hey, Finn."

    Liliana had this way of stretching out her words, adding a yful, almost flirtatious tone without overdoing it. "Do you know about the ''Whispers of Winter'' project? I really want to be in it. The director had initially picked me during auditions, but the scriptwriter vetoed it."

    Finnian didn''t delve into the details, but since she wanted it, he simply said, "Don''t worry about it. I''ll handle this."

    "Great. You''re the best."

    After hanging up, Finnian instructed Will to get in touch with the "Whispers of Winter" production team and find a way to get Liliana a part. The name of the project seemed oddly familiar to him. Had he heard it somewhere before, or was it just a figment of his imagination?

    The following days saw Amara moving to the Everly house, where she buried herself in her room rewriting scripts, rarely stepping out.

    Finnian was also busy with early starts andte returns, making it nearly impossible for them to cross paths, much to the dismay of Kevin.

    Finally, the first day of shooting arrived. Amara hailed a cab to the set, where Cedric greeted her with enthusiasm and pulled her along.

    "Come on, the actors for the lead roles are here. You have to see them."

    Ste was an actress who had been in the business for a few years without much fanfare. Amara had met her once and wasn''t particrly impressed, but since Ste was cast as the character she had created, Amara was keen to give her a proper look.

    However, upon entering the set, she saw a striking woman with red lips, smiling at her and Cedric. Amara was taken aback. Wasn''t that Liliana? What was she doing here?

    "Ama, this is Liliana. She graduated from the Film Academy, modeled during college, and even did some acting abroad for a couple of years. She will be ying Isabe, and I''m sure she''ll bring the character to life."

    "Cedric," Amara interrupted, her face taut with tension. "Wasn''t it supposed to be Ste? Why did it change to Ms. Porter?"

    It wasn''t a question to be asked in front of others, but seeing Liliana''s smug demeanor and the gleam of triumph in her eyes made Amara''s anger bubble up.

    Truth be told, when Cedric initially asked if Liliana was a good fit, Amara was hesitant. The thought of Liliana starring in her script was unsettling.

    However, her work ethic pushed her to thoroughly review Liliana''s acting clips, leading her to conclude that Liliana wasn''t suitable for Isabe''s role. Thus, she had vetoed Liliana''s casting primarily because thetter truly didn''t fit the part.

    But now, how had the lead role reverted to Liliana?

    "Oops, guess I forgot to mention..." Cedric smacked his forehead, saying, "The change happened a few days ago. Slipped my mind to tell you."

    As Liliana listened to their conversation, her lips curled into a mocking smile, her attitude exuding superiority to the fullest.

    Amara was furious but struggled to maintain herposure. She uttered, "Cedric, I really don''t think Ms. Porter fits the role."

    Liliana was gorgeous and a decent actress, certainly capable of ying a lead. But she had a sultry charm, asionally softened with a touch of innocence. Isabe was pure in appearance yet inherently strong, a stark contrast to Liliana''s persona.

    Amara was usually timid, except when it came to her work, where she held her ground firmly. She considered it her only strength.

    "Ama, I know she''s not ideal, but there''s nothing we can do," Cedric whispered, clearly troubled. "Some big shot invested specifically for Liliana. We can''t afford to offend the investor."

    Investment? Amara''s head shot up, looking incredulously at Liliana.

    Just then, a cool voice echoed across the room. "I brought Liliana in. She wanted to do this project."

 Chapter 15

    Amara turned her head.

    Walking toward her was Finnian. He was dressed in a tailored ck shirt and cks, his broad shoulders and narrow waist entuating his long, graceful legs. His physique was enough to make even the top male models feel a twinge of envy.

    And then there was his face, handsome enough to overshadow any star.

    When he first stepped onto the set, the young women couldn''t help but scream and gawk at him. The actors, who usually seemed miles above the extras, were suddenly pale inparison.

    As Amara watched him, she couldn''t help but think back to when she first met Finnian in their senior year of high school. She, too, had been dazzled by his looks.

    But recalling what Finnian had just said made her heart feel like it had been pricked by a needle.

    "Ms. Porter isn''t quite right for the role," she said bluntly to Finnian. "She doesn''t match the image of Isabe."

    ¡°Images can be adjusted," Finnian replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. ¡°Besides, the whole production team has already signed off on this."

    Implying that her opinion as a mere scriptwriter didn''t matter. Amara bit her lip hard, her heart twisting painfully.

    "Look at how much he stands up for Liliana," she thought to herself. "Just because she wants this role, he, who usually stays away from the film industry, would invest in this project. He''s willing to do anything for Liliana."

    "This is final," Finnian said. "There won''t be any more changes."

    This statement made Liliana''s smile widen. Amara, wearing a mask, hid her emotions, but her clenched fists and fiery gaze made it clear she was angry.

    Liliana stepped forward with her sweet voice. "Finn, don''t argue with Ms. Sullivan because of me. I really like the role of Isabe, but I understand Ms. Sullivan''s being displeased since she''s the scriptwriter."

    She then turned to Amara with sincerity. "Ms. Sullivan, I truly want to be a part of this project. I promise to give it my best, please don''t be upset."

    Cedric looked at the three of them, puzzled. He sensed the vibe among these three was amiss, feeling like he was missing something important.

    Amara and Finnian''s marriage was a secret. Cedric didn''t even know they knew each other and assumed Amara was simply opposing an investor''s meddling with casting.

    He tried to ease the tension. ¡°Let''s leave it at that. Liliana is a seasoned actress; she''ll do a great job."

    Amara closed her eyes briefly, unsure of what to say. The investors, the director, they were all on Liliana''s side. It seemed she couldn''t change anything.

    "Come with me,¡± Finnian said, ncing at her before walking away. Amara followed.

    In the hallway, Finnian said calmly, ¡°Liliana will do well in this role. There''s nothing to worry about."

    Would Liliana handle the role well? Her acting skills were adequate; she wouldn''t ruin the show at least. But even if she didn''t, Finnian wouldn''t care.

    For him, the essence of the matter was that Liliana wanted to do this, and he would move mountains to make it happen, nothing more.

    Amara understood all this, yet her lips were pale. She silently gazed out the window for a long time before turning back to him. She replied, ¡°Alright.¡±

    So be it. If Finnian insisted on having Liliana in the role, her opposition was futile. With that, she walked away, leaving Finnian watching her retreating figure, his gaze darkening.

    He couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off with Amara. Was it just his imagination? Her departing figure seemed unusually lonely, and his heart unexpectedly twisted. What was this about?

    Back on set, Amara remained downcast, but work called, so she kept her head down, organizing scripts. Suddenly, a mocking voice came from above her.

    "You didn''t listen when you were warned against marrying him, and now, despite all your devotion, he openly favors his lover over you. Is this the life you wanted?"

    Amara looked up in exasperation at the man before her, silent.

    Standing tall at over six feet, he wore a limited edition casual suit. His short hair framed a face thatbined the gravitas of a mature man with aid-back charm, enough to make countless hearts flutter.

    He leaned nonchntly against the doorframe, challenging her with his eyes. "What''s wrong, cat got your tongue?"

    ¡°No.¡± Amara replied, ¡°Keith, can you stop being so childish?"

    "How am I being childish?" Keith''s casual demeanor slipped, reced by frustration. ¡°Did I say anything wrong?"

    "So what if you''re right? So what if you''re wrong? It''s none of your business either way."

    "You and I don''t have connections?"

    "Yes, zero!"

    "Well, keep this up and you''ll just keep getting walked all over! You''ll be a doormat for life!"

 Chapter 16

    Amara tightly pressed her lips together as she walked past him and left.

    Keith, that guy, was just as childish and irritating as he had been three years ago. But once upon a time, back when they were kids, Amara had really, really liked him.

    They had known each other since they were in diapers, growing up together as the best of friends.

    Three years ago, though, things took a turn. She wanted to marry into the Everly family to bring some good fortune, and Keith had been furious. He scolded her, saying she was jumping into a pit of fire. But she was determined, and after a heated argument, Keith begrudgingly ¡°agreed¡±.

    Since then, she devoted herself to Finnian, giving all she could without expecting anything in return. Keith couldn''t stand it, and they argued constantly, with him calling her useless.

    Their friendship, which had been strong for over two decades, finally shattered after one particrly intense argument. They hadn''t seen each other for over three years since then.

    Amara felt a pang of regret. She did value Keith as a friend, but now it seemed like their bond was beyond repair. Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on her work, heading to the set to observe the filming and take notes.

    The first scene was Liliana''s solo, and she did a decent job, even if she didn''t quite fit the image of Isabe. Her acting was passable.

    The second scene involved Liliana and Keith, who was ying the king.

    During the second scene, Finnian was hovering nearby, watching Liliana with unwavering attention. His dedication didn''t go unnoticed, and whispers began to circte.

    "Why is the investor still here? And why is he watching Liliana so closely? What''s their deal?"

    "Maybe they''re in a rtionship. He seems pretty invested in her."

    Amara''s heart tightened. Finnian''s concern for Liliana was apparent to everyone, and it had to mean something significant.

    She tried to brush off these thoughts, reminding herself to focus on work and not let emotions derail her. She repeated this mantra over and over.

    Just as Amara got into her groove, something happened with Liliana. Afterpleting aplex move, Liliana suddenly went pale for exerting herself, lost bnce and copsed.

    Cedric and the others gasped, rushing to catch her, but a figure had already dashed over¡ªit was non other than Finnian, who cradled Liliana in his arms with a furrowed brow, his concern undeniable. "What happened? Are you alright?¡±

    At the moment, all eyes in the room were on them, but Finnian seemed oblivious.

    Liliana closed her eyes briefly, and then looked up at Finnian with a soft gaze full of affection. ¡°I''m a bit unwell, but thankfully you were here." She paused and added, ¡°Thanks, hubby."

    The word ¡°hubby¡± sent a ripple of excitement through the female onlookers.

    "Wow, so they''re married? That exins it."

    ¡°They''re a couple? They seem so in love. Finnian''s such a good husband, and Liliana''s so lucky."

    Amara''s face turned pale at the chatter, her body trembling as if she might copse. When Liliana called Finnian ¡°hubby", he didn''t deny it, almost as if he epted the title.

    Everyone seemed convinced they were married, secretly rooting for their romance. But she was Finnian''s actual wife!

    They''d been married for three years, and she had never called him "hubby¡±. What right did Liliana have to im that endearment so boldly, and so naturally? And Finnian didn''t even object!

    Amara couldn''t stand it any longer. Luckily, Cedric called for a break to let the actors rest, so she quickly left the set.

    Back in the quiet of the break room, she waited for her heart to stop aching. She decided to leave, but on her way out, she bumped into Keith.

    They were about twenty feet apart, but somehow, maybe out of guilt, she saw the mockery in Keith''s eyes. Her heart felt like it had been pierced again, and she instinctively wanted to avoid Keith''s judgment. She took a different path, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

    But this time, she ran straight into Liliana.

    Liliana had regained herposure, still in costume, holding her skirt as she approached Amara with a confident air that made Amara ufortable.

    She tried to walk past, but Liliana blocked her path and said. ¡°Ms. Sullivan, I made a mistake in front of the director earlier. I needed Finn to back me up, so I called him ''hubby'' in public. I hope you don''t mind.¡±

 Chapter 17

    Amara clenched her fists tightly, her anger boiling over at Liliana''s words. It felt like her heart and lungs were on fire.

    Staring directly into Liliana''s eyes, she enunciated every word, "I mind, I really do mind, and I mind a lot!"

    Liliana was visibly taken aback, clearly not expecting this reaction. In her mind, Amara had always been the meek and mild type.

    Amara felt like her chest was about to burst with rage. She bit her lip fiercely, forcing herself to calm down before speaking again, "Ms. Porter, you knew Finnian had a wife, yet you called him ''hubby'' in front of everyone. How is that any different from being the homewrecker? You im it was because you messed up in front of the director, but actresses mess up all the time. And you were feeling unwell no less; the director wouldn''t have criticized you. You must know that, right?

    You knew all of this! So when you called Finnian that in public, it was because you wanted to! Own up to your shameless behavior, will you? Instead of denying it, youe to me with this fake ''I hope you don''t mind'' nonsense. Can you not y the victim?"

    Liliana''s eyes shone with anger, but she found herself momentarily speechless. Within seconds, however, her anger vanished, reced by a pitiful expression as she moved behind Amara. "Finn."

    Amara''s heart lurched. Turning her head, she saw Liliana leaning into Finnian''s arms, looking frail and helpless, as if she''d just been wronged.

    Finnian immediately took her arm, concern etched on his face. "What''s wrong, are you still feeling unwell?"

    Liliana looked up at him, her voice tinged with sadness as she replied, "I''m not feeling great. My head''s still spinning, and Ms. Sullivan just yelled at me."

    "You yelled at her?"

    Finnian turned to Amara, his eyes frosty. That icy look pierced through Amara, making her heart feel like it was submerged in freezing water, struggling to recover.

    Suppressing the pain in her chest, she looked at Liliana and said, "Yeah, I did yell at you!"

    Her assertive stance was unexpected to Liliana, who had anticipated Amara would deny it. She had even nned what to say after Amara''s denial. Yet Amara admitted it so bluntly?

    "You keep insisting you''re not the other woman, yet you call mywful husband ''hubby'' in front of everyone. If that''s not being the other woman, what is? You act like a bitch and still want to be seen as virtuous? And I''m not supposed to call you out? And you," Amara turned her fiery gaze to Finnian. "I don''t care what you''re thinking, but legally, Liliana is not your wife, I am! She called you ''hubby'', and you epted it? Are you siding with her?"

    As these words left Amara''s mouth, Finnian''s expression turned cold, his eyes dark and intimidating, his presence almost menacing.

    Amara''s heart pounded as she took a couple of steps back, shooting them both a fierce re before bolting out.

    Confronting Liliana and Finnian felt cathartic, but it also left her with a twinge of regret. Would they retaliate? Despite the momentary satisfaction, a deep-seated thorn remained lodged in her heart.

    She knew as long as she couldn''t forget Finnian, that thorn would stay. But when would she finally be able to pull it out?

    Suddenly, apuse echoed through the room. Startled, Amara turned to see a tall man entering the break room, pping his hands.

    The man leaned casually against the wall, his handsome face wearing azy grin. He gave her a thumbs-up. "Nice, you finally chose not to be a pushover!"

    Amara was left speechless. Keith? Why was he here, and why was he saying that? Had he overheard her confrontation with Finnian and Liliana?

    Amara felt a flush of awkwardness, though thankfully her mask hid it. Murmuring, "None of your business," she quickly slipped out the back door of the break room.

    Her brief encounter with Keith didn''t rattle her much. She returned to the set, watched the rest of the filming, and headed home once it wrapped up.

    She went back to the Everly family home, but as she headed upstairs to her room, Finnian intercepted her.

    His handsome face was shrouded in a thinyer of ice, an aura of authority making it hard to breathe. He spoke coolly, "We need to talk."

 Chapter 18

    Finnian was a tall, imposing figure, like a brick wall shielding Amara, making her feel suddenly immobilized. She didn''t meet Finnian''s gaze, instead focusing on the floral wallpaper beside them. ¡°What do you want to talk about?"

    She had a good idea of what Finnian wanted to discuss. Probably a stern warning to stay away from Liliana and not stir up trouble. But Finnian surprised her by asking, ¡°Do you care a lot about me and Liliana?"

    Amara fell silent. Under the room''s lighting, Finnian''s skin appeared porcin-smooth, his features sharp and defined. His eyes, fixed on Amara, seemed calm yet pierced right through her, seemingly reading her mind. Amara''s heart pounded in her chest, her palms slightly damp with sweat. She couldn''t let Finnian discover her feelings for him. That would be too humiliating, and she couldn''t bear losing her dignity.

    Struggling to maintain herposure, she replied, ¡°We''re married in name. So when Liliana called you her husband in public, I felt insulted. That''s why I reacted. Nothing more."

    Was that really the reason? Finnian''s brows furrowed slightly but quickly rxed, so quickly that even he didn''t notice it.

    ¡°Our arrangement will be over soon. We''ll both be free then. Just hang in there for a little while longer." With that indifferent statement, Finnian turned and left, not sparing Amara another nce.

    Amara clutched her chest where it ached. Finnian''s defense of Liliana was clear. She couldn''t let herself fall deeper into this illusion. She forced herself to suppress any inappropriate thoughts.

    After leaving the estate, Finnian drove to an upscale neighborhood in the heart of Wye. Once parking in the underground garage, he took the elevator up and knocked twice on an apartment door. It opened swiftly.

    ¡°Finn, you''re here! I thought I''d given you ess. Why didn''t you juste in?¡± Liliana beamed.

    "Not used to it."

    Finnian entered the living room, ncing at Liliana holding onto his arm. "Are you feeling better?¡±

    "Yeah, much better. I just overworked myself filming while pregnant, that''s why I nearly passed out. I need to eat more healthily these days."

    "Find out what you need, and I''ll buy it for you."

    "You''re the best."

    Liliana led Finnian to the couch, and then bounced off to the kitchen, intent on making him a meal. Finnian, feeling somewhat drained, leaned back against the sofa, resting his fingers on his forehead. Sleep tugged at him, but the unfamiliar surroundings kept him from fully drifting off.

    In a half-awake state, a soft fragrance filled the air, and something silky brushed against his skin. His eyes snapped open to a wash of white, his pupils contracting sharply.

    "Finn."

    Liliana was taken aback; she hadn''t expected Finnian to wake so suddenly. She bit her lip lightly, leaning closer to him.

    ¡°Don''t,¡± Finnian said, pressing her shoulder back, his gaze dark andmanding. "You''re pregnant." Liliana paused, a trace of hurt in her voice. ¡°I spoke with the doctor. It''s true that the first three months are delicate, but there are other ways I can help you. I''d do anything for you."

    Her voice was sweet and beguiling, enough to tempt any man. Finnian''s breath hitched, but a flicker of fleeting disdain crossed his eyes.

    Pushing Liliana away, he said coolly, ¡°I don''t need it.¡±

    Finnian''s presence was alwaysmanding. Just a slight drop in his tone could make anyone''s spine tingle.

    Liliana felt goosebumps rise on her skin as she watched Finnian stand and leave, his back turned without hesitation, not even sparing her a nce. Her eyes widened slightly in confusion.

    What''s going on? This wasn''t the first time. Even when they dated years ago, Finnian would keep his distance. Although he provided for her and cared for her material needs, she always felt ack of true closeness.

    Besides, it wasn''t as if Finnian couldn''t be intimate. On the contrary, she had tested the waters, and Finnian was more than capable. With his athletic build, he would undoubtedly excel. Yet, he showed no interest in touching her and seemed to have an aversion to marriage.

    The other day in the hospital, when she suggested they live together, he refused, citing Amara as the reason. She thought it was just an excuse.

    Finnian wasn''t known for his kindness. He was ruthless, particrly to those he didn''t care about. Otherwise, why would he have ignored Amara for three years without seeing her?

    To confirm her suspicions, she had called Finnian her husband in front of everyone today. Sure enough, Finnian didn''t deny it. He clearly didn''t care about Amara!

 Chapter 19

    So, what kind of person was Finnian, really? Liliana''s eyes narrowed as her mind raced with thoughts.

    The next morning, Liliana, bright and early, made her way to the film set with her assistant, Nora who, a slightly chubby girl with round sses, was juggling what seemed like a dozen cups of coffee, clearly struggling under the weight.

    Liliana slipped off her sunsses with a flourish and announced, "Thanks for taking such good care of me yesterday, everyone. My husband insisted on treating you all to coffee. Come and get it!"

    "Wow, Mr. Everly is so thoughtful, even treating us to coffee."

    "Mr. Everly really dotes on Liliana. He even remembers to thank those who help her."

    The crew, all smiles, eagerly grabbed their coffees, leaving Amara sitting alone with her script, her body slightly trembling.

    Despite her efforts to brush off her emotions, being sentimental was one thing, but being reasonable was another. Hearing Liliana publicly refer to Finnian as her husband was more than she could bear.

    She noticed Liliana ncing her way, a mocking look that made Amara''s skin crawl. Instinctively, she wanted to escape. Just then, azy, maic voice broke the tension. "Ms. Porter, are you and Mr. Everly married?"

    Liliana turned to face Keith, who had unexpectedly asked the question. Keith was a strikingly handsome man, not quite as maturely attractive as Finnian, but still a sight for sore eyes.

    She shed a smile and replied, "Not yet, but soon."

    Keith chuckled softly, and anyone with ears could hear the sarcasm in it. Liliana frowned, puzzled by his reaction.

    "So, you''re Mr. Everly''s girlfriend then?" Keith continued coolly. "Funny, because I heard Mr. Everly has a wife. Does that make you the homewrecker, Ms. Porter?"

    The crew, coffee cups in hand, turned their eyes to Liliana, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity. If anyone else had said it, they might have brushed it off. Buting from Keith, it was different.

    Keith, with his wealthy family background, had made a name for himself in the entertainment industry despite having an empire to inherit. His reputation was ster, a stark contrast to Liliana, and people naturally believed he wouldn''t lie. So, was Liliana really a homewrecker?

    "I am not!" Liliana''s face flushed with embarrassment, herposure momentarily slipping. But being a woman who fought her way to the top, she sure had some scheming under her sleeves, and quickly regained her cool.

    She had no idea why Keith was targeting her, but she knew better than to engage further. "Keith, you have such a sense of humor," she said before turning to leave.

    "Hold on a sec," Keith called after her.

    Liliana paused and looked back. "What is it, Keith?"

    Keith utteredzily, tugging his lips, "Aren''t you supposed to call me ''Mr. West''? We don''t seem that close, don''t we?"

    Laughter erupted around them, many bending over with mirth, even Amara couldn''t help but chuckle. Keith was as sharp-tongued as ever, never sparing anyone he took a dislike to.

    Liliana trembled with anger, but she managed to maintain herposure, forcing a smile. "I thought filming together brings us close. If it bothers you, I won''t do it again."

    With that, she couldn''t stand the gossiping eyes any longer and hurried away.

    Meanwhile, Amara, feeling a bit queasy, decided to retreat to the break room for some rest. But as she entered, she noticed Keith following her in and shutting the door behind him with a thud, his brows furrowed as he looked at her.

    Amara felt uneasy under his gaze and was about to speak when he broke in, frowning, "Why do you let them walk all over you? That woman just called your man her husband, and you''re just taking it?"

    Amara lowered her eyes and replied, "Finnian and I are getting a divorce."

    Keith was taken aback at her reply. Amara and Finnian getting divorced?

    He hadn''t expected it to happen so soon; it had only been three years. Then again, he never thought they''dst longer.

    He quickly moved closer, patting her shoulder, looking genuinely pleased. "Bunny, congrats on breaking free. What made you finally see the light?"

    Amara nced up at him. It wasn''t her decision; Finnian had been the one to ask for the divorce. But she didn''t share that detail with Keith; sharing the same room with Keith still made her somewhat ufortable, especially when she recalled their past fallout.

    Feigning sternness, she said, "That''s none of your business. Go and do your thing."

 Chapter 20

    With that, Amara shoved Keith out the door just at the moment when Keith got all riled up.

    At the Everly family estate, Kevin sat in a plush leather armchair, deep in thought. When Lisa came by with a cup of coffee, he stopped her and asked, "Are Finn and Ama still the same way these days?"

    By "the same way", he meant that they were living in separate rooms, both busy with their own lives, hardly ever crossing paths.

    Lisa nodded. "Yes, living under the same roof but hardly seeing each other. How''s that supposed to work?" Kevin mmed his hand on the armrest. "That useless boy, he''s really hopeless!"

    Lisa''s eyes darted around, and she leaned in with a whisper. "Ama seems like a good kid. If they spend more time together, Finn is bound to like her. Maybe we should give them a little nudge."

    Unbeknownst to Amara, things were stirring at the Everly estate. She had been busy observing film shoots on set, filling her free time with reading and writing screenys. She was content.

    That afternoon, Finnian approached her. "Got time tonight? I need you toe with me to a dinner party." Amara was surprised. "What kind of dinner party?"

    Their marriage was a secret, and Finnian usually attended these events solo or with someone from the secretarial office. He''d never asked her to apany him before.

    "It''s over at Peter''s ce, just a family gathering."

    Amara instantly knew what that meant. The Everly family was well aware of their situation. They mocked her behind closed doors, whispering about her scars and her invisible husband of three years. Amara was aware of it all.

    The fleeting excitement of being asked to apany Finnian vanished as quickly as it appeared once she realized she''d have to face the Everlys.

    "Alright," she responded, lowering her gaze.

    Even though she didn''t want to attend, they weren''t officially divorced yet, and these were the duties of a wife she felt obligated to fulfill. But a voice inside her questioned why she should fulfill these duties when Finnian didn''t fulfill his own, giving permission for Liliana to call him her hubby.

    Agreeing to go with him was a chance to be near him, which she realized with a jolt of rm. This was not what she needed, not when divorce was imminent. She needed to get ustomed to a life without Finnian, not cling to small moments of togetherness.

    Therefore, she must obliterate at once the thoughts she harbored.

    That evening, they drove to a small countryside manor. After parking, they were led into a banquet hall by an attendant.

    Only a handful of people were present, all key members of the Everly family. Among them were Peter Everly and Bess Everly.

    Peter was a greasy, middle-aged man with a wandering eye that often settled on Amara''s body when no one noticed, making Amara''s skin crawl. Bess was a vitriolic opportunist who once tried to personally take her niece to Finnian''s bed, only to be rebuffed by him, much to Amara''s satisfaction.

    When it came time for greetings, Amara simply nodded at Peter and Bess, making no effort to hide her disdain.

    Curiously, today Peter and Bess were acting unusually friendly, almost as if they were trying to win her over, which left Amara puzzled.

    Just then, a young handsome man in his early twenties approached, his expression openly disdainful towards Amara.

    Bess gave him a discreet pinch, hissing, "Mind your manners, greet your sister-inw properly!"

    Hogan Everly shot his mother a confused look. She usually shared his contempt for Amara, so why the sudden change?

    He rolled his eyes butplied, greeting Amara in a sarcastic tone, before adding slowly, "We''re all family here, and finally we''ve got time to be here together. Why don''t you show your real face, Amara? No need to be shy, take off the mask and let us have a look."

    His words fell into the room like a lead balloon, silencing the chatter.

    Usually quiet and straightforward, Martin Everly and Andrea Everly frowned at Hogan, clearly disapproving. The other cousins watched with eager anticipation.

    Amara fixed Hogan with a cold stare. He had always enjoyed putting her down in public with those critical remarks.

    Back then, she had swallowed her pride for Finnian''s sake, retreating to cry in private. But not anymore. She stared icily at Hogan. "You know perfectly well about my scars, yet you ask me to put them on disy? What''s wrong with you, do you have even a shred of your damn conscience?"

 Chapter 21

    Hogan couldn''t believe Amara dared to talk back to him, jumping up in anger. "Why are you being so aggressive? Didn''t anyone teach you manners?"

    Amaraughed, a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Oh, I''ve got manners. But you? Seems like nobody taught you how to behave. You''re in your twenties and can''t even speak decently. I wonder how you were raised."

    Her words aimed at both Peter and Bess, but strangely, they seemed not daring fight back even though irritated. Was it because Finnian was standing nearby?

    Hogan sensed it too and spat out, "Amara, you''re acting all high and mighty because Finnian''s got your back, huh? Let me tell you, you''re no match for Finnian''s ex, Liliana! From head to toe, you''re out of your league! One day, Finnian will dump you and bring Liliana back to be my sister-inw!"

    Turned out, Hogan was a big fan of Liliana. Amara didn''t know before, but now she did. Not that it helped. Finnian must hold the same idea, she assumed. If she argued back, she might embarrass Finnian, and that was risky territory.

    But then, Finnian shot Hogan a cold re, his eyes dark and brooding.

    "Amara''s right. Youck manners. How did you turn out like this?"

    Except him, the Everly grandchildren were a disappointment, and Finnian felt it was a disgrace to the family

    name.

    Hogan didn''t like that. He eximed, "Finnian, why are you siding with an outsider?"

    He was clearly referring to Amara, who responded with a sharp look, the words making Finnian frown.

    As Finnian seemed about to speak, Amara jumped in, "An outsider? You mean anyone marrying into the Everly family is an outsider? Imagine how hurt Bess must feel."

    As she spoke, she cast a sympathetic nce at Bess, whose face turned sour.

    Hogan panicked as he exined, "I didn''t mean it like that! My mom''s different. Mom, don''t get upset." "Enough."

    Finnian''s voice cut through the tension, his expression icy. His mood had evidently darkened, chilling the room. Hogan fell silent immediately.

    Finnian''s gaze was piercing as he uttered in a deep voice, "Get out. Come back when you know how to speak properly."

    Hogan froze, anger and humiliation rushing through him. All these insults were Amara''s doing, and he burned with the urge tosh out at her.

    But today, for some reason, Finnian seemed bewitched, siding with Amara, the outsider. Unable to defy Finnian, Hogan stomped out, sulking.

    Once Hogan was gone, the party resumed, and Amara let out a discreet sigh of relief. It was her first time standing up to an Everly, and though she appeared calm, she''d been nervous inside. Thankfully, it was over.

    Finnian sipped a ss of red wine, taking sidelong nces at Amara. He''d always thought of her as gentle, but when someone gave her a hard time, she returned with a fiery defense, which surprised him.

    In the past, when Will talked about Amara, Finnian pictured her as quiet and easily bullied. Frankly, he didn''t respect those types of people even though they couldn''t be much of a threat to the society. If someone couldn''t defend themselves, how could they aplish anything?

    But Amara, while quiet, was unafraid to speak up when pushed. She knew when to push back and when to hold back, a rare quality he admired.

    He found himself studying her again, watching her eyes. Those slightly upturned eyes were captivating, drawing him in.

    "I just saved you back there. Aren''t you going to thank me?"

    As if possessed, Finnian made the remark, his gaze never leaving Amara''s eyes, a testament of him unwilling to miss out any change of her emotion.

    Amara often wore a mask, hiding her expressions, so her eyes were the only window to her emotions.

 Chapter 22

    "Why should I thank you?" Amara asked calmly. "Hogan''s part of your family, and he was the one who bullied me. It''s only right for you to stand up for me. Besides, we''re married. If he insults me, it reflects poorly on you too. Defending me is in your best interest as well."

    After saying that, Amara felt a bit tense inside. She believed her logic was sound, but people from Finnian''s social circle often didn''t y by the rules. Like when he defended Liliana without much reason. Would he be upset with her?

    Finnian watched Amara, his curiosity piqued by the mix of conviction and apprehension in her eyes.

    Somewhere in her assertive words, he saw a flicker of unease and a frown, and he was intrigued by what she was thinking.

    He lifted her chin slightly to see the look in her eyes, a gesture that took them both by surprise. In that fleeting moment of contact, Amara froze, her wide eyes locked onto Finnian''s, wondering about his intentions when, in truth, she was simply startled.

    Finnian, on the other hand, quickly realized how inappropriate his action was. They were only married on paper, so why was he acting so intimately? He withdrew his hand immediately.

    "You were right about earlier," Finnian said, his expression unchanged as he turned away. "I should have stood up for you."

    "Okay."

    Amara tried to maintain herposure, even as her heart violently raced. Her fingers, hidden in her sleeves, were clenched tightly. How could such a small gesture from Finnian make her react so strongly? "Amara," she screeched to herself, "get a grip."

    "Can I see what you look like?"

    Amara dropped her gaze again. With their height difference, Finnian could only see the top of her head, missing the chance of observing her gaze, which made him wonder even more about what was going on in her mind.

    Then it struck him¡ªthey''d been married for three years, and he hadn''t seen her in person. So he asked. However, Amara was startled by his question.

    "Haven''t you seen my picture?" she replied quickly.

    "It was a long time ago, and I don''t remember," Finnian said nonchntly.

    To him, Amara was simply an unimportant figure. Her appearance didn''t matter, especially considering he believed she had a disfigured face. Why bother remembering?

    Pushing down a pang of bitterness, Amara said, "Sorry, but no."

    Her face had healed, and she feared that if Finnian saw she wasn''t disfigured anymore, he might suspect she married into the Everly family under false pretenses, just to get the money. What then?

    It was better to avoidplications since they were going to part ways soon.

    Finnian felt a twinge of disappointment at her refusal, but he said nothing, only growing more curious about Amara.

    Later, Peter and Bess had arranged for them to share a bedroom. After showering, Amara looked at the king- sized bed in the center of the room and said awkwardly, "Maybe I should take the couch."

    Finnian nced at the bed as well, which could easily fit three or four people. "No need," he replied. "The bed''s big enough. We can manage for a night."

    Since he said so, Amara didn''t protest. She moved to the side near the window, slipped under the covers, and turned off her bedsidemp. She was wearing a set of long-sleeve, long-pants cotton pajamas-modest yet appropriate.

 Chapter 23

    Shey on her side with her back to Finnian, close to the edge of the bed but not so close that she might easily fall off. It was deliberate, almost like she was consciously maintaining that perfect bnce.

    Everything about her was impablyposed, not a hair out of ce, which only made Finnian''s curiosity itch even more. It was like she was wrapped inyers, and he couldn''t help but wonder if she was just as perfect underneath.

    Finnian stood by the bed, watching Amara for a long moment before he finallyy down himself. But that itch of curiosity only grew stronger, and his body felt unusually heated.

    He pushed the covers down to his waist, still feeling stifled, and loosened a couple of buttons on his shirt, contemting whether to turn down the air conditioning.

    Then, a tingling sensation spread through him, and he froze, eyes snapping open. Though he''d never been in such a situation before, being a normal man, he knew exactly what his body was telling him.

    With a swift motion, he threw the covers off and sat up, startling Amara awake.

    "What''s wrong?" she asked, turning her head to look at him, her voice thick with sleep.

    It was then that Finnian noticed the subtle redness at the corners of her eyes. Her gaze was dewy, her voice delicate. Beneath the covers, her legs were clearly pressed tightly together, a clear sign she was enduring something simr.

    She was in the same boat as him, yet she held onto herposure without a word, without even a twitch. She was so "put-together", it was like she was cut out from a mold.

    Seeing her like this, Finnian couldn''t help but chuckle. In the dim light, his pale skin took on a slight flush, his sharp features softened by the moisture in his eyes. He looked charming and enticing.

    His ck silk pajamas hung open at the top, revealing a hint of his corbone and firm chest, like the seductive men described in novels.

    Amara clutched the covers tightly, feeling that tingling sensation intensify. She was so thirsty, desperate for a drink of water. And she was hot, burning up, wanting to shed her clothing entirely.

    This strange feeling had started a few minutes ago, and seeing Finnian seemed to amplify it. Even though her gaze flickered nervously, Finnian caught the hint. He dove onto the covers, his eyes locking with Amara''s. "You want to do it too?"

    Her face turned crimson almost instantly, and she shook her head frantically. "No, I don''t, I don''t want to!" Finnianughed, even behind her mask he could tell her face was flushed with embarrassment. She didn''t seem so "put-together" now, revealing a more vulnerable side.

    His heart felt like it was being tickled, eager to continue, to see where this would lead. He even entertained a bizarre thought¡ªif she were to take off her mask right now and reveal a scarred face, he might just find those scars endearing.

    He lifted his eyes, tracing the delicate line of her neck, up to her captivating eyes, breathing in the faint scent she wore.

    Normally, she was like a coconut with a tough outer shell that needed cracking to get to the inside, or it''d be difficult to see from the outside. But right now, she was a ripe, juicy peach, exuding a sweet fragrance that made him want to take a bite.

 Chapter 24

    Finnian''s Adam''s apple bobbed, his body''s reaction impossible to ignore.

    Even through the fabric of his clothes, it was so striking that Amara couldn''t help but notice, prompting her to swiftly pull the covers over her eyes. She was both embarrassed and ufortable.

    She considered asking Finnian to leave, but then remembered this was his home. It seemed a bit rude to do so, so she mumbled from beneath the covers, "Maybe I should step out for a bit, and you can have some space to yourself."

    By now, both adults were well aware of what was happening. Something in their dinner or drinks must have been spiked, leaving them with an overwhelming urge they couldn''t control.

    But who was responsible for this?

    Finnian''s attractive brows furrowed instinctively. "Where would you go?"

    His first thought was that Amara was, after all, his wife. Her alluring appearance was something he didn''t want other men to see.

    Amara bit her lip and whispered, "Maybe you could use the bathroom?"

    It was a delicate way of suggesting he might want to take care of things privately in the bathroom. But Finnian''s mind was elsewhere. Who had tampered with their dinner or drinks?

    His aunts and uncles wouldn''t dare, and they had no reason to. Was it his grandfather? He pulled out his phone to call Kevin, but it went straight to voicemail.

    For Kevin to be unreachable at such a crucial moment was suspiciously convenient. Finnian''s expression turned dark. "Grandpa''s got some nerve!"

    Despite the yearning evident in his eyes moments ago, his voice was now extremely icy, clearly furious with Kevin''s meddling.

    Amara hadn''t been expecting anything to happen between them, but Finnian''s sudden change in demeanor still sent a pang of disappointment through her.

    Just then, Finnian received a text from Kevin, [Don''t hold back, my dear grandson, take care of yourself, alright?]

    Amara received a simr message, though worded more delicately, which left her feeling awkward.

    Finnian''s earlier warmth had vanished, his gaze now frigid, except his body reaction still remained. He was truly a formidable man.

    "I''m going to take a shower. I''ll be out soon."

    Perhaps because Amara was a woman, her reaction had already subsided significantly, so Finnian left her to herself and headed for a cold shower.

    As the sound of running water filled the bathroom, Amaray staring at the dark ceiling, her mind adrift. Despite Finnian''s difort earlier, he had resisted touching her. Was it because he found her unattractive or was he staying faithful to Liliana?

    Under the shower head, Finnian felt the chilling water scour his scorching body as images kept flooding back. He remembered his father bringing home woman after woman during his childhood. The sight of tangled bodies, pale and sticky, was something he sometimes stumbled upon unwittingly.

    And then, the memory shifted to that recent moment in the vi, when he identally saw Amara emerging from the bathroom, unclothed.

    That brief encounter had left asting impression. He could vividly recall lying on the cold floor, eyes shut tight, while Amara''s warm, gentle hands set his skin aze.

 Chapter 25

    Almost at the same time, that familiar warmth returned to Finnian''s stomach, and the subtle scent of Amara''s perfume seemed to linger in the air once more.

    Finnian, with his strikingly handsome features a bit shadowed, thought there was no need to make things hard on himself. He lifted his long, elegant hand to switch the cool water to warm, slowly reaching downward.

    That night passed without incident, but as the morning light crept in, both of them felt a shift in the atmosphere. Something had changed.

    The previous night, Finnian had been in the shower for ages. Amara, worried something might have happened, tiptoed to the bathroom door and heard low, rhythmic breathing.

    Inside, there was a pause he seemed to have sensed her presence. Startled, Amara quickly retreated, slipping back into bed.

    Once there was a hint of entanglement between a man and a woman, things could never quite go back to how they were.

    The next morning, at least on the surface, they maintained a facade of calm as they drove back to the Everly family estate.

    Amara watched as Finnian stormed into Kevin''s study, mming the door behind him. She wasn''t sure what exactly transpired inside. It was quiet at first, and then suddenly, a loud shout erupted, "Get out! Get the hell out!"

    This was followed by a loud crash, as if something had been thrown. The door then flung open, and Finnian emerged with a cut on his forehead, a trickle of blood making it look more dramatic than it was.

    He approached Amara with a brooding expression and dered, "We''re not waiting a month. We''re getting divorced now. I''ll have Will file the papers again."

    Finnian had taken over the Everly Group after graduation, and on ount of his excellence, his influence in Wye had grown significantly, surpassing even that of Kevin.

    He had previously agreed with his grandfather about waiting a month before finally getting divorced, not bringing himself to disappoint his grandfather, but now saw no need for it.

    After delivering this cold statement, he didn''t notice the color draining from Amara''s face as he turned to leave.

    Kevin, leaning heavily on his cane, intercepted him, shouting, "Must you be so defiant? What''s so special about that actress? Even if she has the child, I won''t acknowledge it! No child of this family wille from a woman like her!"

    Finnian''s demeanor turned intimidating, his eyes darkening with a chilling intensity.

    "I will decide whose child is mine, and you have no business worrying about it, Grandpa. It''s none of your concern who I''m with, either. You can''t meddle in it."

    "What do you mean? Are you insisting on being with that actress?"

    "Stop calling her an actress like it''s an insult. She''s a professional. If you''re confused, look it up online. It''s good to keep your mind active as you age."

    "You ungrateful brat."

    Kevin swung his cane at him, the sound of wood striking flesh echoing through the room, making everyone tense. The maids nearby turned pale with fear, but Finnian stood firm, fists clenched, refusing to lower his head.

    Once Kevin had exhausted his anger, Finnian''s face was ghostly pale. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and his shirt was faintly stained with blood at the back.

    Lisa was beside herself with worry, crying out, "Mr. Finnian Everly, why are you doing this? Ms. Amara Everly is such a good girl, why must you sh with Mr. Kevin Everly? Look at your injuries, let me help you with those."

 Chapter 26

    "No need, just take good care of Grandpa. He''s the one who needs treatment the most right now."

    With that, Finnian turned and walked away. Kevin let out a wail, pointing at his retreating back and cursing nonstop until he disappeared from view.

    Amara felt a chill run through her heart. Last night''s unexpected events had left her confused, making her think something between her and Finnian had changed. But how could that be? Clearly, Finnian''s heart still belonged to Liliana!

    He had stayed virtuous for Lilianast night and took a beating today to protect her honor. What was Amara even fantasizing about?

    Suddenly, she felt pathetic. She couldn''t keep going on like this.

    "Ama, I''m sorry! When that rascal gets back, I''ll make sure to give him a piece of my mind, just to make it up to you."

    "Grandpa, please don''t. Finnian and I aren''t meant to be. His heart is with Ms. Porter, and we''re just not right for each other. You should start preparing yourself to wee Ms. Porter."

    Watching Amara say this and then walk away, Kevin was left stunned. What''s going on? Why was no one listening to him anymore?

    As Amara left the main house, her body weary, she felt lost, unsure of where to go.

    Finnian had asked Will to resubmit the divorce papers, which meant that while they were still legally married, in every other sense, they weren''t.

    She couldn''t stay at the main house any longer, but she didn''t want to go back to Autumn Ridge either. Where could she go?

    After thinking for a moment, Amara hailed a cab to Elysia''s ce, only to find Elysia alone in the living room,pletely inebriated.

    There were seven or eight empty bottles at Elysia''s feet, and she was still drinking. Amara, irritated, grabbed the bottle from her. "What are you doing? Drinking like this, are you trying to ruin yourself?"

    Elysia''s blurry eyes slowly focused. Instead of trying to reim the bottle, she pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from under the coffee table, lighting one expertly and taking a deep drag.

    She had smoked back in the day, but quit because Dorian Hawke didn''t like it. Why was she smoking again now? Amara frowned at her.

    "Jessica''s back."

    Elysia exhaled a cloud of smoke. The misty haze obscured her features, and Amara couldn''t see her expression, only hearing the emptiness in her voice.

    "Dorian went to pick her up first thing this morning."

    Amara''s brows furrowed as she moved closer to hug her. "Ely, don''t be upset."

    Elysia turned her head, burying her face in Amara''s shoulder and began to sob softly.

    Amara stayed with Elysia through the night. The next morning, she ordered breakfast, and they ate together before Amara headed to the film set.

    The morning''s scenes weren''t too pivotal, and Amara felt unexpectedly queasy. As soon as she arrived, she lost her breakfast, so she decided to rest in the break room for a while.

    There was a knock at the door. Assuming it was a crew member, Amara called out, "Come in," only to be surprised when Kevin hobbled in on a cane.

    "Grandpa," Amara uttered as she quickly went to support his arm. "Why did youe all the way here?"

    Kevin was calmer than the day before. He took Amara''s arm, hesitantly asking, "Ama, why didn''t you and Finn get it down the night beforest? That was some top-notch stuff, and I even had Peter lock the door. How on earth did Finn resist..."

    Amara''s face flushed crimson, her expression ufortable.

    "Grandpa, Finnian doesn''t have feelings for me. Of course, it didn''t happen, and you know my situation too."

 Chapter 27

    "Oh, Amara, don''t be upset. I didn''t mean it that way."

    Kevin had never really cared about Amara''s looks. To him, the most important qualities for thedy of the house were character, integrity, and work ethic qualities Amara had in spades. As for looks, what good were they anyway?

    Finnian''s father was always chasing after young and pretty women, never aplishing anything meaningful. It seemed better not to bring someone too pretty into the family.

    "Kevin, I know you didn''t mean it that way, but that''s just reality."

    By "reality", she meant Finnian''sck of interest in her, something Kevin was well aware of. He sighed, offered a few words offort, and shuffled out with his cane.

    Once he left, Amara felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Kevin was genuinely kind to her. A few years back, when her stepmother and stepsister caused a scene, he even shielded her from a flying vase. Without his intervention, the vase wouldnd on her hand; who knew what might have happened next?

    But Kevin was so stubborn, insisting she be Finnian''s wife. What used to be her anchor to stay close to Finnian had now be a burden.

    With a sudden bang, the door swung open. Amara thought Kevin had returned and turned her head, only to see Liliana strutting in, chin held high.

    Amara stood up abruptly, displeasureced in her voice. "Ms. Porter, what''s your business barging in without knocking?"

    Liliana flicked her hair back with a sneer. "I can''t believe you had Mr. Kevin Everly drug Finn. You''re so in, yet you pull something like that? Have you no shame?"

    Amara clenched her fists. "Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?"

    "Ha, if you don''t shut the door properly, don''tin about eavesdroppers."

    "Where did you learn that twisted logic? By that reasoning, if you''re attractive and someone rapes you, you deserve it?"

    Liliana''s expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained herposure. Her eyes roamed over Amara with disdain as she stated, "What''s the point of what you said? You can''t deny your ugliness, can you?

    Don''t tell me you think with your so-called good body plus the drug effect, men would fall for you? Let me tell you, it''s not even close. You''d better look in a mirror, see how disgusting you are.

    You''re dreaming if you think a man will be interested just by watching you. Especially a man like Finn-he doesn''t even want to touch you."

    Her words were slow and deliberate, with every intention to insult. Amara was seething with anger, her fingers shivering, but quickly calmed herself.

    At first, she was furious, wanting to shout that the drug wasn''t her doing, that it was Kevin''s idea. She hated being falsely used. But then she realized Liliana didn''t care about the truth. Liliana''s goal was to humiliate her, to push her into divorcing Finnian.

    So, she had to control her emotions, not let Liliana get to her. She might consider divorce, but only if Finnian wanted it. They were legally married-why should she listen to an outsider?

    "Ms. Porter, what does my marriage to Finnian have to do with you? Does my appearance affect you in any way? If he ever does take a liking to me, what can you do about it? Besides, intervening us, who do you think you are?"

 Chapter 28

    "Moreover, Finnian and I are legally married. And what are you here? From a moral standpoint, you''re just the other woman. What gives you the right to talk to me like this?"

    "Ha, showing your true colors, are you? Deep down, you don''t really want to leave Finnian, do you?" Liliana sneered.

    Amara couldn''t tell if Liliana genuinely had a few screws loose or if she was just saying this nonsense to get under her skin.

    She figured it was probably thetter. Liliana was anything but clueless¡ªshe was sharp, just had a knack for ying the damsel in distress around men.

    So, Amara replied, "Why would I want to leave Finnian? He''s such a great guy. Do you think I could find anyone like him after a divorce? You must be really mad, right?" Amara continued with her mockery. "Well, tough luck. You''re just a two-bit actress from the wrong side of the tracks. His grandpa doesn''t even acknowledge your existence.

    Dream on if you think you can marry into the Everly family. You''re stuck being the side piece. But what good is that, really? Do you dare call Finnian your husband in front of the cast? Can you call him that in front of his grandpa?

    Try calling him that in front of the Everly family. See if anyone gives a damn. I''ll tell you right now, they won''t. No only that, they''ll just see you as a pitiful clown."

    Finally, she got all those words out. That wasn''t really what Amara thought, but Liliana had been pushing her buttons for too long.

    Every time Liliana tried to bully her, Amara would imagine someone just as snarky standing up to her. Now she was that snarky person, and boy, did it feel good.

    Across from her, Liliana''s face had turned sour.

    The graceful,posed facade she maintained around Amara had crumbled. She red at Amara with ring nostrils and clenched fists, teetering on the edge of fury.

    "Finally showing your true colors now that Fin''s not around?"

    Amara chuckled scornfully at Liliana''s words.

    For the sake of confidentiality, she had installed a detector near the door. If anyone entered with a bugging device, it would beep, so she felt safe saying those things to Liliana.

    "What, have you no shame left?" Liliana fumed when Amara stayed silent.

    "Liliana, the one without shame here is you."

    As satisfying as it was to p back, continuing endlessly started to lose its charm.

    Amara walked to the door, opened it, and said to Liliana, "This is my room. Please leave. And remember to knock next time."

    Liliana shot her a venomous look, tossed her curls with a flourish, regaining her usual elegant self, and strutted out with her chin raised high.

    In the shadows outside, a man reyed Amara''s words in his mind, "Why would I want to leave Finnian? He''s such a great guy. Do you think I could find anyone like him after a divorce." His expression darkened, eyes cold and calcting.

    He sent the recorded conversation to Finnian and tucked away his phone. Ten minutester, he sat in the car downstairs, his phone buzzed. The name "Finn" lit up the screen.

    He answered, "Hello?"

    "Dorian," Finnian greeted, "you''re back?"

    Dorian had taken Jessica back to her hometown yesterday, hence Finn''s question. Dorian leaned back against the leather seat, his sharp features cast in shadow.

 Chapter 29

    He grunted, lighting a cigarette with one hand, took a drag, and said, "Didn''t expect your wife to be so good at hiding things."

    There was a brief pause on the other end, and the voice that came through was noticeably colder. "Neither did I."

    "So, what are you nning to do?" Dorian asked, "Confront her?"

    "Yeah."

    Hearing this, Dorian felt a wave of relief. Finnian had always been way too considerate of his grandparents, so much so that, despite being a skeptic, he had agreed to that ridiculous idea of a marriage of convenience three years ago.

    He had always worried that Finnian wouldn''t have the heart to divorce Amara because of his elders. Now, seeing Finnian so clear-headed about the situation eased Dorian''s concerns.

    On the other side, Finnian reyed the recording over and over, his brows furrowing deeper with each listen.

    He leaned against the window, staring out at the clear blue sky, though his mood was anything but bright. It felt like he was spiraling into a dark vortex, suffocating and heavy.

    After a long while, he dialed Amara''s number, but just before the call went through, he abruptly hung up. Elsewhere, after shooing Liliana out of the break room, that familiar wave of nausea hit Amara again. She had already emptied her stomach earlier, and now with nothing left, she could only dry heave over the toilet for a bit.

    When she finally straightened up, ready to leave the bathroom, a sudden thought struck her like a bolt. It was already the 19th of the month, and her period waste by quite some time.

    She had been feeling offtely, mostly with bouts of nausea, and her appetite had grown significantly.

    Over a month ago, she and Finnian had been intimate at the family home, but they hadn''t used protection, and she''d forgotten to take the pill afterward.

    All signs pointed to a consequence she wasn''t ready to face, and as Amara stood at the bathroom doorway, a chill ran through her, unwilling to ept the reality.

    After a long while, she dialed Elysia''s number, hoping her friend would apany her to the hospital, but with no answer, Amara had to go alone.

    An hourter, Amara left the hospital, her face ashen.

    Standing at the side of the road, she clutched a thin pregnancy test result, her heart a whirlwind of confusion and fear.

    Her fingers instinctively brushed over her stomach; she couldn''t believe she was pregnant, but there was no denying it now.

    She didn''t know if she should keep the baby, or even what her next steps should be. Just then, Elysia texted her, [Ama, sorry I missed your call. I was out on a date with Dorian, and Jessica showed up to cause trouble. We got into a fight.]

    Shocked, Amara quickly replied, [What happened? Are you hurt? Where are you now?]

    [I''m home now, still arguing with Dorian. I''m fine.]

    [By the way, was there something you needed to talk about?]

    Judging by Elysia''s tone, she was still upset, but it didn''t seem too serious. Still, considering Elysia and Dorian''splicated history, Amara felt uneasy and typed, [Are you home? Should Ie over?]

    [Sure.]

    Amara took a cab to Elysia''s ce. Having the entry code, she let herself into the apartment.

    She walked into the stylish, minimalist living room and saw Elysia sitting on a single-seater, her expression cold. On the double-seater couch were two men Dorian and Finnian, which made Amara stop short.

    ¡ª

 Chapter 30

    Later, she remembered that Finnian and Dorian were pretty close. Because of that connection, Elysia had seen Finnian more often than she had.

    Amara gave a wry smile and walked over, saying, "Hey, Ely, what''s going on?"

    "Nothing," Elysia replied sarcastically. "Just trying to enjoy a dinner with my boyfriend, but then his ''sister'' shows up pretending to be sick and acting all needy. Should have checked the date before stepping out today."

    Dorian''s expression darkened. "You really can''t stand Jessica, can you?"

    "Yeah, I can''t stand it!" Elysia''s voice was tinged with agitation. "Show me a woman who can put up with a ''sister'' who isn''t even rted by blood!"

    Dorian let out augh before replying disdainfully, "Well, you could always find yourself a ''brother'' who isn''t rted by blood. Am I stopping you?"

    Elysia was rendered speechless, her face turning pale.

    The truth was, Dorian didn''t love her, and he had never hidden that fact. She was in the same boat as Amara. So, what was she supposed to do now?

    "Ely, don''t be upset," Amara said softly, patting Elysia''s head. She then turned to Dorian and coldly stated, "She needs to rest now. Please leave."

    Dorian''s expression grew darker, his face looking rather intimidating. He had met Finnian''s wife twice. Once at Finnian and Amara''s wedding, and once at Grace''s funeral.

    In his memory, Amara was a timid woman, not much of a talker, probably due to her self-consciousness about her scars. But now, she seemed different.

    "And why should I leave?" he retorted icily. "This is my girlfriend''s home."

    Amara fixed him with a cold stare, tempted to say, "If she''s your girlfriend, why are you hurting her?" But she knew it was pointless.

    She walked over, opened the door, and repeated, "Please leave, or I''ll call the police."

    Dorian and Finnian were both taken aback. What had happened to this woman? Her personality seemed to have really changed.

    Despite their dissatisfaction, both men prided themselves on being respectable. With Amara going to such lengths, they couldn''t very well stay any longer. So, with grim expressions, they left.

    Amara noticed Finnian''s gaze was now colder than it had been a few days ago. She thought their rtionship, while never great, hadn''t been this bad before. So why the change?

    But she didn''t dwell on it. Watching Elysia''s tears fall after Dorian left, she suddenly understood what Keith had felt all those years ago.

    She sighed, and walked over; wrapping an arm around Elysia''s shoulders, she said, "Ely, if you really can''t take it anymore, maybe it''s time to end things."

    Elysia looked up, tears still in her eyes, surprised at Amara''s words. It had been nearly two years, and this was the first time Amara had suggested breaking up.

    Amara pondered for a moment and said, "If it were before, I wouldn''t have advised you like this. But now, I''m getting a divorce. I''ve felt what it''s like to cut away a part of yourself that''s gone rotten. It hurts, it really does. But once the pain subsides, there''s relief. I hope you''ll think about that."

    Elysia began to cry again, hugging Amara tightly as she addressed, "Ama, you''re the only one who truly cares about me."

    Amara, who had always been so timid and shy, had somehow found the courage to drive Dorian away when Elysia whispered that she had no desire to see him now.

 Chapter 31

    Given Amara''s personality, she wasn''t the type to do something like that.

    Amara gently patted Elysia''s shoulder,forting her. She thought it best to postpone sharing her pregnancy news, considering Elysia''s current emotional state.

    An hourter, Amara left the apartment. As she stepped out, she noticed a tall, lean figure leaning against the nearby wall. His eyes were fixed on her, and in the dimly lit hallway, it was a bit unsettling.

    She was startled. She hadn''t expected Finnian to still be there, especially not with such a cold gaze, which pained her.

    Just as she was about to ask what was going on, Finnian grabbed her wrist, muttering "We need to talk" before leading her downstairs.

    With a loud bang, Finnian yanked open the car door and somewhat roughly pushed Amara inside. He climbed in after her, closed the door, and with a voice as cold as ice, said, "You don''t want the divorce?"

    What was he talking about?

    "I didn''t say that!" Amara immediately countered.

    Finnian remained silent. He pulled out his phone, and with a few swift taps, a familiar voice yed from the speaker. Amara froze.

    It was her voice, telling Liliana that she didn''t really want to divorce Finnian. But how did Finnian get this recording? A chill ran down her spine. The car seemed to shrink, and she struggled to breathe.

    "That was something I said to provoke Liliana when she was provoking and ndering me!" Amara quickly exined.

    "I only said that to get back at her. It wasn''t true; I really do want the divorce!" she said, her voice tinged with anxiety. "And that recording is iplete; it doesn''t capture the entire conversation. It''s out of context!"

    Amara was desperate to clear things up, her frustration with Liliana and whoever recorded and sent this to Finnian growing.

    Finnian sat in the shadows, and in the dim car interior, Amara couldn''t read his expression. She could only sense his silhouette growing colder, his voice more detached.

    "Amara, I don''t care whether what you said is true or not, nor do I have the energy to investigate. I''m just letting you know I''ve refiled the divorce papers. We''ll definitely be divorced in a month."

    There were no disrespectful words in his statement, nor any usations. Yet, why did she feel a chill run from her head to her toes?

    Amara lowered her head, her body trembling as she clutched the hem of her dress. She thought she''d feel better if Finnian had angrily questioned her. Anything would have been better than his indifference.

    "I got it," Amara whispered. "We''ll definitely be divorced in a month. You won''t have any problems from my end, rest assured."

    With that, she couldn''t bear the cramped car any longer. The air seemed to thin, the temperature dropping with every second. She couldn''t stay there another moment. She flung open the car door and left.

    Watching Amara walk away, Finnian slowly turned his gaze back, driving off to the office. Entering his office, he felt a weight in his chest, making him ufortable.

    He loosened his tie. The documents in front of him were piled up, all of which he could read, yet none of which he could focus on.

    His mind was filled with the image of Amara''s face from their recent encounter.

 Chapter 32

    At that moment, she looked at him. Her eyes wererge and bright, yet imbued with a deep sadness. She quickly lowered her gaze.

    It was such a simple gesture, but on his way back home, Finnian couldn''t stop reying that scene in his mind, like a song stuck on repeat.

    He closed his eyes, trying to push away the jumble of thoughts that had taken over his mind. Just then, his phone rang. He answered it with a curt, "What''s up?"

    "Finn," came Liliana''s soft voice. "Do you have time this evening? Let''s have dinner together."

    "I''ll pass. I''m not hungry," Finnian replied, his voice distant.

    "How about tomorrow then? I really want to see you," Liliana pleaded yfully.

    Finnian loosened his tie, his tone remaining indifferent. "We''ll see about tomorrow."

    He hung up, intending to dive into his work, but his stomach growled, reminding him that he''d barely eaten at lunchtime, and now it was well past dinner time.

    ncing at the calendar, he noticed it was Friday. Amara usually brought him a pot of m chowder or a hearty beef stew on Fridays. He could almost taste the rich vors in his memory, which only added to his growing frustration and furrowed brows.

    Meanwhile, Amara had just left the real estate office, clutching a set of keys, and headed to an apartment across from the film set.

    Though she technically still had the Autumn Ridge house, she and Finnian weren''t officially divorced yet, making it still legally their shared home. She couldn''t bring herself to stay there.

    Besides, Autumn Ridge was a bit of a trek from the film set, so she quickly rented a fully furnished apartment nearby. She could just move in without much hassle.

    After checking the ce out and signing the electronic lease, she tidied up a bit before heading out to buy groceries.

    On her way back from the market, Amara had an unsettling feeling like someone was following her. It was a subtle sensation, but it was there.

    The apartment she rented was in an older building with a faded exterior andx security. As dusk fell, a chill ran down her spine, and she picked up her speed.

    Eventually, she went in the passageway, yet, the footsteps behind her continued, mirroring her pace. When she sped up, so did they. When she slowed down, they followed suit, clinging to her like a shadow. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

    She nced up toward her apartment on the second floor. The stairwell was narrow, and thendlord had mentioned the apartment across from hers was vacant. If something happened, no one might hear her cries for help.

    So, Amara swiftly ducked aside, hiding in the shadows.

    Just then, a figure in a baseball cap, mask, and sunsses entered. He paused when he saw no one was upstairs and began looking around.

    Amara lurked from her hiding spot, her heart pounding in her chest. She had nned to slip out quietly if the person went upstairs, deciding whether to sneak away or make a scene to attract attention.

    But he was looking around, about to spot her. Without thinking, she swung her grocery bag at him and then bolted before the other snapped back to the reality.

    "Amara!!!"

    A frustrated voice shouted after her, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

 Chapter 33

    Amara paused at the entrance, her mind reying the sound she just heard. She blinked, wide-eyed and incredulous.

    The next second, someone grabbed her arm and spun her around. The man removed his sunsses to reveal a pair of angry eyes as he snarled, "Why''d you hit me? That hurt a lot!"

    Amara was utterly speechless. She reversed her grip on his arm, pulling him into the empty passageway, and hissed, "Keith, are you out of your mind? Why are you following me?"

    She couldn''t believe it. The person who had been trailing her was none other than Keith. Despite the years she spent hiding behind her scars, Amara had always been sensitive to unwanted attention, thanks to her striking figure. So naturally, she was furious.

    Keith pulled down his mask, his voice defensive. "Who''s following you? I''m just heading home. What about you? Why are you here? You don''t even live here!"

    "I do live here."

    That shut Keith up. Watching Amara walk into the building where he lived, Keith had assumed she was finallying to apologize. But she lived here too?

    Amara watched the disappointment y out on Keith''s face and exined helplessly why she had rented an apartment here as she headed up the stairs. It turned out they both lived in the same building, on the same floor, directly across from each other.

    As they reached their doors, Keith grabbed her arm again and said in an assertive tone, "You hit me for no reason today. I needpensation, why don''t you buy me dinner?"

    Amara gazed at him, distaste flickering in her eyes as she unlocked her door and replied in the way she was used to when they were kids. "Fine, fine. It''s not like I''ll starve after sharing my food."

    With a grin, Keith followed her inside, and they ended up in the kitchen, washing vegetables together. Just then, Amara''s phone buzzed. She nced at the screen, surprised to see Will''s name, and answered, "Hey, what''s up?"

    "Mrs. Everly," Will''s voice was respectful on the other end. "Do you have a moment? Mr. Everly is hungry, and he really enjoyed the m chowder you made before. Could you make it and bring it over?"

    Amara was left speechless. Finnian wanted her cooking again?

    Though Will didn''t outright say it, Finnian must have hinted at wanting her food, or Will wouldn''t have made such a reckless request.

    Amara was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond. Keith, on the other hand, snatched the phone from her and said coldly, "No, she doesn''t have time."

    With that, Keith directly hung up.

    Amara wasn''t angry with Keith for taking her phone. Truthfully, she wanted to say no herself. Still, she gave Keith a light smack. "What are you doing, snatching my phone like that?"

    She was abstracted, her mind drifting back to what Will had just said. Why was Finnian so keen on her cooking? Thest time, he wanted her homemade chicken soup, which had puzzled her then too.

    Did Finnian ask her to cook because he thought of her as some kind of homemaker over the past three years? Was she just a cook or maybe even a maid in his eyes?

    These thoughts tightened Amara''s grip, causing the lettuce she held to crumple. Meanwhile, Will stared at his now dark phone screen, utterly bewildered.

 Chapter 34

    Who was that guy that answered the call from Mrs. Everly just now? What was his rtionship with her? Should he tell Mr. Everly about this?

    "Why haven''t you gone to grab food yet?"

    Finnian stepped out to grab something and noticed Will, who he''d sent off to get food about five minutes ago, still standing by the office door. So he asked.

    Will looked up instantly, torn with indecision. Well, the call had already been made, and besides, Mr. Everly might find out sooner orter anyway. So perhaps it was better toe clean now?

    "Mr. Everly, I remember Mrs. Everly makes a good m chowder, so I took the liberty to call and see if she could bring some over. But some guy grabbed the phone and said no."

    As Will reached thest part, he stared at Finnian and gulped nervously, fearing he might get thrown out for his audacity.

    Finnian''s face was partly shadowed, making it hard for Will to read his expression. He just heard him say nonchntly, "It''s fine, go get some food."

    And with that, he watched Finnian turn and walk away.

    Back in his office, Finnian mulled over what Will had said, feeling an odd prickling sensation, like a tiny thorn in his side. It wasn''t intensely painful, but it was definitely unsettling.

    What was Amara doing just now? Was she with another man? Who could that man be?

    Besides feeling unsettled, Finnian couldn''t shake a sense of humiliation. It wasn''t clear even to him where these feelings stemmed from.

    His gaze was deep as he stared at his phone on the desk, feeling the urge to call Amara and ask. Yet, even if he did call, what would he say?

    Meanwhile, after about an hour or so, the two of them finished making dinner. As Keith dished out the food, he asked, "Amara, why are you and Finnian getting a divorce?"

    From their conversations earlier, it was obvious Keith still felt frustrated on her behalf. Amara was at a loss for how to answer, especially since this wasn''t the first time Keith had asked.

    Keith sighed, dropping the topic, and said, "Ama, I''ve really missed you, you know."

    He and Amara had grown up together, thick as thieves since childhood. Over the years, he often thought of her, resisting the urge to call and check in a couple of times.

    Amara looked up, her heart softening slightly, and asked, "Really?"

    "Of course."

    "Well, then maybe we should just patch things up."

    "Ha, I''ll have to think about that carefully."

    Amara rolled her eyes and carried the tes to the dining room.

    Together, she and Keith had whipped up a feast with four dishes and a soup, along with some freshly steamed rice. The spread looked delicious.

    Over the years, Amara had gotten used to wearing a mask, but in front of only two people could she befortable enough to take it off one was Elysia, and the other was Keith.

    ¨D

    So now, she casually pulled off her mask, picked up a fork, and grabbed a piece of steak, chewing contentedly. "Mmm, this is great. Your cooking skills haven''t waned."

    Keith stared at Amara''s face,pletely awestruck.

    A few secondster, with a tter, his fork hit the floor. His mouth hung open as he stared at Amara like he was seeing something miraculous, looking a bit silly.

    Amara felt a bit embarrassed under his gaze and gave him a gentle shove. "Hey, what are you doing? Can you just eat your dinner already?"

 Chapter 35

    Keith stood there like a statue,pletely frozen for a good thirty seconds before he finally snapped back to reality. Then, like a monkey, he leaped into the air, startling Amara.

    "Your scar is gone? How did it happen, and why didn''t you tell me sooner?"

    Keith bounced around Amara, poking her cheeks to ensure it was real, before letting out a delighted shout.

    Amaraughed. "I got it treated by a doctor, you''ve got me blocked on Facebook, and you expect me to tell you?"

    "I didn''t block you! I just deactivated my Facebook. Loads of people have asked me about it."

    As he spoke, Keith couldn''t tear his eyes away from Amara''s face.

    She was really stunning. Having spent many years in the entertainment industry, Keith could guarantee Amara outshined any other actresses he''d seen. He never imagined that the Amara he grew up with would be this breathtaking once her scar was gone.

    Naturally, their conversation revolved around Amara''s transformation. Keith peppered her with questions about how her face healed and when she could finally ditch the mask or whatnot.

    They talkedte into the night, and it was only when Amara yawned that Keith reluctantly headed home.

    The next morning, Amara arrived on set. Just as she was settling into the break room, Kevin showed up once

    more.

    "Ama," Kevin eximed as he pulled up a chair, grabbing Amara''s hand with a melodramatic sigh.

    "You moved out, and now I''m all alone, missing you terribly."

    Amara remained silent, sensing the real reason for his visit. Sure enough, after pretending to wipe away nonexistent tears, Kevin continued, ¡°Ama, why don''t you move back in? Spend some time with me. After all, once the divorce goes through, I won''t get to see you much."

    Amara shook her head firmly. ¡°Oh no, Grandpa, I''ll still visit. I truly see you as family."

    Kevin opened his mouth to argue, but Amara cut him off. ¡°Grandpa, the house is quite a distance from the set. It''s just easier for me to stay closer."

    There was no way she was moving back. Not after thest time, when Kevin tried to drug her and Finnian. Who knew what he might try next?

    Seeing her resolve, Kevin didn''t back down but pondered a new strategy. Just then, Lisa, who had been stationing outside, walked in, frowning.

    ¡°Sir, Mr. Finnian Everly is on set. He''s in Liliana''s dressing room."

    Kevin''s face darkened immediately.

    "Bring him here."

    "Yes, sir."

    As Lisa turned to leave, Amara wanted to intervene, but Kevin held her hand. ¡°Ama, stay out of this. He''s tangled up with that actress again, and I need to set him straight."

    Amara frowned. Kevin was notoriously stubborn, and she feared he''d make things difficult when Liliana and Finnian decided to tie the knot.

    Soon, the door opened, and Finnian entered with Lisa trailing behind.

    Finnian wore a charcoal gray suit and a blue tie, a refreshing change from his usual ck attire. But Amara only nced briefly before looking away.

    Finnian''s expression was tense. Approaching Kevin, he didn''t get a chance to speak before the former pointed an using finger at him.

    "Instead of working, you spend your day fawning over that actress! Since when do you start cking off?"

 Chapter 36

    "Grandpa, I''ve wrapped up all my tasks for the day. If you don''t believe me, feel free to ask around," Finnian replied nonchntly.

    Kevin paused for a moment, recalling his grandson''s knack for finishing work ahead of time. A swell of pride rose within him, but the scent of perfume on Finnian''s clothes made him furrow his brows once again.

    "What have you been up to? Where''s that scenting from? What were you doing with that woman?" Kevin fired off his questions in rapid session.

    Finnian maintained a calm demeanor, offering only a vague exnation, brushing off the interrogation with a few words.

    Meanwhile, Amara stood quietly by Kevin''s side, not uttering a single word. She thought, Kevin had called Finnian over for no apparent reason. Finnian would probably me her for stirring up trouble, and she doubted he''d believe any exnation she might offer.

    So, she said nothing, doing nothing more than observing the scene with an air of indifference. But the more aloof her demeanor, the more it tugged at her heart.

    Across the room, though Finnian was engaged in conversation with his grandfather, his attention was divided, frequently flicking over to Amara''s direction.

    He noticed that since entering the room, Amara had only nced at him once before lowering her gaze, showing apleteck of interest in him. This disinterest left a strange difort in him.

    After Finnian exchanged a few more words with Kevin, Lisa picked up on Finnian''s frequent nces at Amara and found herself a bit surprised. She pondered for a moment before addressing Kevin, "Mr. Kevin Everly, there''s some important business back home that needs our attention. Perhaps we should head back."

    "What sort of business?"

    "It''s a bitplicated. I''ll fill you in on the way."

    Kevin wasn''t entirely sure what Lisa was implying, but given her years of dedicated service, he trusted her judgment. Besides, he was exasperated with Finnian by this point, so he followed Lisa out.

    The break room fell into silence. Finnian approached Amara and asked, "What was today all about?" "Grandpa was trying to convince me to move back to the house, but I refused," Amara answered honestly. Finnian''s brows furrowed slightly. "You don''t want to go back?"

    Amara felt a spark of irritation at his question. Did he still believe that recording was genuine, suspecting she didn''t truly want a divorce?

    "When you brought up divorce, I didn''t argue. Why would I not want that?" Amara quickly retorted. "That recording was just a misunderstanding."

    Her voice was urgent, and after she spoke, she turned her head away.

    Finnian''s expression turned slightly frosty. Even though her response was what he wanted to hear, her eagerness to affirm her desire for divorce somehow stung.

    "By the way, do you have any male friends?" Finnian suddenly blurted out.

    Amara was taken aback, instinctively replying, "No, why do you ask?"

    The only male friend she had was Keith, but since Keith was a celebrity, she was inclined to downy their connection in front of others, which led to the reply.

    "Nothing much."

    Finnian searched her eyes. It was hard for him to discern if Amara was lying, but then again, what did it matter to him whether or not she had male friends?

    Moreover, Amara had been reclusive for the past three years, with few friends due to her circumstances, except for Elysia. She probably didn''t have any other male friends.

    As for that call from Will yesterday, it was likely just a misunderstanding.

 Chapter 37

    Thinking about it made him feel oddly at ease. After Finnian left, Amara got ready to head out and watch the filming.

    The scene in question was Keith''s solo performance, but it was almost time for Liliana''s part. Just then, Liliana approached Amara and said, "Ms. Sullivan, could you tweak my uing scene? It''s a bit too revealing, and my husband won''t be happy about it."

    After she spoke, a nearby extra couldn''t help butment, "Liliana, your rtionship with Mr. Everly must be amazing. Does he love you so much that he can''t stand you being close to other men?"

    Liliana chuckled and openly admitted, "Yes, he adores me. We''ve always had a great rtionship."

    Despite Keith''s probing questions the other day, which stirred some rumors about her and Finnian''s rtionship, Finnian''s frequent visits and his kind demeanor toward her had put those rumors to rest.

    Liliana nced at Amara, her eyes gleaming with smugness, but Amara remained unmoved. "Ms. Porter, the scene can''t be changed. If your husband is unhappy, that''s a personal issue. Please don''t let personal matters affect your work."

    Upon hearing this, Liliana bit her lip, seemingly displeased. But she quicklyposed herself and smiled, "Alright, let''s leave it as is."

    Liliana turned and walked away, and Amara watched her retreating figure, trying hard to suppress her envy. Although she hated to admit it, she was indeed envious of Liliana. She did her best not to let it interfere with her work, and so far, she had managed well.

    Soon, the next scene began filming, the very scene Liliana had found too revealing. I was a pivotal moment for Isabe and the king''s rtionship, so the bed scene was essential, and Amara insisted on keeping it.

    But as the scene yed out, just as Liliana was about to be pinned on the bed by the king, she wobbled and copsed to the floor.

    Everyone froze. Keith, dressed in his royal robe, stood up, his brows furrowed. "She''s fainted."

    Chaos ensued, with people rushing over to help and calling for an ambnce, carefully moving Liliana to safety.

    Amara watched themotion, frowning. Did Liliana''s copse have anything to do with her refusal to alter the scene?

    She refrained from checking on Liliana, instead returning to her break room. She reread the script, reassuring herself that the scene was crucial and her decision was justified before closing the script.

    Then, there was a knock on the door. She called out, "Come in," and Finnian entered with a darkened face.

    Finnian''s expression was grim, his presence intimidating as he approached Amara and questioned, "You refused to change her scene?"

    Amara clenched her fists. She had just received a text from Cedric, exining that Liliana fainted because she hadn''t eaten that morning, not because of the scene. This knowledge eased her conscience about her decision.

    But Finnian''s usatory tone suggested he med her for Liliana''s copse.

    "Yes, I refused Ms. Porter''s request to change the scene because it couldn''t be altered. Besides, her fainting had nothing to do with the scene; it was because she skipped breakfast."

 Chapter 38

    Amara kept her cool, not letting any anger or sadness seep into her voice. She hoped the issue would just blow over without any fuss.

    But she hadn''t anticipated Finnian''s cold demeanor as he spoke, "Change that intimate scene. I don''t want Liliana to be too exposed."

    Amara''s heart clenched. She knew she probably shouldn''t ask, but the words slipped out anyway. "Why? You don''t like seeing her with another man?"

    "Yeah," Finnian admitted, his expression impassive.

    Amara''s lips lost some of their color, and her gaze dropped. She berated herself for asking such a question. Hadn''t she already known the answer?

    "I''ll think about it."

    She turned away to busy herself with the scripts on the table, hoping to hide her distress. Finnian nced at her back, his eyes narrowing before he left the room.

    The next morning, Liliana arrived at the set looking refreshed, her cheeks rosy as Finnian apanied her. She graciously thanked everyone who had helped her the previous day.

    They were set to reshoot the scene from yesterday. Cedric had received Finnian''s orders to revise the script for Liliana, but after he ryed the message to Amara, thetter didn''t respond. She wasn''t answering her phone either, making Cedric increasingly anxious.

    "Mr. Zade, is the new script ready?" Liliana asked with a smile after finishing her morning greetings.

    Cedric wiped the sweat from his brow, forcing a smile. "It''ll be ready soon, don''t worry. I''ll get it to you shortly."

    He discreetly sent another text to Amara, [Where are you???? Get back here ASAP!!!! And don''t forget to revise the script!!!!]

    Finnian noticed Cedric texting and somehow sensed it was directed at Amara, who had yet to arrive. He stole a nce at the door.

    Just then, the door swung open, and Amara entered with a woman who wasn''t particrly striking in the face but had an impressive figure. All eyes turned to them.

    Amara''s expression remained unchanged as she led the woman over to Cedric and said, "Cedric, this is the stand-in I''ve found for Liliana. She can take over all the love scenes and kissing scenes. Sunny, turn around so Mr. Zade can see you."

    Sunny turned around, and there was a collective gasp from the onlookers, marveling at her resemnce to Liliana; especially their back was eerily the same.

    Cedric assessed Sunny. Honestly, he didn''t want to change the script either, as directors and scriptwriters knew best how to convey the story''s emotions. Changing it would dilute the impact.

    But Finnian was their financial backer, and his wishes had to be honored. Now, with Amara finding a stand-in, they could keep the original scenes and still meet Finnian''s demands. Cedric was thrilled.

    However, Liliana approached, her beautiful face tinged with anger. "Is this my stand-in? Ms. Sullivan, I don''t agree with this."

    While using stand-ins wasmon, everyone knew a good actor rarely needed one. Only those whose skills were inferior would seek one.

    Thus, Liliana reckoned Amara''s bringing a stand-in was an insult to her.

    "I''m doing this scene myself, Mr. Zade," she dered firmly. "I refuse to use a stand-in."

 Chapter 39

    Amara''s voice was firm and unwavering. "Ms. Porter, this scene can''t be changed. If you want to shoot it yourself, you have to follow the original script. Otherwise, we''ll have to use a body double."

    She had spent an entire day and night searching for this double, skipping meals and sleep. Exhaustion was written all over her, yet her eyes were bright with dedication to the project. Her intensity silenced those around her.

    "Finn," Liliana''s voice suddenly softened as she looked at Finnian, her toneced with a hint of hurt. "I don''t want a body double. What kind of top-notch actor uses a double? Isn''t that an insult to my skills?"

    Amara clenched her fists tightly. Finnian approached Amara and said coolly, "Weren''t we supposed to change the scene?"

    His words were light, but Amara detected a chill in his tone. Was she imagining it? She met Finnian''s gaze, and his eyes, usually so captivating, dripped with coldness. So it wasn''t her imagination.

    "Yesterday, I only said I''d consider it, not that it was a done deal. That''s the first point," Amara maintained herposure as she exined.

    "The second point is that this scene can''t be changed. If it is, the emotional arc between the leads will weaken. This intimate scene is a crucial turning point in their rtionship. If it''s altered poorly, all the buildup will be for nothing."

    Amara''s words were somewhat dramatic. The buildup wouldn''t bepletely ruined by a small change. However, as a meticulous scriptwriter, she believed every detail needed to be as close to perfect as possible to produce a high-quality show.

    If shepromised on one thing and then another, the final product would be riddled with ws. She couldn''t bear to see that, and neither would the audience.

    Sheid out her reasoning and added in the end, "Of course, if Ms. Porter isn''tfortable filming this scene, we understand. That''s why I found a body double. This double resembles her from behind. We only need a side and back shot for the scene. With some post-editing, no one will notice it''s not her. It''s the best of both worlds."

    But the credits would list the double''s name-Liliana thought to herself.

    She looked back at Finnian and said, "I really can''t ept using a double. No good actor uses one. How about I just do the scene myself?"

    Her words were conciliatory, her tone subtly tinged with a vulnerability that would tug at anyone''s heartstrings.

    Finnian''s expression didn''t change, but his tone grew even colder. "No need for a double. You do it, and change the script."

    "But the script really can''t..."

    "If you can''t change it, someone else will," Finnian interrupted Amara, his voice detached and indifferent.

    Amara''s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him.

    "What did you say?"

    Did Finnian mean that if she insisted on not changing it, he''d bring in someone else? For people of their status, words often carried deeper meanings. Was he implying they would rece her as the scriptwriter? Amara''s fist clenched tight as her fury and frustration surged, filling her chest and making her tremble.

    "I can''t let anyone else change the script," she dered with certainty.

    Not altering the script was her unwavering principle. Her work was her line in the sand.

    Finnian nced at her and said, "If you want to stay on as the scriptwriter for this project, make the changes."

    He checked his watch and added, "You have three hours."

 Chapter 40

    Finnian was the biggest investor in the project, which gave him the authority to make decisions. Everyone around cast sympathetic nces at Amara, while Liliana smirked with a sense of triumph.

    Amara felt numb. She nodded. "I''ll revise it now. I won''t need three hours."

    She had spent yesterday figuring out how to make the changes, still too wary of upsetting Finnian.

    However, she had thought of a clever solution involving a stand-in, and she quickly left to find one. She hadn''t anticipated how things would turn out.

    Turning to Sunny, Amara apologized, handed her some cab fare, and sent her on her way. Without looking at anyone else, Amara headed straight to the break room.

    Finnian watched her retreating figure. Her shoulders seemed so frail, as if she were deeply upset. Was it just his imagination?

    "Finn?"

    Liliana tugged at his sleeve, wondering why he was staring at Amara.

    "What''s it?"

    As Finnian looked down, Liliana found his eyes devoid of emotion, putting her at ease. She pouted yfully, "Nothing, the baby''s just hungry again. Let''s grab something to eat."

    Back in the room, Amara quickly revised the scene and showed it to Cedric to confirm it was okay. Then she called Liliana and Keith back to shoot the scene.

    The revised scene had less of an intimate vibe, and the emotions weren''t as rich. Amara advised Cedric to make sure the post-production team edited it well, hopefully creating a dreamy, abstract beauty.

    If the post-production was skillful, the scene could still meet expectations. If not, it could be ruined. Sighing, Amara finished her discussion with Cedric and was about to return to the break room when Finnian stopped her. "You''re not happy?"

    Finnian''s eyes searched Amara''s, as if trying to read her emotions. Amara clenched her fists. The words "Why should I be happy?" almost slipped out, but she held back, remembering her ce.

    She was just a small-time scriptwriter who could be reced at any moment. What right did she have to speak to an investor like that?

    "No."

    Amara shook her head and walked around Finnian, leaving him behind.

    She had grown colder towards him, and Finnian wasn''t oblivious. He noticed it and frowned slightly.

    But it wasn''t Amara''s unhappiness that bothered him. Given how she had been treated, her discontent was justified. What puzzled him was why he cared about her mood at all.

    Back in the break room, Amara decided to catch some sleep. She kicked off her shoes andy down on the bed.

    Just as she was about to drift off, a knock on the door interrupted her. Annoyed, she got up to answer it, finding Liliana on the other side.

    "Do you need something?"

    Amara asked bluntly, not even bothering to hide her irritation.

    Liliana smiled slightly and, like she owned the ce, walked in, closing the door behind her. Then she spoke, "Amara, you didn''t want to change the scene before because you wanted me to get close to another guy and make Finn upset, right? You don''t really want to divorce Finn. You''ve admitted it yourself. But do you really think all these schemes will make him like you? You''re deluding yourself."

    Amara''s anger red, banishing any lingering drowsiness.

    She red at Liliana, retorting with a coldugh, "What you do with other people is none of my business. Don''t project your petty ideas onto me. You''re overestimating yourself."

    Her words were harsh, yet Liliana maintained an air of elegance tinged with mild mockery. Truly, she was a woman of remarkableposure.

 Chapter 41

    "You really have a way with words, don''t you? But do you honestly think all this talking masks your true intentions?"

    "And how about you, what exactly are you hiding?"

    Amara stared at Liliana, her gaze piercing, as if she could see right through Liliana''s facade. "What are you implying?" Liliana asked, a hint of difort flickered across her face.

    "Just what I said. You keeping at me, picking fights. Are you insecure about your rtionship with Finnian? Afraid he might not be as into you as you im? You parade around the set, unting how much Finnian adores you. Is that just to cover up the possibility he might not care as much as you want everyone to believe?"

    Liliana became silent and her expression shifted eventually, a flicker of anger igniting behind her eyes, her expression grim, seemingly intimidating. Yet, she quickly regained herposure, slipping back into her confident demeanor.

    Amara had to admire her emotional control, despite the tension.

    "Finn treats me wonderfully, and everyone can see how much he cares. I don''t need to hide anything," Liliana said dismissively.

    "Assuming maliciously Finn''s affection for me, you''re just bitter and jealous, so pathetic."

    Her jab stung Amara. It wasn''t about being bitter and jealous, but her life indeed had been one struggle after another. She clenched her fists tight.

    "Watch your words, Liliana," she warned with each word emphasized. "You can eat whatever you like, but you can''t just say whatever you want. You''ll have to answer for what you say."

    "Ha."

    Liliana seemingly found Amara''s wordsughable, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she sauntered off with her usual grace.

    Amara sank down to the ground slowly, thinking about the conversation. She had only meant to rile Liliana up, but deep down, she knew Finnian truly cared for Liliana. She had seen Finnian defend Liliana in front of Kevin; he must be head over heels.

    She wasn''t so confident while making thements. And Liliana''s quick recovery only confirmed it; she must''ve had all the assurance she needed from Finnian''s affection, leading to her dismissal of others'' sabotage.

    Amara pressed a hand to her chest, feeling a sharp pang.

    Later that evening, as the crew wrapped up filming, Liliana passed by Amara, whispering, "You''ll pay for those reckless words you threw at me today."

    Amara didn''t understand what she meant. Exhausted from the day''s work, she didn''t give it much thought and headed home.

    The next morning, she was jolted awake by a barrage of calls from Elysia and Keith. It seemed something major had unfolded overnight.

    Twitter was aze with a sensational article iming to have "reliable sources". The piece alleged that the Whispers of Winter production had more drama behind the scenes than on screen. Supposedly, the show''s biggest investor and its scriptwriter were secretly married, but it was a marriage of convenience, not love, and now they were divorcing.

    In the middle of this, the mysterious investor was rumored to be romancing the show''s leading actress. But make no mistake¡ªLiliana wasn''t the "other woman" because the investor and scriptwriter were reportedly bound by a mere contract.

 Chapter 42

    They had agreed on a "no interference" policy after getting married, so the investor''s romance with Liliana was open and above board.

    But recently, things took a turn for the worse. The "grotesque" scriptwriter couldn''t let go of her marriage to the investor and was now backtracking on their divorce agreement.

    This whole mess left the investor and Liliana stuck in a tragic love story, unable to truly be together, all thanks to the so-called viinous scriptwriter.

    The article about this drama was concise yet emotionally charged, resonating deeply with online readers who flocked to Amara''s Twitter to express their outrage.

    Amara''s Twitter handle was "Amarise", her pen name. Overnight, her Twitter was flooded with angry messages, calling her all sorts of names, using her of clinging onto someone else''s man,beling her as despicable and pathetic.

    The piece repeatedly described "Amarise" as extremely unattractive, and many people messaged her, demanding photos to see just how hideous she was, questioning why someone like her would dare topete with a celebrity for a man, hurling insults like how shameless she was.

    Reading those hateful messages, Amara shook with utter fury, feeling as though her chest might explode.

    Just then, Elysia called. Amara picked up, telling Elysia she''d already seen the chaos on Twitter. Elysia fumed, "Was it that bitch Liliana? She''s insane! How shameless can she get?"

    Though Amara was furious, she managed to keep a sliver ofposure, reasoning, "There''s a 99% chance it''s Liliana. She even threatened mest night, and I guess this is what she meant."

    "Damn! It''s definitely that slut! Just wait, I''ll dig up evidence against her and make her pay!"

    "It might be hard to find anything," replied Amara, frowning. "Liliana is cunning. She wouldn''t do something like this unless she was sure she''de out clean."

    "So what do we do?" Elysia asked, "By the way, did your personal info get leaked?"

    "No, it didn''t."

    Though she was a somewhat known scriptwriter in the industry, she had debuted under her pen name. Over the years, she''d signed many contracts with her real name, but confidentiality agreements ensured that no one would dare reveal it.

    As for photos, they were even harder to find; her private life was well-guarded.

    "Does Finnian know about this?" Elysia fumed, "He''s managed to keep his hands clean."

    The Everly Group''s investment in Whispers of Winter hadn''t been made public, and the Everly family''s influence was formidable, untouchable within the business circles of Zephyria. So, even though many insiders knew that the "tragic investor" was Finnian, no one dared to spill the beans.

    "I''m not sure if he knows, but even if he does, what difference would it make?" Amara''s voice held a hint of self-mockery.

    Elysia paused, realizing Amara was right. Even if Finnian knew, he never seemed to care about Amara.

    Her temper red again, and she cursed out both Finnian and Liliana before saying, "I''ll see if I can find anything. Maybe there''s a clue somewhere. Oh, and we need to manage thements. I''ll reach out to some contacts."

    "Don''t worry, I''ll handle that."

    Amara, after all, had one foot in the entertainment industry and still had some connections.

    However, after reaching out, she realized that with Liliana''s current poprity, there were just too many of her fansing at her. Managing thements would require a significant effort, so Amara decided against it.

 Chapter 43

    The morning was packed with important scenes that needed shooting. Amara decided she''d tackle her other issues after the filming was done and headed to the set.

    As she walked into the studio, she could feel the curious eyes following her, but Amara kept herposure, striding in with an air of calm.

    At the age of ten, when she had been left with scars, she had faced far more judgmental stares than she was getting now. She''d developed a thick skin to such looks.

    ¡°Ama,¡± whispered a lighting technician she was friendly with, approaching her cautiously. ¡°Is it true? Are you really Mr. Everly''s wife? Is what that article says true?"

    Amara noticed the hush that fell over the set as people paused in their tasks, eavesdropping with keen interest.

    She looked away and replied normally, "Yes, we are married, and yes, we''re about to get divorced. But unlike what that article suggests, I''m not clinging to Mr. Everly. We''re simply in the waiting period for the divorce."

    "I see."

    "I knew that article was nonsense. You''re a good person; you wouldn''t do something like that."

    "Whoever wrote that piece really crossed a line.¡±

    Amara had built a good reputation in the crew, and many colleagues gathered around to offer their support, filling her heart with a gentle warmth.

    Just then, she noticed Liliana entering. Amara''s expression turned cold. She excused herself from the group with a quick, ¡°I need to step out for a bit,¡± and followed Liliana to her break room.

    Amara didn''t bother knocking. She barged in, mming the door shut behind her.

    Liliana, who had just set down her purse, turned around sharply at the noise, locking eyes with Amara.

    "So this is your idea of revenge?"

    Amara held up her phone, disying her Twitter DMs, filled with vile messages.

    "Hey ugly, show us your face, bet you''re desperate for a man, huh?¡±

    "Ugly chick trying to steal from Lili, do you have no shame?"

    "Go to hell, you ugly witch."

    Liliana nced at the screen before looking away, a faint scorn ying on her lips.

    "Well, they''re not wrong, are they? You are mad? Did it hit a nerve?"

    Amara red at her, and without warning, raised her hand and pped Liliana hard across the face.

    The sound echoed in the room as Liliana''s head snapped to the side, her cheek stinging with the imprint of Amara''s hand. She turned back, disbelief etched on her features as she stared at Amara.

    "You dare p me?"

    "Damn right, that''s what I did!"

    "What gives you the right?"

    Fury overtook Liliana, stripping away her usual facade of grace. She scowled at Amara, the red mark on her cheek only adding to the anger twisting her features.

    ¡°It''s all because you won''t let go of Finn! If you''d just divorce him already, I wouldn''t have to do this! If you didn''t y your little games, I wouldn''t have resorted to these measures! You''ve got no one to me but yourself for the abuse you''re getting online!"

    The room was equipped with bug detectors, so Liliana wasn''t afraid of her outburst being overheard, and in her anger, she let the words fly.

    Amara''s face twisted with anger beneath her mask, the expression hidden from view.

    ¡°What games, Liliana? What have I done to you? Stop pretending to be so innocent.¡±

    "You refuse to rewrite the script for me and brought in a stand-in to humiliate me¡ª-isn''t that your schemes?"

 Chapter 44

    Amara was at loss for words, stunned as she stared at Liliana.

    She never intended to rewrite the script or use a stand-in just to humiliate Liliana. How could Liliana even think that? Was she brainless?

    No, she wasn''t. Liliana was sharp as a tack. She must have been so furious she couldn''t help butsh out, or maybe she was just trying to get under Amara''s skin. If that was the case, she''d seeded.

    Amara closed her eyes shortly; despite fury filled with her chest, she got ahold of herself. She knew getting worked up wouldn''t solve anything. Ignoring Liliana, she left the room without another word.

    Liliana didn''t bother to call after her. Before the p mark on her cheek could fade, she snapped a carefully angled photo, capturing both her beauty and the pitiful bruise, and sent it to Finnian.

    Her phone buzzed almost immediately with Finnian''s name shing on the screen. A small, satisfied smile crept onto Liliana''s face.

    Back in her own break room, Amara fought back tears but failed at the thought of her grievance.

    She had been through a lot since young, faced plenty of scorn and derision, but even those people had their limits. They hadn''t used such vilenguage to tear her down.

    Yet, in the past couple of days, she had been bombarded with thousands of hatefulments online, including some particrly harsh slut-shaming remarks that left her deeply hurt.

    She heard urgent knocks on the door "Amara!"

    The door flew open, and there stood Finnian, his face a thundercloud as he stormed toward her.

    Amara barely had time to wipe her tears before she saw him. His usually handsome face was dark with anger, a menacing air surrounding him, and she froze.

    "Did you hit Liliana?" he demanded, skipping any pleasantries.

    Amara nodded. "Yes, I did."

    Actually she had already guessed why Finnian was there after a momentary pause, but the chill in his voice still sent a jolt of agony to her heart.

    "How could you?" he spat, his eyes cold and intense, an intimidating aura exuding from him. "Did you forget she''s pregnant?"

    Amara was silent. Yes, Liliana was pregnant-with Finnian''s child. But she was pregnant too, and she was the one being torn apart online. Why didn''t anyone care about her?

    Finnian''s gaze bore into her as he noticed Amara didn''t respond. "Why aren''t you saying anything?"

    "I have nothing to say," Amara replied, her voice barely a whisper, her face ashen.

    "Liliana asked someone to spread lies about me online, which led to me getting cyber bullied. That''s why I hit her. But I can''t prove she did it. If you don''t believe me, there''s nothing I can do."

    After finishing her piece, she stared at the floor serenely, waiting for Finnian''s response, hoping he would just leave. She couldn''t handle this anymore.

    "I''ll deal with the article," Finnian finally said after few seconds, his voice low and ominous. "But you need to apologize to Liliana."

    "What?" Amara''s head snapped up in disbelief. He wanted her to apologize?

    Just then, the door creaked open again, and Liliana walked in, looking frail and delicate. She clutched Finnian''s sleeve and said, "There''s no need to apologize. Ms. Sullivan''s been through so much with those awfulments. It''s understandable why she was upset. Although I didn''t do what I''m used of, my cheek''s fine now. No need for apologies."

 Chapter 45

    Amara red at Liliana with a searing intensity of resentment.

    Liliana stood beside Finnian, her face smug as she nced back at Amara, knowing Finnian couldn''t see her expression.

    Finnian, for the moment, let the article issue slide as he turned to Liliana. The mark on her face from the p had faded considerably, but the traces were still there.

    His gaze shifted to Amara, and he spoke chilly, "Amara, if you hit someone, you need to apologize."

    The coldness in his voice was unlike anything Amara had ever felt, not even when plunged into icy water. She instinctively wrapped her arms around her trembling shoulders.

    She didn''t want to apologize. She''d been bullied by Liliana, and pping her felt like justice. Why should she apologize?

    But she knew fighting Finnian on this was futile. He insisted on an apology, and she had no choice. Her eyshes fluttered slightly as she forced out the words, "Ms. Porter, I''m sorry."

    Finnian gave her a dismissive nce before leaving with Liliana.

    It was eleven in the morning, and outside, a crucial scene was being filmed. Amara should have been there, observing and learning.

    But she feltpletely drained, lying on the couch in the break room like someone wilting away, staring at the ceiling for what felt like forever.

    Tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls, soaking the pillow beneath her. After a long while, Amara sat up and nced at her phone.

    Miraculously, the article had vanished, along with the trending topics and the hatefulments. Everything had been swept away as if the whole ordeal had never happened.

    She sat there, staring nkly at the pristine white walls. She remembered talking to someone about damage control, and they had mentioned that it could be coped with unless a hefty investment included.

    But now, the issue had been resolved, and it was obvious Finnian had intervened.

    Yet, Amara knew Finnian hadn''t done it for her; he did it for the reputation of the Everly family. Even though the article hadn''t mentioned them directly, the risk of exposure was too high, so Finnian had acted swiftly to contain it.

    With everything seemingly resolved now, it looked like the storm had passed. But what about her suffering? Who would make it right for her?

    No one. Liliana had been the instigator, causing trouble over a perceived rivalry for Finnian''s attention, or perhaps simply because she disliked Amara.

    No matter the reason, Amara was meless. Liliana caused all the chaos, and yet she faced no consequences. Instead, she received an outpouring of support online, leaving Amara, the real victim, to endure the inte''s wrath.

    Amara couldn''t help but ask herself¡ªWhy did it have to be this way? She found no answers.

    She sat in the break room, lost in thought for what seemed like an eternity. She wondered if Liliana would pull the same stunt tomorrow¡ªpicking a fight, leaving Amara to bear the brunt of the abuse while she walked away unscathed.

    It seemed entirely likely. Amara decided things couldn''t continue like this.

    She called Elysia. "Hey, Ely, you mentioned you know a really goodwyer, right? Could you send me the contact? I have something I need to discuss."

 Chapter 46

    Elysia was efficient, quickly sending thewyer''s contact. Amara friended thewyer and exchanged a few words.

    That evening, back home, she typed up a formal statement on herputer. It clearly expressed that she was voluntarily relinquishing her marriage to Finnian and was satisfied with all the terms of their divorce agreement.

    She pledged not to harass Finnian in any way or attempt to overturn the divorce agreement. If she broke this promise, she would owe Finnian a hefty penalty.

    The next morning, Amara visited thewyer''s office to get the statement notarized, giving it legal weight. Clutching the notarized document tightly, she marched to Liliana''s break room, knocking firmly on the door.

    A voice invited her in, and Amara strode in with determination, mming the copy of the statement onto her, and fixing the stunned Liliana with a cold stare, spoke deliberately, "Liliana, listen up. I never intended to salvage my marriage with Finnian from the beginning.

    He hasn''te home once in three years. What good would it do to try and fix things? I don''t know if you''re just delusional or paranoid, but you can''t seem to grasp this.

    Since you can''t figure it out, let me make it clear for you. I''ve written a statement. Finnian and I are divorcing by mutual consent, and I won''t be entangled with Finnian in any way. So, please, stop harassing me.

    You know, every time youe to warn me to stay away from Finnian, it''sughable. When have I ever done that? This statement has been notarized by awyer, so it''s legally binding, you can rest assured. If you don''t trust me, feel free to consult aw firm to verify it.

    That''s all I have to say. As for the articles you had someone write, which led to online harassment, I won''t hold it against you, let''s consider it as me doing some good karma. But now that I''ve given you this statement, don''te bothering me about Finnian anymore. If it happens again, Liliana, let me tell you, I''m not one to be pushed around!"

    As her voice rang out in the room, silence fell. Amara''s eyes were resolute, while Liliana''s face turned sour.

    Suddenly, Finnian rose from the couch with a scowl, striding over to Amara. The couch was in a blind spot from the door, so Amara hadn''t seen Finnian when she entered.

    Seeing Finnian approach her with a stern face, she was a bit taken aback. But her surprise was fleeting, and she quickly lowered her gaze.

    Finnian had been in the room all along. Had he heard her words to Liliana? Well, that was just as well. Now Finnian would know she genuinely wanted the divorce, and he wouldn''t have any reason to me her for that recording anymore.

    Havinge to terms with this, Amara felt a mix of sadness and relief as she turned to leave. Finnian abruptly caught her arm, his anger palpable, his face hard as he asked, "What is this supposed to mean?"

    "What do you mean?" Amara replied, looking up at him with rity in her eyes.

    In the midst of Liliana''s palingplexion, Finnian picked up the statement, quickly scanning it. As he finished reading, a vein throbbed at his temple.

 Chapter 47

    "Why did you write this?"

    Finnian shook the document, his eyes swirling with anger.

    Was he mad? Amara couldn''t quite decipher his emotions.

    Eyes downcast, she spoke calmly, "You''re aware of what''s been happeningtely. Liliana insists I''m clinging to you and has repeatedly harassed me, even warning me off. Just the other day, she questioned my professionalism, suggesting I rewrote the script just for you. Then, she had someone write a defamatory article about me, leading to a storm of online abuse. I just couldn''t take it anymore, so I wrote this statement."

    As she spoke, Liliana, usually soposed, was trembling slightly. Finnian nced at her, and she quickly looked down.

    Finnian looked back at Amara. She maintained her calm demeanor, but her eyes held a sadness that tugged at the heart.

    "Mr. Everly, Ms. Porter, please rest assured," Amara continued, her voice softening.

    "You can keep a copy of this. It states the penalty fee if I breach it. You can sue me if I do, so there''s no need to worry."

    Amara knew clearly that today''s actions and this statement put her in a humble position, but she felt she had no choice. She didn''t want Finnian to think she was clinging to him. Even if they couldn''t be together, she wished to leave him with a good impression.

    She couldn''t afford to offend Liliana. Despite her better family background, she held no real position in her own household, whereas Liliana had the influential Finnian backing her.

    epting this reality, Amara realized she couldn''t match Liliana''s power. Even if Liliana hurt and wronged her, shecked the means to fight back.

    So, she resorted to this humble way of "proving her innocence" to ensure she wouldn''t be harmed again. She couldn''t help but think that if Elysia and Keith knew what she''d done, they''d be furious with her. But she saw no other way out.

    "That''s all I have to say. I''m leaving now."

    Amara turned and walked away, a lonely shadow trailing her. Finnian felt a pang in his chest, unsure why.

    He didn''t stop Amara. After the door to the break room closed, he turned to Liliana again, his gaze colder than ever. "Did you harass Amara?"

    Liliana''s lips were a tad pale, and she couldn''t meet Finnian''s eyes, just trying to appear less intimidated.

    "Yes, I did approach Ms. Sullivan a few times, but I meant no harm. I was just worried aboutplications with the divorce."

    Liliana tried to keep her tone bnced, not too aggressive, yet not overly meek. In such a situation, being too assertive might provoke dislike, but being too soft wouldn''t do either. She aimed for a semnce of propriety.

    Finnian didn''t respond to her exnation. He asked, "Did youmission that article?"

    Liliana''s heart lurched. The moment she dreaded had arrived.

    Finnian locked eyes with her, saying, "Liliana, don''t lie. I''ll know if you do."

    Liliana''s fists clenched, and she trembled slightly. How could Finnian see through her lies? Was it his sharp business acumen, or did he have ways to uncover the truth?

 Chapter 48

    Liliana bit her lip, her mind racing through every possible oue in a mere two seconds, mentally mapping out each consequence. She realized she couldn''t take that gamble.

    "Finn," she murmured, a look of guilt washing over her face. "It was me. I didn''t mean for those people to go after Ms. Sullivan online. I was just so scared. Please, don''t me me."

    She gently clutched Finnian''s sleeve, tears cascading down her cheeks, making her seem heartbreakingly vulnerable.

    "You know how much Mr. Kevin Everly despises me. Only Mrs. Grace Everly liked me, but she''s no longer with us. When you finally divorced Ms. Sullivan, I thought we had a chance. But then all those things happened. I was just so afraid. I''ve waited for you for so many years, and I can''t wait any longer. Neither can the baby I''m carrying. That''s why I did something so foolish."

    Liliana ced a hand on her stomach, her sobs growing louder, yet she cried beautifully, evoking a sense of pity.

    Finnian''s face remained stoic as he stared out the window, the room silent except for Liliana''s soft sobs.

    After a long pause, Finnian turned back to her, gently patting her shoulder, his voice softening a bit. "I know it''s been hard for you over these years, and I appreciate everything you''ve done for me. But you shouldn''t have done that. Amara is innocent."

    In those fleeting seconds, memories of the past with Liliana surfaced in his mind.

    He remembered a time when he was inspecting a construction site, nearly hit by falling debris, and Liliana had pushed him out of harm''s way, saving his life. But in doing so, she had earned a nasty scar for herself.

    That memory always left a warm feeling in his heart whenever he thought of her.

    Liliana wiped her tears, guilt evident in her voice. "I understand. I won''t do anything like that to Ms. Sullivan again."

    "Good." Finnian nodded. "Take care now. I have to go."

    As he left, he took the copy of the statement Amara had written. Liliana couldn''t quite grasp his intention.

    She paced the room anxiously. Amara''s statement had caught her off guard, and Finnian''s reaction was unexpected too.

    Ordinarily, Finnian should have

    found Amara''s statement absurd.or felt insulted, but instead, he came to question Liliana, as if he saw nothing wrong with Amara''s actions

    This didn''t exin much, though. Truth be told, Amara''s face was Liliana''s greatestfort. Still, Liliana felt things were slightly off-track. Eyes darting around cunningly, she assumed she needed to change her strategy.

    Back in her apartment, Amara was exhausted. She didn''t even makeit to the bedroom before falling asleep on the couch. Her phone buzzing woke her up that evening-it was Finnian calling.

    She wasn''t sure what Finnian wanted to discuss, but she had a feeling it was rted to the morning''s events. She answered, "Hello, what''s up?"

    "Amara," Finnian''s voice, rich and resonant despite the faint static, came through the line.

    "I found out that Liliana was behind that article online. I warned her, and it won''t happen again."

    Amara was taken aback. She had suspected all along that Liliana was responsible for the article, so that wasn''t surprising.

    What surprised her was that Finnian had uncovered the truth and, instead of covering for Liliana, he hade straight to Amara with it.

 Chapter 49

    Then again, Amara recalled this ordeal had inflicted defamatory insults on her. It had left her feeling off-kilter for the past couple of days.

    Even after Finnian had uncovered the truth, he had only given Liliana a light warning instead of any real punishment, which didn''t exactly make any pointed manifestation.

    At the thought of it, Amara let out a wry smile.

    "Got it," she said, her voice cool and detached. "Is there anything else?"

    There was no reply on the other end. The faint hum of the phone line was the only sign that the call hadn''t ended.

    "Well, if there''s nothing more, I''m hanging up."

    Not wanting to wait any longer, Amara ended the call without wavering.

    Under the evening sky, Finnian leaned against his car, staring at his phone''s dark screen with a slightly furrowed brow. Why did she seem so distant?

    He put the phone down, picked up the copy of the statement from his glovepartment and flipped it though, feeling a restless urge to shred it to pieces. But instead, he stuffed it back in, climbed in the car and put the seat belt on before driving off.

    Amara spent the day at home, trying to unwind. By evening, she received a text from Elysia asking if she wanted to grab dinner. Initially, she thought about declining because she had to head to the setter, but then she changed her mind for remembering there was something important she needed to share with Elysia.

    [Sure, just send me the location,] she replied.

    Half an hourter, they were sitting down at a cozy diner on Galleria Lane.

    As Elysia dipped her fries into ketchup, Amara dropped a bombshell in her usual calm manner. "Ely, I''m pregnant."

    Elysia was left speechless, looking up in disbelief as she gazed at her.

    Amara''s smile was tinged with bitterness. "It happened that night. I forgot to take my pill."

    Seeing her difort, Elysia set down her fork promptly and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Hey,

    it''s not the end of the world. Don''t stress. Do you know what you want to do?"

    Elysia had suspected this might happen and felt a pang of guilt for not having encouraged Amara to get checked sooner.

    Amara shook her head. "I''m really not sure if I should keep it."

    Did she love kids? Certainly, she''d always wanted one. However, her own upbringing hadn''t been the? best, and she worried about whether she could provide a stable

    environment. The idea of raising a child alone was daunting.

    Elysia quickly googled some advice and then said, "You should decide within a couple of weeks. If you don''t want to keep it, it''s better to act sooner for your health''s sake. If you do decide to keep it," Elysia paused before adding, "I''ll be there to help you."

    Amara managed a small smile. "I can afford to raise a kid, no problem."

    Financially, she was secure enough to raise even ten kids, thanks to her earnings and the support from Finnian. But emotionally, given the fact that she came from one-parent family, she feared her being a severe people-pleaser, which had more tendency for herself to get wrongfully treated, might affect her parenting.

    The thought of bringing a child into a single-parent household worried her.

    "Enough of the heavy stuff, Ama. There''s an auction this Friday. Want toe with me?"

    Elysia attempted to lift Amara''s spirit. She had snagged a pair of tickets a few days ago, initially nning to go with Dorian, but now she determined taking Amara.

 Chapter 50

    Amara had no idea about the n but nodded. "Sure, let''s go together."

    That evening, Liliana returned home.

    Her parents had worked hard as blue-cor workers, which was how she met Finnian during a college internship at a construction site.

    However, after Liliana made a name for herself in the entertainment industry and earned substantial wealth, with Finnian''s support, she urged her parents to retire. She bought a luxurious apartment downtown, transforming them into city sophisticates.

    As soon as she walked in, her mother, Jenny Porter, hurried over and took her bag, asking cautiously, "Liliana, why haven''t you been answering your phely? How''s the baby? Are things good with Finn?"

    "Have the shoots been tiring, Liliana?" her father, Ethan Porter, chimed in as he approached. "Make sure not to overdo it. That little one you''re carrying is the future of this family, after all. Things can''t get awry."

    "I get it. Why so many questions? I can''t even keep up with them."

    Liliana just got back home, and what she received was her parents'' barrage of inquiries about the baby. Feeling a wave of irritation, she brushed them off and retreated to her room.

    As the door clicked shut, Jenny murmured, "Why is she so touchy about the baby? She won''t even let me take her for a check-up. So stubborn."

    "Alright, just leave her be. She must know what she''s doing. How about we go out and have some fun?"

    Lilianay on her plush bed, scrolling aimlessly through her phone, her thoughts drifting to Finnian. He''d been acting normal these days, not treating her any differently after the online drama involving Amara. Still, she couldn''t shake this uneasy feeling.

    She pondered for a moment and decided to test the waters with Finnian.

    Gazing at the promotional poster for an uing auction on her phone, she dialed his number. "Finn, there''s an auction this Friday. Would you take me?"

    When Friday arrived, Amara donned

    a sleek ck evening gown, her hair elegantly swept into an updo, revealing her fair shoulders and

    ??? 59

    graceful-neck. Her eye makeup was meticulously done, and she wore a mysterious ck butterfly mask, giving her the allure of attending a masquerade ball.

    Elysia, in a shimmering silver gown, was stunning in her own right. However, as they entered the auction hall, all eyes were drawn to Amara.

    It wasn''t that Elysiacked beauty, but Amara''s mask was so unique and enigmatic. If this had been a masquerade ball where everyone wore masks except one person, that person would undoubtedly be the center of attention.

    But this wasn''t a masquerade, and with Amara being the only one masked, she became the focal point. Elysia led Amara to seats in the third row, whispering, "Ama, see, even with that mask, you''re captivating. You''d be strikingly stunning when you take it off-Finnian will regret everything."

    Amara smiled subtly. Having beenbeled "ugly" for years and subjected to countless disdainful looks, she couldn''t deny the thrill of being in the spotlight for once.

    But her mood shifted abruptly when she spotted Finnian and Liliana entering the venue together. Finnian, in a sharp ck suit, was detached and graceful, exuding an unaware

    handsomeness and an air of authority. While Liliana wore a silky red gown, her lips painted a matching crimson, as alluring and charismatic as ever.

 Chapter 51

    At the sight of them, Elysia''s brows furrowed as she instinctively rose to her feet, like she was ready to start a fight.

    Amara quickly grabbed Elysia''s sleeve, whispering, ¡°Ely, don''t. Let them do whatever they want. We''ll just ignore them."

    ¡°But there are so many people here who know about you and Finnian.¡±

    Elysia''s expression darkened.

    ¡°Outside is one thing, but these are all the high society folks of Wye. Many of them attended your wedding with Finnian.¡±

    Amara understood this too. She clenched her fists, forcing herself to ignore the judgmental stares.

    ¡°It''s alright. Let them gossip all they want. They''ve been doing it for three years. I''m used to it by now."

    Amara wasn''t immune to the hurt; she''d just been hurt so many times that her heart was numb. Besides, she and Finnian were getting a divorce. Better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

    Elysia sighed, sitting back down next to Amara. But when she stood up earlier, Liliana had noticed her, and then she looked at Amara with a fixed gaze.

    Soon, the auction began.

    Liliana was undeniably the star of this auction. She had Finnian bid on only a few items for her, four in total, but each was a priceless treasure.

    One of them was a rare pink diamond, and as soon as it was sold, people around them congratted her, asking if she nned to have it set into a ring or if she and Finnian were getting married.

    Liliana and Finnian didn''t directly deny any of these questions, so those who were eager to tter them started congratting them in advance on their marriage.

    Finnian, with his usual calm

    demeanor, didn''t refute any of the well-wishes, which made Elysia furious. By the end of the night, Elysia was seething. If it weren''t for thew against assault, she''d have loved to give Finnian and Liliana a piece of her mind.

    "I''m about to lose it!"

    Once they went out, there was nothing to concern. Elysia howled through gritted teeth.

    "That pair of cheats! Some said congrattions and they just went along with it. How shameless can they be?"

    "Ms. Sullivan, Ms. Moon."

    Just then, Finnian and Liliana

    appeared, walking straight toward et

    them in the narrow hallway. Elysia stopped talking immediately ring daggers at Liliana.

    Liliana had just acquired four high-priced pieces of jewelry and was basking in the praise of the social circle. She was on cloud nine.

    She asked with a smile, "You attended the auction too? What did you bid on?"

    As she spoke, she clung to Finnian''s arm as if he were her husband.

    "Nothing much,¡± Amara replied coolly, her eyes downcast, ignoring Liliana.

    In her mind, she debated whether to turn around with Elysia and take another path, step aside to let Liliana and Finnian pass, or demand they make way.

    The hallway was too narrow for all four of them to pass side by side.

    Liliana seemed unbothered by such concerns. The jewels she acquired today were worth tens of millions, and Finnan hadn''t objected once in fact, he even helped raise the bids, indicating that whatever tension had existed between them had now lifted.

 Chapter 52

    At this moment, Liliana was feeling on top of the world, her spirits high. She uttered, "Didn''t you buy anything, Ms. Sullivan? I think there were quite a few pieces of jewelry that would suit you perfectly."

    Hearing this, Elysia bristled with anger, and even Amara couldn''t help but feel a twinge of irritation.

    Liliana had once outright said Amara was "ugly", "grotesque". How could someone she deemed ugly possibly find jewelry that suited her? Clearly, Liliana was mocking her for not securing any bids.

    "Ama did buy something," Elysia interjected, stepping forward. "Isn''t everything Finnian bought essentially for her?"

    She nced at Will, who was holding the bags, and her lips curled into a smirk.

    "Four items in total, right? Those are marital assets, so Ama should get two of them."

    Liliana''s face immediately stiffened at Elysia''s words. Even though she had been the one to bid on those items, Finnian had been the one to pay for them, so technically, they were Finnian''s possessions.

    With a slight purse of her lips, she retorted, "Ms. Moon, that''s quite rude. Those pieces were my gifts from Finn."

    Elysia shrugged, her expression oozing disdain. "I don''t really care who Finnian gives them to. As long as he and Ama are still married, technically, everything he buys is joint property. If you''re illiterate, maybe you should brush up on thew."

    Liliana''s face went sourpletely at her words. She tugged at Finnian''s sleeve, her voice tinged with a hint ofint. "Finn."

    At the sight of this, Elysia''s temper red, while Amara felt a wave of sadness and humiliation. She whispered, "Ely, let''s just drop it and leave."

    Her marriage to Finnian was essentially a business arrangement-Finnian could spend his money however he wanted, and she had no right to intervene.

    "No, I can''t let this slide," Elysia murmured in her ear.

    "Even though your marriage is under wraps, plenty of people in our circle know about it. Finnian strutting around with his lover before the divorce is final-did you forget the looks you''ve been getting?

    Amara''s face paled. She had overheard the whispers, the cruel jabs about her appearance and her situation.

    If she hadn''t held Elysia back, thetter would have confronted them already.

    "And just look at Liliana''s smug

    face," Elysia pressed on. "If she''d just stepped aside quietly, it would be

    one thing. But you caught the

    subtext of what she said, right\

    Ama she''s walking all over you, and you want to back down?"

    Amara clenched her fists, her sadness mingling with resolve. Exactly, she had done nothing wrong, so why should she let Liliana bully her?

    Still, she couldn''t control how

    el:

    Finnian spent his money. She turned to Liliana and said, "What I choose to bid on is none of your business. Do you really think we''re on such friendly terms? And after what you did, do you think I can just y nice?"

    With that, Amara took Elysia by the arm and started to walk past them, her voice icy. "Kindly step aside, my friend and I are leaving."

    Liliana bit her lip hard; even though she hadn''t technically lost anything, her frustration boiled over, prompting her not to make way immediately.

    At that moment, Finnian spoke up in a low voice, "Are you upset?"

    He directed the question at Amara, his eyes searching hers for any hint of emotion, though his gaze couldn''t help but wander downward.

 Chapter 53

    Amara slipped into a sleek evening gown that hugged her figure perfectly, highlighting her curves in all the right ces. The neckline teased just enough to capture attention, making her the kind of woman that could easily make any man''s heart race.

    Her eyes, already captivating, were enhanced with expertly applied makeup, giving her an enchanting allure with every nce.

    Below her eyes was a mysterious butterfly mask, adding an air of seductive mystery. Did she realize just how captivating she looked tonight?

    Amara instinctively wanted to deny it, but then she thought, why should she? She nodded and said, "I''m not in a good mood, so please step aside, I need to leave."

    Truth be told, she was a bit intimidated by Finnian, but if he wasn''t angry, she had no qualms about expressing her feelings.

    Finnian watched her profile, noticing that Amara hadn''t looked at him even once. Why was that?

    "What do you want? I can buy it for you."

    He meant to convey that the things Liliana wanted couldn''t be shared with Amara, but he was willing to buy Amara whatever she desired separately.

    This statement caught Liliana off guard, her eyes widening as she nced up, her fists clenched in surprise. Amara was taken aback too, but quickly realized Finnian was probably worried about gossip reaching Kevin, who might then reprimand him. So, he was just putting on a show with these words.

    "I don''t need anything," she replied. "I can buy what I want myself."

    She had already asked them to move twice, and they still wouldn''t budge. Amara was too polite to ask a third time.

    So, she simply squeezed past Finnian, her movement a tad drastic, making sure to create enough space for Elysia to follow.

    But for Finnian, that meant her soft body brushed against him. The warm scent enveloped him, her fair skin grazing his despite the suit jacket between them. He could still feel her warmth.

    In that instant, it was like an electric shock, leaving Finnian momentarily stunned.

    Amara sessfully led Elysia

    outside. Elysia was still fuming. She grabbed Amara''s hand, saying,

    "Finnian, that jerk, finally grew a

    conscience and offered to buy

    something. You shouldn''t have

    turned him down; those offers don''te around often."

    "Ama, I get it," Elysia added after a moment''s thought. "You see your marriage to Finnian as a transaction. You took his money, he benefited

    from the arrangement, so neither of

    you owes the other anyth either of

    But don''t forget, you''re carrying Finnian''s child. Whether you keep the baby or not, it''s a burden for you, and it''s only fair you get more out of it."

    "And even if it isn''t fair, who cares? Every man for himself, and the devil takes the hindmost. You should look out for yourself. Finnian''s got plenty to spare, so there''s no harmon treating yourself better."

    Amara chuckled at Elysia''s words, but she knew Elysia had a point. She nodded and said, "Alright, next time he offers, I won''t refuse."

    Barely half an hour after they got home, Will called her. "Mrs. Everly, Mr. Everly would like to buy you something. Just let me know what you want, and I''ll take care of it."

    "We''re getting divorced, so don''t call me that," Amara replied. "I''ll think about what I want and then send it to you."

 Chapter 54

    Since Finnian was insistent on buying her something, whether for fairness or just to keep her quiet, Amara decided to ept it.

    But honestly, she didn''t really need anything at the moment. However, she did recall hearing Elysia and Keith mention a designer bag they had their eyes on. So, she found the pictures of those two bags and sent them to Will.

    "I want these."

    The bags were part of the same collection but in different colors, kind of like a couple''s set.

    Will was delighted and forwarded the pictures to Finnian, saying, "Mrs. Everly wants the Nuv couple''s bags; I''ve already ced the order for her."

    Couple''s bags? Finnian was a bit taken aback when he saw the matching bags.

    Why would Amara want a couple''s set? She''d obviously keep the women''s bag for herself, but who was the men''s bag for? Could it be him?

    For some reason, he''s actually kinda excited about it.

    The next day, somehow Liliana found out about the whole thing. She barged into Amara''s break room, challenging her the moment she stepped inside, "You asked Finn to buy you a bag, and a couple''s set no less? Ha"

    Herugh was dripping with sarcasm. "You haven''t lived with Finn for three years. You don''t even know what he likes, Ms. Sullivan. Stop wasting your time."

    Liliana tried to maintain her poised demeanor, but her eyes were filled with intense disdain. She no longer bothered to pretend in front of Amara.

    Amara was reading when she heard this and looked up, unceremoniously snapping, "Ms. Porter, if you have a problem, you should get it fixed."

    Liliana was momentarily stunned; it seemed like this was the first time Amara had ever insulted her.

    Her eyes turned sharp. "What do you mean by that?"

    "Exactly what it sounds like."

    Amara had never bought Finnian a bag, nor did she n to. Lilianaing over and saying such things was a testament of her being a basket case.

    "Amara."

    Liliana was about to retort, but Amara had enough. She really couldn''t stand Liliana and didn''t want to share space with her, fearing a repeat of past incidents.

    She stood up abruptly, pointed toward the door, and said, "Shut up and get out, or I''ll startshing out."

    In the showdown between Liliana and Amara, it was Amara who first dropped the pretense of elegance. She red at Liliana with undisguised loathing.

    Liliana''s triumphant posture faded, apparently infuriated by Amara''s attitude. She said nothing, merely giving Amara a contemptuous nce before sashaying out.

    Once the room was quiet again, Amara returned to her book. That was when Keith showed up. He hade at Amara''s request. She handed him the bag Will had

    delivered that morning, saying, "This is for you. I remember you liked it."

    Keith was taken aback, unsure why Amara would give him something so expensive. Although he could easily afford it himself, it must have cost Amara a fortune.

    Sensing his confusion, Amara recounted the events of the previous day. Upon learning that Finnian had bought the bag, Keith had an impulse to toss it out.

    But then he quickly realized he

    couldn''t do that. He''d need to unt

    this bag in front of Finnian someday. The thought shed through his mind so quickly he almost didn''t catch it.

    "Keith," Amara said, seeing he had the bag. "You''ve got a scene to shootter, right? You should get going."

    She''d called him over just to give

    him the bag, but after getting it, Keith didn''t seem in any rush to leave. He lingered, asking random questions and making smalltalk, inexplicably clingy.

 Chapter 55

    Keith stared at Amara''s mask, not responding. The image of her face from that day crossed his mind, and he found himself wishing she''d take off the mask again.

    But he reminded himself that her skin hadn''t fully healed yet, and she couldn''t remove itpletely. Besides, his schedule was packed with filming, and he didn''t have time to linger. So he held back his request.

    Standing up, he said, "Well, I''m off. If that Liliana bothers you again, just let me know, alright?"

    With that, Keith reluctantly left the room.

    Amara didn''t dwell on Keith''s odd behavior. They''d been friends for so many years, and she was used to his asional quirks. For the most part, Keith was his usual self.

    Just then, another knock came at the door. Amara called out, "Come in," and was surprised to see Finnian enter.

    Finnian was dressed in his usual ck shirt and cks, his already stern face appearing even more severe than usual. He strode over to Amara, asking curtly, "Did you move out of Autumn Ridge?"

    "Yeah, why?" Amara looked up at him.

    The Autumn Ridge house had a housekeepere by thrice a week for cleaning. Finnian had swung by to pick up some things and bumped into the housekeeper, who casually mentioned that Amara no longer lived there.

    But if she didn''t stay at the mansion, then where was she living?

    "Where do you live now?" Finnian inquired.

    "I''m staying near the film set," Amara replied. "The apartmentplex right across from it."

    Images of the old, weathered buildings with peeling walls shed in Finnian''s mind, and his expression darkened as he began, "That ce isn''t safe. You should move back."

    "It''s perfectly safe. There''s a security door and cameras. I''m fine there," Amara countered, turning slightly away from Finnian.

    Finnian wasn''t genuinely concerned about her safety. He was worried about having to exin to Kevin if anything happened to her. That was why he was so insistent, she presumed.

    How could she go back to Autumn Ridge? Even though she''d lived there alone for three years, every corner of that house was filled with memories of her waiting for Finnian. To her, it was a house full of reminders, and she couldn''t bear to return.

    At the sight of Amara''s turned back as if she had no interest in engaging in the conversation, Finnian''s brows furrowed slightly. Then, something else crossed his mind as he nced around the rest area.

    Will had mentioned he delivered the bags this morning, but now they were nowhere in sight. Where were them? Had Amara put them away? Why wasn''t she giving him the bag now? Was she nning to wrap it up nicely before handing it over?

    "Just be careful living out there on your own. Call me if you need anything."

    Finnian decided not to press about the bag; eventually, Amara would hand them over. With a quick reminder, he turned and left.

    Outside, Finnian texted Will, asking him to find Amara''s exact address and send over some details about the surrounding area.

    Will was a highly efficient assistant and had the location delivered by that afternoon.

    [Mr. Everly, Mrs. Everly is living in Apartment 201, Building 9, Maple Crest. Here are some photos of the entrance, theplex, and the passageway.]

    Along with the text, Will sent a few photographs. Finnian examined each one, his frown deepening at the sight of cracked paint and the narrow road shaded byrge trees.

    But when he reached thest photo, his gaze froze, locking onto the man in the picture with intense scrutiny.

 Chapter 56

    The photo captured a dimly lit passageway, where a couple wearing masks strolled side by side, carrying grocery bags towards the door.

    The masked woman was unmistakably Amara, her head tilted as she chatted with the man beside her, eyes sparkling withughter.

    The man, tall and wearing a ck baseball cap and mask, was unidentifiable to Finnian. All he could see was how close the man was to Amara. In addition to the groceries he carried, the man also had a bag slung over his shoulder.

    Finnian''s long fingers tapped the screen, zooming in on the photo. He recognized the bag as the one Will had given to Amara earlier that morning.

    At the moment, a strange feeling washed over Finnian. So, that bag wasn''t supposed to be for him.

    He slowly stood up, his brows furrowed deeply with repressed emotion. Gazing at the man''s profile in the photo, he pped his phone down on the table, trying to push away the jumble of thoughts.

    It was 4:30 PM, not quite dinner time, and Finnian intended to keep working.

    His marriage to Amara was merely a business arrangement; just like he had Liliana, Amara was free to be with someone else. It shouldn''t matter who she spent time with. But why did just thinking about that photo make him feel uneasy?

    Was his male pride getting in the way? Finnian rubbed his temples, unable to focus on the documents. Shutting down hisputer, he grabbed his car keys and phone, and left the office.

    Earlier that afternoon, right after wrapping up on set, Keith had insisted on joining Amara for a meal.

    Seeing his exaggeratedly hungry expression, Amara had no choice but to take him grocery shopping before heading home.

    Around 5 PM, after setting the table, Amara watched as Keith brought the freshly made dishes over, and she gestured for him to sit down as they began their meal.

    "Hey, isn''t Larry''s birthdaying up soon?" Keith recalled something suddenly before asking, mid-chew on a slice of beef. "Are you going back this year?"

    At the mention of that name, Amara''s expression cooled. "I''ll see how it goes."

    Keith tousled her hair. "Go if you want to, don''t if you don''t. If Larry gives you any trouble, just call me. I''lle and straighten him out."

    Amara burst intoughter, uttering, "Alright. With you having my back, I''m definitely not worried."

    Keith was momentarily spellbound

    by Amara''s radiant smile. A few secondster, he started coughing violently Amara quickly poured him a ss of water. "What happened to you? How do you manage to choke at your age?"

    His face flushed, Keith took a couple of sips before recovering. Staring at Amara''s beautiful face, he said, "You really are stunning. Ever thought about breaking into showbiz?"

    "No, no, that''s not for me."

    Having worked with various film crews over the years, Amara knew firsthand how grueling acting could be, both on the surface and behind the scenes. She had no interest in that world.

    Keith, recalling the chaotic nature of the entertainment industry, agreed that it wasn''t the right path for her He addressed, "Stick with

    ere

    scriptwriting then. You still look a lot like you did as a kid-just grown into it.

    Amara had been disfigured at ten, but before that, she''d been a pretty little princess. Back then, Keith often

    got into scrapes with older kids to protect her from being bullied.

 Chapter 57

    As Amara reminisced about the past, a gentle warmth spread through her heart. She served him a piece of his favorite beef tripe.

    Just then, Keith''s manager called, announcing ast-minute event that Keith had to attend immediately. With a sigh, Keith ended the call, gathered his things, and left, leaving Amara to dine alone.

    A few minutester, the doorbell rang. Amara assumed Keith must have returned. Peeking through the peephole, however, she was taken aback to see Finnian standing outside.

    What was Finnian doing here? How did he even know where she lived?

    The door knocks sounded. "Amara, open up."

    Peeking through the peephole had blocked the light from inside, signaling to Finnian that someone was home, prompting his request.

    Quickly, Amara straightened up and called out, "Just a moment," before rushing to put on a mask and opening the door for Finnian.

    "Having dinner?"

    Finnian stepped inside. The spread and the two bowls with matching silverware on the table made his expression darken. He questioned, "Who are you having dinner with?"

    "Elysia," Amara blurted out without thinking.

    Finnian nced around the small one-bedroom apartment. The open bedroom door in front of him revealed it was empty, and the kitchen and bathroom were simrly quiet.

    He turned around. "Where did Elysia go?"

    "She had to leave," Amara replied. "Something came up suddenly during dinner. She just left."

    Finnian nodded, but just then his phone buzzed. Seeing Dorian''s name, he answered, "What''s up?"

    "Finn," Dorian''s voice came through on the other end, the room quiet enough for Amara to overhear.

    "I''m out shopping with Elysia. The

    brand of the watch you like just released a new model this month. We''re looking at them right now; I''ll send you a picture so you can choose."

    Finnian nced ndly at Amara, whose masked face couldn''t hide

    her shock. Her surprise quickly turned to embarrassment under his

    gaze. She lowered her head, wishing she could disappear into the floor.

    Returning his attention to the call, Finnian asked, "When did you and Elysia head out?"

    "Around noon," Dorian replied. "Why?"

    Finnian looked at Amara again, her head nearly touching her chest, her face burning with embarrassment.

    "Nothing," Finnian said, ending the call. He then turned to Amara.

    Her fingers twisted together nervously, her mind racing for an exnation to give Finnian. Lying wasn''t her forte, and this attempt had backfired spectacrly, deaving her feeling utterly mortified.

    "Why did you lie to me?" Finnian''s voice from above broke the silence. It sounded calm, but there was an undercurrent of something dangerous.

    Amara suspected that while Finnian might not care about her personally, someone in his position probably despised deceit. Being lied to likely triggered a negative reaction.

 Chapter 58

    Amara thought for a moment and then confessed, "I was just having dinner with a friend from the film crew, but he had to leave suddenly, so I continued on my own.

    My friend''s an acting artist, and has to keep the social connections under wraps. I didn''t want others to know about us, so I lied without thinking."

    Her tone was sincere, and her exnation seemed reasonable enough, but Finnian sensed something was off. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "So your friend is a man?"

    Amara initially wanted to say it was a female friend, thinking it would cause less fuss. But then she recalled something¡ªhow had Finnian found her ce so urately? Did he know something she didn''t?

    With this in mind, she decided not to lie and responded while nodding, "Yes."

    Then she shifted her tone, demanding, "How did you know I live here?"

    "I had Will look it up," Finnian replied, his voice calm and matter-of-fact, as if he saw nothing wrong with his actions. "I need to ensure your safety."

    Amara pressed her lips. It wasn''t her safety Finnian was looking out for¡ªit was probably Kevin''s concern. "Are you going to continue with the meal?"

    Finnian, feeling a bit guilty, tried to change the subject. He turned and nced at the dishes in front of them and asked.

    Amara nodded, and Finnian said, "Can I join you? I''m hungry."

    Amara was taken aback. "You want to dine with me?"

    "Yes," Finnian replied, meeting her gaze. "Is that a problem?"

    "No, that''s fine. I''ll get you some fresh cutlery, hang on."

    Amara headed to the kitchen, puzzled as to why Finnian wanted to join her for dinner. But if he wanted to eat, so be it.

    As he watched her retreat, Finnian''s gaze darkened slightly. For some reason he found Amara''s cooking to

    have a special allure, something that asionally crossed his mind.

    It wasn''t as if her culinary skills matched those of a five-star restaurant chef-he didn''t crave those meals half

    as much. So why was he so taken with Amara''s cooking?

    Amara soon returned, handing Finnian the cutlery, exining the name of each dish.

    Finnian slowly began to eat, his

    movements precise and unhurried, soon making his way through half a

    bowl. He nced at the mask

    covering Amara''s face. "Aren''t you eating?"

    "No, I''m good," Amara shook her head. "I''m almost full, and it''s better to eat light at night anyway."

    Finnian could tell it was a flimsy excuse. Hence, he asked, "Do you take your mask off when you''re with your friend?"

    Amara had clearly removed her mask white dining with her friend earlier, yet now it seemed permanently affixed to her face. Finnian couldn''t help but feeDa twinge of difort.

    "Yes."

    Amara nodded, prompting Finnian to ask, "Then why not with me?"

    The question caught Amara off guard. After a moment, she said, "I might scare you."

    Before her facial reconstruction, two vivid scars marred her face, and they were quite frightening¡ªa sight making children cry upon seeing her before.

    Finnian set down his cutlery and looked into her eyes. "I''m not afraid."

    To Amara, it sounded like a titude, so she lowered her gaze and said nothing. Realizing the sensitivity of the topic, Finnian didn''t push further.

    The meal wrapped up quickly, and within less than ten minutes, Finnian was on his way out. He figured if he stayed any longer, Amara might end up starving.

 Chapter 59

    On his way, Finnian couldn''t shake off thoughts about Amara''s male friend in showbiz. He mentally ran through all the male actors he had met in their group, but none seemed to match the description.

    While waiting at a red light, he opened the photo Will had sent him, scrutinizing the man''s figure again, trying to remember if he''d seen someone simr.

    But suddenly, he realized how silly he was acting. Why was he even bothered? It was not like he cared about Amara enough to dig into this.

    Finnian let out a wry smile to himself as he put away his phone.

    Later that night, just as Amara was about to drift off to sleep, she received a call from Larry. Staring at the name "Dad" on her screen, it felt oddly foreign. How long had it been since she''d called him that?

    She lowered her eyes and pressed the answer button. "It''s prettyte. What''s up?"

    "Ama," Larry''s voice came through, stern andmanding. "Next Monday is my birthday. Make sure you bring Finn over for dinner."

    Amara''s brows knitted together. She wanted to say she''de alone, but there was no point in starting a fight with Larry over the phone.

    After all, what could Larry do if she showed up alone? He wouldn''t exactly drag Finnian back with her, so she simply responded with a cool, "Alright."

    Typically, Larry would hang up right then and there, but this time he surprised her by saying a few more words before ending the call.

    Amara sat on her bed, reying what Larry uttered in her head, feeling unsettled. She couldn''t believe Larry was going to go through with it that quickly. Regardless, she realized she needed Finnian to apany her.

    Minutester, shey down but barely slept a wink that night. The next morning, around seven, Amara guessed Finnian might be awake and gave him a call.

    "Hey, Mr. Everly, do you have a moment this morning? I''d like to talk."

    Finnian, just stepping out of his home gym, replied as he headed to the bathroom, "Sure,e by around nine-thirty."

    Amara hung up, pondering her approach. Deciding to go the extra mile, she whipped up some pastries in the kitchen before hailing acab to the Everly Group.

    Having been married to Finnian for three years and frequently dropping off meals at the office, she was

    familiar with the routine. She

    breezed into the CEO''s office, s

    the box of pastries on the table and said, "Mr. Everly, I made some e treats. If you don''t mind, give them a try."

    Finnian nced at her, a bit ufortable by her formal tone. Was she always this distant before?

    "Yeah, they''re good."

    Finnian took a bite of a cookie and

    savored

    it slowly. After finishing, he wiped his hands with a napkin and asked, "What do you need?"

    "My dad''s birthday is next Monday. Can youe with me to the party?"

    Finnian hadn''t expected that request, but he nodded. "Sure."

    Amara had joined him for a family gatheringst time, and it seemed only fair to return the favor, so Finnian agreed pleasantly.

    Yet, Amara seemed uneasy, adding, "I have an extra request. Could you, maybe, act like we''re closer?" Finnian looked up, his eyes meeting hers, inscrutable.

    "I don''t mean anything by it," Amara quickly rified. "It''s just a show. I simply want to maintain a good image in front of him."

 Chapter 60

    Last night, Larry had mentioned over the phone that in two weeks, the Sullivan Group would be holding a shareholders'' meeting. Depending on the situation, they might allocate some shares to Amara and her sister.

    Larry was a man who valued family stability above all else, and no one knew this better than Amara. To gain more benefits, she needed to appear closer to Finnian.

    Since the divorce cooling-off period hadn''t ended yet, she figured she could secure the shares during this time and then proceed with the divorce from Finnian.

    Finnian was oblivious to her n, but the request seemed trivial to him. He was about to agree when he paused, suddenly realizing something, and shifted his tone. "And why should I help you?"

    Amara was rendered speechless, thinking that asking for a favor was never easy. She thought for a moment, unable toe up with anything she could offer in return, feeling a bit stuck.

    Seeing her conflicted expression, Finnian couldn''t bear to tease her any longer and said, "Alright, don''t worry about it. I''ll do it."

    "Really?"

    Amara''s eyes

    up with surprise at how quickly Finnian agreed.

    Finnian chuckled. "Of course. Just send me what I need to prepare."

    There wasn''t much to prepare for visiting the Sullivan family, just some gifts, which Amara had already taken care of. All she needed was to bring Finnian along.

    After discussing things with Finnian, she stood up and left the office. As she stepped out, she encountered a well-dressed woman approaching. Both of them paused, taken aback for a moment.

    This woman was Liliana. After a brief moment of surprise, Amara quickly regained herposure and walked past her without expression.

    Liliana, however, blocked her path. "What are you doing here?"

    "None of your business."

    Amara couldn''t be bothered to engage and simply sidestepped her, leaving without another word. Watching Amara''s calm departure, Liliana bit her lip and entered the CEO''s office.

    "Finn."

    As she walked in, she found Finnian going through some documents while snacking. Unfazed, she approached and asked, "Was Ms. Sullivan here? What did she want?"

    Liliana''s tone was casual, as if making small talk, knowing that was the best way to avoid raising any repulsion.

    "Nothing much, just discussing some matters."

    Finnian didn''t borate, and Liliana wisely chose not to pry further, though her mind was already working on a n to have someone keep an eye on things at the Everly Group.

    Two dayster, it was Larry''s birthday, and Finnian apanied Amara to the Sullivan family home.

    Just before they left, Amara noticed that Finnian had also prepared agift for Larry, a thoughtful and expensive one. She could already imagine how much Larry would appreciate it.

    Considering this, she decided to bring her own gift as well. After all, more gifts were always better, and she even thanked Finnian, "Thanks for getting a gift for my father."

    "No need to thank me," Finnian replied with a sidelong nce. "He''s my father-inw."

    The term "father-inw" stung a bit for Amara, a reminder that Larry was Finnian''s father-inw, but soon he wouldn''t be.

    She pushed aside these useless thoughts and got into the car with Finnian. Half an hourter, they arrived at the Sullivan family estate. Will followed behind them, carrying the gifts, as Amara and Finnian walked in side by side.

    As they were about to enter, Amara hesitated for a moment but then took Finnian''s arm. The gesture was sudden, and Finnian stiffened slightly, instinctively ncing at her.

 Chapter 61

    Amara felt a bit awkward, just about to mutter an apology or something when Finnian removed her arm.

    The gesture sent a chill through her. Hadn''t he agreed to act a bit more affectionate? Why couldn''t he even tolerate that? Did he dislike her that much?

    But to her surprise, the next moment, Finnian wrapped his arm around her waist. His hand gripped her slender waist firmly, the touch sending a hot flush through her, and her heart raced like crazy.

    "This looks more intimate," Finnian said smoothly, guiding Amara inside.

    "Oh right, I haven''t told you things about my family yet," Amara mentioned, trying to keep her cool while her heart pounded in her chest. She walked into the living room, had Will pass the gifts to the housekeeper, and spoke to Finnian.

    "What things?"

    "My mom passed away when I was really young, and then my dad married my stepmom, Fiona Faye Sullivan. She''s been a stay-at-home mom ever since.

    When she married my dad, she brought along her daughter, my stepsister, who changed her name to Elowen Sullivan. She should be around today too."

    Amara''s tone cooled as she mentioned Elowen. Her face was marred by Elowen.

    "Well, well, if it isn''t the ugly duckling, back atst."

    A mocking voice drifted down from upstairs. Amara instinctively looked up to see a woman with sharp features leaning on the second-floor railing, looking down at her with disdain.

    Noticing Amara''s gaze, the woman in a red dress descended the stairs, taunting as she walked.

    "Still hiding behind that mask, huh? Afraid your hideous face will scare everyone away? How considerate of you."

    As she spoke, a middle-aged woman, dressed like a posh socialite, emerged from the kitchen. She bore a passing resemnce to Elowen. This was Amara''s stepmother, Fiona.

    Fiona, in her fifties but looking a decade younger thanks to meticulous upkeep, was more attractive than Elowen. Elowen had inherited only a fraction of her mother''s beauty.

    While Elowen sneered, Fiona stood silently by with a smile, not uttering a word of reproach. She wasn''t directly joining in, but the slight smirk on her face spoke volumes.

    Amara''s gaze swept over the mother-daughter duo, her eyes cold as ice. It had always been like this. Elowen would ridicule her each time Amara was in sight, and Fiona would merely watch, except when Larry was around-then Fiona would y nice.

    At the sight the pair brazenly bully Amara, Finnian''s face turned grim as he was ready to speak up in her defense.

    Amara caught his arm, whispering, "No need, dinner''s soon."

    Finnian frowned. That was clearly an excuse. Amara just didn''t want to stand up to them. She was the one being wronged in her own home, and now with him by her side, Ke couldn''t fathom why she wouldn''t fight back.

    "Well, is this your husband?" Elowen asked, unfazed by Amara''s usualpliance. Amara had always been the doormat over the years, not daring to speak up no matter how much Elowen pushed her. But upon spotting Finnian, Elowen lost

    interest in her insults.

    She''d seen Finnian once at Amara''s wedding. But back then, they were far apart, so she couldn''t discern his

    features. Now, up close, she noticed that Finnian was even more handsome than she''d imagined.

 Chapter 62

    Finnian''s charm wasn''t just about his tall,manding presence or his innate air of sophistication. It was his perfectly sculpted features that really caught the eye.

    Even if he wasn''t in a position of power, Finnian''s striking looks could make waves anywhere. Elowen had never seen anyone quite so handsome, and she was immediately captivated.

    "You just arrived. Have a cup of coffee with us," she offered, her voice suddenly softer.

    Elowen went to pour a cup, but instead of handing it to Finnian, she daringly brought it to his lips right in front of Amara.

    Amara''s expression soured, and Finnian''s face darkened as he took the cup himself. "I can manage on my own," he said.

    He didn''t even spare Elowen a nce, cing the untouched cup on the nearby side table. Yet, Elowen''s eyes never left his face.

    While Elowen might not have the makings of a star, she was definitely the cutest in her circle, especially with the stark contrast of the "grotesque" Amara beside her. She was confident in her appeal.

    Finnian''s initial coldness didn''t deter Elowen; instead, a self-assured smile tugged at her lips.

    Just then, Larry entered the room. In his early fifties, he had a robust build and wore a crisp blue suit. His demeanor was serious and carried the weight of authority.

    Amara''s fists clenched as she spotted him, a wave of resentment washing over her. She masked her feelings well, however, and alongside Finnian, she approached Larry to wish him a happy birthday.

    Larry gave Finnian a once-over and nodded approvingly before leading the way into the dining room, with Amara and the others following suit.

    The Sullivan Group, apany

    dealing in home goods, held a mid-tier status among the elite circles of Wye. They were a couple of rungs below the Everly family, so even without the pretense of

    marriage for

    Amara

    and Finnian weren''t exactly a match

    made in heaven.

    Larry was aware of Finnian''s three-year absence from home and knew that this high-profile son-inw offered little benefit to their business. As such, he treated Finnian lukewarmly, like any other son-inw.

    Fiona, a woman known for her social finesse, led the group to their seats in the spacious dining room. She quickly called for the meal to begin and raised her ss in a toast.

    As dinnermenced, Amara ced a shrimp on Finnian''s te and shed him a smile.

    Though her face was partially hidden behind a mask, Finnian could discern her smile. A warm, inexplicable feeling surfaced within him, prompting him to return the gesture, and he even cracked open a crab for her.

    Larry witnessed this exchange and nodded silently, approvingly.

    "Dad, there''s something I''d like to discuss," Amara said suddenly.

    Larry''s earlier satisfaction was evident, but Elowen''s expression was less than pleased. Unperturbed, Amara continued, "Dad, we should consider finding a match for Elowen."

    Fiona''s smile faltered slightly at this, though she didn''t let it slip entirely. Instead, with a half-smirk, she

    remarked, "As the younger sister et

    Ama, you''ve been always looking out for Etowen over the years. It''s touching to see such concern from a younger sister."

    In the Sullivan family, hierarchy was strict. Traditionally, a younger sister suggesting a match for her elder sibling was against protocol, as it disrupted the order.

    Fiona''s veiled critique made Larry frown.

    Amara, seemingly oblivious to the tension, slightly lowered her mask and took a bite of the crab meat Finnian had prepared for her. With an air of nonchnce, she added; "Dad, Mrs. Sullivan, I''m not bringing this up out of nowhere. Earlier, Elowen pointed at me and called me ugly."

 Chapter 63

    As she spoke, Amara let out a sigh.

    "Elowen and I are like real sisters, really. I can handle a few insults from her, but what if one day she talks to someone else like that? People might think Elowen''s got no manners.

    And earlier, she wasn''t exactly respectful to her brother-inw. That doesn''t sit right with me. If word gets out, folks might start saying the Sullivan family doesn''t know how to raise their kids."

    Amara casually mentioned this, and Larry''s face turned a shade darker. Fiona and Elowen, meanwhile, broke into a cold sweat.

    Elowen was known for her sharp tongue, so a "few insults" were likely more than just a passingment. She must have said something really nasty to Amara.

    And when Amara mentioned theck of respect towards her brother-inw, how exactly was Elowen being disrespectful?

    From the moment they sat down for dinner, Elowen''s attitude towards Finnian was telling. Everyone at the table noticed it. Combining all this with Amara''s remarks, Larry could easily imagine what Elowen might have done. He smacked the silverware on the table, about to lose his temper.

    "Dad," before Larry could blow up, Amara cut in just in time.

    ¡°Elowen doesn''t have a bad heart; she just hasn''t settled down yet,¡± Amara exined. ¡°Maybe you and Mrs. Sullivan could think about finding a good match for her. Once she has a family and responsibilities, she might not act like this anymore."

    Larry was big on family stability. He believed a stable family facilitated professional sess. In his eyes, a chaotic household meant one couldn''t seed at anything.

    Amara''s suggestion hit the right chord. Larry nodded approvingly, saying, ¡°You''ve grown up a lot. Keep being sensible like this. Focus on living well and don''t get caught up in nonsense."

    After that, he shot a nce at Elowen, who immediately looked down, her grip on the edge of the table revealing her irritation.

    Lips pressed briefly, Amara allowed herself a subtle smile.

    vel

    Finnian continued eating quietly, but every now and then, he''d cast a surprised nce at Amara. He''d always seen her as gentle and straightforward, but today, she showed a side of slickness he didn''t expect. Was this really the same Amara?

    Later that evening, back in their room, they naturally ended up in the same bed. They''d shared a bed twice before, so the awkwardness had somewhat dissipated, opat least wasn''t evident.

    Amara had to work on a script, so Finnian took a shower first. Emerging from the bathroom, he teased, "What

    was that back there? Have you been possessed or something?"

    Amara paused, then realized what he was getting at and sighed. ¡°It''s something inevitable.¡±

    Growing up, she was quiet and

    reserved, often bullied by Fiona and Elowen. When she was ten, Elowen

    had scarred her face with a gene

    away.

    Due to certain circumstances, Amara couldn''t tell Larry right a

    By the time Larry came home from abroad and Amara told him what had happened, Elowen denied the whole thing.

    Having endured so much in silence as a child, Amara learned to think ahead to avoid getting hurt again.

    "I''m going to take a shower. If you''re tired, go ahead and rest.¡±

    Amara grabbed a towel and her pajamas, heading into the bathroom. After locking the door, she slipped off the clothes, stepped under the showerhead, and turned on the water.

 Chapter 64

    After a long day, Amara was exhausted. She nned to take a quick shower, so she squeezed out some body wash and quicklythered it over her skin, intending to rinse it off without much fuss.

    Suddenly, a hissing sound came from the corner of the shower.

    Amara nced over and saw a green snake, about as thick as her thumb, coiled up in the corner. Its triangr head was raised, flicking its tongue in her direction, and it started slithering towards her.

    Amara had always been terrified of snakes and other creepy crawlies. This sight nearly made her sour scatter.

    Her heart almost leaped out of her chest as she let out a scream loud enough to shake the house and bolted for the door.

    Meanwhile, hearing themotion, Finnian leaped out of bed and dashed to the bathroom door, pounding on it urgently. "Amara, are you okay? Open the door!"

    Amara, seeing the tall silhouette through the frosted ss, quickly fumbled to put on her clothes. But the snake, nearly three feet long, was almost at her feet. Behind her was the menacing snake, and in front of her was Finnian, who was about to see her in a state of undress.

    Caught in a panic, she backed into the corner, hitting the sharp edge of the wall. She cried out again.

    Finnian, now truly worried, didn''t hesitate. He kicked the door open, feeling the rush of steam hit him, and rushed inside without a second thought.

    In the misty haze, he bumped into Amara. Her heart nearly stopped, not from fear of the snake, but because of Finnian and where he had identally touched her.

    But Amara had no time to worry about that. As the steam began to clear with the open door, she realized Finnian''s face would soon be visible, and consequently, so would she.

    Quick-thinking, she covered Finnian''s eyes with her hand, eximing, "Don''t look!"

    Her soft palm brushed against his eyshes, tickling slightly. The sudden action disoriented Finnian further. He already struggled to see in the fog of the bathroom, and the feel of her warm palm on his face made him sway. He lost his Bnce and they both tumbled into the empty bathtub with a thud.

    Amara, now pinned underneath, felt her bones protest from the impact, and she cried out in pain, tears springing to her eyes.

    Realizing the situation, Finnian immediately asked, "Did you hurt yourself? Are you okay?"

    With Amara still blocking his vision,

    he couldn''t see the surroundings, only fumbling around unwittingly ? until his hands met her waist, which seemed soft and tenderly smooth, and barely grasped if there wasn''t any force to make.

    Amara''s face turned instantly ame as she eximed, ¡°Stop moving around!"

    She covered Finnian''s eyes with one hand, the other holding on his shoulder tightly, her fingers nearly digging into it, her voice shaky with tears.

    Finnian''s heart shivered violently.

    The softness of her skin under his hand, the scent of her body, and her warm breath on his face were overwhelming. Everything about her was intoxicating.

    Earlier, he had had a couple of beers with Larry, so his head was already a bit fuzzy. Now, the dizziness intensified.

    Maybe it was the alcohol, but Finnian''s actions were faster than his thoughts. He leaned forward slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to Amara''s cheek.

 Chapter 65

    Her cheeks were so soft, just a slight tilt and Finnian''s lips met hers. Her lips were even softer, smooth and enticing, much like a perfectly ripe peach, full and luscious.

    Finnian couldn''t help himself; he opened his mouth and gave her a yful nibble. Amara''s eyes widened in shock, her eyelids trembling in disbelief.

    Without a second thought, she pushed Finnian away, scrambling out of the bathtub, grabbing a towel to cover herself as she dashed out.

    Finnian remained seated in the tub, watching as the steam slowly cleared, revealing the pristine white tiles. It dawned on him what had just happened.

    He was filled with regret, so much so that he felt like giving himself a p. Had he really just kissed Amara on impulse? And not just her cheek¡ªhe had gone for the lips too?

    Finnian gritted his teeth, slowly standing up from the tub. He nced below his waist, his expression darkening. Only when he feltposed again did he nervously step out of the bathroom.

    For someone who hadmanded respect in the Wye business circle for years, who had faced countless challenges with unwavering confidence, it was the first time Finnian felt this level of uncertainty.

    In the bedroom, Amara was already dressed. She sat on the edge of the bed, wearing a mask, her eyes red and puffy, looking utterly miserable.

    Finnian''s guilt intensified. He approached Amara, his expression troubled, and said, "I''m really sorry for earlier. I overstepped."

    Amara shook her head. "I''m okay."

    Her eyes were red, resembling a wounded bunny, which made Finnian feel even worse.

    He sat down next to Amara, at a loss for words to exin what had happened. After a moment, he realized

    there wasn''t much to exin-it was his own foolish mistake. How could he put that into words?

    "I was out of line earlier. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" he offered.

    Hearing this, Amara felt a sting in her heart.

    She understood Finnian''s

    perspective. Caught up in the mood and under the influence of alcohol he had kissed a woman he had no intentions with, and now he was apologizing. It was a rationab response.

    But for Amara, ever since she left the bathroom, she had been reying the scene in her mind. Why had Finnian kissed her? Had he mistaken her for Liliana?

    With the steamy bathroom obscuring their faces and Finnian having had quite a bit to drink, a mix-up seemed usible.

    So, the little thrill Amara had felt from the kiss was quickly reced by a cold reality. And now, Finnian was apologizing to her.

    From Amara''s perspective, they

    were married; kissing was perfectly normal Yet, Finnian was apologizing and offeringpensation, making her feel like she was being treated like a hooker.

    She shook her head. "It''s okay, really, it''s not a big deal."

    After speaking, she turned away to tidy up her things, not wanting Finnian to see how upset she was.

    Finnian watched her back, his brows furrowed in confusion.

    This wasn''t right. Even under the influence of the alcohol, he shouldn''t have felt such a strong impulse towards Amara.

    He was known for his self-control,

    able to brush off advances from even the most beautiful

    supermodels. Moreover, due to past experiences, he had always been cautious around women, even if his body reacted, his mind didn''t.

    Yet, earlier, he hadn''t been able to resist kissing Amara. Now, with a clear head, he found his behavior perplexing when recalling what he had done.

 Chapter 66

    The atmosphere between Amara and Finnian had now be awkward, and Amara was desperately searching for a topic to break the tension. Suddenly, Finnian remembered something and headed to the bathroom.

    A few secondster, he emerged holding a bright green snake, waving it in front of Amara''s face. Amara screamed in terror and scrambled backward in a frenzy.

    "Don''t be scared," Finnian exined, his voice tinged with amusement. "It''s fake."

    Amara remained silent, freezing in a rather undignified position, her backside awkwardly sticking out.

    Quickly regaining herposure, she looked back. Finnian was holding the snake by its tail, and the snake dangled limply, its posture unnatural and not at all like a living creature.

    Upon closer inspection, Amara noticed that despite the snake''s scales gleaming realistically, the lifeless, beady eyes gave away its artificial nature.

    Her eyes widened. "Is this remote-controlled?"

    "Probably."

    Finnian ced the snake on the ground. He fiddled with it for a moment, extracting a couple of batteries from its head, upon which the "snake" immediately went limp.

    Relief washed over Amara, but it was quickly reced by anger. She gritted her teeth. "This has Elowen written all over it!"

    Elowen knew about her fear of snakes. In the past, she''d used real ones to scare Amara. With Finnian around, she probably opted for a fake one this time.

    Finnian nodded. "I thought so too."

    This kind of remote-controlled prank was easy to trace, and after having dinner, Finnian had figured out that while Fiona was cunning, Elowen was not the sharpest tool in the shed.

    So, it wasn''t surprising that Elowen would pull a stunt like this.

    Finnian fiddled with his phone for a bit. A few minutester, Will sent him the evidence he needed. With snake in hand, Finnian headed to Larry''s room.

    "Dad."

    Finnian recounted the snake discovery in the bathroom, conveniently leaving out the awkward incident with Amara. He continued, "Amara is genuinely terrified of snakes. I think this prank went too far, so I had my assistant look into it, and we found this."

    He showed Larry the evidence on his phone, proof of Elowen''s remote control antics. Larry''s face darkened with anger, the veins at his temples pulsating with irritation.

    Considering Finnian technically an outsider, Larry couldn''t chastise Elowen in front of him, so he gruffly assured, "Finn, don''t worry. I''ll make sure Ama gets an apology for this."

    Amara had followed Finnian into the room, remaining silent until now. She stepped forward, head bowed and said Dad, please don''t be too angry''ve gotten used to things like this. I''m just worried about Elowen. She''s old enough to know better than to pull stunts like this.

    If this happened within our family, we might brush it off as a prank. After all, we won''t take this trivial matter into heart. But if she tries something like this outside to other people... Elowen''s personality could get her into trouble."

    Amara spoke sincerely, and Larry''s frown deepened as he stared out the dark window, his thought unfathomable.

    After a few moments, he turned back, his expression softening. "Amara, you''re a good kid."

    Hearing this, Amara''s lips curled into a smile, though it was hidden by her mask.

    Their conversation hadn''t gone unnoticed by someone Fiona and Elowen infiltrated into the family. The duo had already arrived but were too apprehensive to approach, lurking nervously around the corner instead.

 Chapter 67

    Larry noticed them from the corner of his eye but chose to ignore it. Instead, he said, "Ama, I initially nned to give you and Elowen each ten percent of the shares. But now, I don''t think that''s necessary.

    Next week, when we finalize the share transfer, I''m going to give you fifteen percent of the shares."

    Larry was offering a total of twenty percent of the shares, which meant if Amara got fifteen percent, Elowen would be left with just five percent.

    Larry deliberately raised his voice, clearly intending for Fiona and Elowen, who were lurking in the background, to hear every word.

    Sure enough, Elowen couldn''t stand it anymore and walked over, protesting, "Dad, why am I only getting five percent of the shares? That''s way too little."

    "Shut up!"

    Larry''s face steely, and he couldn''t hold back any longer. He bellowed, "You''re lucky to be getting five percent! With the way you treat your sister, you shouldn''t even have that! Stop whining and get out of here!"

    Larry was a man who valued his pride above all else, and causing a scene in front of Finnian was already testing his patience. For Elowen to openly voice her dissatisfaction was thest straw.

    As Fiona dragged Elowen away, trying to keep up a brave face, Elowen looked like she was about to unleash a tirade. Amara smiled slightly to herself.

    The next morning, Amara and Finnian got ready and headed downstairs to join the Sullivan family for breakfast.

    Elowen, dressed in a floral dress, saw Amara approaching and smirked smugly, "Oh, Amara, you''re just nowing down? Dad''s already been here. If we weren''t waiting for you, breakfast would have been over."

    Her words wereced with sarcasm,

    and as Amara was about to point out that it was only eight o''clock, a perfectly reasonable time for

    breakfast and they weren''t not fate, Finnian chimed in, "Well, considering we''re a married couple, getting up at this time is already pretty early."

    His remark left the room silent for a moment.

    Amara didn''t immediately grasp his meaning, but when she did, her cheeks flushed a bright red. Meanwhile, Elowen looked absolutely furious.

    She bit her lip, casting a few

    sideways nces at Finnian, clearly still harboring feelings for him. She couldn''t understand why, when the Everly family was looking to make an alliance, they didn''t choose her.

    n¨¦

    Both she and Amara were Sullivan children, and everyone said Amara was less attractive now, making her a better, Candidate. But as the stepdaughter, she had a simrly awkward status, perfect for such an arrangement. Why wouldn''t Finnian choose her instead?

    "Make sure you eat plenty, Amara," Elowen spat venomously. "You barely touched your food yesterday, hiding behind that mask of yours. You should take it offter while eating."

    "No need," Amara replied, casting her an indifferent nce. "Just looking at you ruins my appetite."

    It was the first time Amara had spoken so bluntly, and Elowen''s eyes widened in disbelief at her sister''s words.

    Just then, Larry entered the room, prompting everyone to fall silent and take their seats, waiting for him to assume his ce at the head of the table.

 Chapter 68

    At the time, Elowen shot a smug nce at Amara, who was left confused. Wasn''t Elowen stripped of her shares by Larry yesterday? Why was she so cheerful now?

    It didn''t take long for Amara to piece it together.

    Elowen grabbed her phone, shoving it under Larry''s nose with a mocking tone. "Dad, I''ve got to tell you something, but don''t get mad, alright? It''s just that my dear sister is getting a divorce and didn''t even bother to tell us."

    Amara felt a pit form in her stomach. Snapping up her head, she quickly looked at Elowen''s phone.

    Even from a distance, Amara recognized the photo of Liliana, and her hands, resting on herps, clenched into fists.

    "Dad, this actress, Liliana, she''s his new wife. Amara''s headed for a divorce, such a big deal, and she doesn''t even inform us. So irresponsible."

    Elowen''s voice dripped with faux concern, but it was clear she was reveling in the chaos.

    Larry looked up, his brows furrowed into a tight knot. "Is this true, Amara? Are you two really divorcing?"

    Finnian''s expression turned neutral, not denying the im. Amara clenched her fists tighter. In some ways, Finnian was a responsible man. He had promised a future to Liliana and intended to keep it.

    As for her, their marriage had always been more of a transaction¡ªa business deal, only that she was a person instead of some goods. The Everly family had paid her what was due, and there was no obligation for Finnian to continue the charade. Naturally, he wouldn''t deny his rtionship with Liliana.

    Realizing this, Amara spoke up, "Dad, it''s true. Finnian and I are getting a divorce, but we''re doing so amicably. There won''t be any scandal, so please, don''t be upset."

    Larry was a man who valued appearances above all else. His obsession with maintaining a respectable image was so intense that, despite everyone knowing Elowen was his daughter, he refused to acknowledge her publicly

    After all, Elowen was born while he was still legally married to Amara''s mother. Admitting Elowen''s existence would mean confessing to an affair.

    Larry firmly believed a stable family implied good grace, so in order to keep his dignity, he never recognized Elowen.

    Larry ced his cutlery on the table with a sharp tter. He stood, his face a mask of displeasure as be stated, "I''m done here. You all carry on

    "And another thing," he added grimly, shooting Amara a look, "we''ll discuss the sharester."

    Trantion-Amara''s fifteen percent share was as good as gone.

    As Larry stormed out of the dining room, Elowen wore a triumphant smirk, whispering, "Amara, you''re out of your depth trying topete with me."

    Amara red at her. "Compete with you? It''s more like dealing with your mother."

    Elowen wasn''t clever enough to dig into Finnian''s romantic past on her own. This had Fiona''s fingerprints all over it.

    Amara rose, avoiding eye contact,

    and hurried upstairs to her room ¨¦t

    She stepped out onto the balcony, leaning against the railing, her anger simmering with no outlet.

    Soon, she heard footsteps behind her. Finnian had followed.

    "I promised you I''d y along, acting all intimate, but I can''t deny Liliana''s ce."

 Chapter 69

    His voice was cool, devoid of any emotion. The unexpected kissst night had brought them closer, yet the recent incident had widened the gap between them once more.

    Amara couldn''t bring herself to look back at him; she feared her eyes would betray the emotions swirling within her. ¡°It''s fine,¡± she said. ¡°You helping me is a kindness, not helping me is your right.¡±

    Amara was the kind of person who knew when to stand her ground but often too much so, to the point where she wouldn''t make a fuss even if treated unfairly. Finnian felt a strange, fleeting emotion rise within him.

    "Are you nning to fight for the Sullivan family shares?"

    Though Amara hadn''t spelled it out, spending the night observing had given him a clear picture of the situation.

    "I can help you," Finnian offered.

    If the Everly family were to partner with the Sullivan Group, Larry would be overjoyed and might willingly transfer a good portion of shares to Amara, avoiding all this hassle.

    Amara understood his logic but shook her head. "No need."

    A partnership between the Everly Group and the Sullivan Group would bind her too closely to the Everly Group, a path she was reluctant to take, especially now with a child to consider.

    Finnian was surprised by her decisive refusal of what would clearly benefit her. He realized he understood Amara less and less, perhaps he never did from the beginning.

    The next morning, Amara returned to the film set, watching the shoot as usual. Finnian, as always, apanied Liliana.

    Previously, Finnian''s presence only sparked mildments about how lucky Liliana was to have a partner who picked her up every day.

    But now that everyone knew Amara was Finnian''swful wife, their gazes were different when Finnian brought Liliana to the set.

    Amara sat on a small folding stool beside the camera, diligently reading her script, her face expressionless, though inside she was hurting.

    Nearby, when actors and crew witnessed the scene, they exchanged whispers, "Poor Amara is her face scarred or something? If she weren''t so in, Mr. Everly wouldn''t be divorcing her, right?"

    "Mr. Everly is so handsome; he should be with some beauty like Liliana Amara''s just a in Jane; she has no business with him Anyone who pities her is just too soft-hearted."

    "That''s true. The world''s just like that-beautiful people belong together while the less fortunate end up alone."

    These hushed conversations reached Finnian''s ears. His expression darkened as he nced over at Amara.

    She sat there in her knit sweater and jeans, solitary on her little stool, looking quite forlorn. The strange feeling within him resurfaced.

    After a moment''s thought, Finnian walked over to Amara. People watched him as he made his way.

    Unperturbed, he approached Amara and asked, "What are you doing?"

    Amara looked up, noticing Finnian sat beside her. Many eyes turned their way, leaving her feeling uneasy.

    What were people thinking now that

    Finnian had approached her? Did they assume he was here to discuss their divorce? Clutching her script, she stood up and said softly,

    "Nothing much, I''ll be heading back."

    She retreated to the break room, while Finnian watched her leave, a furrow forming on his brow.

 Chapter 70

    Amara had been acting distanttely, and Finnian couldn''t quite figure out why. Did he do anything wrong?

    After returning to the break room, Amara continued to review her script, altering a few lines for the next scene. Then she picked up a book to read.

    By around noon, hunger began to creep in. Deciding it was time for lunch, she headed out to grab a bite.

    As she stepped out the door, she found Finnian standing there, hands tucked into his pockets, looking directly at her. It was unclear how long he''d been waiting.

    Amara paused, asking, "Do you need something?"

    She nced around furtively, relieved to see no one was paying them any attention.

    She never wanted to act so self-abased. Ever since she was disfigured, the world had seemed a little less kind, and insecurities had been seeping into her bones.

    Finnian noticed her cautious nces and couldn''t help but wonder if she was embarrassed by their association. Did she really think he was someone she''d rather not be seen with?

    "Why are you avoiding me?" he asked, cutting straight to the chase.

    "There''s been a lot of gossip flying aroundtely. It''s just not a good idea for us to be seen together in public," Amara replied.

    It was a valid point, yet Finnian sensed there was more beneath the surface.

    Before he could press further, a guy in his early twenties approached, exuding a kind of effortless charm. Ignoring Finnian, he approached Amara directly before uttering, "Ama, I need to talk to you."

    Finnian instinctively sized him up. The guy was tall, at least six feet two, with a lean, athletic build and a cool,posed demeanor. His tousled hair gave him that quintessential "college heartthrob? look.

    Finnian couldn''t help but frown at his familiarity towards her as he used "Ama". He asked, "And you are?" The guy shot him a frosty nce, which only made Finnian''s gaze harden in response.

    Amara was puzzled by the tension between these two who had never met before. Was it some sort of natural aversion?

    She quickly intervened, "This is Lucian Hale, the second lead in our production, ying the prince."

    Lucian was usually in period

    costume for the show, a slight different from his usual self, and Finnian wasn''t keen on the project, so it was no wonder Finnian hadn''t recognized him right away

    Finnian stared at the man. Lucian was an actor in Whispers of Winter. So, he was the friend Amara had brought home for dinner?

    Finnian''s contemtion was

    inscrutable to Amara. She just took

    Lucian back into the break room, asking, "Lucian, what did you need to tell me?"

    At twenty-five, Amara was a few years older than Lucian. When speaking to him, she couldn''t help but slip into a big sisterly tone.

    Lucian''s voice was a touch frosty. "I saw him with Liliana earlier, and now he''s here with you. I just don''t want anyone to start talking."

    Amara felt a flicker of warmth at his concern.

    This wasn''t their first coboration;

    in fact, it was their third. The first

    one was few years ago when Lucian was just an extra. Amara saw his potential and then they kept in touch. As her next project came around, she rmended him for a supporting role-a stepping stone for him.

    Now, in Whispers of Winter, she felt he was perfect for the second lead, and thanks to her, he got the part.

    In many ways, Amara had been instrumental in Lucian''s rise in the industry.

 Chapter 71

    Though Lucian and Amara weren''t exactly friends in the entertainment world, he always held her in high regard.

    "It''s really no big deal," Amara said with a smile.

    "My situation with Finnian isn''t all thatplicated. We got married for some reasons, and now we''re parting ways. Everything''s fine on my end, so there''s no need for you to worry."

    Lucian hade over tofort Amara, but somehow it turned into Amaraforting Lucian.

    Elysia once mentioned that Amara''s personality often led to situations like this. She sometimes felt as exasperated with Amara as Keith did.

    Lucian''s expression turned serious. "Ama, I just don''t want you to get hurt. If anyone messes with you, let me know. I''ll stand up for you."

    Amara''s lips curled into a faint smile. "Alright, I''ll remember toe to you."

    Lucian soon took his leave, and just as Amara was about to grab some dinner, Keith showed up.

    He walked in with two takeout meals, plopping them on the table as he casually seated himself and remarked, "These days are driving me nuts. I''m juggling two shows while appearing on a reality series, and another show is about to wrap up. Oh, by the way, how have you beentely?"

    A few days ago, Amara had been at the center of online drama. Keith had called to check in on her, but with his own avnche of work and the drama resolving quickly, he hadn''t had the chance to visit her until now.

    "I''ve been doing alright."

    Amara took off her mask, scooped up a forkful of mashed potatoes, and spoke as she chewed.

    "Things with Larry aren''t going so well, though," she mumbled. "But I think he''s losing interest in Elowen. Probably can''t stand her antics anymore. I''ll keep an eye on it."

    Around Keith, she didn''t bother with appearances, eating quickly and not noticing the bits of food on her face.

    Keith frowned at her messiness, chided her a bit, and then reached over to flick the bits off her face into the trash.

    "So, what''s the deal with you and Lucian?" Keith asked casually. "I saw him leaving your break room earlier." "Oh, yeah, I was the one who discovered him."

    Amara exined how she and Lucian met, and Keith rxed after hearing the exnation. As he watched Amara eat, Keith''s pace slowed until he eventually set his fork down altogether.

    "What''s up?" Amara asked casually, sensing something was off about him.

    Keith suddenly lowered his head, muttering, "Nothing."

    His heart thudded loudly, almost as if it wanted to leap out of his chest.

    He had realized something peculiar recently he couldn''t help but stare at Amara, whether she was wearing a mask or not. Was he developing feelings for her?

    With a whirlwind of emotions, Keith wrapped up his afternoon shoot, returned home, and decided to tackle the unpacking he had neglected since moving in.

    He opened a box filled with

    childhood memories, intending to nce through it quickly. Suddenly, he remembered something and started rummaging through it.

    BUMS

    Within five minutes, he pulled out an old, yellowed drawing¡ªa "Marriage Certificate" he had drawn as a child, featuring himself and Amara.

    Gazing at the crayon-drawn stick figures and the wobbly "Marriage Certificate" text, Keith couldn''t help but chuckle.

 Chapter 72

    Keith almost forgot, but he used to have a crush on Amara when they were kids.

    Back then, Amara was as pure as a doll, a particrly beautiful and adorable little girl. From the moment Keith met her, he loved chasing after her, always trying to keep up.

    But kids'' crushes were never meant tost. Over time, Keith forgot about it, and his memories only picked up again after he turned ten.

    It was when Amara was ten that the ident happened. Keith was heartbroken, staying by her side, offeringfort and encouragement, even convincing his dad to use their connections to get her the medical care.

    When Amara started getting bullied for her scars, Keith stepped up, fighting off the bullies from elementary school, middle school until high school. He couldn''t count how many times he stood up for her.

    Later, they went off to different colleges, but their bond remained as strong as ever. They met up often for meals, their friendship unchanged from childhood.

    But after college, Amara was determined to marry Finnian, and that was when things between them changed. Keith gazed down at the drawing in his hands, memories of their childhood flooding back, and he let out a sigh.

    The next morning, Amara arrived on set. After observing the key scene, she retreated to the break room to work on the script.

    She expected another quiet morning as usual, but around nine, everything took a turn. Her photo, taken during her recovery without a mask, was leaked online!

    In the photo, Amara wore a simple gray sweatshirt, the loose fabric hiding her figure. She stood on the steps, gazing into the distance as it waiting for someone. The photo. captured her profile, with one side of her face showing her wless eye, but the cheek marred by a jagged scar, like a cruel brand on her fair skin, utterly hideous.

    The photo first appeared on a popr online forum, quickly gaining traction and hitting tens of

    thousands of views. Soon after,

    spread to Twitter, where major influencers shared it, skyrocketing it

    to the trending topics.

    When Amara opened her Twitter homepage, the hashtag #AmaraScarred Face was ring back at her, sitting prominently at number three on the trending list.

    Amara''s usual poprity wouldn''t havended her there, but her recent spat with Liliana had drawn the attention of a great many Liliana''s fans.

    As her photo was exposed online, Liliana''s lead fans eagerly shared the photo; with various influencers'' forwarding, as well as the taunts and insults prevailing, she was pulled to the top of the trending list with dispatch.

    When the online firestorm erupted, Amara was sitting at her desk, eyes glued onto theputer screen. Elysia sent her the link. Clicking it open, she saw the trending hashtag.

    Amara''s eyes widened as she stared at the erged photo on her screen. It took her a moment to process what she was seeing.

    Suddenly, she shot up from her

    chair, identally clicking into thements. The topments were brutally Karsh, calling her "ugly beyond belief" and "disgusting just looking at her". Her hands shook with anger, and her phone ttered to the floor.

    Bending down to retrieve it, Amara quickly exited thements section. The vitriol was too much to bear.

    Pacing the room, she tried to figure out how the photo had leaked. Then, she remembered something crucial ¡ªbefore, no one could find any pictures of her despite their efforts.

 Chapter 73

    The moment the photos leaked, Amara knew it was only a matter of time before a swarm of reporters descended upon her, eager to snag the first scoop.

    She realized she needed to find a safe haven, somewhere she wouldn''t be found. If she dyed even a few hours, she risked being surrounded by the press.

    With this in mind, Amara quickly packed her things, whispering to herself, "You''re smart, Amara. You''ve seen through this mess. Now, stay calm and get out of here."

    She forced herself to suppress the storm of anger, panic, and sorrow swirling inside her, grabbed her bag, and made a hasty exit.

    But she was already toote. Just as she stepped out of the film set''s back entrance, a throng of reporters hidden nearby, cameras at the ready, sprang up like a pack of wolves, surrounding herpletely.

    Amara was taken aback. She had peeked outside before stepping out, ensuring the coast was clear. Where on earth had they alle from?

    "Excuse me, Miss, are you the scriptwriter ''Amarise''? Could you remove your mask for a photo?"

    "Miss Amarise, how did you get those marks on your face? How did you manage to marry the show''s investor with those injuries?"

    "Miss Amarise, are you holding onto your husband to thwart Liliana''s ns? Have you and Liliana had any fights over this?"

    "Miss Amarise."

    The barrage of questions was relentless, making Amara''s head spin.

    Normally, she was a patient person, but being jostled around and hounded with infuriating questions tested even her limits; she was on the verge of getting riled up.

    "I''m sorry, but I''m not the scriptwriter Amarise, and I don''t wish to answer your questions."

    She figured, with most of her face hidden behind a mask, she could deny being Amarise. These reporters had no concrete proof.

    But clearly, these reporters were not just some people to be trifled with; her words fell on deaf ears as they continued their barrage, undeterred.

    Then, a bespectacled male reporter asked a particrly humiliating

    question, "Miss Amarise, given your hideous looks, have you had a normal intimate life with your husband? Is it true he turned to

    Liliana because he has no interest in

    you?"

    The question hit Amara like a p, a wave of humiliation threatening to overpower her. If she hadn''t been soposed, she might haveshed out.

    "Back off! What happens in her marriage is none of your business!"

    A sudden harsh voice cut through the chaos, and the crowd was forcibly parted. A tall figure emerged, enveloping Amara protectively.

    The man, tad in a sharp ck suit,

    had a face as striking as it was stormy The palpable anger radiating from him, as everyone caught his features, they froze in their tracks.

    It was Finnian, the most powerful man in Wye''s business circle, CEO of the Everly Group. What was he doing here?

    Reporters gaped at the sight of Amara cradled in Finnian''s arms, then back at his thunderous expression, their shock evident.

    Could it be that the secretive

    investor of Whispers of Winter, the one married to Amarise for three years, was Finnian himself? This revtion was staggering.

    "Please step aside, our CEO and his wife need to leave."

 Chapter 74

    "Please, everyone, keep today''s events confidential. Awyer will be here shortly to discuss matters with you. Kindly wait patiently and do not leave prematurely, as the consequences could be more than any of you can handle."

    Will squeezed through the crowd, smiling as he spoke, escorting Finnian and Amara out of the ce.

    The two made their way to Amara''s nearby apartment. As soon as they walked in, Amara pushed Finnian away, putting a good three feet between them, her gaze lowered. "Thanks for what you did back there."

    She hadn''t expected Finnian to show up in her most embarrassing moment, but she was genuinely grateful.

    "No problem."

    Finnian looked at her eyes and asked, "Are you okay?"

    The question brought the earlier encounter with the nosy reporter back to Amara''s mind, making her feel ufortable again. She turned her head away.

    Finnian recalled the incident too, his expression darkening. "Those reporters are such jerks."

    Amara nodded, a bit pale, and said, "Come on in."

    Amara headed to the kitchen, grabbed two sses of warm water, and after pulling down her mask to take a sip, brought one to Finnian in the living room.

    Finnian took a sip and said, "I saw the trending news. I''ll have someone look into the photo situation. Don''t worry."

    "No need," Amara shook her head. "I''m pretty sure it was Elowen who leaked it."

    Amara was convinced it was Elowen since the photo had been taken by her in the first ce. Imagining Elowen''s triumphant face made Amara seethe with anger. She needed to figure out how to handle this.

    A loud bang erupted at the door.

    "Ama, are you home? Open up!"

    Keith''s urgent knocking and shouting startled Amara.

    "Who''s that?"

    Finnian''s gaze was fixed on the door like he was on edge for some reason, his expression a tad severe. "Just a friend of mine," Amara replied, flustered.

    Keith continued knocking like he wouldn''t stop until the end of time, and Amara''s heart was in her throat.

    There was no way she could let

    Keith and Finnian meet. Keith had never liked Finnian, and their friendship had even ended over it for three years. Now that they were finally on good terms again, she didn''t want to risk losing him.

    "Why not let him in?"

    Finnian noticed Amara''s uneasy expression, as if she was expressly panicked. He couldn''t figure out the

    reason.

    "Ama, open the door! I heard your phone ring, I know you''re there!"

    Amara was silent. She''d left her phone on the entryway table when they came in, so when Keith called, it rang just inches from him. Of course, he heard it.

    Finnian''s eyes were dark as he stared at the door. "Let him in."

    Hismanding tone made Amara frown. She had every intention of opening the door for Keith, but she couldn''t let him see Finnian there. As the doorbell chimed more insistently, panic crept in.

    "Mr. Everly,e on over."

    Keith called again from outside. Amara couldn''t wait any longer. She grabbed Finnian by the wrist, pulling him into another room, opened a closet, and pushed him inside.

    "Amara!"

    Finnian was taken aback by her sudden move.

 Chapter 75

    "What the hell is this all about?"

    Finnian was both shocked and furious when he finally realized what was happening.

    Standing inside Amara''s closet, surrounded by her soft clothes and the subtle scenting off them, he held onto Amara''s wrist, preventing her from leaving.

    "I need to meet someone outside. Could you please stay here for a bit and note out? I''m really sorry about this."

    Amara was practically babbling, avoiding Finnian''s eyes. She assumed being shoved into a closet like this was probably the most mortifying situation Finnian had ever experienced, but she was out of options. She just had to get through this mess first.

    She forcefully pulled her wrist from Finnian''s grip, shut the closet door with a thud under his incredulous gaze, and then closed the bedroom door before heading to open the door for Keith.

    "Ama, are you okay?"

    Keith stood outside the door. He had been on a show and looked quite dashing, though now his hair was slightly ruffled, and his face was full of concern, clearly having rushed over.

    He took Amara''s wrist, giving her a quick once-over, and then pulled down her mask to make sure she was unharmed before he finally rxed.

    Amara had been a bit panicked by the whole situation, but seeing Keith so worried about her made her burst into a giggle, her fear inexplicably dissipating.

    "I''m fine, really. Why''d you rush over here all of a sudden?"

    "I just got off the show and heard from Cedric that you got mobbed as soon as you left the set. Did you have to run out? You''re not hurt, right?"

    Even though he''d already checked her over, Keith couldn''t help but ask, his protective instincts kicking in. "I''m fine, Keith. You just checked."

    Keith wasn''t usually the nagging type, but perhaps her disfigured incident at ten made him hyper-vignt about Amara''s safety. Her heart swelled with a gentle warmth.

    "As long as you''re okay. By the way, who leaked your photos? I can help with the PR."

    "No need, really. I can handle this."

    As good friends as they were, Amara didn''t want to burden Keith with every little problem. That would be too much.

    Seeing her resolve, Keith didn''t push it further. He stood up, saying, "I''m d that you''re okay, I should get back to the show. I left in the middle toe here. Get some rest, will you? And if you can''t sort out the photo thing, just let me know."

    After making some more regardfulments, Keith reluctantly left, still a bit uneasy.

    Amara watched from the window as

    Keith got into his car and drove out of the neighborhood before she returned to the bedroom and

    opened the closet door to let Finnian out

    Finnian, standing at a tall six feet two, looked quite cramped in the closet. It was dark in there, like being locked in a small room. By the time Amara let him out, his expression was anything but pleasant

    "Who was that just now?" Finnian asked, smoothing his hair, his face clouded and his tone anything but friendly.

    "Was it that actor friend of yours?"

    "Yeah," Amara admitted, feeling a bit guilty.

    No matter how she looked at it, Finnian had just saved her from the reporters, and she had repaid him by shoving him into a closet.

    "I''m really sorry about earlier. Everything happened so fast. Please don''t take it to heart. I''ll make it up to you another day."

 Chapter 76

    Finnian was already fuming because Amara had hidden him away, and hertest remark did nothing to soothe his temper.

    "Make it up?"

    He let out a cold chuckle, his demeanor dropping a few degrees. Amara was taken aback, not understanding why he was even angrier now.

    She figured she had indeed wronged him earlier, so she apologized immediately. Wasn''t that the polite thing to do? Why wasn''t he satisfied?

    "Yeah, I know what I did was out of line."

    Amara had this habit of bing overly apologetic when she knew she was in the wrong, as if saying sorry a hundred times could magically erase the other person''s anger.

    Not that she would actually do that it would be an excessive humility.

    After a moment''s thought, she offered, "I know I didn''t handle it properly. If there''s anything you need aspensation, just let me know."

    Finnian''s dark expression deepened. "Do you treat everyone this politely?"

    He had been observing Amara standing her ground against Elowen recently, and just when he thought she was starting to toughen up, she turned all meek around him.

    Sure, she had ticked him off by hiding him away, but he wasn''t some terrifying monster. Why did she feel the need to keep apologizing?

    Amara looked up at Finnian, puzzled by his question. "Not everyone."

    With Elysia and Keith, she was far less formal. But Finnian wasn''t like them, she reckoned.

    "Why did you hide me when you met up with your friend?"

    Finnian decided not to press her further on her character, opting instead to omit the topic and to address the real issue.

    Amara calmly exined, "That friend is a celebrity. His personal life..."

    "His personal life needs to be kept private, and you need to be discreet when meeting him?"

    Finnian finished the sentence for her. Amara paused, and then nodded. "Yeah, that''s exactly it."

    She genuinely believed her

    reasoning was sound. Even if Keith

    had no beef with Finnian, as a top-tier celebrity, his personal life

    had to be kept under wraps.

    So her actions weren''t wrong at all, but when Finnian said it, it sounded off.

    "And you couldn''t tell me?"

    Finnian finally articted the crux of his frustration, his voice simmering with restrained anger.

    "Whatever our arrangement, we''re officially married. We''re partners in this, aren''t we? Do you really think I''d go bbing about his private life?"

    Amara was momentarily at a loss for words. On the surface, what he said seemed fair, but she was quick enough to detect the w in his logic.

    "But Mr. Everly, I think we both know it''s not that simple. We''re not a typical married couple after all."

    Amara tilted her head, her voice a bit softer. She was being as tactful as she could.

    Their marriage was merely a business deal; they weren''t even friends, just two people who knew each other but weren''t close.

    In such a rtionship, it was only natural to keep certain "private" matters to oneself.

    Finnian''s expression grim, he stared

    at the crown of her head for a while, saying nothing. Finally, he uttered, "I didn''t mean to make a big deal out of today. You don''t owe me anything. I''ll get going."

    With that, Finnian left Amara''s apartment.

    Downstairs, he loosened his tie, letting the cool breeze hit his face, clearing his head. He realized

    This

    earlier reaction might have been a bit over the top.

 Chapter 77

    Finnian and Amara had a marriage of convenience, one where they were supposed to stay out of each other''s business. So why had he just grilled Amara about her male friends? Why did he care so much about them?

    As he pondered this, Finnian finally came to a realization.

    Because men, regardless of how they felt about their wives, didn''t like the idea of being cuckolded. It was only natural for him to be upset.

    With that thought in mind, Finnian felt at ease. He slowly made his way back to his car and drove away from the neighborhood.

    That evening, something quite extraordinary happened. The "Amara photo incident", which had been causing quite a stir online, suddenly vanished without a trace.

    Not only were rted keywords no longer searchable on any major tform, but the photo itself had been scrubbed from the entire inte. Aside from a few users who had saved it privately, it was nowhere to be found.

    People online were buzzing with spection, using code words to discuss the event. "How did Amarise''s trending topic just disappear? I''ve never seen a PR cleanup this thorough. It must have cost a fortune!"

    "Yeah, even celebrities can''t get their issues wiped this clean. How did Amarise manage this? What kind of power does she have behind her?"

    These discussions were rtively few, and Amara''s situation gradually faded from the spotlight. However, the inte never forgot, and soon enough, the conversation shifted to Liliana and the investor.

    Everyone was saying that Amara was even uglier than they had imagined, and they pitied the investor for being stuck marrying such an unattractive woman. They felt sorry for Liliana, too, having topete with someone like that.

    As for the incident with Amara being swarmed by reporters earlier, while it did get posted online, the Everly family''s influence was too

    formidable. No one dared to reol?

    Finnian''s name, so it didn''t cause

    much of a stir in the end.

    The very next day, the frustrated reporters turned their attention to Liliana. They cornered her at the entrance to the film set, asking for her opinion on Amara''s looks.

    Liliana tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ear and smiled at the array of microphones thrust her way. "I have no opinion on our scriptwriter''s appearance. In real life, she''s a wonderful person, and her looks aren''t her fault. Please don''t attack her based on her

    appearance."

    Liliana''s tone was gentle, and she didn''t say a single bad thing about Amara. Yet, when the interview aired, no one changed their opinion of Amara; instead, everyone praised Liliana.

    "Liliana is so kind andpassionate. She doesn''t judge someone by their appearance. Liliana is just the best!"

    Reading thosements, Elysia was furious.

    She ranted about Liliana for a good ten minutes until Amara eventually had to step in, patting her friend on on> the shoulder as sheforted her, "Don''t let it get under your skin You really need to work on your temper. Getting angry all the time isn''t good for your health."

    Elysia was a hothead. Her outbursts might hurt others, but they took a toll on her, too. Amara hoped she could find some peace of mind.

    "This whole thing might not be so bad after all."

    Amara took a sip of her coffee, a smile ying on her lips.

    The photo scandal was undoubtedly orchestrated by Elowen, who was notoriously inept. Her n was bound

    to have countless ws, and if Amara could exploit them, a lot of things would be much easier.

 Chapter 78

    Once Amara and Elysia set off to address the issue, it didn''t take long for Amara to uncover the evidence she needed, thanks to Elowen''s predictable behavior.

    She marched straight into the Sullivan Group headquarters and entered the chairman''s office, dropping the proof onto Larry''s desk with a determined thud.

    "Dad."

    The mask covering her face, she stood in front of Larry, her eyes rimmed with a hint of red, revealing her distress.

    "Dad, someone''s posted pictures of my disfigurement online over the past few days. It''s led to some pretty harsh personal attacks. Did you know about this?"

    Larry nodded, his expression darkening. ¡°Why are you bringing this to me?¡±

    Larry was a man who valued his reputation above all else. Having a daughter with a facial disfigurement was already a sore spot for him, and the fact that it had gone public only added fuel to his fiery pride.

    However, since Amara''s real name and identity had been kept under wraps-thanks to her online pseudonym ¡ªhis anger had slightly subsided.

    "Dad," Amara continued, biting her lip, her tone a mix of hurt and resolve. "I know you never believed me when I said Elowen ruined my face when we were kids. You didn''t believe she would taunt me about my looks either, calling me a bad kid who ndered my sister instead. That really hurt.

    But now I''m grown up. When I get hurt, I find evidence. And I did. It was Elowen who spread the photo yesterday. I''m not here to demand you punish her. I know she''s not a bad person at heart. She''s just...

    I don''t know why she does these things to me. I''ve never wronged her. I couldn''t figure out why she''d target at me given how well we''ve got along with each other.

    Regardless, my goal isn''t to see her punished. I just want you to know the truth. She really did bully me about my appearance when we were kids. I couldn''t defend myself then, and still can''t now. But at least now I can make sure everyone knows the troth! I don''t want to suffer in silence anymore!"

    Amara''s demeanor shifted from soft-spoken to fiercely determined. As her piece finished, she turned slightly, tears welling up and slipping down her cheeks, which she quickly wiped away.

    Larry, seated in his leather swivel chair, looked beyond upset.

    "So, you''re telling me that unmasked photo was posted online by your sister?"

    "Yes, she took that photo without my knowledge. I suspected it immediately and looked into it. Sure enough. Here, this is the evidence, Dad. Take a look."

    Amara pushed the evidence across the desk towards him. Larry''s face went from sour to a furious shade of red as he examined the documents. A few momentster, he mmed his hand down on the desk,

    eli

    bellowing, "That rebellious brat! How could she do something so outrageous to you? This is utterly uneptable! Don''t worry, I''ll make sure she gets what she deserves!"

    Despite Larry''s promise to discipline Elowen, Amara had her doubts. Elowen had a knack for getting into trouble, and although Larry would often react with anger, iming he would teach her a lesson, his resolve would always wane after Fiona stepped in with her soothing words.

    Amara used to think Elowen was lucky, having a mother who doted on her so much. But eventually, Amara realized Fiona''s unwavering protection wasn''t a blessing-it was a subtle form of indulgence that would

    eventually lead to Elowen''s downfall as she grew older.

 Chapter 79

    Just then, Amara suddenly remembered what Liliana had said during her interview the previous day. Her eyes darted around as she whispered, "Dad, honestly, Elowen''s a good person; she''s just a bit immature. I mean, I''m only a few months younger than her, so maybe it''s not my ce to say, but she really doesn''t act her age. None of my friends would pull a stunt like that."

    Larry''s expression darkened even more at her words.

    He stood up from his chair, sped his hands behind his back, and paced by the window a few times. After a moment, he stopped, his face stern. "If she''s that immature, she probably can''t handle running thepany."

    "Exactly," Amara replied nonchntly. "The Sullivan Group is your life''s work. It needs proper management, not someone running it on a whim."

    Larry said nothing, maintaining his solemn expression for a few more seconds before speaking. "We''ll decide on the sharester. There are some family matters to discuss too. You should head back."

    "Alright, I''ll go for now. Don''t let it upset you too much, Dad. I''ll have a chat with Elowen."

    After saying that, Amara left the chairman''s office. Her face was mostly hidden behind a mask, showing little emotion, but a smirk was ying at the corners of her lips.

    For now, it seemed she wouldn''t be getting the majority of the Sullivan Group''s shares, but at least Elowen wouldn''t either. The oue was still up in the air.

    Later that evening, Amara returned to the film set.

    The uing scene was crucial; it was a pivotal moment between Liliana and Lucian, marking a small but significant twist in the plot.

    Amara positioned herself nearby with her notebook, ready to observe and take notes. However, as shooting began, Lucian was the one who stumbled.

    Lucian yed a prince, secretly in love with his sister-inw, Isabe, throughout the early part of the story. His character was one of tragic tonging, butter he found his own love, leading to a happy ending.

    In this scene, Lucian was supposed to meet Isabe in the garden, having cleverly sent her attendants away to confess his feelings a scene meant to be filled with deep emotion.

    But during filming, Lucian''s expression was all wrong. He stared at Liliana as if she were his enemy, leading to one take after another going awry.

    "Cut! Cut! Cut!"

    After another displeased scene, Cedric pped the pperboard, peering out from behind the camera. He shouted, "Lucian, what''s going on? Isabe is supposed to be your secret love! You need to gaze at her with passion-passion! Don''t look at her like she''s your nemesis!"

    His words broughtughter from many on set, and Liliana looked visibly ufortable.

    Everyone could see Lucian was acting with a chip on his shoulder, and it was clearly directed at Liliana. It was bizarre. Did he have a grudge against her?

    "Take ten, everyone! We''ll reshoot!" Cedric barked, and the crew dispersed for a break. Amara found a small stool and sat down, reviewing her notes from thest scene.

    Ten minutes flew by, and as Cedric gathered everyone for another take, the studio doors swung open, and Finnian walked in. His presence drew everyone''s attention.

    It wasn''t unusual for an investor to visit the set, but Finnian''s visits were clearly more about seeing Liliana, and everyone was used to it.

    However, after the recent events, whenever Finnian showed up, people would intentionally nce at Amara, as they were doing now.

    Feeling the weight of their curious stares, Amara stiffened slightly.

 Chapter 80

    Beside the flower bed, Lucian, dressed in his princely attire, slowly walked towards the woman d in a in gown. His eyes were fixated on her.

    He lifted his long fingers, seemingly intending to touch the woman''s hand, but she stepped back and softly said, "Your Grace, please restrain yourself."

    "Cut! Cut! Cut!"

    At that moment, Cedric jumped out from behind the camera and yelled, "Lucian! Your expression is way too fierce. Remember, she''s the woman you love, not your arch-nemesis! What''s going on with you today?"

    An awkward silence fell over the set. Lucian''s face was tense, Liliana looked ufortable, and everyone else didn''t say a word.

    Another take ruined. Just then, Finnian arrived, and Cedric announced, "Alright, let''s take a break. Everyone, gather your thoughts! If this doesn''t work, we''ll shoot the next scene."

    With that, everyone dispersed. Liliana, holding up her long dress, approached Finnian, looking rather aggrieved.

    She looped her arm through Finnian''s and said, "Finn, I''m exhausted. We did that scene over ten times and still haven''t seed. Lucian kept giving me this hostile look. You''d think he had something against me."

    Liliana was just venting a little, not expecting Lucian to overhear her. He walked over to her and Finnian, his expression icy as he imed, "You''re right. I do loathe you."

    Liliana was rendered speechless.

    Everyone on set, all seasoned adults familiar with the drama of showbiz, was taken aback by Lucian''s bluntness. They turned to look at him in surprise.

    "Why do you loathe me?" Liliana asked, momentarily stunned.

    Lucian''s handsome face was cold. "Because you keep picking on Amara."

    As soon as he said it, a hush fell over the set. A dozen of onlookers cast nces their way, their eyes gleaming with curiosity and gossip. Amara, who was nearby, felt her heart jolt.

    Finnian''s expression darkened as he red at Lucian and uttered, "What''s your rtionship with Amara?"

    Seeing Lucian reminded Finnian of the time Amara gave this guy a bag, the half-eaten spread on the table, and the awkward experience of him being stuck in a closet.

    He supposed that Amara''s so-called actor friend was this Lucian, a young guy with guts. Did he care a lot about Amara?

    "Ama and I are friends."

    Lucian knew Amara always saw him as a younger brother, but he never treated her like a sister. Maybe it was because Amara lived such a stifled life; he couldn''t help but feel protective of her.

    "Friends," Finnian repeated, his tone a bit menacing.

    He was a few inches taller than Lucian, and they practically met eye to eye one exuding authority and the other an icy aloofness. The tension between them was palpable to the people around.

    Sensing the escting situation, Liliana clutched her stomach and leaned into Finnian. "Honey, my stomach hurts."

    Finnian frowned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What''s wrong?"

    "I don''t know, it just hurts a little."

    As the couple embraced openly in front of everyone, with Liliana shamelessly calling him "honey", Lucian''s gaze turned even darker.

    Coming from a humble background, Lucian owed his current sess to Amara. If she hadn''t discovered him and rmended him twice, he might still be an extra with no name, or perhaps he would have left the industry and sought another upation altogether.

 Chapter 81

    Lucian always saw Amara as a true savior. So, whenever he saw Liliana and Finnian giving her a hard time, he couldn''t help but feel a surge of indignation rising within him.

    He red at Liliana, his words as sharp as a knife. "Is that your husband? No, that''s someone else''s. You know it pretty well, yet you still call him yours. How shameless can you be?"

    Liliana froze, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She''d never been insulted like this before. She lifted her eyes, almost on the brink of tears. "Finn."

    "Take back what you just said."

    Finnian''s gaze was grim, but his presence exuded an undeniable aura of grace and authority, one that could easily overshadow Lucian''s.

    But Lucian, having grown up on the rough streets and involved in countless brawls, wasn''t fazed by mere presence. He locked eyes with Finnian, unyielding, like a wolf ready to pounce on its prey.

    "Take it back? Did I say anything wrong?" he retorted with a sardonic edge.

    Finnian''s expression grew even colder. "Right or wrong, you have no right to say it."

    "And what if I did say it?" Lucian clenched his jaw. "Are you going to threaten me like you did Amara to change her script?"

    Lucian was a man who''d fought his way up from the bottom with his fists, and he lived by a straightforward code. Unlike others who would act all smooth and slick, he always spoke his mind about everything, often putting others in ufortable situations.

    Finnian''s gaze grew even darker, his menacing aura nothing but dread, and Liliana clung to him like a delicate vine seeking shelter, the two of them seemingly a perfect pair.

    Lucian''s gaze was fixed on them deadly, his fists gradually tightening. Amara watched the scene unfold, her lips drain of color inch by inch.

    Finnian was always fiercely

    protective of Liliana. Amara knew that if Lucian had only been mocking Finnian, he might have brushed it off. But insulting Liliana was

    eln

    something Finnian couldn''t tolerate.

    Yet, Lucian was only standing up for her, which made it hard for Amara to just stand by, even if she didn''t agree with his methods.

    She approached Lucian, tugging his arm and said in a lowered voice, "Don''t do this, okay? Let''s just go." Finnian found his eyes lingering on Amara''s hand gripping Lucian''s arm, unable to look away.

    "Finn," Liliana uttered as she tugged on his sleeve, her lifted eyes searching his. "What''s on your mind?" "Nothing."

    Finnian''s gaze, which was fixed on Amara''s profile, was frigid, some unidentifiable emotion stirring within him.

    Liliana bit her lip, sensing something

    was off with Finnian but unable

    put a finger on it. Her instincts

    novels

    screamed that they shouldn''t

    continue this confrontation,

    She clutched his arm, pleading, "Let''s leave. I don''t want to argue with them anymore."

    Finnian''s expression remained stony, ignoring Liliana''s gentle tugging and staying silent.

    Amara surmised that to an outsider, it probably looked like two men were squaring off while two women tried

    to break it up. She felt helpless by the whole scene.

    Seeing that Lysian still wasn''t

    budging, Amara leaned closer, whispering some words into his ear. Finally, his demeanor softened a bit, and Amara grabbed his wrist, leading him away from the tension.

 Chapter 82

    After the two returned to the break room, Amara shut the door with a serious expression. She said, "Lucian, I know you meant well earlier, but please don''t do that again."

    Lucian had been silent ever since, his lips tightly pressed together and his face stern, the thought difficult for her to decipher. Seeing him like this, Amara sighed.

    "Lucian," she said, her tone softening. "Guys like Finnian, they''re in a whole different league from us. If you really piss him off, forget about making it in this industry; doing anything else might be tough too. You get what I''m saying, right?"

    After a few moments of silence, Lucian finally spoke up, "Not our kind of people."

    "Hmm?" Amara was momentarily puzzled. "What?"

    "Not our kind, my kind," Lucian rified, looking at her intently.

    "Ama, you''re not like me. Youe from a rich family. You''re not any lesser than Finnian. He shouldn''t treat you like that."

    Amara understood instantly, a small smile ying on her lips as she replied, "You know, we''re really not that different."

    Given her situation with the Sullivan family, she wasn''t in a much better position than Lucian, but she chose not to borate on that for all the entanglement it emanated. She reminded Lucian to focus on his acting and not to sh with Liliana or Finnian anymore.

    Whether Lucian truly listened or not was uncertain, but he didn''t argue. He nced at Amara before leaving the room.

    Amara took a deep sigh, sat for a while, sipped some water, and prepared to head back to the set. But as she stepped out, she found Finnian waiting at the door.

    "Amara," Finnian asked, "you and Lucian seem pretty close?"

    There was something off about Finnian''s tone, though it was hard to pinpoint exactly what.

    Amara didn''t overthink it and

    exined, "Lucian used to be an extra. I noticed his talent and looks while working on another show and rmended him to the director. That''s how we met."

    Her words were tactful, but Finnian understood immediately. It was clear to him that Lucian owed Amara for discovering him, which exined Lucian''s earlier defense of her.

    With that realization, Finnian felt oddly relieved. He nodded and responded, "I was just curious, no other reason. I have some matters to attend to; gotta go."

    As Finnian turned to leave, Amara watched his etreating figure, sensing something was amiss. It quickly dawned on her-had Finnian misunderstood something? Did he think the "actor friend" who''d had meals at her home earlier andter visited her again was Lucian?

    Amara couldn''t help but chuckle wryly at the thought.

    But it wasn''t a big deal, so she didn''t dwell on it. She locked up the break room and headed to the set.

    After her pep talk, Lucian seemed to regain hisposure and sessfully finished filming the scene.

    After changing out of her costume, Liliana approached Finnian, who had been waiting for her and asked, "Finn, did you visit Amara in her break room? What did you two talk about?"

    "Nothing much," Finnian replied coolly, clearly not interested in borating.

    Liliana bit her lip, a wave of unease washing over her. Logically, she knew Finnian wouldn''t be interested in Amara, and she still believed that, but something just didn''t fee right.

 Chapter 83

    After a moment of thought, Liliana looked at Finnian, her voiceced with hurt as she began, "Finn, I know you and Amara haven''t officially divorced yet, but I can''t help feeling sad. People keep calling me a homewrecker."

    Finnian''s expression darkened. "Who''s been saying that to you?"

    "Just some people online and a few in the crew."

    "Don''t worry about that," Finnian said. "I''ll have someone handle it."

    Liliana bit her lip, and then continued, ¡°Not necessary. We can''t keep theizens'' mouth shut, I don''t care about that anyway. It''s just..."

    She hesitated for a while before tugging on Finnian''s sleeve. "Finn, could you promise me something?"

    "What''s it?"

    She rose on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear. Finnian''s brow furrowed as he instinctively wanted to argue, but the look of vulnerability on Liliana''s face and the thought of the child she was carrying stopped him short.

    Later that evening, the entertainment world was rocked by a bombshell. The popr actress Liliana, who had been rumored to be romantically involved with a film project''s backer, and caught in a scandal, announced her pregnancy!

    At 8 PM, Liliana took to Twitter, posting a four-square photo coge: a selfie, a picture of a pregnancy test, a snapshot of her hand entwined with a man''s, and a heart emoji.

    The caption read, "Our little one is over a month along! Perfect timing to wrap up Whispers of Winter and take some time to prepare for the new arrival. Hope this baby woulde to this world safe and sound!"

    The announcement sent

    shockwaves through social media, leaving a trait of question marks and bewildered followers in its wake. But soon enough, Liliana''s devoted fan base flooded thements with pre-prepared messages of support, quickly propelling them to the top of the thread.

    Someone asked, "Is Liliana really pregnant? Is it with the film backer?"

    Amidst tens of thousands ofments, Liliana only replied to that one, simply saying, "Yes."

    With Liliana''s confirmation, it became clear to everyone that she was expecting a child with the film project''s

    backer, who happened to be the husband of the screenwriter, Amarise.

    The news exploded into the trending

    topics, dominating many spots on the list. After all, even a typical celebrity pregnancy would make headlines, but Liliana''s situation was unprecedented. She was pregnant before marriage, and her partner was still legally tied to another woman. Her boldness in making the announcement was unparalleled in the entertainment industry.

    Thus, it wasn''t surprised that the news would go viral.

    Amara stumbled across the trending topic while drying her hair, phone in hand as she exited the bathroom, her eyes locking onto the pregnancy test image.

    She had known about Liliana''s pregnancy for a while, but seeing it publicly confirmed was a different kind of heartbreak. Her chest ached with a profound sense of distress.

    The picture of the intertwined hands caught her attention. Others might not recognize the hand, but she did instantly it was Finnian''s.

    She couldn''t help but wonder in which scenario they took this photo.

    Liliana probably have said to Finnian, "Honey, I want the public aware of our baby, let''s take a photo," and then they snapped the picture. Or maybe it was just a candid moment Liliana decided to capture and use now.

    Amara''s mind raced with images of their life together, each imagined scene twisting the knife in her heart deeper. Her face turned pale as the weight of the situation bore down on her.

 Chapter 84

    She knew that letting her imagination run wild was a form of self-torture, but she just couldn''t help herself. That was when a loud knock echoed through the house, and Elysia''s voice followed urgently from outside, "Ama, are you home? Open up!"

    Amara paused for a moment before quickly heading to the door. The moment she opened it, she was greeted by Elysia''s furious expression as thetter gazed at her, her brows furrowed with intensity.

    Amara thought something might have happened between Elysia and Dorian, so she ushered her in quickly. Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, Elysia burst out, "That bitch is pregnant? Ama, did you know about this before?"

    Amara didn''t reply. Was Elysia upset about Liliana''s pregnancy?

    It made sense; Keith and Elysia were the two friends who cared for her and truly understood the bitterness in her heart.

    Amara looked down. ¡°I knew, right after the divorce."

    Elysia''s face was aze with fury, like she was ready to take on the world. Amara, who had been simmering in her own anger, couldn''t help but let out a small, bitterugh at Elysia''s fierce expression.

    She moved closer, hugging Elysia tightly and resting her head on her shoulder. ¡°When I first found out, it really hurt, but I''vee to terms with it. I thought I had, anyway.

    But seeing Liliana''s announcement just now, especially that pregnancy test, made it all so real. Ely, I''m really hurting."

    Elysia wrapped her arms around Amara''s back; gritting her teeth, she cussed out, "Those two jerks, one having a kid out of wedlock, the other cheating, and they''re unting it like there''s no shame!"

    Amara let out a self-deprecating smile. "Yeah, the Everly family must be embarrassed, but Finnian doesn''t care. He only cares about Liliana''s feelings.¡±

    Just then, Amara''s phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with the name ¡°Kevin¡±.

    "Is it Mr. Kevin Everly?¡± Elysia asked.

    Amara nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±

    After a moment of hesitation, she was ready to pick up. "His grandfather has always been kind to me. I should answer."

    She clicked to answer the call as Elysia gave her a reassuring pat on the back, mouthed ¡°I''ll head out," and then left.

    Holding the phone, Amara greeted Kevin and inquired, "Is there something you needed to talk about?"

    "Ama, how are you?" Kevin asked. "That rascal, letting that actress cause such a scandal! He''s got no shame! If he dares to show his face around here, I''ll give him a piece of my mind."

    Kevin was clearly agitated,unching into a tirade against Finnian, even tossing in a few colorful insults.

    Sensing his frustration, Amara tried to soothe him. "It''s just how things are, considering he and Liliana are infatuated with each other. You should try to ept them sooner rather thanter, Kevin."

    Deep down, Amara respected Kevin, but she couldn''t help thinking he was a bit too stubborn.

    Liliana was actually quite

    aplished in every way, but Kevin had a strong aversion to actresses, models, women from humble backgrounds, and those who were too attractive.

    Liliana ticked all those boxes, which was unfortunate for her.

    ¡°Ama, I''m fine, I''m worried about you. Please, don''t be upset."

    Amara sighed internally. How could she not be upset? His words were merely empty reassurances.

 Chapter 85

    She didn''t say it outright but gave Kevin a fewforting words before pretending to have something to do and hanging up the phone.

    In the Everly family estate, Kevin put down his phone and sighed, turning to Lisa. "You mentioned before that Finn might have a thing for Ama. Is that true?"

    Lisa was uncertain now, hesitating as she replied, "Well, back in Mrs. Amara Everly''s break room, I noticed how Mr. Finn Everly was constantly ncing at her. I thought he might have some interest.

    But today, Liliana dared to post that kind of tweet. She must have had Mr. Finn Everly''s approval. He knew this would affect how people see the Everly family, and he still went ahead with it. He must really care for Liliana. What on earth is going on?"

    Lisa looked a bit regretful, thinking she might have been too clever for her own good by mentioning it to Mr. Kevin Everly.

    "s, never mind. I''ll give that little rascal a call and see what he''s really thinking."

    Meanwhile, Elysia left Amara''s apartment and got into her car parked downstairs. She didn''t drive off immediately but instead pulled out her phone and made a call.

    A few minutester, Elysia hung up, pressed the gas pedal, and left Amara''s neighborhood. Half an hourter, her car pulled up in front of an upscale club.

    Elysia, being a member, swiped her card and walked in, heading straight to a private room. She flung the door open. Inside the dimly lit room sat a group of seven or eight men and women, with Finnian and Liliana at the center.

    Elysia stormed over to them, but then she noticed Dorian and Jessica sitting on a nearby couch.

    Jessica was aely girl with delicate features, nestled close to Dorian in a fragile, dainty manner. Dorian wasn''t holding her, but his arm was draped behind her, making it look like he was. Elysia''s pupils contracted in an instant.

    Dorian noticed Elysia suddenly and quickly withdrew his hand, standing up with a frown. "What are you doing here?"

    Elysia swallowed the sharp pain in her heart, not forgetting her purpose for being there. She marched over to Finnian, her voice filled with rage.

    "You and this woman have a child? A child is one thing, but you let her announce it before you''re even divorced. Have you two no shame?

    It may not matter if you are barefaced, but Amara still wants her dignity. Couldn''t you think about her when you pulled this stunt?"

    Elysia let out her barrage of words, ring daggers at Finnian with heaving breaths, clearly furious.

    Finnian stood up, his eyes cold as he remarked, "How did you find this ce?"

    "None of your business!"

    Finnian was an imposing man,

    towering over Elysia by a good eight

    inches, but she showed no sign of

    backing down, her chin slightly. raised as she stared him down determined to stand up for her friend.

    1.n

    Dorian came over, grabbing Elysia''s arm and said, his voice subdued, "Cut it out. Come outside with me."

    Dorian''s voice was stern, like he was

    scolding Elysia, who turned her head to see Jessica giving her a sweet, innocent smile-so innocent it was almost cruel.

    5

    A wave of overwhelming anger and sadness washed over her, and she couldn''t quite tell who was to me anymore.

 Chapter 86

    It was the first time Elysia ever shook off Dorian''s arm, shouting, "Get lost! Don''t touch me!"

    Dorian''s pupils shrank in disbelief. Elysia, who always softened her edges for him, was actually yelling at him?

    Just then, Jessica walked over, wearing a simple white cotton dress that contrasted with the sophisticated vibe of the club. Her sleek ck hair cascaded gently over her shoulders.

    She lightly pinched Dorian''s arm, speaking in a sweet, soothing voice, "Dorian, maybe Elysia''s just worried about her friend. You shouldn''t argue with her."

    Then she turned to Elysia, her voice gentle. "Elysia, you know Dorian works hard every day. He just wants to unwind after work. Maybe you shouldn''t be so harsh on him; he''s already exhausted."

    Elysia stared coldly at Jessica, feeling a sudden urge to toss this woman out. Always the straightforward type, she snapped, "Who the hell do you think you are? This is between me and my boyfriend. Why do you think you can butt in? And why do you call me like that? We are not that close."

    Her words were harsh, and Jessica''s eyes reddened at once. Dorian''s face twisted with anger as he pulled Jessica behind him, demanding, "Elysia, what''s your problem?"

    Elysia''s heart ached terribly, but a cold smile yed at her lips. "What problem?"

    Dorian''s gaze darkened slightly. "ying dumb, huh? I''m asking why you''re picking on Jessica."

    Elysia''s face turned pale, though it was hard to discern in the dim light of the room. Her eyes drifted over Dorian and Jessica, and she suddenly felt like an outsider, a sense of despair washing over her.

    But Elysia was a strong woman, and she hadn''t forgotten why she came here today. She started, "I''m not here to argue about this with you. If you want to talk, we can do thatter. I''m here for another reason."

    With that, she turned to Finnian.

    "Finnian, you and Ama got married on paper, and you''re nearly divorced. It''s fine if you want to see someone else, but could you at least wait ¨¤ while before announcing Liliana''s pregnancy?

    Liliana was the other woman in your marriage, but now you''ve twisted things so everyone mes Amara. Don''t you think that''s unfair?"

    After Liliana''s post on Twitter,

    people had indeed been bashing

    Amara. They said, "Lovees first,

    and the one not loved is the third

    wheel, so Amara is the

    homewrecker." Elysia had nearly exploded with anger reading that.

    Finnian''s gaze was icy. "I don''t need your advice on what I do."

    His words carried an imposing authority, and Elysia felt that Finnian had never truly cared about Amara. Because he didn''t care, her feelings didn''t matter to him, which fueled Elysia''s exasperation.

    Dorian grabbed her wrist, his voice low and simmering with frustration. "Enough. Let''s go outside."

    Elysia shook off his hand again, raising her voice slightly. "I said, don''t touch me!"

    Her tone was so disdainful, her

    actions so upromising, leaving no room to maneuver, which rattled Dorian''s Cage. Just then, the door opened again, and Amara rushed in, her hair slightly disheveled, leaving everyone momentarily stunned.

 Chapter 87

    "Ely."

    Amara didn''t look at anyone else; she went straight to Elysia''s side and whispered, "Don''t waste time with them. Let''s go."

    She wanted to get Elysia out of there. Finnian blocked her path, his brow slightly furrowed. "Why are you here too?"

    It made sense that Elysia, with her connections, would know where they were, but Amara''s presence was unexpected.

    "She told me," Amara replied as she cast a frosty nce at Liliana, who stood behind Finnian.

    Finnian turned around. "You sent her a message?"

    "Sure did."

    Liliana flicked her hair back, her demeanor bothnguid and alluring.

    "Ms. Sullivan''s friend is here, but I noticed she seemed toe without informing her, so I figured I''d give her a heads-up. I meant no harm, just thought Ms. Sullivan should know."

    Finnian didn''t respond, some beams of the room''s dim light resting on his hair, which only made his eyes appear darker, concealing any emotion.

    Amara didn''t want a confrontation. Minutes ago, when Liliana texted her, she had been out shopping and hurried over in a rush. She hadn''t expected to find not only Finnian but also Dorian and Jessica there.

    She knew all too well how much influence Dorian had over Elysia; seeing them together would surely upset her. Amara just wanted to take Elysia away.

    She held Elysia''s hand, intent on leaving. But this time, it was Dorian who blocked her path.

    "Amara."

    Dorian''s voice was cold, his gaze filled with irritation. He never liked Amara, and now she was stirring up trouble again, which only added to his annoyance.

    "Your marriage to Finn is just a

    business deal. Why do you care who

    Finn has a child with? Are you

    harboring some delusions about et

    Finn? If so," he remarked, his eyes glinting with mockery, "you''re overestimating yourself and, frankly, it''s pathetic."

    Amara''s mind went nk at his words, her irritation spiraling. Did Dorian just call her pathetic and delusional?

    Jessica chimed in, taking the

    opportunity to jab further, "Yeah, Ms. Sullivan, maybe there''s something wrong with your face? If that''s the case, you and Mr. Everly don''t match at af Someone like Ms. Porter is a much better fit for him."

    Their unrelenting jabs filled Amara''s chest with rage, yet she found herself at a loss for words.

    They all seemed to think she was clinging to Finnian, but she had already handed Finnian a statement promising to keep her distance. What did they expect her to do, produce the document and prove she wasn''t trying to seduce him?

    No, that would be too humiliating. Amara bit her lip, frustrated by her own powerlessness.

    Just then, Finnian spoke. His handsome face was set in a cool, hard mask as he said firmly, "Amara''s not like that. Don''t misunderstand her."

    His words left Liliana, Dorian, and the others momentarily speechless.

    Finnian was not one to meddle in others'' affairs. If he spoke up, it meant he cared about the person or the situation, so did he care about Amara?

    That seemed impossible. Why would any man, in his right mind, care about someone grotesque like Amara?

    Dorian couldn''t grasp the situation, merely bewildered, while Liliana''s internal rms were ring. This wasn''t the first time Finnian had shown concern for Amara-she''d lost count of how many times it had happened. What was she supposed todo about it?

 Chapter 88

    Liliana''s gaze flickered maliciously for a moment before she made up her mind.

    She couldn''t take it any longer! Leaning in close to Finnian, she whispered, "Finn, I don''t want you to defend Amara anymore. Can you do that for me?"

    Then she added, "You''ve been acting strange around Amarately."

    Her words hit Finnian like a bolt of lightning.

    He knew he''d been behaving differently around Amara. He had tried to convince himself it was just his imagination, but if even Liliana noticed, did he harbor something else towards Amara? No way!

    Liliana''s soft hand grasped his wrist, and she moved even closer. Her voice was gentle. "Finn, I never wanted to bring this up, but I just can''t hold back anymore.

    You''ve been giving Amara special attention recently, and it scares me. I''m worried about our life changing, and I don''t want our baby to suffer. Can you promise that you won''t let that happen for the sake of me and the baby?"

    Finnian''s body slightly tensed, his eyes dark with an emotional storm.

    His rtionship with Amara was purely transactional, just business. There shouldn''t be any emotions orplications, and Liliana was right to ask for this.

    Things had been chaotictely, and he''d let himself get swept up in it. It was time to rein it in. Finnian closed his eyes shortly, repeating Liliana''s words to himself over and over, forcing them into his mind.

    A few secondster, he finally looked up, his eyes turning cold and indifferent, as if nothing mattered anymore.

    It was a subtle change, but Finnian had a way of drawing attention wherever he went. His presence wasmanding, and everyone noticed the shift.

    Liliana gently curled her lips upward, wrapping her arm around Finnian''s and resting her head on his shoulder, casting a victorious nce at Amara.

    Amara''s eyes widened, trembling as she watched the scene.

    Even though Finnian and Liliana had never hidden their rtionship, it was the first time Liliana had openly challenged her like this. It felt like being plunged into icy water leaving her cold to the bone.

    "Ms. Sullivan, Ms. Moon," Liliana moved her rosy lips.

    "I''m carrying Finn''s child. Whether we

    make this public or not is our

    decision, and it''s not for anyone else to judge. I hope you both recognize that."

    Finnian didn''t contradict her. He remained silent and let Liliana lean against him, his expression detached. Though he said nothing, Amara felt as if he had suddenly be unreachable, as if he existed in a different world entirely.

    This realization chilled Amara to the core. She wasn''t sure if it was sadness or something else, but she felt numb with cold, almost disturbingly so.

    Amara squeezed Elysia''s hand, and Elysia immediately sensed her trembling. "Ama, do you feel unwell?" she asked softly.

    "I''m fine. Let''s just go."

    The two of them left the room, and this time, no one stopped them. Once outside, they climbed into Elysia''s

    car.

    Elysia quickly took off Amara''s

    mask, revealing how pale she had be, her lips almost colorless. Elysia''s anger towards Finnian and the others red up again

    "Those people are all jerks! No wonder they hang out together; not one of them is decent!"

    Amara closed her eyes, resting against Elysia''s shoulder.

    "Yeah, they''re all terrible."

 Chapter 89

    Amara felt utterly drained, like she was frozen to the spot, and it was the worst feeling in the world.

    Elysia knew she was having a hard time, and seeing Dorian and Jessica together earlier had hit her hard too. Wrapping an arm around Amara''s shoulder, they both tried to steady each other''s emotions.

    After a long pause, Amara lifted her head and blurted out somethingpletely unexpected, "Ely, I''ve made up my mind. I''m keeping this baby."

    Elysia was taken aback for a moment before responding, "Keep it, by all means. These days, they say it''s better to focus on the kid, they''re what truly matters."

    Amara nodded. "Yeah, the kid is what matters. It''s all the family I have now."

    Technically, she still had Larry and Elowen as blood rtives, but she thought of them as worse than beasts. The idea that they shared the same blood made her sick.

    Tonight, she''d tasted despair because of Finnian.

    She had no clue what Liliana had whispered to Finnian, but she could recall Finnian initially trying to stand up for her when the conflict erupted. Then, after Liliana had whispered something, everything changed.

    At that moment, Amara realized that if something wasn''t truly hers, she couldn''t rely on it. From then on, she resolved to have no expectations from Finnian and to stop believing in love. She''d focus on raising her child. When she got home, Amara tidied up a bit, and then got a good night''s sleep. The next day, she dove back into her work with renewed vigor.

    After deciding to let go of Finnian, she felt refreshed. The nagging thoughts vanished, allowing her to live and work better.

    During this period, she still ran into Finnian asionally, sometimes on set, sometimes at the Everly family house.

    Since that night, Finnian had turnedpletely cold towards her, likely due to whatever Liliana had said.

    Finnian no longer initiated conversations, and Amara didn''t greet him either. Their rtionship had reverted back to the distant familiarity from when they first got married three years ago.

    Amara thought this was for the best. She needed to quickly move on from her feelings for Finnian and focus on creating a good life for her and the baby.

    Meanwhile, there was no news from

    Larry''s side. However, Amara remained hopeful. She knew Elowen was all about petty tricks, incapable of pulling off anything significant.

    Fiona was smart, but with Elowen as her partner in crime, she couldn''t im the entire inheritance. Rumor had it she was so stressed she''d developed cold sores.

    Amara didn''t waste any energy on those matters. That morning, after revising the script in the break room, she checked her calendar. Only eight days left until the cooling-off period for her divorce with Finnian ended. Soon, they would officially be divorced.

    Amara couldn''t quite describe how she felt. It wasn''t possible not to feel any sadness, but amidst the heartache, there was also a sense of relief.

    Until the divorce was finalized, she was still a part of the Everly family, and their affairs required her participation.

    That day was Peter''s birthday party. Considering Kevin''s age and his dislike for big events, the party was held at the Everly family''s estate.

    Peter didn''t invite too many people, just close family members, making it more of a family gathering.

    Since the incident at the bar, Amara and Finnian hadn''t been in touch. She received a direct invitation from Kevin and drove to the Everly family home.

 Chapter 90

    The Everly family estate was sprawling, yet it often felt deserted with only Kevin residing there. But today, as Amara stepped inside, the house was alive with chatter andughter.

    In the foyer, Amara changed her shoes and headed in with a gift in hand. Spotting Peter and Bess, she handed them her present and offered birthday wishes to Peter.

    Peter and Bess had always been a bit snobby, looking down on Amara in the past. Perhaps Kevin had a word with them, because their attitude towards her had noticeably softened sincest meeting.

    They started showing respect to Amara. Though their eyes still carried a hint of disdain, they were careful to keep it under wraps now.

    Martin and Andrea, on the other hand, were genuinely kind-hearted. Both doctors, they stayed out of the family business matters, though Martin held a four percent stake in the Everly Group, ensuring afortable lifestyle from his annual dividends.

    Amara''s smile was all the more genuine when she greeted Martin and Andrea. She handed them a gift too, which they epted with warmpliments. ¡°Ama, you''re such a thoughtful girl. I heard you''re starting a new TV series?"

    "Yes, we''re in the middle of filming now."

    ¡°Look at that, your career is really taking off. You''re destined for great things."

    ¡°Indeed, you''ve already got a few acimed works under your belt at such a young age. While the family has always been business-oriented, having a sessful screenwriter among us is a real honor."

    Martin and Andrea knew how toy on the charm, and though Amara recognized the ttery for what it was, she enjoyed the praise nheless.

    But then Celeste, their daughter, sauntered over with a mocking tone. "What Everly family member? She''s about to be shown the door. She''s not really one of us."

    Amara''s smile faded at once. Martin and Andrea were visibly upset, reprimanding, ¡°Celeste, what nonsense are you spouting! Apologize now!"

    Celeste, twenty and still in college, had a delicate, if not striking, beauty. She often dressed like a little princess, her personality matching her style.

    Upon hearing that, she mumbled defiantly, "Why should I apologize? I''m not going that. Am I not stating facts? She and Finnian are nearly divorced, and look, she cam@alone today. Oh, wait."

    Celeste paused, covering her mouth and feigning surprise with a theatricalugh.

    "I almost forgot. She always attends these gatherings alone. Finnian doesn''t even acknowledge her."

    Her exaggerated tone made Martin

    and Andrea Want tosh out, but beingposed people, they couldn''t bring themselves to

    discipline her publicly. They sai

    sternly, "Is this what you''ve learned in college? How can you be so rude? Apologize to Amara, now!

    Celeste just scoffed, arm crossed before the chest, turning her gaze out the window, clearly uninterested in apologizing.

    Watching this, Martin and Andrea

    were visibly upset with their lips shivering. Busy careers had kept

    them from raising Celeste closelyt

    leaving her in Peter''s care for a couple of years. She grew up with Hogan, the two shared many traits, and by the time Martin and Andrea realized, it was toote for them to change her ways.

 Chapter 91

    Amara had heard the rumors before. In the past, she might have sighed and thought it a shame about Celeste. But now, she wasn''t as concerned with the fate or feelings of others. She had her own priorities.

    So when Celesteshed out at her with biting sarcasm, Amara calmly retorted, "Even if your brother and I are heading for a divorce, I''m still your sister-inw for now.

    Is this how you treat family? Where''s your manners and respect? Did you leave them somewhere along the way, or did you never have them?"

    Amara''s gaze was icy. If it weren''t for Martin and Andrea standing nearby, and the fact that they had always been kind to her, she might have been even harsher.

    But even at this level, Celeste couldn''t take it. Her eyes widened in indignation. "Amara, what did you just say? Are you implying I wasn''t raised properly?"

    "Let''s not me your upbringing. Your family''s education was fine. Maybe you just couldn''t grasp it."

    Amara rebuked her in subtle manners instead of exploiting directness, surmising that Celeste was smart enough to catch the hidden insult.

    Sure enough, Celeste realized it and raved, "Who do you think you are to judge me? Do you think you''re perfect? Let me tell you..."

    "Mr. Everly is here, Mr. Everly is here, we can start the dinner!"

    At the moment, the front door swung open, and Finnian, ever the impasiveness, dressed in dark suit, stepped

    in, handing a gift to the waiting butler, who took it over and eagerly announced his arrival.

    Though young, Finnian was the de facto leader of the Everly Group. While Kevin still held the title of chairman, Finnian''s shareholding was now greater, giving him more influence.

    Whenever Finnian appeared, he became the focal point of the Everly family. As he entered, Martin, Andrea, and the others flocked to him, showering him with greetings and inquiries, leaving Celeste in the dust.

    Seeing Amara standing alone on the sidelines, Celeste smirked, ready to hurl a taunt. But before she even got started, Amara, fully aware of Celeste''s intentions, ignored her and walked away, leaving Celeste fuming.

    Pausing at the dining room

    entrance, Amara nced back at the living room scene. The Everly n hovered around Finnian, while she his supposed closest rtion, stood apart. Though no words were exchanged, a lot of mocking nces were cast her way.

    Amara was indifferent to the state of her marriage with Finnian but had no desire to be the target of such scrutiny. She turned and entered the dining room.

    After a while, Finnian seemed to

    finish his conversations and led the group into the room. The Everly family''s dining table was long enough to seat twenty, though only a dozen or so were present today, making it more than sufficient.

    In such a family, seating arrangements were dictated by hierarchy. With Finnian seated to the right of the head position, Amara followed and took her ce beside him.

    Finnian wore a gray suit over a ck shirt. As he sat down, he removed his jacket, handing it to a nearby staff member. Throughout this, he didn''t nce at Amara once, and she sat quietly, staring ahead without a word.

 Chapter 92

    Amara sat quietly, giving the impression that she was minding her own business, but in reality, she was keeping a close eye on Finnian from the corner of her eye.

    She noticed ever since that incident at the club, things between her and Finnian had shifted significantly.

    In three years of marriage, they had only seen each other twice. Ironically, their rtionship took a turn for the better once they decided to divorce.

    Before, they hardly met and knew little about each other. But as they grew more familiar, they even shared some intimate moments, and it naturally brought them closer.

    However, despite their rtionship improving, after the club incident, Finnian seemed to have had an epiphany, suddenly bing distant once more.

    Now, they were back to the state of their three-year marriage, where neither spoke to the other.

    To be precise, during those three years, it was Amara who always reached out to Finnian-cooking for him, thinking about him constantly¡ªwhile Finnian remained indifferent.

    Now, with Finnian''s cold demeanor and her own disillusionment, things had hit a dead end. Here they were, a married couple sitting silently together, attracting curious nces from others around them, either covertly or tantly.

    Finally, Finnian nced at Amara. She wasn''t sure why he looked at her; it was just a fleeting nce, though. Not long after, Finnian took another look at her, emotionless, leaving Amara puzzled about his intentions. ¡°Hey Finnian, why aren''t you talking to your wife?¡±

    The gleeful voice belonged to Celeste, who was clearly enjoying herself.

    "You''ve been sitting here for ten minutes without saying a word to her," Celeste chuckled, covering her mouth. "She might get upset, you know."

    Though Celeste''s voice wasn''t loud, there were only about a dozen people at the table, so everyone heard her.

    All eyes turned instantly towards Amara, and she felt a mix of embarrassment and irritation; luckily, her mask kept those emotions at bay.

    Finnian shot Celeste a cold look. "What''s your point?"

    Finnian could be intimidating when angry, and Celeste immediately straightened up, replying, "Nothing, I was just asking. I just thought it might make her sad if you ignore her"

    "Being able to see sadness on someone wearing a mask? That''s impressive."

    Amara''s voice cut through, cold and clear, interrupting Celeste.

    Amara then nced at Celeste. "Or maybe you didn''t see any emotion at all and just imagined it. So, Celeste,

    which is it? Are you that perceptive, or are you just talking nonsense?"

    Initially, Amara was furious at Celeste''s taunt. But she quickly calmed herself, reminding herself not to get angry.

    She was leaving the Everly family soon anyway; she didn''t need to protect their dignity or maintain good rtions. She could speak her mind freely. So she did.

    Celeste''s expression turned sour. Over the past three years, she had taken countless jabs at Amara, who had always remained silent, encouraging Celeste to go further each time.

    ve

    But today, whether Finnian was present or not, Amara had shot back directly, her tone sharp and assertive, like apletely different person. What had changed?

    "Lost for words?"

 Chapter 93

    Celeste was silent, but Amara wasn''t going to let her off the hook that easily. She kept on, her voice chilly, "If you can''t say something nice, it''s better you don''t say anything at all.

    Talking like that might fly in your own home where everyone''s wrapped around your finger, but in the real world, someone might just knock you down a peg."

    Celeste''s face turned a deeper shade of red, and Martin and Andrea didn''t look too pleased either. But Amara was past caring about their feelings.

    After all, Celeste was their kid. Sure, they might have been too busy with work to keep an eye on her, and now they felt frustrated with a daughter like her. But did that mean Amara had to take Celeste''s insults lying down?

    "Martin, Andrea, I know my words are harsh, and they might have offended you. But I can''t just sit back and let Celeste take digs at me without defending myself. I hope you understand."

    Back in the day, when Amara was being picked on by Celeste, Hogan, and Peter, the rest of their family either joined in or watched with a judgmental smirk as if she deserved it.

    But now that Amara was standing up for herself, folks were actually siding with her.

    "Yeah, Celeste''sments were out of line. She''s a grown woman; she should know better," said Cora, Finnian''s aunt.

    "Ama''s right. Celeste''s attitude won''t get her far outside the family. The world won''t coddle her, and picking on Ama was way out of bounds," Debby, their other aunt, chimed in.

    Amara watched it all unfold with a cool detachment, realizing that self-respect was key. When people respected themselves, others would respect them too.

    In the past, she''d been too scared to fight back, and no one came to her defense. But now that she was standing her ground, people were more willing to back her up.

    While Amara was observing the show, Finnian sized her up and suddenly asked, "Celeste was giving you trouble earlier?"

    "Yeah," Amara nodded. "Her words were pretty harsh."

    Finnian knew all too well the kind of people his cousins were. He nced over at Celeste, his eyes devoid of emotion, but somehow, they sent a chill down her spine.

    Celeste clenched her fists so tightly, she was about to burst with anger. She couldn''t believe that Amara had the nerve to stand up to her today, and even more so that others were backing Amara up.

    What stung the most was that Finnian wasn''t taking her side. He wasn''t outright supporting Amara, but he wasn''t defending Celeste either, leaving her feeling utterly baffled.

    Seeing Celeste like this, Martin and Andrea were caught between anger, helplessness, and embarrassment.

    "Don''t be upset, Ama," Martin finally

    said before musing it over momentarily. "Celeste has been really out of line. Who would''ve thought she''d be impolite at her age? She really needs a wake-up caff."

    "Yeah, she''s been acting up. We''ll make sure to set her straight when we get home. Please, don''t take her words to heart," Andrea added.

    Amara nodded, leaving it unclear if she truly believed them or not, but she seemed willing to drop the matter for now, giving Martin and Andrea a sigh of relief.

    Meanwhile, Peter and Bess had been watching the whole scene unfold like it was their favorite drama fo them, watching the two families bicker was pure entertainment, the more heated, the better.

 Chapter 94

    As Lisa guided Kevin into the dining room, the chatter abruptly ceased. Everyone rose to their feet, a bit flustered, eager to wee Kevin to his seat at the head of the table.

    Kevin''s eyesnded on Amara, and he greeted her warmly, "Ama, when did you get here? Why didn''t youe upstairs to see me?"

    Jealous nces flitted around the room as Kevin''s attention singled out Amara.

    Unfazed, Amara responded calmly, "I just arrived. I asked the butler about you as soon as I came in. I thought ofing up, but he mentioned you were having a bath, so I decided not to disturb you."

    "Ah, I see. Thoughtful as always, Ama."

    Finnian sat between Kevin and Amara, but Kevin seemed to overlook him, reaching across to sp Amara''s hand as if she were his true grandchild, while Finnian was merely an inw.

    Observing this, the rest of the family couldn''t help but have their own little thoughts.

    Finnian, however, seemed unbothered by the interaction, recliningfortably against the chair. His handsome face was a mask of indifference, showing little regard for either Amara or anyone other than Kevin.

    Kevin withdrew his hand, scanning the room again and asked, "Aren''t we missing someone? Where''s Hogan? Isn''t he here yet?"

    Peter felt a pang of unease and hurriedly stood up. "Dad, Hogan''s gone AWOL. We''ve tried calling him, but he''s not picking up. Let me try again."

    Among the Everly grandchildren,

    Kevin''s favoritism towards Finnian was obvious; the others were

    treated equally, albeit less

    vel

    affectionately. Understandably the rest were all mediocre, leaving them undesirable.

    Peter and Bess had hoped Hogan might stand out, if not over Finnian, then at least above the other grandchildren.

    But on such an important day as their father''s birthday, Hogan hadn''t shown up; what would Kevin think of it? Peter and Bess were visibly anxious.

    As Peter stepped out to call Hogan, Amara couldn''t help but think that it wouldn''t be the worst thing if Hogan stayed away. In fact, it might be better Historically, Celeste hadn''t been the worst of her bullies that dubious honor belonged to Hogan.

    At the time, Finnian nced at her again, briefly, before looking away without a word. Amara wondered what that nce meant, or if it was even intended for her. Maybe he was looking past her to someone else?

    She didn''t dwell on it, though, as she noticed Petek returning with a sour expression, he dropped his phone onto the table and uttered, "Dad, this is infuriating! That boy is God knows where, not answering his phone. When he gets here, I''m going to give him a piece of my mind!"

    Kevin''s face remained impassive, leaving it unclear whether he was angry or not.

    Peter, feeling a tad guilty, was about to defend Hogan when a voice called out from the outside, "Mr. Hogan Everly''s back, and he''s brought..... Ms. Porter."

    With those words, Hogan strolled into the dining room, wearing a casual suit and a broad smile, as if he''d just won the lottery.

 Chapter 95

    Standing beside him was Liliana, donned in a bright red dress, her face lit up with a broad smile.

    She greeted, a smile on her face, "Hey everyone, I''m Liliana. So d to be invited here dining with you. Hope we''d have a good time."

    Liliana''s words hung in the air, expecting a response, but none came. A wave of surprise washed over the room as everyone turned their gaze from theposed Liliana to Amara and Finnian, gauging their reactions.

    This wasn''t Liliana''s first visit to the Everly household. She had been Finnian''s first love, and many years ago, she was a familiar face around the Everly estate. After their breakup, Liliana moved abroad, pursuing her career until she returned three years ago, coinciding with Finnian''s wedding.

    In the years that followed, Kevin''s affection for Amara was apparent, but thete Grace never warmed to her. Grace had a penchant for beautiful people and, though Amara was meant to bring joy into the family, she found her unappealing.

    Conversely, Grace had taken a liking to Liliana for reasons unknown, frequently inviting her over for dinner. Kevin, respecting this, would ensure Amara wasn''t around during Liliana''s visits to avoid any awkwardness. Likewise, when Amara was invited, Liliana was not, maintaining a delicate bnce.

    Thus, despite both visiting the Everly home numerous times over the past three years, Amara and Liliana had never crossed paths there until now.

    "What are you doing here?"

    Finnian rose from his chair, his hand resting firmly on the table, his face showing clear displeasure.

    Unfazed by his demeanor, Liliana maintained her smile, charming and pleasant. She was ready to exin the reason of her being here, but Hogan interjected before she could, "Hey, don''t me her. I am the one who invited my sister-inw."

    The term "sister-inw" left everyone in shock once more, but Hogan seemed oblivious, pressing on, "It''s Dad''s birthday. We''re all family now, and I thought it''d be nice to have her join us. We''re all family, right? The more, the merrier."

    His words lingered in the tense silence that followed.

    Even when Amara and Finnian hadn''t officially divorced, Hogan tantly brought the other woman over, iming her as his sister-inw no less; anyone wouldn''t be able to tolerate it.

    Though none particrly favored Amara, witnessing this open disy of disrespect stirred a sense of sympathy for her. Yet Amara, the subject of this unwee attention, remained seated calmly, hero expression unchanged.

    Her hands, however, were clenched tightly in herp, her body taut with barely contained anger. Inside, she was seething.

    In the past, such an incident would have left Amara fuming, unable to eat, andter crying alone at home. But now, Amara had resolved to let go of Finnian. His recent behavior at the club had shown her his true feelings.

    epting that Finnian had no regard for her, Amara no longer harbored any illusions about him. This realization tempered her sorrow, reducing it to a small, manageable knot in her heart.

 Chapter 96

    Although the little knot was still there, as long as no one poked at it, she could barely feel it.

    Amara had calmed down, but the rest of the folks at the Everly family dinner were anything butposed.

    Kevin, in his agitation,pletely forgot about his cane and shot up from his chair, gripping the table as he bellowed, "What are you doing here? Who gave you permission to barge into our house? And you, you little rascal!"

    His eyes shed with fury as he turned to Hogan.

    "Amara is right here, and you dare call some woman of dubious character your sister-inw? You bring her here, in front of your real one, to disgust her? Do you have any conscience left?"

    Kevin''s words were harsh, showing just how furious he was. But he wasn''t just venting; he was also making sure Amara heard him loud and clear.

    Hogan had pulled quite the stunt, and Finnian seemed to be doing nothing about it. If Kevin didn''t publicly denounce Liliana, it would look like the Everly family wasplicit, and Amara''s heart would freeze overpletely.

    Unbeknownst to Kevin, Amara''s heart had already hardened. She watched everything unfold as if it were a y with no connection to her.

    Meanwhile, Liliana, being called a woman of "dubious character", didn''tsh out. Her smile faded slightly, and she looked a bit hurt. Her eyes, filled with unshed tears, were fixed on Finnian.

    Though Hogan had brought her here, she knew Finnian was the real power in the room. She hoped he would step up to defend her.

    "Why are you here?"

    As if sensing Liliana''s gaze, Finnian approached her, his expression callous as he made the question. Kevin''s words had been harsh, and despite himself, Finnian felt a twinge of something. But the fact remained, he and Amara were still married, and Hogan''s actions today were over the line.

    However, Liliana was carrying his child. He couldn''t just turn his back on her. So, he asked the question.

    "Finn, Hogan brought me here," Liliana replied, biting her lip, looking vulnerable.

    "I ran into Hogan earlier today, and we stopped for a coffee and chatted for a bit. Hogan mentioned it was Peter''s birthday and said the family was celebrating. I immediately bought a gift, asking him to give it to Peter.

    Hogan insisted that since I had a gift, he''d buy me a dinner, and he insisted I shoulde to the estate. I

    didn''t feel likeing over, reckoning it''s inappropriate for my status, but..."

    Liliana hesitated, her expression conflicted as if she was torn by continuing with the rest words.

    Hogan stepped up immediately,

    puffing out his chest like a knight in shining armor as he stated

    righteously, "She didn''t want toe, but I insisted! Don''t worry, I''lI

    take full responsibility for Wor"

    swnove!.

    Finnian, she''s carrying your child. She''s been living alone, feeling all sorts of lonely and miserable. If we don''t

    let her be a part of family events, how much more isted will she feel?

    So, I brought her here! She''s part of our family, and it''s only right she joins us in celebrating my father''s birthday!"

    Hogan''s words were full of conviction, and he stood protectively in front of Liliana, as if ready to shield her from any storm of disputes.

    The rest of the Everly family wasn''t sure what to make of Hogan''s motives. Maybe he was just caught up in his own chivalrous fantasy, or maybe there was something else at y, but either way, Peter and Bess were fuming.

 Chapter 97

    Peter wanted to give Hogan a piece of his mind, but his lips trembled with such anger that he couldn''t get the words out.

    "Hogan, what you did was out of line," Finnian said in a cold, measured tone. "I''m not divorced yet."

    Even when Finnian was furious, he never lost control. But his presence was somanding that when he got upset, it felt like the entire room dropped a few degrees, and just a nce from him could be intimidating.

    Hogan took a couple of steps back, disgruntled as he countered, "Why is it out of line? You and Amara had an arranged marriage; she''s not even your real wife."

    Peter and Bess immediately thought, ¡°Uh-oh, this isn''t going to end well."

    Sure, everyone knew it was true. Amara and Finnian weren''t spouses in the traditional sense. But to Kevin, Amara was his granddaughter-inw, and hearing something like that would surely make his blood boil.

    Sure enough, Kevin mmed his hand on the table, his voice rising a few octaves. "You ungrateful brat, how could you say something so heartless?

    Amara and Finnian are properly married¡ªthey have their certificate, they''ve exchanged vows, and had a wedding. How does that not count as being a real couple? Are you brainless or heartless, saying something so outrageous? I think you''recking in both!"

    Kevin had gotten angry plenty of times, but never like this. His face flushed red, and he was trembling with rage, clearly deeply upset.

    Martin and Andrea quickly stood up to support him, whispering words offort, worried that he might pass out from anger.

    Kevin shook them off and pointed at Liliana, snarling, "Get out! The Sullivan family already has a daughter-in-w. Who do you think you are,ing here like you belong? Get lost!"

    It was a blunt dismissal, and Liliana''s face turned crimson, tears welling up in her eyes.

    She reached out, clutching Finnian''s sleeve, looking at him with a vulnerable expression, as if she wanted to say something but didn''t dare to speak.

    While Finnian''s thought was unfathomable as he spotted her movement, Hogan couldn''t stay

    silent any longer. He had het

    Finnian since they were kids,

    thinking he could do no wrong. Hogan''s eyes, Finnian deserved a good woman, and someone ordinary just wouldn''t cut it.

    When Finnian introduced Liliana to the family a few years back, Hogan was thrilled. He thought Liliana was perfect, a good match for Finnian. But when they broke up, Hogan was crestfallen for quite some time.

    Later, when Grace fell seriously ill, the Everly family arranged for Finnian to marry Amara in hopes of giving Grace a final joy.

    Everyone in the Everly family had seen Amara''s unmasked photos. In fact, most of the upper ss had seen them, so even though she usually wore a mask and looked pretty enough with just her eyes showing, people still whispered about her being "ugly".

    Whenever they thought of Amara, it was her scarred face that came to mind.

    The stark difference between Amara and Liliana was too much for Hogan to ept, and he grew to resent Amara. When he saw Liliana again, her beauty and poise only made himment that such a wless woman hadn''t ended up with Finnian.

 Chapter 98

    From that moment on, Liliana''s image in his heart grew even more magnificent.

    "Grandpa!" Hogan pleaded, "The only woman Finnian wants to marry is Liliana. If you treat her this way, how are they supposed to have a good life together?"

    Did this actress really think she could have a good life with Finnian? Kevin had been patient, but now he was about to lose it entirely.

    Leaning heavily on his cane, he shuffled over to Hogan, his voice shaking with fury. "Shut up! As long as I''m alive, this woman will not set foot in our family! If you dare go against me, you might as well kick me out first."

    "Dad, don''t say that! You''re the pir of the Everly family. We can''t do without you. Where would you go?"

    Hearing Kevin talk like this, his children and their spouses couldn''t just stand by. They all rushed to his side to calm him down.

    Seeing everyone rise from the dining table to gather around Kevin, Liliana bit her lip hard. She had expected hurdles today when she came with Hogan, but the biggest one was undoubtedly Mr. Kevin Everly.

    She hadn''t anticipated things would escte to this level.

    To be honest, she thought that since today was Peter''s birthday party, and she was brought by his son Hogan, Mr. Kevin Everly, no matter how displeased, would at least leave his son some dignity and not actually throw her out.

    That way, she could stay, making a good start, and visiting in the future would be easier. In essence, she was gambling today-gambling that Mr. Kevin Everly would ept her.

    But it seemed she had lost that gamble. Mr. Kevin Everly''s rejection was so intense that hepletely disregarded Peter and Hogan''s feelings, determined to drive her away. Where had she miscalcted?

    Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught Amara, who was still seated, and her heart jolted. Of course, how could she have overlooked Amara?

    Mr. Kevin Everly would indeed want to maintain his son and grandson''s dignity, but he also had to protect Amara''s.

    Hogan bringing her here so openly would undoubtedly hurt Amara the most.

    Even if Mr Kevin Everly had tons of reasons to dislike her, with Amara present, he had to show even more reasons, especially since Mr. Kevin Everly''s fondness for Amara was well-known.

    So, she shouldn''t have boldlye here today. For someone usually so astute, how could she have forgotten this?

    Liliana sincerely regretteding. But with things as they were, she pondered how to salvage the situation.

    "Get out now!"

    Despite a couple of his children holding him back, Kevin was unmoved, pointing at Liliana and demanded, "Leave here! We don''t want a woman like you!"

    "If you''re not willing!" he roared as Hogan tried to protest, "Then you can leave with her!"

    Hogan mped his mouth shut,

    fists clenched vehemently, fury

    boiling over. He didn''t know what to

    say. Finnian, too, wore a stern

    expression, stepping forward to

    speak.

    en

    Just then, a figure moved in front of him, blocking his path. It was Amara.

    Since the incident began, Amara had sat quietly, as if the chaos around her was irrelevant. But as things threatened to spiral out of control, she intervened. What was she up to?

    Everyone turned their attention to her.

    "Grandpa," Amara said softly, holding Kevin''s arm. "Don''t be mad. Let Ms. Porter

    sit down and have dinner."

 Chapter 99

    When Amara spoke up, everyone turned to her, their faces a mix of surprise and disbelief. It was like they couldn''t believe their ears.

    Kevin and Finnian nced over at her, as did Liliana and Hogan. Each person''s expression was touched with a hint of astonishment.

    Amara, seemingly unfazed, continued, "Kevin, Ms. Porter is a friend Hogan invited. Today is Peter''s birthday party. Let''s make sure he has a great time.

    Peter''s getting on in years, and we don''t want to ruin his birthday. Besides, Ms. Porter and Hogan have been friends for a while now. Let''s just consider her an extra guest and let her stay for dinner."

    Amara''s voice was gentle and soothing, like a warm spring breeze, calming Kevin''s earlier irritation.

    Once he had calmed down, he reflected on Amara''s words and felt a pang of tenderness for her sensitive nature.

    He took Amara''s hand and sighed, "Ama, why are you always this wonderful?"

    Amara smiled and said softly, "We all want you to be happy. We want Peter and Bess and everyone to be happy too. Let''s all sit down and enjoy dinner, okay?"

    It was clear Amara was trying to cate Kevin and bring a quick end to the tension.

    Amara hadn''t said much, but in this tension-filled room, her words carried weight. Even if brief, her opinion was crucial.

    However, Hogan had boldly brought Liliana into the house and called her "sister- inw", which was like a p in Amara''s face.

    It would have been understandable

    if Amara had thrown a fit, but instead, she epted Liliana with grace. It took a lot of strength to do that, and everyone was impressed by herposure.

    Amara noticed their gazes but wasn''t sure what they were thinking. For her, since she and Finnian were getting divorced, there was no point in making a fuss. She chose to let it go.

    Kevin didn''t explicitly voice his approval, but when Amara gently guided him back to his seat, he didn''t resist. Seeing him settle down in his chair reassured everyone that the situation was under control.

    Amara nced at Liliana and said calmly, "Ms. Porter, please find a seat."

    Liliana was Hogan''s guest, and Amara was just being polite. Where Liliana chose to sit was not Amara''s concern, so she returned to her own seat.

    With that, the storm seemed to pass. Finnian went back to his spot, while Hogan and Liliana took seats at the far end of the table.

    This arrangement meant Finnian and Liliana were far apart, making it impossible for Finnian to look after her.

    Nheless, Hogan ensured Liliana wasn''t left out, attending to her with such attentiveness that even Peter and Bess exchanged disapproving nces.

    Amara ate quietly, asionally exchanging words with Kevin. Otherwise, she remained silent. She noticed Finnian ncing at her a couple of times, which was odd.

    Finnian hadn''t spoken a word to her today, yet he had looked at her many times. Amara didn''t know what was on his mind, but she was gradually moving on from Finnian. She tried her best not to let his actions affect her mood.

 Chapter 100

    The dinner was wrapped up quite harmoniously. Amara personally helped Kevin back to his room before heading to the balcony on the second floor. She opened the window and gazed at the deep blue night sky, letting the night breeze wash over her.

    "Thanks for today."

    Finnian''s voice emerged from behind. Amara turned around to see him with his hands tucked into his pockets, slowly approaching. He gazed down at her, his eyes revealing nothing of his emotions.

    Amara nodded, replying in a calm voice, "It was nothing, really. No need to thank me."

    This was the first time they spoke face-to-face since their encounter at the club. Although they had crossed paths multiple times at the film set and the Everly estate, they had acted like strangers, not even exchanging greetings.

    Talking to him felt a bit awkward for Amara. After speaking, she turned back to the night view, acting indifferent to his presence and silently wishing he would leave soon.

    Finnian didn''t leave right away. He just stared at her gentle profile, recalling how she had been during dinner.

    In front of others, Amara would slightly lift her mask to eat, carefully using her utensils to pick up a small bite of food and slide it under the mask, chewing slowly. Hence, the way she had the meal was expressly steady and quiet.

    Finnian didn''t know why he was thinking about her eating habits, which seemed insignificant. Amara wasn''t particrly important to him, but her actions today had caught him off guard. So, after leaving the dining room, he feltpelled to thank her.

    After expressing his gratitude, Finnian remained silent and stayed by her side, not moving away immediately. The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward. Amara acted nonchnt, but inside she was cringing. Why wasn''t he leaving?

    Silent, Finnian continued to gaze at the top of her head, his gaze deep and unreadable.

    Just then, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor grew nearer. Both turned their heads instinctively to see Liliana approaching.

    She looped her arm through Finnian''s and spoke with a hint of a yful whine, "Finn, where have you been? I couldn''t find you downstairs."

    Then she turned to Amara with a

    smile. "Ms. Sullivan, thank you for et

    steppi

    in for me earlier. I wouldn''t

    have known what to do in such an awkward situation."

    Liliana was a smart woman. She understood that what had happened would linger in everyone''s minds, so she chose not to shy away from it Instead, she mentioned it in a self-deprecating manner, hoping it would downy the incident in others'' eyes.

    Amara nodded. "I didn''t do much, no need to thank me."

    With Liliana now present, Amara saw no point in waiting for Finnian to leave first. She gracefully gave them space, turning to head downstairs.

    As Amara left, Liliana asked casually, "Finn, what were you and Ms. Sullivan talking about?"

    Finnian didn''t answer her question. Instead, he asked, "Why did youe here with Hogan?"

    His tone wasn''t usatory, but his face was devoid of expression, and his demeanor was aloof. This made Liliana a bit uneasy.

    She thought for a moment, and then lowered her head as she replied, "Finn, I know you''re upset. I regretted it as soon as I arrived, but it was toote. Things already have turned out like that. Today, I ran into Hogan outside. He suggested bringing me along to the dinner so I could get to know the Everly family better.

    I know Mr. Kevin Everly doesn''t particrly like me, so I hoped to win him over

    with some well-preparedpliments. But things didn''t go as nned."

 Chapter 101

    As Liliana spoke, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Finnian stared at the top of her head, his expression unreadable.

    Feeling a bit anxious, Liliana tugged at his sleeve. "Finn."

    "I''m not ming you, let''s just put this behind us," Finnian said. "I hope things like today won''t happen again."

    Though his tone was distant, Liliana was relieved he wasn''t harsher, considering the fact that she indeed had been at fault. She nodded. "I got it."

    "Alright, I''m going upstairs for a bit. You find somewhere to chill."

    Finnian headed to Hogan''s room, stopping at the doorway and remarked, "You see what a mess you''ve made today?"

    Hogan, a few inches shorter than Finnian and less imposing, was stubbornly defiant. He hung his head and said, "Finnian, I don''t think I did anything wrong! Liliana is pregnant, and pregnancy is tough enough. She''s been through so much. I was just trying to look out for her, for both of you."

    "We don''t need you to look out for us," Finnian interrupted, his voice icy.

    Stepping forward, he continued, "Stop getting involved in nonsense. Think before you act. You''re not a kid anymore; stop doing anything childish."

    With that, he turned and left, ignoring Hogan''s crestfallen expression.

    "Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Kevin Everly wants to see you. Would youe upstairs, please?"

    Amara was lounging in the living room when Lisa came to deliver the message. She nodded, got up from the couch, and followed Lisa upstairs.

    In Kevin''s room, he clutched Amara''s hand and recounted the grievances she suffered today,menting how Finnian, Liliana, and Hogan had all behaved poorly and whatnot.

    Then, shifting gears, Kevin asked, "Ama, I heard in one week, your divorce is over, right?"

    Amara nodded. "About seven days left."

    He sighed deeply, patting her hand. "Ama, I know Finn hasn''t been good to you these past years. He''s let you down in ways the family can''t make up for. But could you reconsider the divorce?

    Finn is still young and doesn''t realize how wonderful you are. I''ll do my best to teach him what it means to cherish someone. I''m sure he''lle around and be with you wholeheartedly."

    Kevin''s words were earnest, and Amara knew he genuinely meant them. But ever since that night at the club, she''d lost all hope for Finnian. Nothing could sway her.

    "Kevin, I know you care for me deeply, like your own granddaughter. No matter what happens, I''ll always remember your kindness. You always be like my grandpa, and I''ll never forget your care."

    "But," she paused, and then continued, "you don''t owe me anything. You know how my marriage with Finnian began. Over the years, you''ve given me so much. I''m grateful, and you don''t need to feel guilty."

    Upon hearing it, Kevin started to protest, but Amara quickly interjected, "As for Finnian and me, there''s no possibility of us working out. Please, don''t dwell on it."

 Chapter 102

    "Finnian won''t have feelings for me, and ever since our divorce, things have just spiraled out of control. We can''t even be friends, let alone get back together as a couple. There''s no way I can continue with him."

    With that, Amara stood up and nodded towards Kevin. "It''s gettingte. I should head home. You take care and get some rest."

    Ignoring Kevin''s displeased expression, Amara left the room.

    It was already past ten in the evening, definitely time to head home. Amara grabbed her bag, waved a quick goodbye to Peter and Bess, and stepped out of the Everly family home.

    She didn''t own a car before, but since deciding to keep the baby, she''d been thinking a lot about her future. For instance, she''d have to get used to driving herself around. It would be too inconvenient otherwise, especially with a child.

    Therefore, a few days ago, she had Keith apany her to a dealership. After some consideration, she purchased a sedan for a little over thirty thousand.

    Actually, with the earnings from her years as a screenwriter, and the support from the Everly and Finnian, she could have easily bought a few luxury cars. But she wasn''t into cars¡ªshe just needed something practical. So, she chose a simple, reliable vehicle.

    In the underground parking lot, her car stood out among the luxury models. She walked over confidently and opened the door.

    "Is this your car?"

    Footsteps came from behind her. Amara turned to see Finnian and Liliana approaching. Were they leaving too?

    Finnian came up to her, asking, "You can drive?"

    Back then, Amara usually brought lunch for him to the Everly Group building; he had heard she always took taxi, naturally assuming she didn''t know how to drive.

    Amara nodded. "Yup."

    She''d gotten her license right after high school, but didn''t learn much at the driving school. It was Keith who helped her practice until she became proficient.

    However, she was always nervous about driving and rarely took the wheel. Besides a car given to her by Larry, she never owned one, so people not so close to her assumed she couldn''t drive.

    Finnian nced at her car. "Can you handle it on your own?"

    Amara felt speechless. "I drove here by myself."

    Without another word, she got into her car, avoiding further conversation with Finnian.

    She sensed something was off with Liliana''s gaze and to steer clear of drama, she decided not to talk with Finnian.

    A minuteter, Amara''s car smoothly exited the garage. Finnian followed suit, pressing the gas pedal of his Rolls-Royce to keep up.

    Liliana sat in the passenger seat, chattering about the film crew and baby-rted topics. Finnian offered half-hearted replies, distracted.

    Nater, Liliana noticed

    A few minutes

    something was off. This wasn''t the route to her ce, nor to Finnian''s apartment. The car ahead, Amara''s, seemed to asionally appearin the distance, as if they''d been foflowing her all along.

    Liliana bit her lip. "Are we following Ms. Sullivan?"

    Finnian nodded, steering the car left as Amara''s BYD turned down a side street.

    rm bells rang in Liliana''s mind, but she kept herposure, casually asking, "Why are we following her?"

    "I haven''t seen her drive before. Just want to make sure she''s safe," Finnian replied. "If anything happens to her, Grandpa would be worried."

 Chapter 103

    Finnian added another exnation, perhaps to reassure Liliana or maybe for some other reason.

    Hearing his words, Liliana felt her worry fade away.

    Finnian was a man with a strong sense of responsibility. Despite his tendency to sh with Kevin and not always follow his instructions over the years, he genuinely cared about him.

    That''s why he was so concerned about Amara''s safety. Everyone knew how much Kevin doted on her.

    At that moment, Finnian was still tailing the ck car in front of him, his brow furrowing as he realized Amara wasn''t heading home but taking a back road instead.

    He had been down that road before; it led straight to the recreational area, with little else but barrennd around.

    Surely, Amara wasn''t heading to the wastnd at this hour. Was she going to the recreational area? Finnian''s gaze darkened. He pressed the gas pedal, keeping close to Amara''s car as it sped away.

    When Amara left the Everly household, it was already nearing 10:30 PM. Exhausted from a long day, she was eager to get home and rest. But midway, her phone rang with a call from Elysia.

    "Ama, are you busy right now? Can youe here with me, please?"

    Elysia''s voice trembled with tears, and the background noise was chaotic, like a bar or club. Amara''s heart lurched. "What''s wrong? Are you crying?"

    Elysia was tough as nails, the kind who''d make others cry before shedding a tear herself. For her to be upset, something serious must have happened. Amara was immediately concerned.

    "Yeah." Elysia''s voice was fragile. "Ama, I''m so miserable, I can''t take it anymore."

    Without hesitation, Amara said, "Send me your location. I''m on my way."

    Soon enough, Amara received Elysia''s location¡ªa bar in the recreational area. She punched it into her GPS and drove straight there.

    Inside the dimly lit bar, Amara weaved through the dancing crowd and spotted Elysia slumped over a side booth. Elysia was surrounded by a small army of empty bottles, and she was still trying to drink from another.

    Amara hurried over, snatching the bottle from her hand, her eyebrows furrowed. "What are you doing drinking so much? Are you trying to kill yourself?"

    "Exactly, might as well-being dead would be a relief right now."

    Elysia was thoroughly intoxicated, her cheeks flushed, and she looked utterly heartbroken. She sat up, wrapping her arms around Amara''s waist, tears streaming down her face.

    Seeing her like this made Amara both angry and sympathetic. Just as she was about to lecture Elysia, her friend blurted out, "I went over to Dorian''s ce tonight with dinner, hoping to eat with him, and guess what I found?

    That tramp Jessica was there, wearing a skimpy nightgown with no bra underneath, everything just fricking out there! I mean, seriously."

    Elysia let loose a string of curses, venting her fury at both Dorian and Jessica, before copsing into tears against Amara.

    Amara sighed, asking, "With everything that''s happened, do you still want to be with him?"

    Elysia looked up, bewildered. "I don''t know, Ama. I really don''t know."

    Amara hugged Elysia''s shoulders, wanting to suggest breaking things off with Dorian.

    But she had said that before, and Elysia clearly wasn''t ready to let go. If she was, her decisive personality would have ended things with Doriama hundred times over by now. Amara found herself at a loss for

    words.  of Low.

 Chapter 104

    "Hey there, why''s a prettydy like you crying? Wannae dance with us?"

    A flirtatious voice came from above. Amara looked up to see a group of young men in their early twenties with hair dyed in a rainbow of colors, each looking like they were trying too hard to be bad boys. Their greasy gaze was fixed on Elysia, practically dripping with sleaze.

    Amara sprang to her feet and ced herself protectively in front of Elysia. She stated, "We''re not interested in dancing. Please, leave us alone."

    The guys had only seen Elysia''s profile before Amara turned around. In this chaotic bar scene that seemed like something out of a wild night in the city, they were thrilled to find someone as striking as Elysia. But when Amara stepped into view, they were momentarily taken aback.

    She wore a mask that only highlighted her fierce, expressive dewy eyes, reminiscent of an angry kitten, yet undeniably captivating. And most of all, her figure was something else entirely - tall and perfectly proportioned, enough to make anyone excited at just a glimpse.

    The group took a step closer, and the leader, a guy with bright blond hair, said, "Hey gorgeous, your pretty friend looks upset. Why don''t you bothe dance with us? Our skills are all great, we promise to make you satisfied. You won''t cry then."

    His words were followed by a chorus of lewdughter from his young crew, clearly imagining something far less innocent. Amara felt a wave of disgust.

    Eager to take Elysia away, she leaned down, sping Elysia''s shoulders. "Ely, can you still walk?"

    "Well, trying to leave with your friend, huh? Not so fast, darling. Let me take you two," the blond-haired guy said, reaching out to ce a hand on Amara''s shoulder, reeking of cigarettes, cheap cologne, and whiskey. The smell was enough to make Amara gag.

    She pped his hand away with a sharp crack, her voice cold as ice. "Don''t touch me."

    Back then, Amara had abode by the protocol of stirring up as less trouble as possible, butter on, realized that resignation led to further advances. Might as well stand her ground to begin with, given the fact that most bullies were cowards at heart.

    The blond paused for a moment, but then his eyes gleamed with a nasty light. "Wow, not just hot, but a feisty one, huh? I like my girl spicy - the hotter, the better."

    Amara understood the gist of his sleazyment, but Elysia caught the underlying meaning.

    She had been nursing a pain stomach full of seven or eight beer and vodka shots with her arms and head on the table, suppressing the nausea.

    As she heard the words the thug spoke with to Amara, she couldn''t tolerate it; summoning what strength she had left, Elysia stood up and smashed a beer bottle over the blond''s head.

    "Spicy, huh? Do you know how to speak properly? How about I rip your tongue

    out and chop off the rest of you to feed the strays!"

    The bottle shattered with a loud crash, leaving the blond in stunned silence As the initial shock wore off, he reached up to touch his head, his handing away slick with blood.

    His eyes widened in fury as he realized what had just happened. He snarled, "What the hell? You dare to hit me? Crazy bitch, I''m going to end you right now!"

 Chapter 105

    The blond lunged forward, ready to throw a punch at Elysia''s face.

    Amara, always prepared for trouble, quickly slipped off her shoe and wielded its pointed heel like a weapon, jabbing it into the blond''s side.

    A sharp cry of pain echoed, the exact target unknown, but The blond clutched his stomach and doubled over, beads of sweat forming on his forehead from the agony.

    Amara was shaking all over, a mix of rage and fear coursing through her body.

    She stood firm, shielding Elysia behind her, clutching the pointed shoe, her body cold with adrenaline.

    The group of young men with hair dyed in a kaleidoscope of colors clustered around the blond, calling out to him. Seeing the blond unable to stand upright, they turned their gaze to Amara with menacing intent.

    Rolling up their sleeves, they then approached Amara, jeering, "Fiery little thing, aren''t ya? Think you can just hit people? Time to teach you a lesson."

    Theirmotion had drawn a crowd of onlookers. The bartender, unfazed by bar brawls, calmly pulled out his phone to call the police.

    Though Amara had experienced the ordeal of getting her face disfigured, being cornered by a group of men was something she''d never faced, leaving her somewhat panicked.

    These street punks had nothing to lose, and even if she invoked Larry''s name to scare them, it might not work-they probably wouldn''t believe her anyway. What was she supposed to do?

    Just then, a figure appeared beside the group. He grabbed the neck of the one with green hair closest to Amara and growled, "Scram!"

    Incredibly, he lifted the guy, who easily weighed over 200 pounds, with one hand and tossed him against a nearby table with a loud crash.

    The noise was so startling that everyone around gasped and instinctively turned to watch. The group of punks halted, staring in disbelief at the man who had appeared out of nowhere.

    Dressed in ck from head to toe, he seemed to blend into the dimly lit bar, yet his imposing presence was impossible to ignore. It was as if his aura demanded attention, overshadowing even his strikingly handsome features.

    He stood there, glowering at the punks, who now shrank back, too intimidated to

    advance. Looking away, he strode over to Amara.

    "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice chilly as he nced at Amara.

    Amara looked up at Finnian, her eyes wide, still processing what had just

    happened. She gave a nod. "I''m fine, thank you for stepping in."

    After that, she wanted to ask why he was here, but then noticed Liliana standing nearby and kept silent.

    Was Finnian just here at the bar with Liliana and happened to help because he saw them in trouble? Probably.

    As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Finnian watched her closely.

    Amara had seemed ready to say something, but then she didn''t. What had she wanted to ask? Why had she fallen silent? Wasn''t she curious about his presence here?

    "Finnian, what''re you doing here?" Elysia slurred as she stumbled over, leaning against Amara, ring at him.

    "You, you should leave, take your little vixen and get out of here. Ama doesn''t want to see you."

    Finnian''s expression darkened as he eyed the arm Elysia had wrapped around Amara, choosing to stay silent.

 Chapter 106

    Amara instantly felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. Elysia''s words were rude, considering the fact that Finnian had just saved both of them.

    "Elysia''s had too much to drink. She probably won''t even remember what she said. Please, don''t take it to heart. Thank you so much for earlier. I''ll make sure to properly thank you another day. I should get going now."

    Not wanting to risk Elysia saying anything else that might anger Finnian, Amara quickly helped her friend out of the bar.

    The small group of punks watched her leave with venom, too cowardly to say anything more.

    Meanwhile, Liliana, who had been watching from the sidelines, walked up to Finnian and tugged at the edge of his coat. "Finn, what are you thinking about?"

    "Nothing," Finnian turned and replied, his expression indifferent. "Let''s go."

    As they walked out together, Liliana couldn''t help but feel a twinge of annoyance as she recalled Finnian stepping in to help Amara.

    Ever since that incident at the club, Finnian had been keeping his distance from Amara, but he still felt the need to involve himself in her matters. Just now, he''d even gotten into a fight for her. That infuriating sense of responsibility of his was driving her crazy.

    As Finnian left the bar with a cool expression, he overheard a conversation. "Did you see the fight just now? Who was that girl? Even with the mask, her eyes were stunning."

    "No idea. But she sure is heartless. That incredibly handsome guy fought for her, and she just walked away with her friend. Cold-blooded, if you ask me."

    "Come on, what cold blood? She did thank him."

    "Please! The guy fought for her, and all she did was say thanks and leave. That''s pretty cold."

    Their words, emanating from a young couple, floated into Finnian''s ears, but he simply nced at them and continued on his way out.

    Liliana had heard the exchange, too. Once outside, she remarked nonchntly, "Ms. Sullivan didn''t seem all that grateful. You helped her out so much, and she just left with her friend. That''s not cool."

    Finnian remained expressionless as he opened the car door and got in. He uttered, "It doesn''t matter. I did what I felt was right."

    He fastened his seatbelt, and once Liliana was settled in, he started the car and drove off. The car windows were rolled down, and as Liliana watched him drive, she bit her lip, feeling a twinge of difort.

    Everything that had happened that night seemed innocuous enough, nothing that should have concerned her or let her down. Yet, an uneasy feeling nestled in her heart, which was subtle but real though it wasn''t tangible.

    She checked her phone and did a quick calction. Only seven days remained until Finnian and Amara''s divorce was finalized.

    Seven days wasn''t long, but to Liliana, it felt like a testament to her insufficient tolerance. Eyes flickering, a decision formed in her mind at the moment.

    The next morning, Amara headed to the set bright and early. She had two scenes to oversee that morning, neither particrly critical, so she nned to retreat to her break room and catch up on some reading.

    As she passed by a pond, Liliana intercepted her with a smile. "Ms. Sullivan, I wanted to discuss something with you. Could we tweak the next scene a bit? I was thinking..."

    Liliana shared her idea, and Amara

    listened intently. When Liliana finished, Amara shook her head as she replied, "No, if we change it like you said, it would weaken the emotional impact. We have to keep it as is."

 Chapter 107

    Liliana bit her lip. "But if we stick to the original script, I don''t think my body can handle it."

    She ced a hand on her stomach, dropping the hing, and Amara immediately understood what she meant. Her expression cooled slightly.

    "Ms. Sullivan, your pregnancy is your own matter. If you knew you weren''t in good health and couldn''t handle this role, why did you take it on? This role was something you fought for. We''re all adults here; you should be responsible for your decisions."

    Amara wasn''t unreasonable. The scene Liliana wanted to change didn''t require that much physical exertion; Liliana should be able to manage it. Yet, despite this, Liliana insisted on altering that scene. Amara couldn''t tell if Liliana was just being overly susceptible or if there was another reason.

    As the screenwriter, Amara felt she had to protect the integrity of the script. That particr scene couldn''t be changed.

    "Ms. Sullivan, regardless of the situation, I''ve alreadymitted to this project. But I really can''t take that part, changing it would be beneficial to us."

    Liliana ignored what was important, stepping forward a bit, looking expressly earnest.

    Amara frowned slightly as she replied, "It is what it is. If you really can''t perform the scene, use a stand-in."

    Amara didn''t desire to continue the discussion. She nced at her watch; it was almost 9 PM. She was eager to get to her break room for reading and was about

    to turn away.

    Suddenly, a startled scream broke through the air. Amara whirled

    around to see Liliana, who had been standing safely on the bank,

    suddenly fall into the pond. She

    iled her arms and legs, shouting for help. Each time she opened her mouth, she swallowed more water. Onlookers gasped in shock, rushing to the scene.

    Two people at the front of the crowd jumped into the pond, struggling to pull Liliana out. Drenched, Liliana sat on the grass, disheveled, clutching her chest and gasping for ai her face as pale as a ghost.

    Amara was stunned. What had just happened? She had turned her back for a moment, and then she heard Liliana''s cry. Did Liliana jump in on purpose?

    No one had seen how Liliana ended up in the water, but when they hurried over, Amara was the only one standing by the bank. Cedric asked, "Amara, what happened? How did Liliana end up in the water?"

    "Yeah, she was just talking to you by the bank. How did she suddenly fall in?"

    They questioned Amara rather than the paled Liliana, who looked too faint to

    answer.

    Just as Amara was about to respond with "I have no idea," the crowd let out another gasp. Liliana''s eyes fluttered shut, and she fainted right there on the grass.

    Cedric and others rushed to her side, lifting her up and shouting, "Call an ambnce, quick!"

    Even though Amara was technically Finnian''s wife, everyone knew Liliana was the one who held a special ce in Finnian''s heart. If something

    serious happened to the big shot''s woman and he got angry, it would be disastrous for everyone involved.

    The ambnce arrived swiftly, and Cedric and the others followed it to the hospital. As the "first witness at the scene", Amara also went along.

 Chapter 108

    Liliana was rushed to the emergency room, and after a thorough examination, the doctor said, "Mrs. Porter caught a chill after falling into the water. She''s pregnant, and it''s quite serious. We need to focus on protecting the baby, so please be patient."

    The moment those words came out, everyone''s hearts leapt into their throats.

    Liliana''s situation had escted to the point of needing to protect the pregnancy. If the baby was saved, it would be a relief, but what if they couldn''t?

    That was the Everly family''s child, after all. If something happened to the baby, what would Finnian do to the film crew? No one dared to imagine.

    Amara sat alone on the long bench in the hallway, her hands resting on her knees, her head bowed, and her whole body feeling icy cold.

    She had no idea what had happened, but ever since the words "protect the baby" were mentioned, everyone''s eyes had changed when they looked at her.

    She knew there had been rumors buzzing around about her, Liliana, and Finnian. Amara was Finnian''s official wife, but he hadpletely ignored her, unting his rtionship with Liliana, and now they even had a child together.

    To everyone else, she was just a pathetic andughable abandoned wife.

    Now that something had happened to Liliana, and it was during a conversation with her, people didn''t say it out loud, but Amara knew they suspected she had pushed Liliana into the water.

    Amara closed her eyes shortly, wrapping her arms tightly around her trembling shoulders.

    "Ama, what happened earlier?"

    Cedric approached, gently cing a hand on Amara''s shoulder.

    Cedric was a kind soul, his face full of concern for Amara, a stark contrast to the others who were just there for the spectacle.

    A wave of grievance surged in Amara''s heart, just as she was about to speak, a group of figures rounded the corner of the hallway and walked quickly to the hospital room door.

    Leading the group was Finnian himself. He was dressed in cks and a shirt, his hair slightly disheveled, and his face dark with fury. "What happened?"

    Cedric had called him when they got on the ambnce, and Finnian rushed over, leaving the documents he had been handling in a hurry.

    He nced at the closed hospital room door. "Liliana''s in there?"

    "Yes, they''re still working on protecting the pregnancy. Mr. Everly, please try to stay calm," Cedric responded immediately.

    Finnian cast a nce at Cedric, and then shifted his gaze to Amara, pausing briefly before looking away.

    He asked again what had happened and how Liliana ended up in the

    water, but the people who had gathered exchanged nervous nces, each waiting for the other

    to speak, but no one dared to say a word.

    That was when Liliana''s assistant, Nora, stepped forward, speaking in a low voice, "Liliana was talking to Mrs. Sullivan by the pond at the time. It seemed like Liliana wanted Mrs. Sullivan to make some

    changes to the uing scene. I don''t know how their conversation ended, but when I looked, Liliana was already in the water, and Mrs. Sullivan was standing on the bank."

    Nora was an exceptionally honest girl, and what she said wasn''t wrong. From her perspective, that was exactly how it had happened, but saying it like that seemed too pointed.

    Everyone turned to look at Amara, including Finnian himself. Finnian''s eyes revealed no emotion, but he was clearly not pleased.

    Cedric nced between the estranged couple, nudging Amara with his elbow, and whispered, "Ama, you should exin about it, what happened back there?"

    Cedricpletely trusted Amara, but now with everyone casting suspicious nces her way, she

    seemed Overwhelmed, silent andet

    brooding. It was easy for people to jump to conclusions, so Cedric decided to give her a little nudge.

 Chapter 109

    Amara, her face pale, looked up and said, "I had just joined the production, nning to read a book in the break room when Liliana stopped me in my tracks. She wanted me to tweak the scene for the next shoot. I refused and turned to leave. I hadn''t taken more than a couple of steps before I heard a cry. I turned around to see Liliana iling in the pond, sshing around wildly until someone went in to rescue her. And that''s exactly how it went down."

    Amara recounted the incident just as it had happened. She wasn''t sure if anyone believed her, but she knew she had a clear conscience.

    She felt an intense gaze boring down on her from above - it was Finnian, but she avoided making eye contact with him.

    Just then, a nurse pushed open the door to the hospital room and stepped out, pulling down her mask. "The process was sessful, and Ms. Porter''s baby is okay. However, she needs to rest more during this period. We advise taking a week off work to stay in bed."

    Hearing this, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, asking, "Has Liliana woken up?"

    "Can we go in and see her?"

    "Ms. Porter is conscious now. You can visit her, but keep it under ten minutes."

    The nurse left, and Finnian was the first to enter the room, followed quickly by Cedric and the others. Amara stood up but didn''t go in right away.

    Now that her mind was clearing up, she reyed the day''s events in her head, feeling utterly bizarre. She was sure she hadn''t even touched Liliana; Liliana must have jumped into the pond on her own. But why? To frame her? That didn''t make any sense she had no motive.

    If Finnian refused to divorce her and continued ignoring Liliana, it would make sense for Liliana to try and frame her. But Finnian was entirely on Liliana''s side now, and their divorce cooling-off period was almost over. Liliana should be reveling in both career and love. Why would she do such a thing?

    Besides, by jumping into the pond, the one most at risk was her unborn child. Why would she endanger her own baby? Surely she wouldn''t jump in just because Amara wouldn'' change the script for her. That was absurd.

    Determined to get to the bottom of this, Amara nced at the hospital room and followed the others inside.

    "Finn, you''re here."

    Liliana reached out her pale hand, clutching frail

    Es

    she continued, "I was so

    Finnian''s arm, her voice et

    scared, our baby almost..."

    As she spoke, tears welled up and spilled over. She quickly turned her back to wipe them away.

    Finnian stood by the bedside, his expression stern and cold. "What happened that time? Why did you fall into the water?"

    Liliana bit her lip, casting a nce towards Amara, who stood by the door. Everyone followed her gaze to look at Amara.

    "I was talking to Ms. Sullivan," Liliana said weakly asked her to change the script, and she refused. She got angry at my request. So, Ms. livan kept pressing me, and I kept stepping back. I was terrified as I backed away, and before I knew it, I stumbled into the pond."

    When Liliana finished, all eyes were on Amara, as if they were seeing her in a new, darker light.

    Amara was trembling with indignation, but she fought to stayposed. She moved to the bedside and said, "You''re lying!"

 Chapter 110

    "When you asked me to change the script, I refused and walked away. I wasn''t hounding you at all!" Amara was really pissed off.

    She had anticipated that Liliana might outright use her of shoving her into the pond. But to her surprise, Liliana spun a different tale, iming that Amara''s relentless pressure caused her to identally fall into the water.

    Honestly, if Liliana had gone with the first story, Amara knew it would sound ridiculous to some people. After all, pushing a "rival" into the water in broad daylight was a tant act of folly. Amara wasn''t stupid; she wouldn''t have dared do such a thing.

    However, the idea of being pressured and identally falling? That sounded like a usible scenario. So when Liliana presented her version, most of the people at the scene believed her.

    Right now, Amara''s anger was boiling over.

    "Finn, I''m not lying," Liliana insisted, ignoring Amara and instead addressing Finnian.

    "I asked Ms. Sullivan to adjust the script because I''m pregnant and couldn''t handle that scene. Ms. Sullivan got upset, saying it was irresponsible of me to take the role knowing I was expecting. I admit I was wrong. I should have been more considerate before epting the role. I''vee to terms with that. But leaving that aside, Ms. Sullivan was genuinely mad at me, and she did pressure me. Her gaze really horrified me, so I backed away, forgetting the pond was right behind me."

    Her demeanor vulnerable, tears welled up as she spoke. As Amara was ready to counter, Liliana quickly added, "Why would I lie about this? Falling into the water hurt me and my baby the most. I treasure my child. Why would I willingly jump into a pond?"

    Liliana''s point was hard to argue against. She had no obvious motive to throw herself into the water, so her narrative about Amara''s aggressive actions seemed more credible.

    Amara clenched her fists, seething with fury, veins throbbing at her temples. She had half a mind to toss Liliana back into the pond herself.

    Finnian''s eyes were filled with shadows as he looked at her. "Do you have anything else to say?"

    Was that an usation in his voice? A mix of anger and injustice surged through Amara. Gritting her teeth, she replied, "No more, I''ve said all I wanted to say."

    With that, she turned her back on them, a clear sign that she denied Liliana''s words and stood by her version of events. This meant that either Amara or Liliana was lying, but who?

    Amara scanned the faces around her, sensing that most sided with Liliana, which only deepened her despair.

    "Finn, Mr. Zade," Liliana spoke up

    again, raising herself slightly, her tone serious. "I have a request. Given the recent series of unfortunate events, all involving Ms. Sullivan, it''s be unbearable. I''m genuinely concerned for my baby''s safety. Therefore, I request we rece Ms. Sullivan as the lead screenwriter with someone who bears me no ill will."

    The room fell silent at her words. Amara whipped around, disbelief etched on her face as she stared at

    Liliana. Had she just heard that right? Did Liliana really want her reced?

 Chapter 111

    "I don''t agree!" she eximed. "Whispers of Winter is a show I created on my own. I deserve to be the head screenwriter. How can you just fire me?"

    Whispers of Winter was the result of a team effort. Amara understood that people like Mr. Zade and the producers had invested a lot more than she had. But it was her brainchild from the start. To her, Whispers of Winter was like her own child. How could they just rece her?

    She couldn''t ept it! Amara had been mad many times in her life, but nothingpared to the fury she felt now.

    Now she understood why Liliana had gone so far as to spread rumors, even risking her own unborn child in the process. She must have been waiting for this moment.

    Once Amara was out of the picture, Liliana wouldn''t have to see her every day on set, and neither would Finnian. That must have been Liliana''s n all along.

    Liliana clutched Finnian''s sleeve, pleading, "Finn, I''m really scared. Could you rece Ms. Sullivan?"

    Finnian''s eyes darkened, his face expressionless. "I''ll think about it," he said.

    Amara''s mind exploded. He actually had to think about it? Did Finnian really want to rece her?

    She red at Finnian intensely, nearly hating him in that moment.

    "Uh, maybe we should step outside. Mr. Everly said he''d consider it, right? So let''s give him some time," Cedric suggested cautiously, trying to lead everyone out. He''d never expected the esction of the incident.

    "Wait! Don''t leave!" Amara addressed through gritted teeth as she stopped Cedric.

    If Cedric and the others left, the narrative would be set. Everyone would remember the incident as her forcing Liliana into water, and no one would speak up for her.

    She blocked the door, pointing at Liliana and stated, "You''re absolutely lying. Why are you doing this to me? Are you afraid I''ll stop Finnian from

    divorcing? That''s ridiculous. Did

    forget Dalready signed a statement? If you don''t trust it, keep it on you and remind me every second. What''s the point of all these schemes?"

    Amara was furious, beyond reason. She knew she should calm down, that shouting wouldn''t help her case. And she had just blurted out things like "stop from divorcing" and ¡°statement¡± that no one else should have heard. She was beyond caring about dignity now.

    Maybe everyone in the crew would soon know about the statement she had with Finnian and the messy triangle with Liliana, turning her into aughingstock.

    But she didn''t care anymore! "Let themugh," she thought. Her reputation was already in shambles; she had nothing left to lose.

    What mattered most now was clearing her name. She refused to be wrongfully used, to carry a burden that wasn''t hers to bear.

    Moreover, she couldn''t leave the show! Whispers of Winter was her creation, and she hadn''t done anything wrong as a screenwriter. Why should she leave?

    She stood firm at the door, her eyes zing with anger as she stared down everyone in the room.

    She was usually so gentle and quiet; it was the first time sheshed out, and it scared everyone.

    "Ama, calm down."

    Cedric was rmed. Despite her still being Finnian''s wife in name, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, trying to soothe her. "We

    can work this out. Don''t be upset, just take a moment to breathe."

 Chapter 112

    "I can''t calm down!"

    Amara had always been someone simple, the kind of person who was easy to be taken advantage of, someone who would yield under pressure. But when pushed too far, she could unleash a surprising amount of energy that would catch everyone off guard.

    Right now, Amara was at that breaking point.

    Liliana looked at her, astounded. She hadn''t expected things to escte this much, and it was a bit beyond what she had anticipated.

    Amara had just mentioned a statement, and while she hadn''t spelled it out, everyone in the cast was savvy enough to piece together what had happened.

    For a moment, the room was filled with curious nces directed at Liliana, whose face flushed with exasperation.

    "Ms. Sullivan, please calm down. Even if you leave the project, you''ll still receive your pay, along with somepensation."

    "You''re not even in charge of the finances, so what are you talking about my pay? You act like you''re running the show. Let''s get one thing straight-screenwriters and directorse first, then the actors!"

    Amara''s words were brutally candid, leaving no room for politeness.

    Most adults wouldn''t speak so bluntly; it was the kind of honesty one''d expect from a child who didn''t know better, leaving others in difort. Usually, Amara had a high emotional intelligence and wouldn''t talk this way. But this time, she had truly reached her limit.

    The room fell silent once more. Liliana clutched the bedsheet tightly, her face turning a deep shade of red. No matter how today ended, she had been mortified enough.

    She was known for being graceful andposed, yet today she was publicly called out, leaving her speechless a couple of times. Unlike her previous crocodile tears, this time she really felt like crying.

    "Finn."

    Liliana reached for Finnian''s shirt, seeking his help. Finnian strode over to Amara, speaking in a low voice, "Let''s step outside for a moment."

    "I''m not going anywhere!"

    Amara rarely lost her temper, but once she did, it was hard to rein her in, just like right now.

    Finnian frowned, ignoring Amara''s protests, and opened the hospital room door, pulling her out into the hallway.

    Amara was stunned, not expecting Finnian to physically intervene. Once in the corridor, she grabbed onto the doorframe, refusing to budge.

    A vein throbbed at Finnian''s temple, and realizing he had no choice, he hoisted Amara over his shoulder and carried her into the stairwell.

    "Calm down. There''s no need to get so worked up," he said, setting her down with a serious expression.

    The stairwell in the hospital was deserted, the quiet so intense you could hear a pin drop. Amara stood by the window, her face flushed with anger, her nails digging into her palms.

    The window was open, and a cool breeze drifted in, chilling her to the bone. This gust of wind dissipated the mes of her anger, and she began to calm down.

    But as the anger faded, sadness rushed in to take its ce, and she covered her face, sobbing quietly.

    Finnian felt at a loss. He had never seen Amara cry, and certainly not like this. He felt his fingers twitching, unsure of what to do.

    "Don''t cry," he finally said after a long

    pause.

    look into what happened.

    If you''re truly not at fault, I''ll make

    sure you''re treated fairly."

    Amara wiped her tears, her reddened eyes glistening like a small, vulnerable bunny.

 Chapter 113

    She stood there, silent, unsure of what to say.

    "Finn, are you guys here?"

    Suddenly, the door to the stairwell opened, and Liliana peeked her head out.

    Seeing Finnian and Amara indeed there, she leaned against the wall and slowly made her way inside.

    Her face was as pale as a sheet, and she looked like she might faint at any moment. Finnian quickly went over to support her, murmuring, "Why did youe out?"

    Liliana bit her lip, ncing at Amara with hesitation, and then looked up at Finnian, tears welling in her eyes.

    "I didn''t know where you went. I got scared. Please don''t leave, okay?"

    Finnian''s face was stern, but his tone softened a little. "Where would I go?"

    Liliana nodded, and just then her body gave way, her legs unable to support her, nearly tumbling down the stairs.

    With quick reflexes, Finnian caught her in his arms, and seeing her so weak, he simply picked her up and carried her out of the stairwell.

    Amara watched them leave, not moving an inch. She gradually settled down, realizing she had said quite a few inappropriate things and had pushed the situation to a rather precarious point. It was impossible to say she didn''t regret it at all.

    But Amara knew that there was no use crying over spilled milk. Regret wouldn''t fix anything, so she decided to stop dwelling on the past and focus on how to fix things.

    Besides, the day had been disastrous for her. Anyone else might not have handled it any better.

    After giving herself a little pep talk, Amara left the stairwell, only to bump into Cedric and the others who had juste out of the hospital room.

    She froze awkwardly in her tracks.

    Moments ago, she had lost it in the hospital room, and Cedric and the others had witnessed the whole scene. Now, seeing them, she wished she could just disappear.

    But she was an adult, and she had to take responsibility for her actions So she exined, "Mr. Zade, Mr. Louis, I''m really sorry you had to see that didn''t expect to lose control like that."

    en

    "Ah, no big deal, don''t worry about it," Cedric said, waving his hand dismissively,

    which surprised Amara. He seemed unfazed, and the producers and others

    around him began tofort her.

    "Amara, don''t me yourself. We could see that it wasn''t your fault. And it wasn''t Liliana''s either. There must be some misunderstanding."

    "Given what happened, anyone would have been upset. Your reaction was

    perfectly normal, so don''t worry about it."

    "Yeah, Ama, don''t sweat it. You''re usually so calm; it''s okay to lose your cool now and then. If it were me, I might have lost it even more, hahaha."

    They all chimed in with

    reassurances, leaving Amara a bit stunned. Just moments ago, these people had clearly been siding with Liliana, with some even giving Ker scornful looks. Amara remembered it all vividly.

    But now they were saying they believed her, that she hadn''t done anything wrong,

    and their expressions seemed genuinely sincere. What was going on?

    It only took a moment for Amara to understand. Her outburst had been too genuine.

    She wasn''t an actress, so her acting skills weren''t great, but she looked like someone who had been seriously wronged, like an honest person pushed to their limit, with nothing left to lose.

 Chapter 114

    So, seeing her like that, everyone chose to believe her. As for what they truly thought of Liliana, well, that remained a mystery.

    Liliana was Finnian''s woman, and they knew better than to badmouth her behind her back, so whatever they said about Liliana was hard to decipher.

    "Mr. Zade, Mr. Louis, everyone, thank you. Thank you for trusting me."

    Being believed by so many all at once, Amara felt her eyes tingle with emotion. She couldn''t help but bow to them.

    Cedric and Mr. Louis quickly rushed to either side of her, lifting her up. "Oh, Amara, what''s this all about? We really didn''t do much. Honestly, we could have done better. We should''ve stood up for you sooner."

    Amara shook her head. "It''s okay, it''s in the past now."

    Her heart was full of gratitude. After exchanging a few more words with Cedric

    and the others, she nced at the closed hospital room door and left.

    Inside the room, Finnian ced Liliana on the bed, his face a tad stern.

    "What on earth happened today?"

    Finnian hadn''t voiced his opinion all day. Now, with just the two of them, he finally asked the question.

    Liliana''s fingers clenched the bedsheet tightly, a look of shame crossing her face.

    "Finn, today I did wrong Ms. Sullivan. She wasn''t pressuring me at all, but she was very firm against changing the script. I got scared, and that''s why I..."

    "Did your fall into the water have anything to do with her?" Finnian interrupted her.

    Liliana froze, and then lowered her head, shame evident on her face.

    "It had nothing to do with her. It was all my fault," she managed to say before tears started streaming down her cheeks.

    She quickly wiped her eyes, but couldn''t stop more tears from falling, her eyes reddening again as she covered her face and sobbed.

    Finnian stood at the foot of the bed, watching her silently.

    Liliana knew tears were a powerful weapon, but they had to be used sparingly to avoid backfiring.

    She pulled out a tissue to wipe her face clean, looking moreposed though her eyes were still red, giving her a vulnerable beauty.

    "Finn, I''ll be honest with you. I did frame Ms. Sullivan today, and I did it on purpose. I just wanted her out of the production."

    Finnian asked, "You want her gone?"

    Liliana bit her lip. She had already devised a n when she went out to find Amara and Finnian. Now it was

    just a matter of executing it. So,

    Liliana forced herself to stay calm.

    en

    "Yes, I don''t want her in the production because I don''t want to see her, and I don''t want you to see her."

    She ced a hand on her stomach, her expression tinged with sadness.

    ??.?

    "Finn, I''m genuinely scared. You and Amara aren''t officially divorced yet, and I have no rightful ce beside you. Do you know why I call you my husband in front of others? It''s because I want to im some part of you for myself, but I know it''s just self-deception. Legally, Amara is the one who should be calling you her husband.

    n¨¦

    Because of this, I''m constantly anxious, sometimes so much that I can''t even eat. I used to tell myself it was just morning sickness, but eventually, I couldn''t fool myself anymore. It''s because of Ms Sullivan that I''m so anxious.

 Chapter 115

    As Liliana spoke, she fought back tears, trying her hardest not to cry.

    "I know what I did today was really wrong. I''m not asking for your forgiveness; I just want you to know that I was just really scared."

    Finnian gazed out the window quietly, the sunlight catching his deep eyes, softening the hard edges of his face just a little.

    Finally, when Liliana finished, Finnian turned to her and said, "I understand. I''ll think about what you said."

    There were no sweet words, butpared to earlier, Finnian''s tone was much gentler. Liliana''s expression remained unchanged, though inside she felt a surge of relief.

    After leaving the hospital, Finnian returned to the office to handle some

    paperwork, only to receive a call from Hogan, who wanted to meet him at a caf¨¦ near the Everly Group offices.

    Finnian went over, entered the private room Hogan had mentioned, and said coolly, "What''s up?"

    "Finnian," Hogan said, pushing a cup of freshly brewed coffee towards him, his tone a bit confrontational. "You must have guessed why I''m here, it''s because of Liliana. I think we need to talk."

    Liliana and Hogan were close, so Finnian wasn''t surprised that she''d confided in him about what had happened. He replied, "Talk about what?"

    Hogan''s voice carried a hint of indignation. "Liliana told me what happened. Sure, she was wrong, but you''ve got to be more understanding. She''s been through a lot.

    Do you know how much pressure she''s under, being with you unofficially like this? There are loads of people online calling her a homewrecker, saying she''s shameless for having your baby as the ''other woman''. Besides all that, she faces all sorts of judgmental looks in her everyday life. Honestly, it''s no wonder she acted the way she did today."

    These words echoed what Liliana had expressed earlier in the hospital, though Hogan was far more straightforward.

    Finnian''s expression didn''t change. "I get it."

    Hogan observed Finnian''s face, unsure of what he was thinking.

    Among their cousins, Finnian stood out as exceptionally aplished.

    to remain calm andposed, rarely revealing his emotions, Hogan couldn''t quite grasp what Finnian really thought.

    One of his strengths was

    As he tried to gauge Finnian''s feelings, he tentatively asked, "So, about the screenwriter for the production, are you still going with Amara?"

    "I''ll deal with thatter. I have other matters to attend to, gotta run. You should head home too."

    Finnian picked up the coffee Hogan

    had made, took a symbolic sip, called the server over to settle the bill, and left. Hogan stayed a bit longer to call Liliana.

    "Liliana, I talked to Finnian. He just said he understands. I''m not sure what he really thinks."

    "Thanks a lot, Hogan. Without you, I wouldn''t know what to do. Let''s grab a meal sometime."

    "Oh,e on. No need to thank me. I just want you and my brother to be happy."

    After leaving the caf¨¦, Finnian slowly walked back to the office but stopped at the entrance, lost in thought.

    A senior executive happened to be returning from an errand and, upon seeing Finnian, paused to greet him. "Mr. Everly, what are you doing standing here? Heading out?"

 Chapter 116

    Finnian nodded. "Got some things to attend to."

    With that, he turned on his heel and left thepany, heading to the curb to make a quick call.

    Fifteen minutester, Finnian walked into a sleek, understated bar with a quiet ambiance. It was the kind of ce that whispered sophistication.

    Dorian was already at the bar, waiting for him. He slid a pre-ordered drink over to Finnian and asked, "What''s got you day-drinking? Something on your mind?"

    Finnian cursed under his breath, "I''m swamped every day-who''s got time for drama?"

    "You''re really cussing now," Dorian chuckled. "If the girls at yourpany heard you talk like that, they''d lose their crush on you in a heartbeat."

    "Let them be. Not my fricking problem."

    Finnian took a swig of his drink, feeling the cold liquid burn its way down with a fiery sensation, leaving him insatiable with an even deeper sense of emptiness.

    He spoke in a measured tone, "Got a message from my mom yesterday. Said she misses me and wants to visit for Christmas."

    Dorian was silent.

    "So, what did you say?"

    "Haven''t replied. Don''t feel like it."

    Finnian''s parents lived abroad most of the time. In fact, they were in different countries, possibly even different hemispheres. As Kevin once put it, if they lived in the same hemisphere, they''d be at each other''s throats daily.

    "My dad called too recently," Finnian continued, ignoring Dorian''s silence. "He''s got a new girlfriend. She''s just a few years older than me, still working on her Master''s."

    "Isn''t that just his usual routine?" Dorian said dismissively. "Didn''t he break up with hisst girlfriend justst month? His rtionships are like those monthly magazine subscriptions."

    "Yeah, if a month could be considered long."

    Finnian picked up his ss and downed the drink in one go. Dorian eximed, "Damn, easy there! You trying to knock yourself out?"

    This was some strong stuff.

    "Don''t worry, didn''t drive here anyway."

    Finnian ordered another drink from the bartender as he inquired, "How are things with Elysia? Jessica still reaching out to you these days?"

    "Yeah, she is. She''s got no friend to turn to, so who else can she reach out?"

    Dorian took a leisurely sip of his own drink, eyeing Finnian with a squint.

    "You''re not yourself today, all over the ce, not your usual self. What''s exactly in your mind?"

    "Nothing much, just drinking."

    Finnian took another gulp, and then shifted the conversation to business. Dorian still looked at him with suspicion but decided not to press the issue.

    Finnian was the kind of guy who wouldn''t spil his guts even being forced. Dorian had to wait until he wanted to talk. He had gotten used to that over the years, so he let it slide, steering the conversation toward a piece of real estate he''d recently acquired.

    The next day, Amara was up early and on set.

    The incident with Liliana falling into the water and the ensuing drama at the

    hospital seemed to have made the rounds.

    As soon as Amara stepped onto the set, she noticed people casting looks her way. She couldn''t tell if they were judging or just curious, so she carried on as if nothing was amiss.

    Liliana had arrived early too, with Finnian by her side. They were chatting with

    Cedric by the cameras. Seeing Amara, Liliana called out, "Ms. Sullivan!"

    Amara paused, turning her head and said tly, "Yes?"

    Liliana walked over slowly. Technically, Liliana was supposed to be on bed rest for a few days to ensure a healthy pregnancy. But whether her eagerness to leave the hospital or her actual recovery had

    brought her back to the set so soon was unclear.

 Chapter 117

    She had only a touch of makeup on her face, lending her a fragile, almost pitiful appearance.

    Today, she wasn''t wearing her signature red dress. Instead, she had on a soft white one that highlighted her delicate demeanor as she looked at Amara and said, "Ms. Sullivan, I owe you an apology."

    Amara was momentarily taken aback, saying nothing at first.

    Liliana bit her lip, her eyes dropping to the floor as she went on, "Yesterday, I let my paranoia get the best of me. Falling into the water was entirely my own doing, and it had nothing to do with you. Yet, I used you. Ms. Sullivan, I sincerely apologize for the trouble I caused you yesterday."

    Liliana bowed deeply towards Amara, her hair cascading down as she did so, falling to either side of her face.

    Amara watched this scene unfold with a bit of surprise. The bowsted a couple of seconds before Liliana straightened up, her face flushed with embarrassment, and she addressed, "Ms. Sullivan, will you please forgive me?"

    Amara pondered quietly, still not speaking. Cedric swept a nce at Finnian, and then stepped forward with a lighthearted tone. "Liliana knows she was wrong, and that''s what matters. There''s no need to linger on this. Ama is such a wonderful person. I''ve worked with her many times, and wherever she goes, people always praise her for her kindness and sensibility."

    Cedric seemed to be smoothing things over, subtly siding with Amara. He pointed out that Amara was always praised someone as kind-hearted and sensible wherever she went, implying that if there was an issue with Liliana, it must be on Liliana''s end.

    Truthfully, Cedric was quite annoyed with Liliana over yesterday''s incident, but with Finnian around, he dared not speak outright and resorted to this indirect criticism.

    Liliana either didn''t catch on or chose to ignore it. She continued, ¡°Ms. Sullivan, can you forgive me?"

    Around the set, the crew appeared busy with their tasks, yet their ears were perked, and their eyes asionally darted towards the unfolding drama.

    Amara finally responded in a calm voice, "What good would it do if I didn''t forgive you? It''s not like I can do anything about it. I just hope nothing like this happens again."

    Amara was not one to stir up trouble, and she knew she couldn''t outmatch Liliana and Finnian, better not to sh with them, so she decided to swallow her pride for

    now.

    But then, a lukewarm voice interrupted, "There won''t be a next time."

    Finnian approached, his stride steady and his expression cool. He stopped beside Liliana, directly across from Amara.

    "Amara, there''s something I need to tell you. I''m not going to strip you of your title as the screenwriter for Whispers of Winter, nor will I erase your contributions to the show. When the series airs, your name will be the only one listed as the screenwriter, and all official statements will credit you alone.

    However, moving forward, you won''t need to stay with the crew. Once you leave, another screenwriter will handle the script adjustments. We assure you that the plot won''t undergo major changes, only slight tweaks as needed. You''ll also receive apensation payment. The specifics are all outlined in this contract. Please take a look."

    Finnian nodded to Will, who immediately stepped forward, handing the contract to Amara with both hand''s, his head bowed as he avoided her gaze, speaking softly,

    "Here''s the contract, please have a look."

 Chapter 118

    Amara didn''t take the contract. Her hands were clenched into fists, and she was shaking with indignation. She couldn''t believe it-Finnian was still going to fire her, just to please Liliana!

    Sure, his words were a bit more polished than yesterday, easier to swallow. But the message was the same. They wanted her out of the production!

    "Um, Mr. Everly, Amara''s the one who knows Whispers of Winter inside out. If she leaves, who''s going to keep the story on track?"

    Cedric was just as shocked as he was and, not daring to oppose his investor directly, he asked in a hopeful tone.

    "Exactly, Mr. Everly. Who''s going to take over as the screenwriter if Amara leaves? Bringing in someone new who doesn''t understand the plot could be a hassle in many aspects."

    Everyone had heard Finnian''s words, but only a few dared to actually confront him. Now, three or four stood around him, all eyes on his every move.

    Finnian''s expression didn''t change a bit. "Understanding the plot isn''t an issue. Give someone a week, and they''ll catch up. With so many talented screenwriters in Zephyria, as long as the money''s right, finding someone won''t be a problem." His words clearly meant he''d cover all the costs of hiring a new one.

    Truth was, aside from Cedric, the others weren''t truly worried about Amara. They were just concerned that changing screenwriters might cause chaos.

    Now that Finnian was taking full responsibility and seemed willing to pay top dor for a good screenwriter, it wouldn''t get awry and they could rx and just watch the drama unfold.

    They backed off, leaving a clear space between Amara and Finnian. Amara looked at the man''s indifferent face, her heart burning with a mix of rage and hurt.

    She held her fists tightly, her eyes threatening to spill over. No one had ever seen her look so upset and grieved, and for a moment, silence filled the ce.

    Finnian''s handsome face remained impassive, showing no hint of emotion.

    "Sign the contract, Amara. Do you have a new script? I''ll find you a director and invest in it, ensuring your next project shines."

    Was he providing her the

    vish

    Amara let out a bitterugh. "And what if I refuse?"

    Finnian''s voice was calm. "You won''t refuse."

    up

    Amara was momentarily stunned, unsure of what he meant. Then it hit her, and she stared at him in disbelief, eyes wide open.

    Was Finnian threatening her? And what leverage did he have? A hundred possibilities ran through her mind.

    She and Finnian weren''t in the same league. If he truly intended to threaten her, he could probably find a hundred ways to do it.

    A chill ran down her spine, her rage and hatred for this man reaching their peak.

    "Ms. Sullivan, please sign it," Liliana advised, her voice soft and gentle as she stepped in, noticing the silence among them.

    "You''re a very talented screenwriter. Focus on writing new scripts and creating great shows. Don''t let your talent go to waste. Besides, Whispers of Winter''s plot is already set. It doesn''t really need your attention anymore. We promise we won''t make major changes, and if we do, we''ll call you to discuss it, okay?"

    Liliana''s voice was warm and amiable, as if she considered Amara, but Amara detested her.

    Sure, the storyline for Whispers of Winter was established. Most days, Amara didn''t have much to do at the set except read or watch the filming.

 Chapter 119

    But this show was like Amara''s baby, and she wanted to see it through to the end herself. She didn''t want to be booted out for no good reason!

    She wasn''t doing this job just for the money; it was about fulfilling her own dreams! But none of them seemed to care about that.

    Amara was trembling with anger, though she couldn''t explode like she did yesterday. She wasn''t ready to sign her name away just like that. What was she supposed to do?

    "Amara, maybe you should just sign. Liliana''s got a point, you know. Staying here is like hiding your talent. You could totally start writing a new show."

    "Amara, Mr. Everly''s offering you a pretty decent severance, and he''s investing in your next script. It''s a good deal, you should take it."

    Seeing Amara''s silence, a few of the more respected members of the crew tried to persuade her.

    Amara finally saw things clearly-these people were just fair-weather friends. Yesterday, theyforted her when she was wronged, but today they were siding with Finnian as thetter gave her a hard time.

    Only Cedric was on her side, but as the director, he had too many constraints. He couldn''t openly support her.

    So, for now, all the influential leaders and veterans of the crew were urging Amara to leave. Amara bit her lip hard, feeling overwhelmed by exasperation and humiliation.

    She looked at Finnian''s indifferent face and Liliana''s slightly upturned lips, and her heart felt like it was bleeding.

    "You want Ama to leave? Fine, I''ll go with her. I''m done with this show. Just send my agent the penalty for breaking the contract."

    At that moment, the gate swung open, and a casual voice rang out from the entrance. Everyone instinctively turned to look, only to see Keith, dressed in aid-back suit, standing at the gate with a mischievous grin and ice-cold eyes. Seeing all eyes on him, he remained unfazed and walked over to Amara. Amidst the shocked stares, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

    Amara felt a strong arm around her and looked up at Keith. He gazed down at her and shed a bright smile.

    "What happened? Are they bullying you again?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

    In that moment, Amara felt like she might cry. She nodded but didn''t say a word.

    At a time when everyone seemed to be against her, her best friend suddenly stood up to protect her. Her heart was overwhelmed with emotion, and she feared that if she spoke, tears would start to fall.

    "You two..." Cedric was stunned, looking at the two of them, wanting to ask about

    their rtionship but finding it inappropriate, so he held back.

    Everyone around them was equally astonished, with mouths agape. Even Liliana stared at them in disbelief.

    Keith had been a top star in the entertainment industry for the past few years. Handsome, from a good family, with great acting skills and a likable personality, he had countless fans swooning over him.

    But this highly sought-after man had such a close rtionship with Amara Despite spending so much time on set, Liliana had never noticed any connection between

    them.

    en

    "Finn." Liliana suddenly felt an inexplicable unease and nced over at Finnian.

    Finnian''s eyes were fixed on Keith''s arm around Amara, his gaze dark and his body motionless.

    The room was plunged into awkward silence, and Cedric cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension.

 Chapter 120

    "Things are getting out of hand, aren''t they? How about we find a ce to sit and talk this through?"

    "If Ama is forced to leave, then I''m out too."

    Another voice cut through Cedric''s suggestion, and everyone turned to see who it was from. To their surprise, it was Lucian speaking up.

    Lucian, the breakout star of Whispers of Winter, had rose to fame the recent years. Unlike other young stars who either were attractively cool or approachable, Lucian radiated slight gloom, his demeanor more like a lone wolf with sharp fangs.

    As everyone turned to look at him, Lucian stepped forward, uttering ndly, "If Ama leaves, I leave too. I''ll pay the penalty fee."

    Unlike Keith, who rushed to the scene after getting a text, Lucian had witnessed the whole ordeal of Amara getting picked on. He was itching to confront those people, and if Keith hadn''t stepped in first, Lucian would have; Keith acted just one step ahead.

    Amara frowned. It was one thing for Keith to stand up for her; they had a close bond, and he had multiple resources and the clout to back her up. But Lucian? He was just a neer with no safety. If he crossed Finnian and Liliana, what would happen to him?

    Amara thought for a moment and then walked over to him, speaking softly, "Lucian, don''t be rash. Let''s have a talk."

    Lucian, stubborn as a wolf cub, pressed his lips together in silence, his demeanor fierce.

    Amara sighed inwardly, took Lucian''s hand, and led him to the break room. Keith, hands in his pockets, leisurely followed them.

    The others watched the trio head to the break room, still reeling from the drama. What happened today was surreal. First Keith, now

    Lucian both incredibly handsome

    and willing to risk their et

    Amara.

    for

    If Amara had been a stunning beauty, a damsel in distress might have been a usible scene. But she was known for her hideous looks.

    The door to Amara''s room closed with a thud, snapping everyone back to reality.

    "Well, since Ama''s gone to the room, maybe we should take a break too?" Cedric cautiously suggested, his forced smile betraying his nerves as he looked at Liliana and Finnian.

    Actors rebelling en masse-the

    director was feeling the pressure. He had no time for idle thoughts; with the screenwriter and two lead actors threatening to walk away, he was desperate to resolve the situation promptly.

    Finnian stared at the closed door, his expression unreadable.

    "Finn." Liliana called out as she tugged at his sleeve, looking for a decision.

    Finnian averted his gaze and walked toward Liliana''s break room without a word.

    Inside her break room, Amara shut the door and gestured for Lucian and Keith to

    sit.

    Keith, ever the picture of

    nonchnce made himself<pfortable on the sofa, crossing his legs as if he were at home. Lucian stood in front of her, his wolfish determination evident. He reiterated, "Ama, you helped me when no one else did. I''ll never forget that. I''m with you, whatever it takes."

 Chapter 121

    Amara felt a mix of emotions-touched yet slightly amused at Lucian''s stubbornness.

    "I get where you''reing from, but there''s no need for all this. We can talk things out," she said, a gentle smile ying on her lips.

    Having calmed down, Amara believed there was still room to maneuver in this situation. After all, both Keith and Lucian stood up for her.

    Lucian might not carry much weight, but Keith was crucial. Nobody in the production team would want to lose him, so there might still be a way out.

    But then, she thought of Finnian. With his influence, finding another A-lister to rece Keith wouldn''t be too hard. What if Finnian decided to cut Keith loose? The thought clouded Amara''s face with worry again.

    "Come on, don''t overthink it," Keith said, wrapping an arm around Amara''s shoulder tofort her. "When one door closes, another opens. We''ll figure something out."

    Lucian turned his head, looking at Keith''s arm around Amara, lost in thought.

    Keith turned to him, giving a half-smirk as he began, "You''re really willing to go the distance for Ama, huh? You''re grateful to her or something?"

    Could this guy possibly have a crush on Amara? For some reason, the idea, which had been nagging at Keith for a while, made him a bit uneasy.

    "Ama helped me a lot, so yes, I am really grateful," Lucian said earnestly.

    Seeing him get all serious again, Amara chuckled. Then she turned serious herself. "Lucian, I know you mean well, but you can''t be so impulsive. You don''t have any connections. You''ve gotten here purely through talent and good looks, but there are plenty like you in showbiz. If Finnian wants to bury you, you might never get back up. Do you understand?"

    Lucian was kind and straightforward, but he could be a bit too obstinate. Amara found herself at a loss for how to dissuade him.

    Lucian replied, "Ama, you don''t need to worry. Twas nning to leave the business after this project anyway. Leaving a bit earlier won''t change much."

    Amara paused briefly. "You''re quitting Showbiz?"

    "But why?" she asked quickly. "You''re at the peak of your career. You don''t want

    to pursue this anymore?"

    Lucian exined, "Ama, since you

    offered me those chances, I''ve gone

    from being an extra to ying supporting roles and attending numerous events. Over these years, I''ve saved some quantity of money. I know it can''t buy a house in the city, but back home, it''s a small fortune. So, I''m nning to go back, build a house, open a little shop, and marry my girlfriend."

    Amara was taken aback shortly at his words. "You have a girlfriend?"

    They''d known each other for years, and she''d never heard him mention a girlfriend.

    Lucian''s usually stoic face softened

    a bit, his eyes tender. "I''ve had a girlfriend all along. These years I''ve been out here acting, she''s been waiting for me back home. I don''t

    want her to wait any longe

    While it was amon enough story, Amara felt a warmth spread through her chest, deeply moved.

    She genuinely smiled. "That''s wonderful. You''ve been working all this time for your future together, right?"

    Lucian nodded, and Amara replied with a smile, "Then go back and marry her. Don''t make her wait too long."

 Chapter 122

    "Hey, when you get married, let me know, alright? If I can make it, I''ll be there. And if not, there''ll still be a big gifting your way."

    Lucian quickly replied, "Thanks, Ama," snapping back into his usual serious self.

    Amara asked a few questions about his girlfriend, with Keith listening in from the side. Once he realized this young man was off the market, an inexplicable sense of relief washed over him. What''s going on with him?

    He nced up at Amara, her face partially hidden behind a mask that couldn''t quite obscure her beauty, and found himself lost in thought.

    Meanwhile, in Liliana''s break room, she sat on the couch with Cedric, while Finnian stood by the window.

    "Mr. Everly, Liliana, maybe we should just let this go. Amara, as the lead screenwriter for this show, has really put in a lot of work. Honestly, we can''t do without her. And when she''s here, she''s mostly in the room, not always out watching the filming. How about I talk to her when I get the chance, suggest she keeps a lower profile and avoids bumping into you both too much. How does that sound?"

    Cedric liked Amara quite a bit, and the whole situation had left him feeling pretty disgruntled with Finnian and Liliana. But these two were the big shots, and he couldn''t afford to make them enemies, so he had to tread carefully.

    Finnian stood at the window, his gaze fixed outside, his chiseled profile giving nothing away. Whatever he was thinking remained a mystery, his expression dark and brooding.

    Liliana was still reeling, struggling toprehend the situation. She never imagined that Amara, whom she considered ugly, would be connected to both Keith and Lucian. Not that she had any romantic interest in Keith; it just irked her to see Amara being defended by such aplished people.

    "Finn," she said, forcing down her jealousy and anger, standing up with a smile.

    "I think Mr. Zade has a point. The crew really does need Ms. Sullivan. I was too narrow-minded before. Perhaps we should let her stay."

    Ine

    Liliana practically choked on her own fury as she spoke. She desperately wanted Amara gone, but hadn''t anticipated the situation escting to the point of no return. Keith and Lucian were serious about backing Amara. If she left, Keith might just quit too.

    Keith had a massive family business and was a top-tier celebrity, having made a fortune over the years. He could afford the penalty for breaking a contract on one show.

    And Keith''s weight in the crew was heavier than anyone else''s. If he left, Liliana would undoubtedly be the target of everyone''s ire. Worse yet, she might even be dragged through the mud online.

    To prevent that, she had to swallow her pride and suppress her wrath.

    Cedric felt reassured by her words and then turned to Finnian. "Mr. Everly, what do you think?"

    Finnian didn''t even nce their way, his voice calm and detached. "Do as she says."

    Cedric breathed a sigh of relief.

    In the break room, Amara was chatting with Lucian and Keith when Cedric came knocking.

    He greeted the two actors with

    smile and turned to Amara. "Ama I''ve talked it over with Mr. Everly Your role here isn''t changing. We''ll carry on just as we have been. What do you say?"

 Chapter 123

    So, it meant that Liliana backed down, not going to fire her?

    Amara nodded. "Alright, I can live with that."

    Keith strolled over, leaning against the doorframe, a yful hint in his tone as he started, "It''s over, huh? After all the fuss they made and the trouble they put you through, they''re not even going to apologize?"

    Cedric''s smile faltered slightly. He knew Keith had a point; it would have been decent for Liliana and Finnian to offer an apology. But they were one of those influential figures, and he wasn''t about to challenge them.

    Amara nudged Keith with her elbow and shot him a re. "Don''t stir the pot."

    Just then, Finnian walked by, catching the scene, which prompted him to stop in his tracks, his eyes fixed on their direction.

    Amara caught the sight of him as well, along with Liliana who was by his side, her smile fading. She nodded at Cedric. "Alright, then. Need get back to my script revisions."

    "Go ahead. Let''s chat if anythinges up."

    Cedric returned to his office, feeling inexplicably drained despite theck of physical exertion that day. He opened the crew''s online group chat and announced, "Lead screenwriter Ama''s position remains unchanged, and the cast stays the same. Let''s not spread rumors or misinformation. Any vitors will be dealt with."

    Once the message was sent, the chat buzzed with acknowledgments of "Got it". Meanwhile, the smaller, unofficial group chat they''d formed earlier burst into life.

    Producer Louis texted, [Damn. What''s the scoop here? Amara and Keith know each other? I haven''t seen them interact much in the month we''ve been filming.]

    Makeup Artist Cherry typed, [They must know each other, maybe very well. But yeah, they don''t seem to interact on set. Maybe they''re keeping it professional?]

    Lighting Tech David sent, [I don''t think it''s about keeping things professional. Keith''s always on the go with promotions and events. He''s hardly around, and Amara''s usually holed up in the break room. It''s no wonder we don''t see them together.]

    Props Guy Harry recalled, [I did see Keith in Amara''s break room once, around lunchtime. They were in there for over half an hour. I wondered how they were even

    vel

    connected. They should have shared a meal that time, it''s surprising.]

    Editor Wolf wrote, [Haha! Today was like living in a soap opera. Good thing Amara''s staying. I''d be pissed if she left.]

    Costume Designer Wendy echoed, [Absolutely. Amara''s great. She''s one of the best we''ve got. I''m relieved she''s still on board. Who knows what would the next screenwriter be like?]

    As the chat buzzed with gossip and theories, Amara watched the messages roll in, deciding to stay silent after a moment of thought.

    She remained in the roomte into the night, meticulously revisiting and refining the script until it was wless. Closing the script, she was prepared to head back home.

    This whole ordeal had only

    deepened her passion for her work, which was why she''d put in overtime to study the plot. From now on, if

    Liliana wanted script changes,

    Amara would only agree if they

    made sense to her, otherwise she

    wouldn''t budge.

    After packing up, Amara bumped into Cedric, who was also calling it a day. They

    exchanged a few pleasantries and headed out together.

 Chapter 124

    "By the way, Amara, did you know Keith before?" Cedric asked. "I never noticed you guys were so close."

    Amara shed a smile. "Keith and I have been friends since we were kids. He''s been super busy with the production, so we haven''t had much time to catch up."

    "Oh, childhood friends, huh?" Cedric nodded in understanding. "It''s kind of serendipitous that we ended up choosing Keith as the lead."

    They chatted idly as they made their way to the set''s exit, just in time to see Liliana and Finnian heading out as well.

    Liliana paused, giving Cedric a friendly wave. Cedric returned the gesture with a couple of words before Liliana turned her attention to Amara.

    "Heading out too, Ms. Sullivan? I heard you''ve been buried in the script all afternoon. Busy day?"

    Despite Liliana''s pleasant demeanor, Amara didn''t even nce her way, simply ignoring her. She addressed Cedric, "Mr. Zade, I''m off. See you tomorrow."

    With that, she strode past Liliana and Finnian without so much as a sideways nce, leaving Liliana standing there, biting her lip in dismay.

    "Finn, does Ms. Sullivan have something against me? I was just trying to be friendly, and shepletely ignored me."

    Finnian watched Amara''s silhouette gradually fade into the night before turning back to Liliana. He replied coolly, "She doesn''t want to engage, so just leave it be. It''s not worth worrying about."

    Liliana was slightly taken aback. He had a point; there was no reason to keep trying if Amara wasn''t interested. But it wasn''t the response Liliana had hoped for, and she nibbled on her lip again.

    Back at home, Amara called Keith, inviting him to midnight snack when he was done with his event.

    Keith had been busy all day with the shoot, and then got pulled into an event by his agent. It was past nine now, and he was on his way home, wondering what she would prepare.

    Amara said as she rummaged through her fridge. "I''ve got some meat and veggies here. I''ll whip up something simple. It''ste, so let''s not overdo it."

    "Sounds good," Keith replied with a chuckle. "Take your time. If you need help, I''ll join you in the kitchen when I get there."

    "Alright."

    After hanging up, Amara got to cooking. She set some rice to steam, and then quickly made some dishes. Just as she turned off the stove the doorbell rang. She took off her apron and hurried to answer it.

    Keith swapped his shoes for slippers and helped Amara bring the food to the dining table.

    Removing her mask, Amara uttered, "Just two easy dishes. You must be starving, so dig in."

    Keith couldn''t resist reaching over to gently pinch her cheek, captivated by her lovely face.

    "Hey!" Amara swatted his hand away. "What''s up with you?"

    "What? Aren''t we close enough for a little teasing Or are you nning to ditch me, huh? Are we breaking Keith teased, clutching a throw.

    pillow on the couch and preten

    to sulk with exaggerated whimpers.

    Amara rolled her eyes, tapping his head with a spoon. "Cut it out and eat." "Alright, alright. Food it is."

    Later that night, after wrapping up at the set, Finnian offered Liliana a ride home. When they reached her building, Liliana invited Finnian up. It waste, and with nothing pressing to attend to, Finnian epted, following her in.

 Chapter 125

    In the cozy living room, Liliana pulled Finnian down onto the couch, wrapping her arms around his. With a yfully sweet tone, she said, "After that fall into the water, the doctor advised me to stay in bed and rest. But I felt okay, so I insisted on going back to the film set.

    But filming is really exhausting, and I''m worried it might be too much. I can handle being tired, but I''m concerned about our baby," she added, guiding Finnian''s hand to her still-t belly, inviting him to feel their unborn child.

    Finnian, a man of few words on a good day, seemed even more distant than usual. He had been quiet all day, and since they entered the house, his handsome features had remained cool and distracted, his thought inscrutable.

    Liliana, recalling the events of the day, watched him closely. "Finn, why aren''t you saying anything?"

    Without warning, Finnian withdrew his hand, stood up, and announced, "I have something to do. Gotta go. You should get some rest."

    As he turned and left without a hint of hesitation, Liliana was taken aback. Something was definitely off with Finnian today. Though his demeanor was subtle, Liliana could sense the change.

    What''s going on? Did it have something to do with what happened earlier? She frowned deeply.

    Reaching his car outside, Finnian didn''t drive off immediately. He rolled down the window, resting his elbow on the frame, eyes closed, reying the image of Keith with Amara in his mind.

    After a while, he opened his eyes, his fingers dancing on his phone. He called Dorian.

    "Elysia''s number?" Dorian asked, surprised by Finnian''s question, then reading out the digits. "Do you need something from her?"

    "Yeah, I have questions to ask," Finnian responded, ready to end the call when Dorian added, "Elysia''s driving right now, it might not be convenient. She''s heading over to my ce, so if you need to talk, you cane over."

    "Alright, I''m on my way," Finnian replied, then hung up and drove to Dorian''s house.

    Finnian and Elysia arrived almost simultaneously, with Elysia getting there about five minutes earlier. Settled in the sofa, she was arranging some flowers she''d brought into a vase when Finnian walked in.

    Elysia nced up briefly as Finnian entered, and then continued with her task, her demeanor cool and uninterested.

    After changing his shoes, Finnian settled across from Elysia as he asked, "I need

    to ask you something. Did Amara ever have a boyfriend before?"

    Elysia lifted her head. "Why do you want to know?"

    A few days ago, Elysia and Dorian had a massive falling out, leading her to drown her sorrows at a bar. Amara had joined her, and they both harassed by a bunch of punks, only to be rescued by Finnian in the end.

    Though she and Dorian had since patched things up, Elysia felt that she could handle Dorian''s nonsense herself. Her best friend shouldn''t have to suffer from the man''s indifference.

    So, when it came to Finnian, who had disregarded her friend, Elysia maintained her icy demeanor.

    "No reason, just curious," Finnian replied.

    Elysia ced thest flower in the vase before responding, "Nothing I can say."

    She got up to head for the living room, but Finnian blocked her path.

    "In the three years Amara and I have been married, has there been someone else?" he inquired, his voice frigid.

 Chapter 126

    Ever since Finnian walked into the room, Elysia had been acting as cold as a winter morning.

    When she heard his question, her eyes widened in utter disbelief. The whole situation just seemed utterly ridiculous!

    She was about to retort, "You''ve already got Liliana, how can you even ask such a thing?" but she bit her tongue and held back.

    Elysia had no idea why Finnian would ask something like that, and frankly, she didn''t care to answer him properly.

    Her expression turned icy once again as she said, "Noment," before turning on her heel and heading into the kitchen without so much as a backward nce.

    As the kitchen door swung shut, Finnian''s face fell.

    Dorian, who had been quietly observing the exchange, walked over and murmured, "Finn, why''d you ask something like that? Has Amara been seeing someone else these past three years?"

    His tone was tinged with surprise. With Amara''s looks, he couldn''t imagine her finding someone else easily. But he thought better of voicing that thought aloud.

    Then again, he mused, despite the scar on her face, Amara could still look quite striking with a mask on. And her background, well, it was certainly more privileged than most.

    Plus, her figure was something to behold. If she truly wanted to find someone, she probably could, he admitted, frowning at the thought.

    "Nothing much, just a random question," Finnian said, not bothering to borate further. "I better head out."

    After Finnian left, Dorian headed to the kitchen, watching Elysia''s back as she busied herself at the stove. He frowned and said, "What was that attitude with Finn all about? Can''t you just talk to him properly?"

    Already annoyed, Elysia felt her temper re up again at his words.

    "What do you mean by that? You''re using me of being rude to your friend? That jerk''s been awful to Ama, and not chewing him out right there was me being nice. So what if I was a bit frosty?"

    "What, you want to get in his face and yell at him?"

    Dorian wasn''t exactly known for his patience, and his expression darkened.

    But Elysia had an even shorter fuse, and the two of them ended up in a full-blown argument right there in the kitchen. It ended with Elysia smashing a te and knocking over a shelf, leaving Dorian fuming.

    Not desired to see him anymore, Elysia grabbed her keys from the living room and stormed out, mming the door behind her.

    Once outside, Finnian called up Will. "I need you to dig into Amara''s social circle over the past three years."

    "Investigate Mrs. Everly?"

    Will sounded surprised, double-checking to make sure he''d heard right.

    Amara''s life had been pretty

    iel

    monotonous thesest three years, either writing scripts at home or working with her usual crew. She even made it a point to bring Finnian lunch at the Everly Group regrly. Her routine was as predictable as clockwork, no secrets to pry into, so what was there to investigate?

    Staring out at the city lights, Finnian couldn''t tell if it was Will''s question or the brisk night breeze that snapped him back to reality. A wave of irritation washed over him.

    "Forget it," he muttered. "No need to bother."

    Will was left speechless and

    bewildered. Finnian was a man of decisiveness and action, and taking back an order was unheard of for him. But Mr. Everly had already hung up, so there was nothing else to do but pack up and head home

    Back in his car, Finnian reyed his words to Wilkin his mind and

    ¨¦t

    regretted calling it off. Over twenty years, he''d always been a man of action, never one for

    elin

    second-guessing himself, and this

    newfound hesitation was frustrating.

    Frowning, he resolved to stop dithering. It was only just past ten-still early by a young man''s standards. With a determined push on the gas pedal, he headed straight for Amara''s apartmentplex.

 Chapter 127

    Amara lived on the second floor, and Finnian climbed the stairs and rapped his knuckles against the door a few times.

    "Is it the delivery?"

    Amara had just ordered some fresh veggies, nning to whip up breakfast first thing in the morning. It was about time for the delivery to arrive, so she didn''t think much of it, slipped on her slippers, and opened the door.

    To her surprise, it was Finnian standing there; she was taken aback.

    "Why are you here sote?"

    Amara nced at the clock. It was already 10:47 PM. Most people with a regr schedule would be in bed by now. Why was he here out of blue?

    Finnian was about to respond when he noticed a men''s bag on the couch, his gaze freezing on it.

    That bag was a new release from a couple of months ago. During an auction, Elysia had suggested he buy something for Amara. He had Will ask Amara what she wanted, and she''d asked for a set of matching bags, one for a man and one for a woman.

    He''d assumed the men''s bag was meant for him, butst time he''d seen a man with a mask at Amara''s ce, carrying this exact bag.

    And now, here it was again, in Amara''s apartment. So, was that guy here now too? And was he Lucian?

    Just as Finnian was going to ask, the bedroom door swung open. A tall man with bare chest emerged, towel around his waist, drying his wet hair with another towel. While doing so, he asked, "Ama, did the delivery arrive?"

    As he spoke, Keith noticed Finnian standing at the door and stopped in his tracks. Finnian''s face was a thundercloud. He pushed past Amara and stormed right up to Keith.

    "What are you doing in my wife''s apartment? What kind of rtionship do you have with my wife?"

    His gaze was cold and dangerous, each word enunciated with precision.

    Keith nced down at the towel wrapped around his waist, aware of how this could be easily

    misinterpreted. He callously smirked instead of exining, teasing, "Your wife, Mr. Everly? Isn''t that a bit absurd?"

    His tone was mocking, taunting even, and Finnian''s muscles tensed, his fists clenching slightly, a picture of hellish manace, as if he was ready for a fight at any moment.

    Keith wasn''t backing down either. He kept on in an impassive tone, "Oh, Mr. Everly, you want a brawl, huh? I''ll dly oblige."

    But if they were going to fight, Keith thought it would be wise to get dressed first. No way was he going to risk losing his towel mid-fight and looking less imposing.

    As he nced around for his clothes, Amara stepped in, voice icy as she dered, "Mr. Everly, this is my apartment. Please leave."

    iel

    Finnian''s pupils contracted. Their interactions had always been few, but he could tell Amara had always been gentle and amodating with him. She wouldn''t have been bringing him meals unceasingly for three years otherwise, and she had been agreeable with him recently, too.

    But now, for some random guy, she was ordering him out? Finnian''s eyes darkened, stormy and terrifying.

    "Mr. Everly, I have things to attend to. Please leave," Amara insisted, her voice firm with a touch of irritation, seeing he hadn''t budged.

 Chapter 128

    Finnian knew he had to leave. No matter how thick-skinned he might be, Amara''s cold dismissal was impossible to ignore.

    He shot a frosty re at Keith, then turned and left without uttering a word. Outside, the early autumn breeze hit him, but instead of clearing his head, it only added to his confusion.

    He realized his previous mistake. The man frequently visiting Amara wasn''t Lucian at all; it was Keith. And that unexpected visit which forced him to hide in the closet? That was Keith too!

    The whole thing had seemed odd. If they were just friends, even in the entertainment industry, why would he need to hide? It was not like he was the type to gossip about a celebrity hanging out with ordinary folk. That would be ridiculous. She had no reason to stay alert around him!

    Now when he pieced everything together, it all made sense. Amara, who seemed so gentle, reserved and obediently sensible, was far from traditional. She had been quietly betraying him all along.

    In the dim light of the night, Finnian sat sulkily in his car, driving silently. Perhaps due to the anger within him seething in an increasing manner, his foot pressed harder on the pedal, the car gaining speed dangerously close to the limit.

    He finally made it back to his own apartment before breaking any speed limits. This was the ce he had moved into with Amara three years ago when they got married.

    The apartment, a sprawling over 2,400 square feet, was decorated in sleek, sophisticated shades of gray¡ªhis favorite style. He used to love the ce, not just for the apartment itself, but the decor and ambiance.

    But today, as he stormed inside with a face like thunder, nothing looked right anymore.

    There was a shelf crammed with knick-knacks to the side. With a swift motion, Finnian knocked it over. The crash of breaking ornaments echoed.

    Stepping over the wreckage, he copsed onto the sofa, his mind reying the earlier scene. The rage inside him burned fiercely, with nowhere to vent.

    Just then, the doorbell rang. It was Dorian, calling from outside. "Finn, you home? Why aren''t you picking up your phone?"

    Finnian walked over and opened the door. "What are you doing here? Weren''t you with Elysia?"

    "Yeah, but we fought again after you left. She drives me nuts. You busy tomorrow morning? Let''s have a drink."

    Dorian waved the bottle of whiskey he''d brought along. As he entered, Dorian paused, eyebrows raised at the scene before him-the fallen shelf and the chaos of shattered pieces. "What happened here? Who ticked you off?"

    It was clear this wasn''t an ident. No one else would dare cause such a mess in

    Finnian''s home. It was obvious Finnian himself had done it.

    Finnian kicked aside some broken ceramics and led Dorian to the living room. Once they were settled on the couch, Finnian spoke tly, "Amara has someone else."

    Dorian had suspected as much from Finnian''s earlier conversations with Elysia back at his ce, but hearing it confirmed was still a shock. His frown grew deeply. "Amara O cheated?"

    "Pretty much."

    Finnian''s handsome face was clouded with darkness.

    "Dump that flirtatious woman already," Dorian said in a stern tone. "If your grandpa tries to push you to patch things up, tell him everything. Don''t just suffer in silence.

    Finnian didn''t respond, but the stormy look on his face was enough to keep anyone at bay.

 Chapter 129

    Dorian knew that going through something like this was tough for any guy. He patted Finnian on the shoulder and said, "Don''t dwell on it, man. Just have a drink. By tomorrow, it''ll all seem better."

    Finnian nodded, took the ss, and sipped his drink.

    The next day, Amara used the veggies fromst night''s takeout to whip up a couple of dishes. She packed up half and took it over to Keith''s ce before heading back to enjoy her meal.

    With work being slow today, she leisurely finished her breakfast and spent the morning on reading. At lunchtime, she ate the leftover breakfast and then tidied up before heading to the shooting set.

    She unlocked the door to her break room, stepped in, and as soon as the door clicked shut, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist.

    Startled, she yelped, and in an instant, she was spun around and pinned against the cold wall. Amara lifted her gaze and found herself staring into the stormy eyes of Finnian. Shocked, she blurted out, "What are you doing?"

    Then it hit her that something was off. She demanded, "How did you get in here?"

    She always locked the room when she left. It was locked when she came in, so how on earth did Finnian just appear here?

    Finnian pulled a familiar key from his pocket and gave it a little jingle without saying a word. Amara''s eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the key. She asked, "How did you get a key to my."

    Halfway through her question, she stopped. Of course, Finnian was an investor in the production. Getting a spare key would be a piece of cake for him.

    Amara asked, her tone hardened, "Mr. Everly, if you needed to see me, you could have just asked. What''s the meaning of this?"

    .n

    He had barged into her space and scared the daylights out of her by pinning her against the wall as soon as she entered. If their social standings hadn''t been worlds apart, Amara might have given him a piece of her mind right there.

    "What''s going on between you and Keith?"

    Though Finnian was questioning her, his voice remained calm.

    "Is he your lover?" he asked, enunciating each word clearly.

    Amara was speechless, her temple throbbing with disgruntlement. She almost denied it, but then she remembered Liliana.

    Finnian had Liliana, and they even had a child together. Despite being married, he allowed Liliana to call him her husband in public.

    Even if she did have a lover, Finnian''s actions were far more outrageous than

    hers. What right did he have to question her?

    The Amara from before might have swallowed her pride and exined her rtionship with Keith to

    Finnian, But now, while she knewet

    better than to openly defy Finnian and might as well back down at the heated moment, she was done biting her tongue.

    "Mr. Everly, haven''t you moved on with someone else? And ording to you, our marriage is just a transaction. Why do you even care about this? If you''re going to harp on this and interrogate me, it''s hard not

    to see you as hypocritical."

    "Yes, I am being hypocritical," Finnian replied without missing a beat as he heard what Amara said.

    His expression was steely, and his eyes revealed nothing of what he was feeling. But a man like him had no reason to lie, she supposed.

    Amara''s eyes widened, her mouth agape, unsure of how to respond.

 Chapter 130

    From high school all through college, Amara had harbored a secret crush on Finnian, even going so far as to make him her personal idol. After college graduation, she married Finnian, spending three years as his wife.

    Even though they rarely saw each other during that time, she diligently gathered information about him, making daily trips to Everly Group to deliver lunch and stay informed about his life. She believed she truly understood Finnian.

    But today''s events left Amara questioning herself. The Finnian she encountered today was nothing like the man she had in her mind.

    He was no longer the polite and upright gentleman. Instead, he barged into her break room without her consent, using his investor keys to gain ess.

    When she walked in, he brazenly wrapped an arm around her waist, pressing her against the wall with a domineering and arrogant air.

    This side of Finnian, practically like a rogue, shattered Amara''s long-held image of him, leaving her momentarily speechless.

    "What''s the matter? Don''t you have anything to say?" Finnian asked as he gazed at her, a devilish hint in the eyes, "When did you and Keith start seeing each other? How long have you been sneaking around behind my back?"

    Amara thought that was a bit rich, using her of sneaking around with Keith when he himself was involved with Liliana. How long had they been sneaking around behind her back?

    Oh right, he had just admitted to him being hypercritical.

    Amara clenched her fists, feeling her anger rise. She really wanted to give him a piece of her mind, but she reminded herself that Finnian was the big-shot investor.

    Even if he wasn''t directly investing in her show, he was someone she couldn''t afford to offend. She had to be careful with her words.

    "Mr. Everly, it''s not what you think," Amara replied, struggling to keep her anger in check.

    Fine, let him have his double standards. After all, he was the one with power and influence, while she was just a small, insignificant figure who could be crushed at any moment.

    She decided it was best to suppress the desire of demanding fairness, swallow her pride and quietly endure the humiliation.

    But just as she was about to exin her rtionship with Keith, there was a sudden knock at the door.

    "Finn, are you in there?"

    It was Liliana''s voice. The tense standoff in the room was abruptly interrupted, leaving both of them at a loss for words.

    Finnian''s expression darkened as he strode over and yanked open the door. "What are you doing here?"

    Liliana stood at the doorway, one hand resting on her stomach, biting her lip slightly as she looked up at him, silent.

    Half an hour earlier, she had noticed Finnian entering Amara''s break room, which made her uneasy. wanted to find out what he was doing in there. Then, about five

    minutes ago, Amara hadi n¨¦t

    also

    entered the room, and the door had closed behind her.

    Liliana imagined the two of them alone in a room together, considering they were still technically married. Who knew what might happen? Her anxiety grew, and she couldn''t resist knocking on the door.

    "Finn, I just wanted to see you." She said as she kept her hand on her stomach, "These past few days, think my hormones may have been all over the ce, and my emotions are erratic."

    Finnian didn''t seem annoyed by her presence; he stepped out and closed the

    door behind him, saying, "Let''s get you back to your room."

    He escorted Liliana back to her break room,forting her for a while before leaving.

    Liliana stood at the door, watching him walk off the set instead of heading back to Amara''s room, feeling slightly relieved.

    She nced over at Keith, who was filming a solo scene nearby, her eyes flickering with suspicion.

    She couldn''t shake the feeling that Finnian''s visit to Amara''s room had something

    to do with Keith.

 Chapter 131

    After changing into her outfit, Liliana headed off to the shooting set. Once she wrapped up her only scene for the day, she hailed a cab and made her way to the Everly Group building.

    On reaching the top floor, she bypassed the president''s office and went straight to Will''s. She knocked on the door.

    "Ms. Porter, what can I do for you?" Will asked respectfully after ushering Liliana inside.

    With a pleasant smile, Liliana got straight to the point. "Has Mr. Everly been investigating Amarately? Does she have an affair?"

    Will was taken aback, instinctively replying, "No way, Mrs. Everly would never do such a thing."

    For the past three years, Will had been the one closest to Amara within the Everly family. Whenever Amara brought meals over, she''d hand them directly to Will, often speaking softly to him and sometimes even bringing an extra helping just for him. This had left Will with a rather rosy view of Amara, so any insinuation against her prompted a knee-jerk defense.

    Hearing Will call Amara "Mrs. Everly" made Liliana bristle inside, though she kept her faceposed. "Did Mr. Everly mention anything about this?" she pressed.

    Will suddenly recalled a phone call from Mr. Everly, who had initially asked him to look into his wife but then abruptly changed his mind. Despite his own suspicions, he couldn''t share them with Liliana and simply shook his head, replying, "I honestly don''t know, Mr. Everly hasn''t mentioned anything, and Mrs. Everly isn''t that type of person."

    Liliana''s lips tightened in displeasure towards Will.

    Her gaze wandered, stopping on a document lying on the table¡ªa divorce agreement signed by both Finnian and Amara. It must belong to theirs, she assumed.

    She walked over and picked it up, flipping through the pages, her eyes widening in disbelief. They were divorcing, and Finnian was giving Amara so much money? How could this be?

    Amara had married into the Everly family as a sort of good luck charm, and three years ago, she had already received apensation package. Now they were divorcing, why would Finnian give her more

    Amara hadn''t borne any children for the Everly family, nor had she suffered any loss. On what grounds did she deserve this? Liliana''s fingers clenched tight, crumpling the paper with her grip.

    "Ms. Porter, is there something about the agreement that concerns you?" Will asked cautiously, noticing Liliana''s tight hold on the document.

    Liliana snapped back to reality, cing the agreement back on the table with a smile, and she responded, "Oh, I just got lost in thought about something from the production. My apologies.

    I just dropped by to ask a few questions. Don''t worry about it, and there''s no need to mention my visit to Mr. Everly. I''ll be on my way now."

    She gave Will a few more soft instructions, trusting his sharpness and discretion, and left the Everly Group.

    It was a Tuesday, and Liliana went to her parents'' house for dinner. As the meal was wrapping up, Jenny

    cautiously inquired, "Sweeenny t

    sw neve

    Ene

    your appetite is still strong recently. Do you have any morning sickness?"

    Liliana stiffened, setting her utensils down, and countered with a hint of irritation, "Not having morning sickness is a good thing. Not every

    pregnant woman experiences

    You''re my mom, you should be

    hoping for the best for me, not wishing difort on me What kind of mother does that?"

    Jenny nearly dropped her fork, taken aback by her daughter''s sharp retort. She

    had merely asked an innocent question and couldn''t fathom what had gotten into Lilianately.

 Chapter 132

    Ethan tapped his fork against the table, frowning. "Let''s not talk about this anymore, let''s just eat."

    "I''m done, I''ve lost my appetite."

    Liliana stood up and headed straight for the bedroom.

    She couldn''t stop thinking about everything that had happenedtely, especially the divorce papers she''d seen in Will''s office that afternoon, the ones that had almost made her explode with anger. Her frown deepened as she dwelled on it.

    Time rolled on, and there were only three days left until the end of Amara and Finnian''s divorce cooling-off period.

    As the date approached, Amara felt increasingly relieved. She found herself humming tunes every now and then, and it was obvious to everyone how happy she was.

    But that afternoon, she got a call that dampened her spirits.

    "Ms. Sullivan, let''s meet at the Starbucks by the shooting location at one this afternoon. I''ll be waiting for you at the window seat."

    Hearing Liliana''s voice, Amara immediately retorted, "Why should I have coffee with you? I''m not going."

    After everything that had happened, Amara didn''t even bother with the usual pleasantries and was direct.

    Liliana was persistent. "I want to discuss something rted to your divorce. I promise it won''t be nonsense, Ms. Sullivan,e on, let''s sit and talk."

    Amara wanted to ask what it was about, but Liliana hung up abruptly. When she tried calling back, Liliana''s phone was off.

    Amara furrowed her brows. She didn''t want to deal with Liliana, but she was curious about what Liliana was up to.

    After all, a coffee shop was a public ce, and Liliana couldn''t do anything there. With that in mind, she decided to go.

    "Ms. Sullivan, I''ve seen your divorce agreement. Most of the terms seem fair, but Finn shouldn''t be giving you so much money. You don''t deserve that much."

    As soon as Amara sat down at the window seat in the caf¨¦, Liliana began. Amara''s lips curled into a bone chilling smile.

    "That''s Finnian''s decision. Whether I deserve it or not is up to him, not you. Please understand that."

    Her words were blunt, but Liliana seemed unfazed and continued,

    l.ne

    "Ms. Sullivan, I hope you can voluntarily give up the assets Finn is offering and leave with nothing."

    en

    "What?"

    Amara was taken aback.

    "After all, the Everly family gave you plenty of money three years ago That''s more than enough to keep youfortable for the rest of your life. You shouldn''t take what''s not yours," Liliana went on.

    "Otherwise," she added with a gruesome smile, "when people get unexpected windfalls, they often find they can''t handle it and end up losing everything."

    say

    Her words were practically a curse. Amara snapped, "Liliana, I''ve already said I''m keeping that money. Who are you toe here and try to change my mind? You have no in my business. Besides, that''s Finnian''s money he''s giving me. If you have a problem, take it up with him, not me."

    Indeed, Liliana couldn''t stand the thought of it. If it went well, she would be Finnian''s future wife, so she viewed his money as practically hers.

    When she found out Finnian had given Amara so much, including three million

    dors and a mansion worth over ten million, it drove her crazy.

    That was why she was here, trying to negotiate with Amara.

    "Ms. Sullivan, why do you even need that much money?"

 Chapter 133

    Seeing that Amara wasn''t aspliant as she''d imagined, Liliana tried a different approach.

    "Did you marry into the Everly family just for the money? And aren''t you secretly thrilled that Mr. Kevin Everly is blocking your divorce? More money if you stay married, right?"

    Amara found the ideaughable. A smirk yed on her lips. "Think whatever you want. The money''s already in my hands, and your jealousy won''t change that."

    It was clear to Amara that Liliana''s demanding her giving up the divorce assets was envy. She just couldn''t stand the fact that Amara had walked away with so much cash. Liliana must have imagined herself as Finnian''s wife and resented that Amara was spending what she believed should have been hers.

    Realizing this, Amara saw no point in arguing. She could simply enjoy riling Liliana up.

    Liliana''s frustration boiled over. Brows knitted, she remarked, "Ms. Sullivan, you''re finally showing your true colors. You''re just after the Everly family''s wealth. And..."

    Her tone turned sharp. "I heard you have an affair with the leading man from our production? You really can''t control yourself, can you? Instead of being a dutiful wife at home, you''re out there with another man. Are you nning to drain the Everly family dry and run off with your lover? You must be so pleased with yourself, getting all that money."

    Amara found Liliana''s usations absurd but held her tongue, watching her with

    cold eyes.

    "Why aren''t you saying anything?" Liliana pressed, her teeth clenched. "Are you ashamed because I hit a nerve?"

    "Not at all," Amara replied. "You''re spouting nonsense and falsely using me of being unfaithful. You''re the one who should be ashamed."

    "If you weren''t unfaithful, why is Keith so fond of you? Don''t give me that ''just friends'' line. He was all over you in public, sticking with you through thick and thin. Friends don''t do that."

    Liliana''s words were pointed, as if she was trying to nail down Amara''s supposed infidelity.

    Amara had been ready to dismiss Liliana''s twisted logic but then a thought struck her: was Liliana hoping to prove her guilty of infidelity so she''d get less money in the divorce?

    Augh bubbled up from Amara. "Liliana, are you really that illiterate?"

    "What do you mean?" Liliana questioned.

    "Thew protects those with assets, not the wronged party in a scandal of infidelity. In a divorce case, a judge might grant a modest

    spouse, but it''s usually just a few hundred or thousand dors. Not much at all. If you''re clueless about thew, maybe you should study up," Amara exined.

    "And as for infidelity, Finnian was the one who cheated on me first. You

    two even have a child together. That''s far worse than anything I''ve done. So what gives you the right to judge me? You really are shameless."

    Amara had no need to maintain appearances in front of Liliana. She spoke her mind freely, while Liliana still had to contain herself, her body visibly trembling with rage.

    "You''ve finally shown your true colors, haven''t you?. While you''re out with another wild man, you''re scheming to take Finn''s wealth. You''re the real shameless one here!"

    After Liliana finished, Amara

    abruptly stood and pped her

    across the face. The sound echoed, and Liliana''s head snapped to the side, her pale cheek marked by a vivid red handprint, stark and shocking.

 Chapter 134

    She touched her burning cheek, staring in disbelief at Amara. "Did you just p me?"

    "Yes, I did hit you!"

    Amara hadn''t wanted to get into it, but Liliana''s twisted logic and usations pushed her over the edge.

    "Let me ask you, what is my marriage with Finnian? Is it a real marriage or just a contract? If it''s a real marriage, then Finnian was the one who cheated on me first. He is the guiltiest one, and not just that, he even had a kid with the other woman.

    I didn''t make a fuss about him having an illegitimate child out there, so why is he throwing a fit about me seeing someone else? And if it''s a contract, then we each go our own way, no interference. Even if I have someone else, so what? What''s it to you? Double standards much, huh? Don''t you feel ashamed when you spout those words?"

    Amara''s words flowed without pause, and as she finished, apuse erupted from the people around them. They eximed, "Yes, well said!"

    "Another mistress trying to unt in front of the wife, huh? Serves her right!"

    Amara was taken aback and looked around instinctively. A small group of twenty and thirty-somethings had gathered nearby, looking at her with admiration.

    Their little drama had made quite amotion, drawing a few people''s attention. Although these onlookers didn''t often surf the Net or know Amara or Liliana personally, their exchange painted a vivid picture of a scandalous drama: a morous mistress involved with the opulent husband was having a showdown with the wronged wife, who had an affair with another man.

    In their interaction, Amara''s logical argument stood strong while Liliana''s faltered, and the sensible crowd naturally sided with Amara. Seeing Amara p Liliana felt like justice, and they apuded enthusiastically.

    While Amara and the onlookers felt vindicated, Liliana couldn''t take it anymore. She sprang to her feet, covering her face, and dashed out of the caf¨¦.

    With Liliana gone, Amara didn''t want to linger either. She declined the requests from people wanting to add her on WhatsApp and left the ce.

    Once outside, the cold wind hit her face, bringing her back to her senses. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

    She had acted on impulse and actually pped Liliana. This wasn''t going to just blow over, she

    spected. Amara was always wary of Finnian and Liliana''s status,

    careful not to truly unleash her anger on them. But sometimes, their

    actions were just too much to bear.

    Thest time she pped Liliana, Finnian showed up at her door to confront her. So, for the rest of the

    day, Amara was on edge, anxiously waiting for Finnian to show up.

    But a whole day passed, and there was no sign of Finnian. She was puzzled. Was Finnian too busy toe by? Or was Liliana too caught up to inform him?

    The following morning, still without any news, Amara thought maybe the incident

    had blown over, until she received a call from Liliana.

    "Amara,e to the Everly family estate. I have something important to announce."

    Amara paused, perplexed. Liliana announcing something important at the Everly family estate? What kind of authority did she have to make announcements there?

    Feeling uneasy, Amara hung up and drove to the estate. As she entered the living room, she was stunned to see it packed with people.

    It felt like Peter''s birthday party all

    over again. Peter, Bess, Martin, Andrea, their children, and all the Everly family''s inws-nearly every important family member was present.

 Chapter 135

    At the time, Kevin came downstairs, settling into the head chair with a frown as he watched Liliana, who was charming everyone around. He didn''t look pleased at

    all.

    When Amara appeared, Kevin waved her over with a warm smile. "Ama, dear,e over here. It''s been just a few days, and I''ve already missed you. Come, let me have a look at you."

    At the sight of Kevin''s affectionate wee for Amara, Liliana''s smile faltered for a brief moment. But remembering what was about to unfold, she let out a frosty smirk inwardly, her lips curled up.

    "Kevin, I''m here," Amara greeted Kevin before turning to Liliana with an indifferent look. She asked, "You called me over for something?"

    "Exactly, if there''s something to say, get on with it," Kevin added, impatience etched on his face.

    Today, Hogan had brought Liliana over again, and it annoyed Kevin to no end. He was practically on the verge of kicking her out. Then, she mentioned having an important announcement, which had prompted the whole Everly family to gather. This whole charade was clearly Liliana''s doing, and Kevin was visibly annoyed.

    "Let''s wait until Finn arrives. He''s on his way, won''t be long," Liliana assured, her tone slightly smug as if she had everything under control. This only made Kevin more irritated.

    Just then, as if on cue, the door clicked open, and Finnian walked in. He nodded briefly at his grandpa, ignored Amara, and headed straight to Liliana. "What''s this about?" he asked her.

    Liliana whispered something to him before turning to address the ten or so core members of the Everly family. "I''ve gathered everyone here to make an announcement," she began.

    "But before I do, I''d like you all to listen to this recording."

    A sense of foreboding washed over Amara, and she wanted to stop Liliana, but it was toote. Liliana had already pulled out her phone and hit y.

    "Yes, I did hit you! I didn''t make a fuss about him having an illegitimate child out there. So why should he care about me seeing other men?

    We have an open rtionship; we do our own things without interference. So why is he throwing a fit about me seeing someone else? What''s it to you?

    Think whatever you want. The money''s already in my hands, and your jealousy won''t change that."

    The recording yed without pause, apparently indicating the voice owner had said it in one go, and the voice, which everyone felt familiar, was unmistakably Amara''s.

    At the moment, Everly family members all turned to her in

    disbelief, as if seeing her for the first

    time. Amara herself was in shock,

    unable to believe what she was hearing.

    Those words were indeed hers from

    e

    yesterday, but the context and details had been deliberately manipted, leaving out crucial parts of the conversation,pletely distorting her intended meaning.

    Feeling a rush of panic, she snapped, "Liliana, what are you doing?"

    Ignoring Amara, Liliana pocketed her phone and turned to the family with a look of feigned hurt.

    "What I wanted to tell you all today is this. Ms. Sullivan has been seeing another man while still married to Finn. And part of the reason she''s dragging out the divorce is to im a share of the Everly family assets. She ns to take the Everly family''s money and spend it with another man."

 Chapter 136

    The Everly family members exchanged bewildered nces at her words. It was like a storm had already brewed inside each of them, leaving them stunned into silence.

    But Liliana didn''t seem to mind. She carried on, "I know I''m not exactly the best person to bring this up, given my awkward position here. But I truly care about Finn, and I can''t stand by while he, or any of you, are deceived. I just want to expose the truth, so everyone can see Ms. Sullivan for who she really is."

    The room shifted as the Everlys finally broke out of their shock, each disying a range of reactions beyond disbelief.

    Peter and Bess wore expressions of disdain, as if pondering how someone like Amara could ever im to be part of the Everly family.

    Martin and Andrea furrowed their brows deeply, their thought unreadable.

    Kevin sat frozen in his chair, his eyes wide with shock. Finnian stood there, his face dark as a thundercloud, radiating an intimidating aura.

    Hogan and Celeste were the quickest to react. Hogan swiftly jumped out of his position, angrily pointing at Amara. "You had the nerve to be with another man behind my brother''s back? How shameless can you be? You spent our family''s money on someone else! You''re a disgrace! How did someone like you even get through the family''s door?"

    Hogan unleashed a torrent of insults at Amara, and not a single person came to her defense. Amara was fuming, her anger reaching a boiling point.

    "Is this... is this true?" Kevin finally spoke, his voice trembling as he stood, disbelief etched across his face.

    "Amara, how could you do such a thing? This is so hard for me to take."

    When Kevin uttered the first part, Amara was about to defend herself. But the second part, with its implicit trust in Liliana''s recording which made him believe her being unfaithful, shut her downpletely.

    Liliana''s trick was simple-a cleverly edited recording thatpletely

    distorted Amara''s words. The editing was so seamless that it left no room for doubt, and Kevin,

    unfamiliar with such technology, believed it wholeheartedly

    But the fact that he didn''t even give Amara a chance to exin left her feeling cold and abandoned.

    "Amara, don''t you have anything to say for yourself?" Hogan criticized indignantly as he noticed her remaining silent. "You''ve shamed the family. Shouldn''t you be on your knees apologizing?"

    Asking her to kneel and apologize? Amara''s temper red instantly. She raised her eyes and stated, "First of all, I wasn''t being unfaithful. That recording was edited to mean the opposite of what I actually said. I not only did not cheat on him, but I also never confessed to such a thing in front of Liliana!"

    "Secondly, even if I had had an affair, why am I the only one being I

    med? He..." she kept on, pointing at Finnian, "has been with the other women and even had a child. If anyone deserves me, he''s way out of line. Why didn''t you rebuke him but target me instead? Is it because I''m a woman and easier to push around?"

    "You''re being called out because your promiscuous behavior!" Hogan shouted. "You shameless."

    "Promiscuous? Did you even go to school? Do you even know what that word means?"

 Chapter 137

    Amara didn''t hold back, not one bit.

    She was shaking with anger, a thousand words on the tip of her tongue, but none of them came out. All she could do was throw back whatever was hurled at her.

    She knew how it was in this world; the double standards between men and women when it came to infidelity were clear as day. A woman stepping out was seen as an unforgivable sin, especially when she and Finnian were on such unequal footing.

    Finnian could get away with his misdeeds, with people only calling him a dies'' man" at worst. But for her, it felt like the whole world was ready to push her off a cliff, and to make matters worse, she hadn''t even done anything wrong. She was being falsely used!

    Hogan, having been shut down by Amara, was fuming. He wanted tosh out again but couldn''t find the words.

    Kevin''s eyes were misty as he spoke, his voice trembling. "Ama, I understand. I won''t treat you any different than Finn, even though he''s my grandson. I know how much you''ve suffered over the years, and I''m on your side.

    But this whole mess, no matter who''s at fault, it just breaks my heart. Finn''s been fooling around with that actress, even has a bastard on the way. You think I''m okay with that? I am not okay. It''s not just because she''s an actress, but this whole affair and a baby out of wedlock, it''s all too much to bear."

    Kevin didn''t mince words, disrespecting either her or her baby, making it clear in front of Liliana that he didn''t ept her or the child she was carrying.

    Liliana''s face was a storm cloud; her destination was to publicly chastise Amara, but she hadn''t expected to be dragged into this and end up so tarnished.

    "Kevin, I swear I didn''t do anything. I''m being set up."

    Amara''s eyes reddened at Kevin''s words. She wasn''t sure if he truly meant what he said or if he was biased towards his grandson but trying not to show it. But ultimately, that didn''t matter.

    What mattered was that over the

    past month, Kevin had been

    unyielding in his stance against Liliana and had evenid into Finnian about it.

    So, Amara knew that at least Kevin wasn''t ying favorites between her and Finnian. But she was innocent! She hadn''t done anything wrong!

    "You''re still denying it? Liliana''s alreadyid out the evidence, and you''re still stubborn as a mule."

    Hogan, who had been forcibly shut down, regained his footing, and jumped at the chance to counter Amara''s denial.

    "Enough!"

    A cold, hard voice cut through the

    tension-it was Finnian. Since

    entering the room, Finnian hadn''t

    uttered a word. Now, everyone turned to look at him, seeing his face dark with rage, eyes zing with

    fury.

    He strode over to Amara, ignoring the startled gazes of those around him.

    Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her out of the room.

    "You''re still not going to admit it?" Finnian demanded as they were outside, ring at her sternly.

    "And you''re still not going to believe me?" Amara shot back, not answering his question.

    She thought Finnian had brought her out to get to the bottom of things, but it seemed he had already made up his mind.

    "I only trust what I see," Finnian said. "I saw Keith wrap his arm around you, right there in public."

 Chapter 138

    He didn''t just trust his own eyes; he''d got faith in Liliana''s recording too, Amara thought bitterly.

    She turned her back. "Well, if you don''t believe me, I can''t force you. Either way, I didn''t do it. Thanks for getting me out of there. I''ll be on my way now."

    She had been a bit worried about how she''d escape from that situation, but now that Finnian had gotten her out, she could leave directly.

    "Mrs. Everly, please wait a moment. Mr. Kevin Everly wants to see you."

    Lisa appeared seemingly out of nowhere, blocking Amara''s path with a respectful demeanor.

    Kevin wanted to see her? Amara wasn''t sure what he needed from her-maybe to question her or something else. But she had a soft spot for Kevin, so she followed Lisa upstairs.

    "You need me, Mr. Everly?" she asked, keeping her head low as she entered the study.

    She thought of calling him by name, but remembering how Kevin no longer saw her as someone close, she decided against it. No need to delude herself.

    Kevin, ever the perceptive one, noticed the change in Amara''s demeanor right away. He felt a pang of sadness and gently took Amara''s hand. "Ama, why such formalities?"

    Amara''s eyes instantly became red-rimmed. She grasped Kevin''s hand back, her voice heavy with emotion as she responded, "Kevin, I really wasn''t being unfaithful. Here''s what actually happened, that day on set..."

    Amara gave him a brief rundown of the events. As Kevin listened, he went from shock to anger, finally mming his hand down on the desk.

    "How could something like this happen? It''s outrageous! It''s all that pair of hellions'' fault!"

    By "hellions", he obviously meant Finnian and Liliana. Kevin''s use of such strong words showed just how furious he was.

    "Kevin, the incident has passed, and I can let it go. But I can''t stand being wrongfully used," Amara said.

    "Alright, alright, don''t be upset. I''ll find a way to clear your name."

    Mr. Kevin Everlyforted Amara, promising to get to the bottom of things before letting her leave. True to his word, he gathered the family, dering that Amara hadn''t been unfaithful and that the rumors were unfounded.

    But word had already spread about Keith holding Amara on set, and with Liliana''s recording in y, nobody believed Kevin, which irritated Kevin.

    Amara returned home, trying to shake off the unpleasantness and got a good night''s sleep. The next

    morning, she packed her things and headed back to the shooting set.

    en

    She barely had a moment to settle in the break room when an unwee visitor

    showed up-it was Hogan, who had publicly insulted her the day before.

    Not wanting to create a scene in front of the whole crew, Amara held her

    at him.

    "Listen up Amara. Our family''s

    money has nothing to do with you to

    begin with. After what you did to

    betray my brother, you''re not getting a single cent of his assets!" Hogan snapped.

    "I suggest you drop any im to the divorce settlement, or you''re in for a rough time!"

    Hogan''s threats didn''t faze Amara. She smirked callously, replying, "Did Liliana put you up to this?"

    She saw through it all now-Hogan was just Liliana''sckey. He''d probably jump through hoops for her, no questions asked.

    "Doesn''t matter who sent me. The fact is, you cheated on him, and as the guilty party in the marriage, you should give up any im to our family''s assets."

 Chapter 139

    "Amara, you can''t seriously be this shameless, can you? Hanging out with some random guy while clinging to my family''s money?"

    Amara had always thought of Hogan as aplete idiot, constantly reminding herself not to get upset over the words of a fool, not to stoop to his level. But each insult from him cut deeper than thest, and no amount of self-soothing could dull

    the sting.

    "Get the hell out of here! This is my room, and I don''t want to see your face. Leave!" she shouted, her voice imbued with anger.

    Ignoring his nonsense, Amara focused on kicking him out. Hogan''s temper red, but just as he was about to hurl more insults, his phone buzzed. Liliana''s name shed on the screen, and he forced himself to calm down before stepping out to take the call.

    A few momentster, there was a knock on the door. This time, it was Keith''s voice. "Ama, open up."

    Amara wiped away the tears that had escaped, ncing in the mirror to ensure she lookedposed before opening the door.

    "What brings you here? Don''t you have an event today?"

    "Finished up and came right over," Keith replied, stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

    "Saw some strange guy leaving your room just now. Who was that?"

    Keith''s question brought Hogan back to the forefront of her mind, and with it, all the frustration she felt.

    Growing up, Amara had been bullied countless times by Elowen and Fiona. But Elowen only dared to insult her behind her back; never would she risk Larry overhearing. Yet, since marrying into the Everly family three years ago, people like Hogan and Celeste didn''t hesitate to publicly scorn her.

    Amara was at her wit''s end, her patience worn thin by both old grievances and

    new.

    "Ama, what''s wrong? Why are you crying?" Keith asked, rmed as she suddenly started to tear up. He instinctively reached to wipe her tears but paused, remembering his hands weren''t clean. Instead, he grabbed a few tissues and gently dabbed her eyes.

    "I can do it myself," Amara said, taking the tissues and drying her tears.

    Calming down a bit, she exined, "The guy you saw was Hogan, Finnian''s cousin."

    At the mention of Finnian, Keith''s brow furrowed. "What was he doing here? Was he bothering you?"

    To Keith, Finnian was a beast, and the Everly family was even worse. He immediately assumed Hogan had bad intentions.

    Amara nodded. Keith was one of her

    closest friends, and there was nothing she couldn''t share with him. She recounted everything that had happened over the past few days.

    Keith hadn''t realized that the trouble started because of him. He cursed himself for putting his arm around Amara''s shoulder in public. If only he''d spoken up for her without the physical gesture.

    But what had done was done, pointless to dwell on it. Keith imed, "They''re bullying you, huh? I''ll deal with them right now."

    With that, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to confront them. Amara was startled, quickly stopping him. "Don''t be rash!"

    She had been all in fury, but seeing Keith so worked up, she felt amused and exasperated at the same time.

 Chapter 140

    "It''s no use exining to them; they only believe what they want to believe."

    Amara sighed, her view of human nature always leaning towards the pessimistic side.

    Keith paced back and forth in the break room, his brows furrowed tightly. Suddenly, he said, "Ama, why don''t you just admit to it? Since they''re already using you of having an affair, admitting it would really stick it to them."

    "No way!" Amara shot back without a second thought.

    She and Keith were just friends, but with Keith''s celebrity status, any false admissions would bring a heap of trouble their way.

    "Oh, there''s something else," Amara continued, biting her lip. "After Hogan left earlier, I made a decision. I want to give Finnian back the money and the house I got from the divorce."

    "Keith, do you think I''m being incredibly foolish?" she asked with a tinge of apprehension.

    Amara was independent and headstrong, but when it came to major decisions, she often sought the support of her close friends. It was this need for support that had caused a rift between her and Keith in the past.

    "Not foolish at all," Keith replied calmly, much to her surprise. "They''ve given you money for the marriage back then, right?"

    "Yes, they gave me three million dors and some property as a settlement. During the divorce, Finnian gave me another three million, plus a house worth over ten million."

    "Alright, return the money and the house, but keep the initial settlement. If you don''t owe them anything, you can stand your ground next time they try to push you around," Keith advised.

    "Sounds good!"

    Amara agreed with Keith''s reasoning. It was precisely this line of thinking that had led her to consider returning the money.

    She nned to keep only what she was initiallypensated for, which she was entitled to, and give the rest back. That way, if the Everly family ever tried to use it against her, she could stand up for herself

    With her decision made, Amara headed straight to the Everly Group, making her way to the president''s office at the top floor.

    "Mr. Everly, I need to talk to you."

    Finnian was busy at his desk when Amara approached with a freshly printed document in hand. He looked up with a cold, steely gaze. "What is it?"

    Amara handed him the papers.

    "Our divorce finalizes in a few days. Don''t get me wrong, I have no objections to the divorce. We''ll go get the paperwork done as soon as the period ends. This thing is a done deal However, I''d like to renegotiate the property settlement.

    You gave me a house and three million dors. I don''t want any of it. I want to leave with nothing. This is the revised settlement agreement. Sign it, and I''ll return every cent you transferred to me."

    Amara spoke with a calm demeanor. Finnian''s downcast eyes were hidden by his hair, his emotions inscrutable.

    "Why give it all up?" he asked, a hint of mockery in his tone. "Is Keith so rich that you don''t want my money anymore?"

    §Ö§ä

    Amara frowned; hisment was unwarranted. But she chose not to argue, instead replying honestly, "I hadn''t nned on changing the settlement, but Liliana came to me a few days ago, demanding I forgo what you gave me and leave with nothing. I refused then. But today, Hogan came to me too, insisting I abandon the settlement and hurling pretty nasty insults my way."

 Chapter 141

    "After going through all this, I''vee to a realization. I can''t take money from the Everly family, and frankly, there''s no reason to do it. You never owed me anything in the first ce. So, here it is. I''m giving it all back."

    Amara''s voice was steady, but Finnian''s expression darkened with each passing second. He red at the document on the table, his thoughts a mystery.

    Seeing his silence, Amara took it as agreement and turned to leave.

    "Stop!"

    Finnian called her as he rose from his chair, striding over to face her.

    His intense gaze bore into hers. "Is this really what you want? What are you nning to do after the divorce, running into Keith''s arms? How much is he going to give you, and are you nning to take it all?"

    The usation was absurd. Amara looked up. "Mr. Everly, I have no idea what you''re implying."

    Her fists clenched, anger bubbling beneath the surface. Finnian was being ridiculous. She exined she was amending the property agreement for the sake of Liliana and Hogan, yet here he was, dragging Keith into the conversation. What was his problem?

    She was done with this. She uttered in a grim tone, "Mr. Everly, you can think whatever you like. We''re getting divorced soon, and I''m tired of arguing. Let''s just get everything sorted."

    With that, she didn''t spare him another nce and walked out.

    Finnian watched her angr form, his expression twisted with conflicting emotions. Even after the door closed and she was gone, his gaze lingered.

    After sitting in his office for a while, Finnian stood up and headed over to Liliana''s apartment.

    "Finn, what brings you here?"

    Finnian rarely visited unannounced, and as Liliana saw it was him when opening the door, her lips instantly curled upward; she weed him inside.

    But once inside, she noticed his grim demeanor.

    Instead of walking further inside, Finnian just stood in the entryway his face set in a hard line as he questioned, "Did you talk to Amara and tell her to give up her share of divorce assets?"  en

    Liliana''s smile froze, her heart racing with sudden panic.

    "Did you?" Finnian pressed as there was no reply.

    He had already guessed the truth from Liliana''s reaction, not to mention he trusted Amara not to lie about something like this. He just wanted to hear it from Liliana.

    Liliana bit her lip. "Yes, I did talk to

    her. I was in Will''s office and

    identally saw the divorce papers.

    It seemed unfair to give her so

    much. I didn''t mean anything else."

    Her face burned with shame, wishing she could disappear. She had thought of Amara as someone who wouldn''t cause trouble, a bit meek

    keven, which gave her the confidence to confront Amara. But she hadn''t expected Amara to be upfront with Finnian.

    Regret gnawed at her at the moment, knowing it was toote to take back her actions.

    "Why did you do it?"

    Finnian''s voice was calm but clearly displeased, his expression darkened.

    "Amara deserves something from our divorce. After all, she''s been through a lot

    all these years. How could you ask her to forgo her share?"

    Liliana''s face was ame, but she still believed she was right. Seeing Finnian willing to give Amara such a hefty sum infuriated her.

 Chapter 142

    Liliana grew up in a family struggling to make ends meet. Her parents were both blue-cor workers, and over the years, she''d been determined to climb the socialdder, enduring hardships most people couldn''t imagine.

    Then there was Amara, born with a silver spoon. She seemed to get everything without lifting a finger. It was infuriating!

    But when Finnian found out what Liliana had done, it made her seem so petty. She was at a loss for words.

    Seeing the shame written all over Liliana''s face, Finnian knew she regretted her actions. He sighed, rubbing his temples in exasperation. "Don''t do anything like that again. It''s our family that owes Amara, not the other way around."

    Liliana''s relief was palpable when Finnian''s tone softened, her red eyes lifted. "Finn, I''m just d you''re not mad at me. I acted impulsively and regretted it the moment I did it."

    She fought back tears, trying to appear innocent and vulnerable while internally fuming. How had Amara wronged the Everly family? She unted her rtionship with Keith in public,pletely disregarding Finnian''s feelings. Was that loyalty to the Everly family?

    But Finnian was generous enough not to take back the money given to Amara just on ount of that aspect. Clearly, he wasn''t considering her infidelity when he spoke, so Liliana kept her silence on the matter.

    Soon, Finnian left. Instead of returning to the office, he drove to the Everly''s estate. Parking in the driveway, he entered the main house.

    Kevin''s bedroom door was closed. Finnian gently opened it and saw his grandfather sleeping soundly. He stood in the doorway, not wanting to disturb him.

    "Mr. Finnian Everly, Mr. Kevin Everly''s been asleep for about half an hour. He usually naps around this time and should wake up soon," Lisa whispered, tiptoeing over.

    Finnian nodded, his hand still on the doorknob, and after staying quietly for a moment, he carefully closed the door.

    The house''s walls were thick, and once the door was shut, Lisa spoke a normal volume. "Mr. Finnian Everly, I know a lot has happened recently, and both you and Mr. Kevin Everly are under a lot of stress. But remember, you''re the one he cares about most. Don''t buy it when he talks about liking Mrs. Amara Everly. You''re his grandson. He wants you to have a better life, which is why he supports her. Don''t hold it against him."

    Lisa was well aware the tension between Kevin and Finnian over this period of time.

    Finnian nodded. "I know, Lisa. Thanks for saying that."

    He nced again at the closed door before saying, "I''ll head out. Let him rest, and no need to tell him I stopped by."

    With that, Finnian left the estate and returned to his apartment.

    Meanwhile, life had been pretty uneventful for Amara. Her days were routine, without any crises at work or at home. Yet, despite the calm, she couldn''t shake her anxiety.

    The end of the period for her divorce from Finnian was near, and she feared something might go wrong.

    But that morning, when Amara woke up, everything seemed normal. The weather was fine, traffic was

    smooth, and no breaking news. disturbed the peace. Even the Everly

    family had been quiet. Her worries began to ease.

    After freshening up, she had a simple breakfast, dressed in a in summer dress, and styled her hair. True to her and Finnian''s arrangement, she drove to the city hall at the appointed time.

 Chapter 143

    It was 8:50 AM, and Amara was early by ten minutes. She wasn''t in a rush, so she just sat in her car, waiting patiently.

    The second hand of her watch ticked away, followed by the minute hand, and soon it was 9:00 AM.

    Amara stepped out of her car, noticing only couples going in and out of the ce, but no sign of Finnian. It was weird-Finnian was always so punctual. He actually didn''t respect the time.

    Well, being just a minutete wasn''t a big deal. Amara wasn''t worried yet and found a spot under a shady tree to continue waiting.

    Another ten minutes passed, and still no Finnian. Amara pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

    "Sorry, I can''t answer the call. Please leave a message."

    The dial tone droned on for a few seconds before it went to the voice mail.

    Amara frowned, puzzled by Finnian''s tardiness and his unavability. Was his phone not on him? Did something urgente up at thest minute?

    It seemed usible. Finnian was a busy man, and emergencies were part of his routine. Amara tried to calm her anxious mind, deciding to distract herself while she waited.

    Another ten minutes slipped by, and it was now 9:20 AM. Still no Finnian. Amara felt this was getting unreasonable. Even if there was an emergency, he could have at least sent her a text.

    Thinking it over, she decided to call Will. Thetter picked up quickly. "Mrs. Everly, what can I do for you?"

    Amara didn''t bother correcting his formal address. She cut to the chase, "What is Mr. Everly doing? Is he on his way?"

    Will paused for a second, his voice careful. "Mr. Everly is in his office, working."

    "Is there an urgent matter he needs to handle?" Amara asked. "If he''s not too busy, could you pass him the phone?"

    Will''s tone grew even more cautious at her words. "Mr. Everly doesn''t have any urgent files. He''s just doing his regr work."

    That caught Amara off-guard.

    Finnian was just working as usual, so why was he standing her up like this? It had already been over twenty minutes.

    And if he was working normally, his phone should be nearby. Why wasn''t he answering her calls?

    "Could you please hand him the phone?" Amara requested. "I''d like to have a word with him."

    "Sure, please hold on."

    Amara heard the rustle of fabric as Will presumably pocketed the phone, and then there was silence.

    After about a minute, the rustling returned, and Will''s voice came back on the line. "I''m sorry, Mrs. Everly, but Mr. Everly doesn''t want to take your call."

    Amara was stunned.

    "Why doesn''t he want to take the call? Did he say the reason?"

    "I''m sorry. Mr. Everly didn''t give a reason, he just said he wouldn''t take your call."

    "Alright then, carry on with your thing," Amara said, ending the call.

    Her fingers gripped the phone tightly, a storm of questions swirling in her mind, apanied by a tinge of anger.

    She''d assumed Finnian had a

    el!

    legitimate reason for standing her up, like an urgent issue. But it

    seemed he simply didn''t want to

    deal with her at all.

    What was this about? Did he find her so annoying that he decided to leave her hanging?

 Chapter 144

    Amara was fuming as she drove to the Everly Group headquarters. She stormed up to the top floor and banged on the door of the president''s office.

    "Come in."

    A calm male voice called from inside.

    Amara swung the door open and marched up to Finnian. She asked, "Mr. Everly, today was supposed to be the day we finalized our divorce. We''ve set a time and everything. Why didn''t you show up?"

    "And by the way, you didn''t answer my calls either," she added.

    Finnian sat behind his massive desk, while Amara stood across from him, the height discrepancy evident; she was furious, exuding an overbearing aura, yet somehow she couldn''t match hismanding presence. It felt like a child trying to argue with an adult.

    Elbows resting on the desk, Finnian gazed up at Amara. "No particr reason. I just don''t feel like getting divorced right now," Finnian replied nonchntly.

    Amara''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Why?"

    Finnian was supposed to be eager to divorce her, ready to rush into marriage with Liliana. So why the sudden change?

    "What are you saying, Mr. Everly?" Amara asked again, unable to believe her

    ears.

    "Exactly what it sounds like," Finnian said, but Amara somehow felt his tone mischievous. "I just don''t want to, for now."

    Amara found it absurd and infuriating, but she was too cautious to explode. She asked slowly, enunciating each word, "So when will you want to?"

    "Depends on my mood."

    She red at him, certain now that he was being deliberately difficult. His casual, almost teasing demeanor suggested he was ying some kind of game.

    Amara''s anger, already simmering,

    ???

    red up. Her voice rose slightly. "What do you mean by this, Mr. Everly? We agreed to the divorce and finally, the waiting period is over. Why the sudden change of heart? You imed you don''t want to divorce, at least give me a reason!"

    Finnian watched the fire in her eyes, reying her words about the waiting period. Did she really want to divorce him so badly? What was her n afterward? To be with Keith openly?

    He stood up, cing his hands on the desk, towering over Amara. His presence was even more imposing now. He uttered, "There is no reason. Whether we divorce or not depends on my mood."

    Amara was speechless. She was taken aback by Finnian''s audacity.

    If she didn''t have Elowen and Fiona to worry about, if she could wield the full power of the Sullivan family, even if it wasn''t enough to challenge the Eyerly family, she wouldn''t take this lying down. She''d have pepped herself up and had it out with Finnian right there.

    But she constantly reminded herself that despite her affluent

    background, she was in a position simr to an ordinary person, with no parental backing. She couldn''t afford to offend someone like Finnian.

    Kon

    So she mustered all her strength to squash the urge to punch him. To avoid doing something irreversible in her anger, Amara decided to stop arguing and turned to leave the office.

    As she walked away, Finnian''s gaze darkened. His decision to stand her up was made at thest minute, just before he was supposed to leave.

 Chapter 145

    As Finnian brooded over the past three years of marriage, when Amara had been seeing someone else behind his back, and now, with divorce on the horizon, she''d probably run straight into that guy''s arms, a dark thought crept into his mind. He couldn''t let her have her way so easily.

    Finnian admitted to himself that he was being quite nasty. After all, he had Liliana. So, technically speaking, Amara having Keith shouldn''t be a big deal.

    But he couldn''t shake off the feeling that while his affair with Liliana was idental, Amara and Keith seemed nned. Had she been cheating on him from the start? The mere thought added the frustration and humiliation to his heart.

    The idea that she might have been in another man''s arms night after night, and she was about to finally be with that guy gnawed at him.

    He couldn''t fathom why he''d be such a petty person. He just couldn''t bear it, even if he''d long stopped caring about being her husband in anything but name, or about who she''d be with.

    So, when he set out that morning to finalize the divorce, he stopped in his tracks after a few steps, thought for a moment, and decided against it.

    Finnian returned to his office, loosened his tie, and recalled Amara''s wide-eyed, silently fuming expression from earlier. Somehow, it lightened his mood. He booted up hisputer and dove back into work.

    Meanwhile, Amara stormed out of the Everly Group headquarters, her mind in a whirlwind of anger as she was seated in her car.

    What kind of man was Finnian, really? Amara discovered she had some misunderstanding about his character. She''d always thought of him as fair and reasonable, not a bad guy.

    But today, he revealed a side of himself that was anything but kind. He should have been eager to divorce her, so why wasn''t he? Was it because of Keith? Did he really believe he''d been cuckolded? Only he could had an affair, and she couldn''t, so he got upset, unwilling to set her free?

    And then there was that incident a few days ago when Finnian barged into her office, pushing her against the walk He hadn''t hurt her

    d.ne

    physically, but his behavior was far from the gentlemanly demeanor he usually disyed.

    Looked like Finnian was really a bad guy; Amara didn''t get a chance to know him well due to their less time of getting in touch back then.

    Amara, still fuming, returned home. Barely had she sunk into the sofa when the doorbell rang. Peering through the peephole, she saw Elysia and then opened the door.

    ¡°Congrattions on your freedom, Ama! Happy single life!" Elysia eximed, bursting in with a bouquet of roses in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other. She enveloped Amara in a warm hug.

    cing the flowers on the hallway table, Elysia slipped off her shoes while saying, "I brought booze. Let''s celebrate! Are we cooking here or going out?"

    Watching Elysia''s cheerful

    demeanor, Amara felt tears prick at her eyes. Suddenly, Elysia realized she''d misstepped. Amara still had feelings for Finnian. Divorce wasn''t a cause for celebration; it was a heartbreak. What on earth was she doing?

 Chapter 146

    Elysia felt a wave of guilt wash over her as she pped her forehead lightly. "Oh gosh, I''ve been drinking way too much wely-feels like my brain''s turned to mush."

    "That''s not it." Amara knew exactly what was running through her friend''s mind. She pulled a face and said, "Ely, we aren''t actually divorced."

    "What?"

    Elysia was momentarily stunned.

    "Not divorced?"

    "Yeah, we were supposed to meet at the city hall, but Finnian stood me up. When

    I went to his office, he said he wasn''t ready to sign the papers and would decide on it whenever he felt like it."

    Elysia''s temper red up instantly as she cussed out, "That jerk! Why''s he holding you back? Does he really think you''ve got something going on with Keith?

    And even if you and Keith did have something, isn''t he doing the same thing? The nerve of him, he''s such a hypocrite!"

    Amara nodded vigorously. "Exactly, he''s being so two-faced. It''s infuriating!"

    The more Amara thought about it, the more it made sense. Finnian was stalling probably because he was irritated about her and Keith.

    Initially, she wanted to exin the situation to him when the time was right, but now she realized there was no point.

    "No way, that jerk! I''ve got to go have it out with him!"

    Elysia was someone who acted first and thoughtter. She put her champagne down on the hallway table and turned to put on her shoes.

    Amara quickly stopped her. "Don''t bother. He''s clearly not going to listen to reason. What''s the point in talking to him? Let me figure something outter."

    Amara was worried Elysia would act impulsively. Elysia''s hot-headedness really needed some cooling down.

    Elysia brushed Amara''s hand away, ready to lecture her about not being so passive, but then she remembered how Amara''s timid nature was a result of years of pressure from Elowen and Fiona. It wasn''t something that would change overnight. So instead, she said, "Alright, we''ll deal with itter."

    Seeing Elysia calm down, Amara finally felt relieved. She picked up the bottle Elysia had brought. "This looks like a good bottle of wine. Let''s whip up something to eat. The?ridge is stocked; we can cook at home."

    "Sure."

    Amara and Elysia quickly got to work in the kitchen, prepping ingredients and ordering some takeout, though they decided not to open the wine.

    Elysia mentioned she had a meetingter that evening and wanted to stay clear- headed. Amara didn''t question it and insisted Elysia eat plenty.

    After leaving Amara''s apartment, Elysia hopped into her car, her eyes flickering with ideas. Instead of driving home, she decided to head somewhere else.

    "Finn, do you have any openings here? Could you find a spot for Jessica?"

    In the lounge next to the president''s office at Everly Group, Dorian sat down with Jessica across from Finnian.

    Dorian had mentioned he needed a favor, and Finnian had been curious. He hadn''t expected it to be about finding a job for Jessica.

    "Sure," Finnian replied. "What field is she interested in?"

    "Mr. Everly, I majored in humanities and have done some part-time work in copywriting. I also speak somenguages, so trantion wouldn''t be a problem."

    Jessica was wearing a simple

    cotton dress in white, with a

    barely-there makeup look that made

    her seem both innocent and

    delicate. She sat quite close to

    Dorian.

    Finnian nodded. "I''ll have Will handle it and find you a position."

    Dorian had taken over the Hawke Group but hadn''t brought Jessica on board, probably to avoid any gossip.

    Remembering all the times Dorian hadined about Elysia, Finnian started to suspect that maybe things weren''t quite what they seemed.

 Chapter 147

    "Ms. Moon, please calm down. Mr. Everly is currently entertaining guests. Ms. Moon, please wait just a moment."

    With a bang, the door to the lounge swung open. Elysia, dressed in a sharp little zer, stood at the entrance with an air of authority, her gaze icy as she surveyed the room.

    Beside her, Will, who was half a head taller, looked as if he might burst into tears any second. He nced helplessly at Finnian.

    Dorian sprang to his feet. "Elysia, what are you doing here?"

    Elysia gave him a cursory nce before her eyesnded on Jessica, who was nestled close to Dorian with an expression of feigned innocence.

    Thest time Elysia had gone to the pub to find Finnian, Dorian and Jessica had been there too. And here they were again. It seemed Dorian and Jessica were more inseparable than she had thought; who knew how many times they had been together when she wasn''t around to see it?

    Given the situation, Elysia ought to have been furious or heartbroken. But perhaps she had seen it too many times-her heart was numb.

    Ignoring Dorian''s words, she strode over to Finnian and demanded, "Why won''t you divorce Ama? What''s the point of stringing her along like this?"

    Dorian''s face was a picture of astonishment, but he remained silent.

    Finnian rose with deliberate calmness, replying, "Ms. Moon, this is between Amara and me. It has nothing to do with you. And besides, this is my private space. Outsiders are not permitted. Please leave."

    "I don''t want to hear those excuses. I''m here to settle ounts for Ama!" Elysia retorted, her voice rising in anger.

    "Do you really think Ama cheated on you, and that''s why you won''t divorce her? Even if she did, so what? You have Liliana, don''t you? Why don''t you go cuddle up to her instead?

    Ama''s presence is onlyplicating things between you and Liliana. Just let Ama go! If you keep dragging this out, Diliana will be the one who ends up hurt!"

    Though Elysia was there to confront Finnian, she knew shouting would solve

    nothing. So she deftly redirected the issue towards Liliana.

    Everyone knew Finnian''s affection for Liliana. Surely, he couldn''t continue to dy divorcing Amara and ask upsetting Liliana, she spected.

    Finnian''s expression didn''t change a bit. He replied, "My matters with Liliana are

    none of your concern either, Ms. Moon. Know your ce."

    He was as unyielding as a rock, and Elysia was at a loss for words.

    "Fine, I''m leaving right now. But don''t forget what I said. Holding onto Amara is affecting your rtionship with Liliana."

    Elysia was nothing if not straightforward. Having said her piece, she turned and left.

    For someone sharp as Finnian, the reason why he stalled the divorce process was merely because of his frustration. Once he was settled down, he''d realize it was meaningless to venting his

    exasperation on Amara oven vel

    sacrificing his happiness with Liliana. By the time, he would approve of the divorce.

    Elysia walked away without a backward nce, as if she''d forgotten there were

    other people in the room, one of whom was her own boyfriend.

    Dorian watched her retreating figure in disbelief, stunned at how Elysia had simply brushed him aside.

    "Jessica, why don''t you go outside?" Dorian said. "Wait for me there."

    "Alright."

 Chapter 148

    Jessica hesitated for a moment before stepping out, ncing back at Dorian as she closed the door. Unfortunately, Dorian was deep in thought, his expression steely, and he didn''t notice her gaze at all.

    "Finn, what''s going on? You''re not divorced from Amara?" Dorian asked the moment the door to the lounge clicked shut.

    Finnian shrugged, keeping his cool. "Why would I get divorced? She cheated on me. If I divorce her, she''s free to find someone else. No way am I giving her that satisfaction."

    Dorian could see right through that flimsy excuse-it might work on a toddler, but not on him.

    He opened his mouth to say something but realized he wasn''t in any position to give advice; he held back. His rtionship with Elysia was just as tangled, and he found it increasingly difficult to read her. He couldn''t even make sense of his own issues. What right did he have to meddle in someone else''s?

    With a sigh, he patted Finnian on the shoulder and turned to leave.

    The lounge was silent now. While Finnian was musing over something, his phone on the table buzzed. It was his grandfather calling.

    Finnian wasn''t in the mood to answer, so he leaned back on the couch, letting the phone vibrate until it finally stopped.

    At the Everly family estate, Kevin listened to the voice mail, his brow furrowing as he groaned, "Why isn''t he picking up? What''s he doing?"

    After some thought, Kevin switched gears and dialed Amara''s number instead.

    "Hello, Ama."

    Amara picked up quickly, answering after just a few rings. Kevin didn''t waste a moment. "You didn''t get divorced today? What happened?"

    He couldn''t hide the relief in his voice.

    Amara was reading on her couch, but she couldn''t focus on the words. Her mind was consumed by the day''s events. Now, with Kevin bringing it up again, she felt the

    weight of it all, though sheel"

    knew she had to respond.

    "No, we didn''t," Amara confirmed.

    To prevent him from getting any hopeful ideas, she added, "Finnian doesn''t want to. He still believes I cheated on him, and he''s holding onto this grudge, refusing to let me go."

    "Kevin," she continued, her voice tinged with fear, "I''m a bit scared."

    Kevin was taken aback. "Ama, what are you scared of?" he asked, bewildered.

    Amara lowered her voice. "I''m afraid Finnian might hurt me. He hates me now. What if he has someone beat me up or worse? What if one day he decides to have me killed? I guess no one would notice."

    Of course, Amara didn''t actually believe Finnian would go that far, but she knew Kevin would try to persuade her to reconcile with Finnian.

    However, since she and Finnian never truly got along, there was nothing to reconcile. To preempt any of Kevin''s attempts, she exaggerated her fears.

    ¡°Oh, sweetheart, you''re overthinking it,¡± Kevin reassured her quickly. ¡°Finn''s not like that. He wouldn''t do anything illegal."

    "Kevin, I used to think Finnian was a generous guy too, but turns out he''s someone quite narrow-minded, I mean, look at this mess. How can I trust your assurances when he''s already pulled a stunt like this? Don''t get me wrong, Kevin. It''s not that I don''t trust you, it''s him I can''t trust. I''m genuinely scared."

    Kevin paused, caught between his relief that the divorce hadn''t happened and the ufortable reality of Finnian''s motives which were entirely against what he''d supposed, leading to his inability to

    rebut.

    In the end, he offered more reassurances, insisting that Finnian had a good heart

    and wouldn''t intentionally harm her. Only then did Amara feel a slight sense of relief.

 Chapter 149

    After hanging up the phone, Kevin sensed something was off. How did the conversation with Amara veer so wildly off course?

    Amara, on the other hand, felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had managed to dodge another round of Kevin''s persistent attempts to talk her out of getting a divorce.

    She wasn''t curious about how Kevin seemed to know the divorce hadn''t gone through. Kevin had his ways and was always in the loop, but she hadn''t expected him to be so relentless, refusing to give up even at this point.

    Pondering for a moment, she thought about what she would do if this happened again.

    Ever since that messy situation unfolded a few days ago, everyone in the crew was aware that Amara and Finnian were heading for a divorce. They didn''t know when the cooling-off period would end, but Amara had a strange feeling that everyone knew they hadn''t finalized it.

    The way people looked at her when she arrived on set today was different, filled with curiosity or spection. But that was just a hunch. What Amara was sure of was that Liliana knew they hadn''t gotten divorced.

    Liliana''s eyes held a different kind of stare-dark and tinged with a hint of malice, like a snake lurking in the shadows, making Amara feel extremely ufortable.

    Ignoring Liliana, Amara walked through the set into the break room and closed the door behind her.

    "You two didn''t finalize it yesterday?"

    Her phone buzzed. Amara found a message from Keith.

    She sent back a nod emoji and asked, [How did you know?]

    [Elysia told me,] Keith replied. [I''m on my way to the set. I''lle find you in a bit.]

    Amara replied with a simple [Okay,] and set her phone down.

    Keith showed up soon after, storming in with a face like thunder as he snarled, "That douche Finnian refuses to divorce you? Is he just stringing you along?"

    "Yeah, that''s pretty much it," Amara replied, helpless. "I''ve tried negotiating with him, but he says he''ll decide when he feels like it."

    "What a piece of work, how can he be so wicked?" Keith fumed, his face flushed with anger. "Don''t worry, I''ll handle this. I''m going to have a word with him, asking him to sort this out!"

    He looked ready to charge out and confront Finnian, rolling up his sleeves as if preparing for a showdown.

    Amara was startled, quickly grabbing his arm. "Don''t be rash! Confronting him now won''t solve anything!"

    Finnian had made it clear he was going to be stubborn about this. Rushing in like this would only lead to another argument or fight, which wouldn''t help at all.

    Keith realized this too, stopping in his tracks but continuing to grumble about Finnian.

    Meanwhile, in the president''s office of the Everly Group, Finnian sat in a leather swivel chair withst quarter''s financial report in front of him. He should have been able to finish reviewing it quickly, buthe couldn''t focus on a single word.

    Will observed Finnian''s expression. Mr. Everly had his elbow on the desk, remaining motionless, having held that position for a couple of minutes.

    After a moment of contemtion, Will cautiously approached. He ventured, Mr. Everly, I heard that Mrs. Everty is in talks with another director about a new screeny. It seems they''ve nearly finalized things and are about to sign.

    Mrs. Everly is truly remarkable¡ªso young and already creating so many works.

    She''s bound to be a renowned screenwriter one day."

 Chapter 150

    "Why are you bringing her up out of the blue?" Finnian snapped, suddenly turning his head. "Have you finished all your work?"

    Will was left speechless. Mr. Everly was known for his calm demeanor, rarely ever raising his voice like now, especially without provocation. So, Will was momentarily stunned.

    He realized he must have struck a nerve, but still felt he hadn''t done anything wrong. It seemed the issuey with Mr. Everly himself.

    "Mr. Everly."

    Despite the setback, Will wasn''t ready to back down. After a moment''s thought, he decided on a different approach. "Ms. Porter has a couple of scenes to shoot this morning. She''s working pretty hard. Maybe you should go check on her?"

    To see Liliana? Finnian''s dark gaze remained fixed on hisputer, though his mind had already drifted elsewhere.

    After a long pause, he stood up and uttered, "Get the car ready. We''re going to the set."

    A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Will''s mouth, but he maintained hisposure. "Alright, I''ll go get the car."

    Half an hourter, Finnian found himself outside Liliana''s break room. He knocked on the door. Liliana opened it, her face lighting up upon seeing Finnian and she ushered him in. "Finn, you came to see me? Come on in."

    She poured him a ss of water, handing it to him with both hands. Finnian took a sip and ced it on the table.

    Sitting beside him, Liliana asked what brought him by, if he had already wrapped up his morning work and whatnot. Finnian rarely visited her spontaneously, so this was a pleasant surprise for Liliana.

    However, Finnian didn''t seem particrly enthusiastic. He engaged in small talk with Liliana, his expression slightly tense, frequently ncing towards the door as if distracted.

    Liliana gradually calmed down, sensing Finnian''s aloofness. What exactly was on his mind?

    A vague premonition crept into Liliana''s thoughts. Perhaps he was thinking about. She didn''t dare pursue that line of thought, finding it almost unimaginable.

    But minutes passed, and Finnian maintained his indifferent

    demeanor Growing anxious, Liliana bit her lip and said, "Finn, I''ve got to tell you something. I saw Keith heading into Amara''s break room just now."

    As expected, the mention of Amara caught Finnian''s attention. He turned to face her, asking, "When did he go in?"

    Liliana clenched her fists, replying nonchntly, "About half an hour ago. Once inside, Amara closed the door. No idea what they''re up to."

    Finnian''s eyes darkened almost immediately. He stood up. "I need to step out for a moment."

    "Finn," Liliana called after him, stepping in front of him. "You should really consider finalizing the divorce with Ms. Sullivan. Dragging it out like this isn''t doing anyone any good. I believe Ms. Sullivan isn''t a bad person, she deserves to find her own happiness. Letting her g¨¦might be the best option."

    Liliana''s heart raced as she spoke, watching Finnian''s expression intently His handsome face

    l.ne

    remained impassive, showing no

    signs of displeasure. Liliana exhaled in relief, albeit quietly.

    "I''m heading out. You should rest up; you''ve still got scenes to shootter," Finnian said without giving Liliana a reply, sidestepping her and leaving the room.

    Finnian made his way across the set to Amara''s break room and knocked on the door.

    "Who is it?" Amara''s voice came from inside.

 Chapter 151

    Finnian''s thin lips moved slightly. "It''s me."

    Everything went still inside the room.

    "What the heck is that douche doing here?" Keith, lounging in Amara''s room, shot up from the couch like a firework as he heard Finnian''s voice, heading towards the door as if ready to confront him.

    Amara, weary-eyed, held him back. "Please, don''t go out there. I''m worried you two will just end up in a fight."

    Keith''s earlier grumble hadn''t been loud enough to reach the door, plus the couch was rtively far away from the door, so Finnian likely hadn''t heard him.

    Amara kept her voice low as she said, "I won''t let him in, and I''m not talking to him. Just sit tight, okay?"

    Keith, ever concerned about Amara getting hurt when Finnian was involved, rxed a bit seeing her resolve. "That jerk showing up here unannounced is like a fox sending a Christmas card to a hen-up to no good," Keith growled as he settled back on the couch, crossing his legs.

    Amara shot him a look. "Who''s the hen here, huh? Watch your words."

    "Come on, it''s just an analogy. No need to get all technical."

    Their lifelong friendship was full of yful banter, and it seemed nothing could change that, not even at the moment.

    Mindful of Finnian possibly still lurking around, Amara subdued her voice. As expected, her phone buzzed. Finnian was calling. She rejected the call and texted back, "I''m not feeling well, so it''s not a good time to meet. Please leave."

    With no reply, Amara assumed he''d left and breathed a sigh of relief.

    "Alright, he should be off the set by now, probably off to see Liliana. You should get going too I need to work on the script."

    About five minutester, feeling assured that Finnian couldn''t be at the door, she gave Keith a gentle kick.

    6 nove

    "Alright, alright, I''m leaving," Keith replied, giving Amara''s cheek a yful pinch for a reciprocal of her previous banter before heading to the door with a smirk, a gesture that was met with a mock re from Amara.

    But Keith''s jovial mood vanished as he swung open the door,ing face to face

    with Finnian, who stood outside with a dark expression, fixing him with an

    unyielding stare.

    "What are you still doing here?"

    "You''ve been in my wife''s break room all this time?"

    Their voices collided mid-air as the tension ratcheted up between the two six-foot- something men.

    Hearing themotion, Amara rushed to the door, surprised to find Finnian still there. She quickly

    stepped between them, her

    demeanor cautious as she a

    "Mr. Everly, is there something you need?"

    "You told me you were unwell and wouldn''t see anyone. Was that because he was here?" Finnian''s gaze shifted steadily to Amara, his words deliberate and heavy. Though his face was a mask of calm there was something intimidating about his presence that would make one frightened.

    Amara lower her head, saying, "We were having a private conversation. It wasn''t

    a good time."

    "Really?" Finnian uttered, his lips curled into a mocking smile. "A man and a woman alone in a room, how is it not a good time? And you can''t even mention to your husband?"

    Amara frowned, puzzled at his insistence on emphasizing "wife" and "husband".

 Chapter 152

    If Finnian really cared about his marriage with her, why was he with Liliana then?

    Even though it had been a month since that incident, the memory of seeing Finnian and Liliana standing side by side in the mall still stung Amara''s heart.

    She turned her face away, her tone turning icy. "Mr. Everly, did youe over just to mock me? If that''s the case, please leave. I have no interest in engaging in such pointless conversations."

    Amara was usually a very patient person, so speaking like this meant she was genuinely upset.

    Finnian stared at her downcast eyes, a cold smile ying on his lips. "Upset, huh? Because I interrupted your date with your lover?"

    Amara''s face flushed crimson, and she instinctively wanted to retort, "I don''t have a lover; the only one with a lover here is you."

    But she had said this countless times before, and Finnian never believed her, so it seemed pointless to argue further.

    She simply turned away from him, presenting her side, signaling she had no intention of engaging with him.

    Finnian watched her profile. Previously, when he used her of having something with Keith, she would at least try to defend herself. But this time, she didn''t even bother, was that an admission of the affair?

    For some inexplicable reason, an unfamiliar emotion surged within him. Finnian stepped closer, speaking softly in her ear, "What''s the matter, don''t want to face me? Are you afraid your lover might get upset if you face me head-on?"

    There was something off about his words, but Amara, in her anger, didn''t ponder it deeply. She murmured, "Mr. Everly, could you not say things like that, I..."

    She really wanted to curse out Finnian. What was he even doing? Yet Amara couldn''t bring herself to do that. What if she really angered Finnian and he decided to retaliate? She hade to realize just how petty this man could be.

    "What about you?"

    Seeing her pause mid-sentence, Finnian edged even closer, prompting her again. While Finnian and Amara were talking, Keith was watching from the side.

    Seeing Finnian and Amara''s heads getting closer, almost touching, Keith frowned slightly. He walked over and separated them, casually saying, "Come on, guys, do you really

    need to be that close? A

    hot?"

    you

    Finnian looked up, giving Keith a cold stare but said nothing.

    "Mr. Everly, don''t look at me like that. Why don''t you go find Ms. Porter? She''s

    waiting for you," Keith said, pointing behind Finnian.

    Finnian turned to see Liliana

    rned

    standing at the door of her room, her

    hand on her chest, looking over with a worried expression. His face

    darkened, and he seemingly contemted going over to her.

    Just then, Amara''s phone buzzed. She answered it, "Dad."

    Larry? Finnian suddenly remembered thest visit to the Sullivan family, and his steps faltered.

    Amara held the phone to her ear, listening to the voice on the other end. She was wearing a mask, so her facial expressions were hidden, yet Finnian sensed a shift in her emotions.

    "Alright, Dad, I''ll be there soon. Please wait."

    With those words, Amara ended the call and turned back to the room, seemingly to gather her things.

    Finnian quickly followed her in, asking, "Why did your dad call you?"

    Amara was stuffing keys, tissues, and other personal items into her bag, not even looking up as she replied, "My dad''s been admitted to the hospital. I''m going to see him."

    "What happened to him?"

 Chapter 153

    "He didn''t say anything specific, just mentioned it was an old issue. Honestly, I have no idea what old issue it could be."

    Since graduating from high school, Amara hadn''t really been back to the Sullivan household, and her contact with Larry had been sporadic at best. She had no clue what kind of health problems Larry might have had.

    "I''lle with you," Finnian said.

    Amara instinctively replied, "No need, I can go by myself."

    "He''s my father-inw," Finnian quickly countered. "We should both go see him." Amara hesitated for a moment. True enough, Larry was Finnian''s father-inw, and Larry would probably appreciate seeing them both together. So, she didn''t argue further, quickly exined the situation to Keith, and headed out the door.

    At the hospital room, Amara saw Larry in a hospital gown, lying on the bed. His face, usually somanding, now appeared a bit pale.

    A young nurse was at the bedside, exining his condition. Amara walked over and asked, "Dad, I''m here. Whatnded you in the hospital? Why didn''t you tell me about any previous issues?"

    Larry waved the nurse away. Once the door was closed, he said, "It''s nothing much. A few years back, I had a benign tumor in my lung; it was removed, but it recently came back."

    Amara paused, falling silent, feelings of mixed emotions swirling within her.

    "Is this tumor benign as well?" she asked. "Has it been removed now?"

    "Yes, it''s been removed. I had the surgery just yesterday."

    Larry was a tough man, the kind who had built the Sullivan Group from scratch despite having nothing to start with. He was the type to shoulder his burdens alone, keeping his family in the dark.

    But Amara couldn''tpletely let go of the past. Although she felt a momentary pang ofplexity, she quicklyposed herself, but her face still showed concern.

    "Dad, why didn''t you tell me about something this serious earlier? You should have let me know the first time you got sick so I could help take care of you." She sighed after that.

    "It''s partly my fault for being so wrapped up in my own life back then, not paying much attention to the family. You probably thought ¡ü was to immature to handle it. §Ö

    That''s why you didn''t call me over."

    Seeing Amara ming herself, Larry softened a bit and said, "That''s all in the

    past. You''re doing great now."

    He nced at Finnian, his tone turning stern again. "You two are getting a divorce?"

    "We''re in the process of it," Amara quickly said, worried Finnian might blurt out something inappropriate.

    Larry''s expression darkened with

    disapproval as he rebuked,

    "Marriage is a serious matter, not something to be taken lightly. You both are acting so irresponsibly."

    Amara bit her lip hard, looking ashamed. Her mind raced, debating whether to argue.

    But she figured any argument would only make Larry angrier, given their differing views. It was better to keep quiet. Hence, she stayed silent, her head bowed.

    Unexpectedly, Finnian spoke up, "Larry, the divorce is my fault. Don''t me her."

    "I think both of you are at fault. Finnian, don''t make excuses," Larry huffed, turning his head away, refusing to look at them.

    Amara was taken aback. Finnian was supposed to be mad at her and yet here he was, standing up for her instead of tattling to Larry. Were pigs flying today?

 Chapter 154

    Just then, Amara rounded the corner. Fortune favored the bold, and cutting off someone''s financial lifeline was akin to a serious betrayal.

    Finnian was probably worried that if he badmouthed her in front of Larry, causing her topletely lose her shares in the Sullivan Group, she might retaliate in a way that could harm him. So, he threw in a few good words for her.

    After all, it was just a few pleasantries¡ªno skin off Finnian''s back. Saying something nice didn''t cost him anything.

    "Alright, you two head out. I need to rest now," Larry said, waving them away, clearly uninterested in dealing with them any longer.

    Amara nodded. "Take care, Dad. We''ll head out. If you need anything, just give me a call."

    Amara understood that her standing with Larry had changed. Why else would he not have informed her about his previous tumor, but tell her about this one?

    She lowered her gaze and left the room with Finnian.

    As soon as they stepped into the corridor, Finnian remarked, "Your dad still doesn''t know about Keith. He''ll be furious if he finds out, won''t he?"

    Though what Finnian just did was a small gesture, a favor for her, she was somewhat grateful.

    Yet, as soon as they were out of the room, Finnian''s true colors showed, and her gratitude evaporated. She looked up and asked, "Mr. Everly, are you threatening me?"

    Finnian''s demeanor turned cold. He gazed up, his voice now icy. "Do you really think that of me?"

    He couldn''t believe Amara''s view of him. What kind of person did she think he was?

    Realizing her overreaction, Amara quietly said, "Sorry, that''s not what I meant."

    Finnian kept a stern face, saying

    nothing. He had merely wanted to discuss the inevitable-news

    r

    traveled fast, and Amara''s affair would eventually reach Larry. Given Larry''s traditional nature, he''d likely be furious and might even reconsider leaving Amara any

    shares once he learned of it.

    In order to prevent the scenario from surfacing, should they make some preparations? Finnian had even considered that if Amara asked for his help to keep the affair hidden, he might be willing to assist.

    Instead, Amara had misunderstood himpletely, assuming he was threatening her. Finnian''s eyes shed with a hint of irony.

    If he truly intended to threaten her, attempting to bring her affair up to Larry, why would he have spoken on her behalf in the hospital room?

    Yet Amara seemed to have painted him as the viin, quick to use him. Finnian''s eyes were clouded with cold anger, leaving Amara. flustered and unsure of what to say, creating a tense atmosphere

    between them.

    Just then, a light, teasing voice broke the tension.

    "Well, well, if it isn''t my dear sister and brother-inw. What brings you two here?"

    Amara looked up to see Elowen and Fiona approaching, their faces adorned with heavy makeup, stopping in front of them with mocking gazes.

    Elowen then turned her attention to Finnian, her tone shifting to something much softer.

    met

    "Finnian, why are you just standing here? Why not find a cozy spot to sit? There''s a great coffee shop nearby. If you''d like, I can take you there,Or if you prefer to explore somewhere else, I''d be happy to join you."

 Chapter 155

    Elowen chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand, and then cast a lingering nce at Finnian, her eyes filled with an unmistakable invitation.

    Even though Amara had long given up on Finnian, hearing this made her deeply ufortable.

    No matter how little she might care for Finnian someday, their marriage was a fact, and watching Elowen brazenly flirt with Finnian right in front of her would be intolerable to anyone.

    With an icy stare at Elowen, Amara said bluntly, "As an older sister, do you really think it''s appropriate to say stuff like that in front of your sister?"

    "Why wouldn''t it be?" Elowen shot back immediately. "You''re just being overly sensitive."

    "Sensitive?" Amara let out a coldugh.

    Her gaze sharp enough to pierce through to one''s soul, she stepped forward and said, "Rather than calling me sensitive, maybe you should check your own behavior. If you need a man, go find one yourself. Stop going after someone else''s, especially someone so close to you. Even a fox preys farthest from the hole."

    Those words were as direct and biting as they came. Elowen''s eyes widened in shock, her body trembling. "Wh-what do you mean?"

    Amara replied icily, "Exactly what it sounds like. Can''t you understand in words?"

    Standing nearby, Fiona, usuallyposed and graceful, now wore a sour expression. She said, "Elowen was just showing some concern for you and Finnian, and yoush out with such harsh words, Ama. What''s happened to you? Where are all your manners?"

    Amara turned sharply to Fiona, her voice raised. "Say that again!"

    If it were anyone else using her of bad manners, Amara wouldn''t care. Buting from Fiona, it made her blood boil.

    "Mrs. Sullivan, why do Ick manners? Have you forgotten?"

    Amara''s blood-red eyes bore into Fiona''s, her words deliberate and

    cutting. Fiona froze, el

    el?

    clenching the strap of her

    tightly, unable to find words.

    Why did Amarack manners? Because her father didn''t care and her mother wasn''t there. Why was she without parents? Because when her mother was giving birth to her, Larry was off with Fiona.

    No matter how desperately her mother called Larry, he never came back. Her mother, stressed and alone, suffered a spike in blood pressure and an irregr heartbeat

    duringbor, even throwing up

    blood, eventually dying after exerting herself to give birth to Amara.

    Amara had never forgotten this blood debt. Fiona knew this story well enough.

    Herment about Amara''s manners was a deliberate jab at her heart.

    "Ama, calm down, I didn''t mean it like that."

    "I can''t calm down, and don''t call me Ama. You don''t have the right."

    Once upon a time, Amara could maintain a semnce ofposure in front of Fiona and Elowen, buttely, she found that restraint slipping.

    She had no desire to engage with them any longer. With a harsh re at both, she turned and walked away.

    "Mom, why is she so grumpy now?" Elowen asked incredulously, pointing at Amara''s retreating figure.

    As Amara hurried away, she caught Elowen''s words. She thought Elowen might

    be right her temper had grown. Was it the pregnancy affecting her?

    "Where are you going?"

    As she descended the stairs, Finnian caught up with her.

    "I''ll drive you home."

    "No need," Amara replied tly. "I can get back on my own."

 Chapter 156

    Finnian studied Amara''s expression carefully, asking, "Did something happen between your mom and Fiona?"

    If there wasn''t some serious bad blood, Amara wouldn''t have exploded like that just now.

    "Yeah," Amara responded, nodding. "Fiona was indirectly responsible for my mom''s death."

    Even after all these years, it seemed like everyone had forgotten about the deep- seated grudge between her mom and Fiona.

    You know how it went-people were quick to celebrate the new and forget the old. Everyone remembered Fiona for her grace and poise, while the memory of Amara''s mother, now just cold bones in the ground, was left to fade away.

    At that moment, Finnian''s question brought a flood of memories back, and Amara had to fight the sudden urge to cry.

    "Hey, don''t cry."

    Finnian noticed her red-rimmed eyes, doing his best to ignore the pang of difort that stirred within him.

    "Sometimes it''s best to leave the past where it belongs."

    "No, I can''t. I won''t forget!"

    Though she hadn''t lived through those events herself, Amara had grown up under the harsh treatment of Elowen and Fiona, all the while listening to her nanny recount tales of past grievances.

    Slowly, she''d built up an image of her mother as kind and gentle, but tragically vulnerable. So, the seeds of hatred had long since nted themselves deep in her heart, and forgetting wasn''t an option.

    But there was no need to delve into all of this with Finnian. In a quiet voice, Amara murmured, "Sorry for losing my cool earlier. I''m heading out now. I can make my own way back, no need to trouble yourself."

    With that, Amara turned to leave. This time, Finnian didn''t stop her, merely

    watching her retreating figure with a newfound curiosity.

    Back in her apartment, Amara was utterly exhausted. She copsed onto the

    couch without even bothering to change her clothes.

    After lying there for a good half-hour,

    she suddenly remembered

    something important she''d

    forgotten. Sitting up, she fished out her phone and dialed Finnian''s number.

    "Mr. Everly."

    Once the call connected, Amara began, "I forgot to ask earlier¡ªwhen exactly can we finalize the divorce?"

    Gone was the fiery anger she''d shown towards Elowen and Fiona; now her voice was cautious, almost tentative.

    There was a pause on the other end. "Didn''t I tell you? It depends on my mood."

    Amara bit her lip. She''d nned to discuss the divorce with Finnian at the hospital earlier, but in the heat of the moment, arguing with Fiona and her daughter had made her forget all about it.

    "Mr. Everly, I''m sure Ms. Porter wouldn''t want this dragging on. For her sake, and

    the baby''s, we should hurry up with this divorce, don''t you think?"

    Finnian stood by his office''s floor-to-ceiling windows, a small smile ying on his lips.

    "You don''t need to worry about Liliana and me. Focus on your own matters first."

    With that, he hung up abruptly. He could just imagine Amara''s

    expression at the moment; shat

    be staring at her phone in disbelief, maybe even a tad miffed.

    Finnian squinted his eyes, feeling rather pleased; he then returned to his desk to get back to work.

    Meanwhile, Amara gripped her phone, seething with frustration. But against Finnian''s stubbornness, she was at a loss.

    Just then, a knock sounded at her door. She peered through the peephole and, seeing it was Keith, opened up.

    "How''s Larry doing?" Keith asked as he stepped inside and closed the door.

    Amara gave him a brief rundown, and Keith, after hearing the details, cursed at Larry before sinking onto the couch.

    "You got no ns tonight?" Amara asked. "What brings you over here all of a sudden?"

 Chapter 157

    "Can''t trust you, who knows what might happen if Finnian takes you away."

    "What do you mean him taking me away? I took him to the hospital," Amara retorted, rolling her eyes.

    She plopped down on the couch, pulling down her mask to take a sip of water. Keith watched as she drank, her lips a rosy pink, and her face as stunning as ever. He found himself staring.

    "Has Finnian ever seen your face?" Keith blurted out of nowhere.

    "No," Amara replied, surprised. "Why do you ask?"

    "No reason," Keith said, turning his head quickly as he noticed Amara gazing over. His heart was pounding like a drum.

    Once he calmed down a bit, he suggested, "Why don''t you file for divorce?"

    "No way, I''d lose the case," Amara said, sounding defeated.

    "I''ll help you," Keith offered eagerly. "If we just keep pushing with money, we can win this."

    "But the Everly family has deep pockets too, and they''re powerful. If we go head- to-head, we might lose everything."

    Keith nodded, knowing she was right. The Everly family was wealthier and more influential than the West family; he fell silent.

    Keith watched as Amara started tidying up the table. Suddenly, he leaned over and pinched Amara''s cheek.

    "Ouch!" Amara eximed. "What was that for?"

    "Nothing, just felt like it," Keith replied with a cheeky grin. Heughed to mask the unease bubbling within him.

    He couldn''t take his eyes off Amara; the more time his contemtion took, the harder he could look away. What happened to him? Why was he always thinking about Amara? His feelings for her were definitely changing.

    ...

    After leaving Amara''s apartment, Keith didn''t feel like going home. He wandered around and decided to call Elysia.

    "Hey," she answered.

    "Are you busy right now?" Keith asked.

    "Nope, what''s up?"

    "Want to meet up?"

    Elysia

    and taken aback. Though she

    were mutual friends of

    Amara, they were not that tight or never hung out just the two of them. This was a first.

    "Sure, send me the address," she said finally.

    Keith rattled off a ce and hung up.

    Half an hourter, they arrived at the bar almost simultaneously. They found a quiet booth, and Keith ordered a bottle of wine, pouring a ss for Elysia.

    "Something''s on your mind?" Elysia inquired.

    "Yeah," Keith admitted. "I think I might have feelings for Amara."

    Elysia nearly spat out her drink. Keith

    quickly leaned back, looking offended. "Come on, even though I have a crush on Amara, it''s not so surprised. Why reacting so drastically?"

    "Of course it is! Even a fox preys farthest from his hole. You''re breaking all the

    rules here!" Elysia gazed at him contemptuously.

    Keith was left speechless. He waved his hand. "Alright, alright. I''m breaking the rules. You happy?"

    "But," he added, "I''m still a hundred times better than Finnian."

    "True," Elysia agreed as she gradually processed the situation, wiping her mouth.

    "If you and Ama are together, you two would make a good pair.

    You know each other inside out, so there''d be fewer surprises down the road. And you really care about Ama. You always think of her first. If you keep that up, she''d be happier with you."

 Chapter 158

    The more Elysia talked, the more she was convinced that Keith was the perfect match for Amara. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

    "Yeah, you think I''m right for her too, right? But the thing is, she''s still married," Keith sighed, feeling a little helpless.

    Lately, he found himself acting strangely whenever Amara was around. Each time he saw Amara, his heart would race, and he had this overwhelming urge to be near her, maybe even give her a yful nudge. And when she wasn''t around, he couldn''t stop thinking about her. If that wasn''t a crush, then what was it?

    Having realized his feelings, Keith knew he couldn''t just sit back because of their being childhood friends. He needed to chase his happiness, but how to go about it?

    So, he called Elysia, the person who knew Amara best, hoping she could offer some advice.

    "It''s all Finnian''s fault, that jerk! Holding Ama back like that. She could''ve been free by now!" Elysia fumed, her anger palpable.

    Talking about Finnian always got her worked up. She spent a good ten minutes ranting about him, her mouth going dry in the process, and took a big gulp of her drink.

    "I''ve got an idea." She put her ss down, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she said, "This might just get Finnian to divorce Ama."

    "What is it?" Keith asked eagerly.

    Elysia leaned in, whispering her scheme. Keith''s face lit up. "I think that could work, but we''ll need her go-ahead."

    "Absolutely. Ama''s quite stubborn. Let me call her."

    Without wasting time, Elysia pulled out her phone to call Amara, who, still awake, was cozy in bed with a book.

    Elysia skipped over Keith''s interest in Amara and uttered, "Ama, I''ve got a n that could help you divorce Finnian."

    Amara listened patiently, but when Elysia finished, she declined, "No way, I can''t do that."

    "Why are you so silly?" Elysia chided gently. "You always think about others. It''s time to think about yourself."

    "I am thinking about myself, and that''s why I can''t do it. It''s just too awkward."

    Elysia paused, knowing Amara''s shy

    nature. This was indeed out of character for her. Contemting briefly, she tried again, "I get it, but think about it. If you keep dragging this out, what do you stand to lose? Think about the emotional toll it''s taking on you. Doesn''t that outweigh the awkwardness? Do you still feel you can''t do that? And it''s not like it''s some heinous act. It''s just a little scheme. Don''t you agree?"

    Amara pondered this and realized Elysia

    bad

    Od a point. She did need t

    divorce Finnian urgently, and may trying this wouldn''t hurt.

    "Alright, I''ll give it a shot," she finally agreed. "I''ll contact Keith."

    Elysia nodded in approval, giving Keith an "okay" gesture. As soon as the call ended, she uttered, "Ama''s going to call you now. Find acquiet spot to take it."

    "Got it."

    Keith grinned confidently, phone in hand, as he headed to the restroom.

    The next morning, Amara was browsing through a department store, picking out clothes when she received a call from Kevin.

    "Ama, do you remember the Cooper family?" Kevin inquired over the phone.

    "Tomorrow''s Patrick''s 80th birthday, and they''re throwing a bash at the hotel. You and Finn shoulde."

    Amara stood in front of the mirror, twirling in a silver mermaid dress to see how it fitted, while she replied to Kevin.

 Chapter 159

    "Was it your idea to have Finnian take me to the party? But honestly, I think he''d prefer to take Liliana, no?"

    There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Amara could almost feel Kevin''s awkwardness through the phone.

    Then, his irritated voice came through. "If he dares to take that actress, I''ll break his legs! Don''t worry, Ama. With me stepping in, he''ll definitely take you out like a gentleman."

    "Kevin, don''t bother with all that. Finnian clearly wants to take Ms. Porter. Even if he''s forced to take me, he won''t be happy about it, and when he''s not happy, he''ll take it out on me, then I''ll feel distressed."

    Kevin had been ready to give her a pep talk, but hearing that she wouldn''t feel great left him at a loss for words.

    Amara continued, "Kevin, I''ve got some things to do, so let''s leave it at that."

    With that, she hung up.

    That morning on set, she''d overheard Liliana telling someone she''d be apanying Finnian to Mr. Cooper''s birthday bash. So when Kevin brought it up earlier, she had t out refused in her own way.

    Keith strolled over, admiring how Amara''s figure was elegantly outlined by the silver mermaid dress. He praised, "You look stunning."

    Then he asked, "Did his grandfather call you?"

    "Yeah."

    "Ignore him," Keith scoffed. "The old man should know what his grandson is like by now, trying to drag you into this mess."

    "Watch it," Amara warned as she nudged him. "Regardless, he is still an elder."

    Really, it wasn''t just about respect; Kevin had always been good to her. Besides, she''d already turned him down, so there was no need to bad-mouth him.

    "What do you think of this dress?" Amara shifted the conversation. "If it''s good, I''ll buy it."

    "Go ahead, it''s on me."

    Keith pulled out a sleek ck card, heading towards the register.

    Amara quickly shoved the card back at him. "No way, I''m not letting you pay. Na- na-na-na-na."

    With that, she dashed over to the register and asked the sales assistant to ring up the purchase before heading to the fitting room to change.

    Keith watched helplessly, opting not to stop her. As Amara was paying, her thoughts drifted back to the previous night''s conversation.

    Elysia had called, suggesting that if Amara and Keith made a ssh by appearing together, people might misconstrue their rtionship. This would embarrass the Everly family, and Finnian would be more likely to consent to a divorce.

    Mr. Cooper''s uing birthday party was a prime opportunity for such a spectacle, with all the high society folks in attendance. Elysia urged her to take Keith along.

    Initially, Amar? declined the proposal. She was naturally introverted, and the idea of being the center of attention was daunting. She''d never imagined herself to do

    it. But Elysia hadid out the do

    benefits, and after some thought, Amara agreed. She called Keith and invited him to the Cooper family''s big bash.

    Keith readily agreed and even suggested they shop for outfits together, which led to their little outing today.

    The next day came quickly. After finishing her work, Amara started getting ready. She applied a wless eye makeup and styled her hair into sultry waves.

 Chapter 160

    Then, she slipped into the silver strapless mermaid dress she had bought yesterday and checked herself in the mirror. Satisfied with her reflection, she grabbed her purse and headed downstairs.

    Keith was already waiting in the car for her, looking sharp in his silver-gray suit paired with a crisp white shirt. They made quite the striking pair.

    Tonight, it was Keith''s turn to drive, while Amara sat in the passenger seat chatting with him. Despite the rush-hour traffic, they managed to arrive at the hotel just before the cocktail hour began.

    The Cooper family, known for their renowned pharmaceuticalpany in Wye, had a rtionship with the Everly family that was neither too close nor too distant. They exchanged visits during holidays and special asions.

    Patrick, the patriarch of the Cooper family, was celebrating his eightieth birthday. Despite his age, he was remarkably spry, capable of walking for two hours without tiring. He wore a bright red suit and personally greeted guests at the door. Inside, the hall was abuzz with clinking sses and lively conversation.

    Soon, the door swung open to reveal Finnian, d in a sleek ck suit with a bow tie, entering with calmposure. Beside him was Liliana, radiant in a red dress, her arm linked with his. The couple, handsome and elegant, drew the attention of many, especially given Finnian''s prominent status.

    "Finn, you''ve made it! Come on in."

    Though Finnian was a younger man, his influence in the Wye business circle stood the greatest, and Patrick weed him without any airs. Finnian wished Patrick well and had Will present the birthday gift. They exchanged brief pleasantries at the entrance as onlookers cast curious nces their way.

    The surprise was palpable when Finnian arrived with Liliana. Though he and Amara had been privately married for these years, in public, he maintained the image of a bachelor, which made his arrival with Liliana unremarkable to those

    unaware.

    However, although his wedding had been celebrated by merely a few high-ranking ns, word had quietly spread among the Wye elite about his marriage to Amara in recent years, leaving the hundreds of assembled guests to watch Liliana with a mix of intrigue aneb spection.

    Unfazed, Liliana smiled and mingled alongside Finnian.

    Married for three years, Finnian had never attended this kind of event with Amara, and yet he brought Liliana here, not to mention the fact that he''d introduce her to the otherster, a tacit acknowledgment of her ce in his life.

    Liliana basked in the attention, temporarily forgetting her recent frustrations.

    Just then, the door opened again, and another striking couple walked in together, drawing everyone''s attention, causing a hush to fall over the room.

    The man was tall and handsome, wearing a well-tailored suit. He was Keith, the heir to the West Group''s fortune and a rising star in showbiz. Keith, having grown up in these circles, was familiar to many even before his fame.

    The woman on his arm wore a delicate silver mask over her face, her eyes captivating. Her silver strapless mermaid dress highlighted her perfect figure, and she looked ethereal under the chandeliers.

    But everyone knew this was a facade. Beneath her masky a gruesome scar on her face, and this woman was none other than Finnian''s elusive wife, Amara.

    The room buzzed with questions. Why was Amara here with Keith and not with Finnian?

 Chapter 161

    Moreover, Keith had been keeping an eye on Amara the whole time, ready to

    shield her from prying eyes or lend a hand if she needed it. He leaned in closer, checking if she wasfortable or needed anything, his concern for her evident. What was going on here?

    Amara, doing her best to ignore the curious stares, walked confidently over to Patrick and handed him the invite. "Hello, Mr. Cooper. I''m Amara, Larry''s daughter. My father couldn''t be here today due to health issues, so I''m here to wish you a happy birthday on his behalf. Here''s a small gift from us. Please ept it."

    As soon as she finished, Keith handed over another gift box with a grin, saying, "Hey, Mr. Cooper! Remember me? It''s Keith. You used to carry me around when I was little. This is a gift from both Ama and me. Don''t worry, it''s two separate gifts. Please, ept them."

    Patrickughed heartily, teasing Keith about his chatty nature, and motioned for his staff to take the gifts, warmly inviting them inside.

    As Patrick weed them, he couldn''t help but wonder what was going on. Was Amara representing the Sullivan family? But why was she with Keith? What was happening here?

    Amara, holding onto Keith''s arm, entered the room, passing by Finnian and Liliana.

    She noticed two sets of eyes on her: one cold and scrutinizing, the other puzzled. Goosebumps rose on her skin, but she maintained her calm demeanor as she and Keith entered the banquet hall.

    "Ms. Sullivan, howe you''re here with Keith?"

    Amara hadn''t nned on facing off with Liliana so soon, but here they were. Liliana, with Finnian in tow, approached Amara and Keith, a smirk on her lips as she spoke.

    Turning her head, Amara replied coolly, "Who Ie with is my business, Ms. Porter. Do you have a problem with that?"

    Liliana''s smile widened.

    "Ms. Sullivan, freedom has its limits. You have a husband in name, yet here you are with another man at such a formal event. Do you think that''s appropriate?"

    "You''re aware he''s my husband, so why are you clinging to him? Trying to steal him away?" Amara shot back without hesitation.

    Liliana faltered, unable to respond. Amara''s tongue had certainly be sharper. What was with her? Had she experienced something drastic recently?

    Nearby, Finnian''s gaze was fixed on Amara. Since she and Keith had entered the hall, he hadn''t taken his eyes off her, his expression dark and brooding. His presence was so

    intense that no one darey, and

    approach him.

    "Yeah, Ama''s right," Keith chimed in. "Liliana, if you really think Finnian is Ama''s husband, maybe you should let go of him. You''re hanging onto him while using Ama. Doing bad things while trying to get good reputation, huh? Of course, whether you let go or not doesn''t really matter. Ama isn''t interested in him anymore."

    With those words, Finnian''s mood grew even darker.

    Sensing the tension, Amara was afraid of things going awry. "I''m hungry. Let''s get something to eat," she suggested, tugging at Keith.

    "Sure."

    The Cooper family was hosting a buffet-style event, with long tablesden with an impressive variety of dishes. As they approached the spread) Keith asked, "What do you feel like eating? How about some fish sticks?" He knew they were Amara''s favorite.

 Chapter 162

    Amara nodded, and Keith picked up a piece, offering it to her.

    She pulled down her mask while holding the fish stick under, and took a small bite. As she ate gracefully, Keith fed her with a pleasant smile. Their sweet, harmonious vibe didn''t go unnoticed, with several onlookers sneaking nces

    their way.

    Finnian and Liliana were nearby. His eyes gave nothing away, while Liliana cast him a worried nce.

    "What the heck! What on earth are they doing?"

    "In front of everyone like this? They''ve got some nerve! Shameless!"

    A girl in a pink princess dress and a dapper boy in a blue suit started approaching.

    As they caught sight of Amara and Keith, eyes widened, they berated bitterly.

    Those two were Celeste and Hogan, cousins in good terms and both currently unattached. They''de to the party representing their families, not expecting to witness such a scene.

    Celeste, clutching her dress, walked over and sarcastically called out, "Hey, Amara."

    Amara turned her head, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. Celeste and Hogan had always dismissed her. But given the situation, their proactive approach made

    sense.

    "Amara, as my sister-inw, why aren''t you with my brother? Instead, you''re here with some random guy in this formal asion, acting all lovey-dovey in public? Do you realize what this could do to the family''s reputation?"

    Celeste''s voice dripped with sarcasm as she looked Amara up and down, as if she''dmitted the most heinous crime.

    Amara replied coolly, "You actually called me sister-inw? Finnian and I have been married in secret, and if you keep shouting like that, people might start putting two and two together. You could cause areal mess."

    Celeste choked on words, unsure of what to reply True, the Everly family had never really epted Amara, which was why their marriage

    remained under wraps. Her

    loud

    outburst had already drawn some attention from the surrounding guests.

    Amara noticed the curious eyes as well and sighed, "Aren''t you over twenty by now? You should know better. It''s you who''s embarrassing the Everly family."

    Celeste couldn''t stand being criticized. She snapped back, "How have I embarrassed the family? Don''t make stuff up!"

    "You''re causing a scene right here, isn''t that enough to bring shame? How do you not get that?" Amara looked at her with pity.

    If Amara had shouted back or responded with sarcasm, Celeste would''ve had a hundredebacks ready. But facing Amara''s sympathetic gaze, Celeste was left speechless and fuming.

    "Forget it. I won''t bicker with a child. The dance floor''s open, let''s go dance."

    Amara sighed dramatically, as if she found Celeste hopeless, and then turned to Keith.

    Keith nodded. "Sure, let''s go."

    Instead of waiting for Amara to take his arm, Keith wrapped an arm around her waist. Her waist was soft and slender, and the moment he touched it, he felt an immense sense of satisfaction. He barely resisted the urge to give it a yful squeeze.

    He led Amara to the dance floor where they began to move to the rhythm.

    "Did you hear what those people were saying about us?" Keith said, "Some of them think we don''t match at all, can''t figure out why we''re together. I say, screw them."

 Chapter 163

    "Hahaha," Amaraughed. "Don''t say it like that. But seriously, many people are amazed. I''ve heard whispers about how Finnian puts up with all this."

    "This must be quite embarrassing for the Everly family, huh?" she spected, "Hope it''ll work tonight."

    They shared thetest gossip, chatting and dancing effortlessly, their chemistry undeniable, seemingly inseparable.

    Just then, Keith''s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, ncing at the screen and uttered, "It''s my agent. I need to take this call."

    "Alright, find a quiet spot. I''lle with you."

    They left the dance floor, climbing the spiral staircase together.

    Meanwhile, Celeste and Hogan had been watching them closely. Seeing them head upstairs, Celeste''s eyes darkened. "They''re definitely going up there to make out, don''t you think? I need to find a way to capture some evidence."

    "I''ll go. I''m more discreet," Hogan volunteered immediately.

    "Fine. But just taking photos isn''t enough. It''d be better if everyone could witness it firsthand."

    A malicious glint flickered in Celeste''s eyes, as cold as a snake.

    Hogan lowered his voice. "What''s your n this time?"

    "Here''s what we''ll do."

    She leaned in, whispering her scheme, and Hogan''s eyes lit up. "That''s brilliant. Let''s do it."

    Upstairs, Keith stood by the window, on the phone, with Amara waiting nearby.

    A few minutester, Keith ended the call, frowning. "They want me toe over again. This job is really getting on my nerves."

    Amara chuckled. "You earn so much money, and yet youin about them wanting to reach you anytime? You''re being unreasonable."

    Keith sighed, "I''ve got to go. Want me to drop you off first?"

    "I''ll stay a bit longer. The director for my next project will be here soon. I''ll chat with him and then leave."

    "Alright, I''m off. Call me if you need anything."

    Keith left, and Amara checked her phone, seeing she had half an hour until the director arrived. Not

    wanting to head back downstairet

    alone she wandered up to the

    rooftop terrace, walking to the railing to enjoy the breeze.

    Suddenly, there was a loud bang, as if the door had been mmed shut. Amara turned around to see Finian closing the rooftop door with one hand, striding towards her

    She lowered her gaze as Finnian approached. She asked, "Mr. Everly, do you need something?"

    "Is he gone?" Finnian asked, lifting Amara''s chin to make her meet his gaze.

    He was obviously referring to Keith, and Amara replied, "Yes, he''s gone."

    She tried to shake off Finnian''s hand, but he held her chin firmly, his eyes never leaving her face.

    Grasping his wrist, she inquired, "Mr. Everly, what are you doing?"

    Finnian released her, his eyes studying her with an inscrutable intensity.

    "What''s the matter? My wife shows up with another man at a party, and I can''t even check in?"

    Amara paused, a hint of sarcasm ying at her lips.

    "Mr. Everly, that''s quite amusing. Have you ever really seen me as your wife?"

    Finnian didn''t reply, just continued to watch her.

    Under the dim lighting of the rooftop, only a single bulb illuminated their corner Amara''s eyes, though clear and bright, had a captivating depth that seemed to draw people in.

 Chapter 164

    Finnian kept mulling over the word "wife" in his mind, not uttering a single word.

    A chilly breeze swept past, causing Amara to shiver slightly. She felt an urge to leave this ce and shifted her body a bit.

    But at that moment, Finnian suddenly grabbed her chin again, leaning down to kiss her mouth through the soft mask she wore.

    Amara''s eyes widened instantly. Almost reflexively, she tried to push him away.

    Finnian pulled her closer by the waist, holding her tightly so she couldn''t escape his embrace. He closed his eyes, deepening the kiss.

    He kissed her fiercely, and after the initial shock, Amara was filled with nothing but shame and anger. She struggled in Finnian''s arms, trying to speak, but could only manage muffled sounds.

    Her lips hurt like hell because he was so rough. It was all she could do to push him away, but it was useless. He was too strong, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

    Just then, footsteps approached from outside the rooftop, apanied by distant voices that grew clearer. "Hogan, Celeste, you sure you saw someonee up here?"

    "Yeah, we saw it with our own eyes. Afraid that they might try to suicide, so we came to check it out."

    Leading the way were Hogan and Celeste, followed by Liliana, Patrick, and a few young members of the Cooper family who''d all been let in on the situation.

    Liliana seemed to be in high spirits, smiling as they reached the rooftop door. Hogan remembered seeing Amara''s silhouette disappear through it earlier, and a smirk yed on his lips.

    With a loud bang, he pushed the door open with both hands.

    In front of themy the expansive rooftop, lit by a singlemp hanging above the railing, illuminating a couple locked in an intense embrace.

    They were entangled, with the man clearly holding the woman against her will, as she struggled, tears welling up in her eyes.

    Everyone at the door froze at the sight. The noise Hogan made while opening the door caught Finnian and Amara''s attention immediately.

    But surprisingly, Finnian, who was usually quick to react, was a beat too slow this time. It was only after the others had stopped in their tracks that he finally released Amara.

    However, he merely paused the kiss, his arm still firmly wrapped around her waist.

    He turned to face the dozen or so people clustered at the doorway, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. His eyes were cold and piercing, yet his lips were flushed from the passionate kiss, making him look both handsome and slightly otherworldly.

    A loud tter broke the silence. Hogan, who had been poised to take a photo with his phone, let it slip. from his hand, staring ck-jawed at the scene before him, struggling to decipher the situation.

    Amara lifted her head from Finnian''s embrace, her gaze meeting the stunned group at the door. Her embarrassment was overwhelming.

    She tried to bolt, but Finnian pulled her back, his hand gripping her waist like a vise. He said to Patrick, "Mr. Cooper, I forgot to introduce you earlier. This is my wife, Amara."

    "Okay, so Ms. Sullivan is your wife, huh? Guess it''s Mrs. Everly now, isn''t it? Hahaha."

    They had known all along that

    Amara was Finnian''s wife, but since the couple had kept it a secret, no one wanted to bring it up directly. They all yed along, pretending ignorance.

    Now that Finnian had addressed the elephant in the room, the tension eased. The

    Everly family members approached, cracking jokes with the couple.

    Amara remained curled up in Finnian''s arms, her eyes cast downward, her nails digging into her palms, her body still trembling.

 Chapter 165

    She felt a piercing re fixated on her, seemingly from straight ahead. It had to be Liliana.

    Right now, Liliana must absolutely despise her, despite the fact that she never intended for today''s events to unfold the way they did.

    Nearby, Finnian was exchanging pleasantries with the Coopers, and Patrick mentioned that the rooftop was too chilly. They all agreed and started making their way back inside.

    Once off the rooftop, Amara slipped out of Finnian''s embrace, barely uttering, "I need to use the restroom. You guys go ahead and chat." With that, she hurried

    away.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Liliana''s eyes were red, brimming with tears she was desperately holding back.

    Amara wasn''t the only one who noticed this; Hogan did too. His anger red up instantly, and he muttered, "I''ve got something to do, I''m heading out," as he quickly followed Amara''s retreating figure.

    "Hold it right there!"

    Amara had just descended half a flight of stairs when the stairwell door mmed open.

    Hogan stormed over, ring at her furiously as he demanded, "Were you seducing with my brother just now? How shameless can you be! Do you have any idea how upset Liliana is? Didn''t you see she was about to cry? You''re so disgraceful."

    Amara had also shed tears earlier, though she had wiped them away. Her eyes still looked red, like a little rabbit''s. She stared intently at Hogan, acting on impulse. She raised her hand and pped him across the face.

    "Get lost! If you''re into Liliana so much, go after her! Compete fairly with Finnian! Is anyone stopping you? Every day, it''s always someone trying to irk me. What''s wrong with you all?"

    Hogan felt his cheek sting from the p. He was about to explode when Amara unleashed this torrent of words, leaving him speechless.

    "What nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever say I''m into her? Stop ndering me."

    "You''re acting like you have a thing for her, can''t you see it yourself? Why else would you defend her to the point of twisting the truth?"

    "When did I twist the truth?"

    "Think about the first thing you said to me. Was that a reasonable thing to say, or isn''t that twisting the truth?"

    "You, you''re the one distorting the fact and making a scene. You''re really..."

    Hogan clenched his fists and took a couple of steps forward, his eyes practically zing.

    Amara backed up against the wall, shouting, "I told you to get lost, don''t touch me, don''t talk to me, can''t you understand?"

    She was on the brink of losing it, not wanting to exchange another word with Hogan. After yelling, she lifted

    the edge of her dress, turned on her heel and dashed away.

    Watching her slender figure fleeing down the stairs, Hogan stood there, dumbfounded.

    What just happened? He had nned to scold Amara to defend Liliana, but instead, he got pped and then harshly berated. And then, the person who yelled at him ran off before he could even retort. What on earth was going on?

    By nine-thirty that evening, Amara was back home, copsing onto the couch without even taking off her shoes. She cried, her shoulders shaking with each sob, deeply hurt.

    She didn''t understand why things had turned out this way. Didn''t Finnian hate her? If he did, why did he kiss her? What on earth was happening in this world?

 Chapter 166

    Amara''s phone buzzed in her purse. It was a message from Keith. He''d just arrived at the event and figured he''d be swamped all night. He wasn''t sure if he''d even make it home. He wanted to know how she was holding up.

    Amara wiped her tears away and replied, "I''m okay. You focus on work. We''ll talk when you get back."

    Keith sent back a quick "Alright," followed by a few photos of the event. He joked about how tacky the setup was but admitted he couldn''t voice his thoughts too loudly. If word got out online, he''d be branded as a diva.

    Then he sent a few exaggeratedly sad emojis,menting that even top-tier celebs had their struggles. He was jokingly dramatic, saying he was about to lose his mind with all the stress.

    Amara chuckled at his antics, feeling a bit lighter. She got up, went to the

    bathroom, and sshed some water on her face. She needed to think about what had happened that day.

    Honestly, it wasn''t hard to figure out why Finnian had kissed her. He probably felt a surge of disgruntlement, thinking someone else was overstepping his boundaries. In a fit of impulse, he kissed her.

    If that was the case, Finnian was really pushing it. Amara couldn''t believe he could act like that. Her perception of him was shattered.

    So, she really needed to get that divorce sorted, and soon. More than anything else, she needed to avoid any more ufortable situations like that one. It was bing urgent.

    ...

    In the sleek ck Rolls-Royce, Finnian drove in silence, the cool moonlight casting sharp shadows on his stoic face, deepening his already intense demeanor.

    In the passenger seat, Liliana sat with red-rimmed eyes, clutching vehemently the hem of her dress. She seemed to want to speak but hesitated.

    Once they reached her building, Finnian unbuckled his seatbelt and motioned for her to head upstairs. Liliana couldn''t hold back any longer. She grabbed his sleeve and asked, "Finn, why did you do that today? Do you have feelings for Amara?"

    After that, a tear escaped her eye, and she quickly wiped it away.

    Finnian''s gaze was unreadable. "Why would I have feelings for her?"

    His response was quick. He didn''t appear to be lying, and since he had no reason

    to lie, Liliana felt a bit better, though not entirely.

    She couldn''t shake the image of Finnian holding Amara. It made her feel both hurt and angry. She had so many questions, like why he kissed Amar@if he had no feelings for her, or why he never kissed her like that.

    But she didn''t dare to ask. Instead, she said, "Finn, do you remember all we''ve been through? Will you always remember the good times we''ve shared?"

    Her voice was tinged with a plea, sounding pitiful. Finnian rubbed his temple and replied more gently, "Of course, I remember everything we''ve been through."

    "That''s good."

    Liliana breathed a sigh of relief. Once she was back in her apartment, she shut the door and her expression shifted instantly.

    She''d seen Amara''s face, and it was

    inferior to the ordinary one. She wasn''t nearly as striking as Liliana herself. A man like Finnian would never be interested in her, she spected. Hence, she didn''t believe even for a brief moment that Finnian would fall for Amara.

    Yet, if Finnian didn''t have feelings for Amara, why did he kiss her? Why did he act differently around her most of the time?

    The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she felt. Even though Finnian''s words had somewhat reassured her, something still didn''t sit right.

 Chapter 167

    Liliana''s eyes shed with ferocity as she hurled a cup across the room, the sound loud enough to reach Nora, who was working with headphones on in the

    room.

    "Liliana, what''s going on?" Nora asked, cautiously poking her head around the door. "Did someone upset you?"

    "It''s nothing, don''t worry about it," Liliana replied, copsing onto the couch with a dark expression clouding her face, clearly a sign implying she was not in a good mood.

    Not wanting to pry further, Nora quietly fetched a broom and dustpan from the kitchen, meticulously sweeping up the shattered ss. Liliana gazed at her plump figure and round face as she moved her rosy lips.

    "Can I ask you something? In all these years, have any rich or handsome guys ever pursued you?"

    Nora paused, surprised. "Why would they? I look so ordinary, Liliana. You must be joking."

    That was right; Nora wasn''t exactly the type to attract wealthy or handsome men, let alone someone ugly like Amara. There was no way Finnian had special feelings for Amara; he wouldn''t have such a lousy taste.

    It must have been something to do with Keith that made Finnian act so erratically around Amara today. What was she supposed to do about that?

    As these thoughts tangled in Liliana''s mind, she retreated to her bedroom, hoping to wash away her headache with a good night''s sleep.

    Meanwhile, Nora dumped the broken ss into the trash, Liliana''s earlier question echoing in her mind, leaving her feeling something didn''t sit right. Was Lilianaparing her to someone else? Why did she feel insulted?

    Finnian left Liliana''s apartmentplex, driving aimlessly until he found himself at one intersection where he turned left and ended up in a waterfront. He parked, leaning against the railing as the chilly breeze off the water did nothing to clear his muddled thoughts.

    What''s wrong with him? His phone buzzed, and he answered. "Dorian, what''s up? It''ste."

    "What''s up? You tell me," Dorian''s voice was stern. "Why the hell did you kiss Amara? What were you thinking?"

    Even though Dorian hadn''t attended Patrick''s birthday party, somehow he knew. Had word really spread that fast?

    Finnian''s gaze dropped as he replied, "I don''t know what I was thinking."

    "You don''t know?" Dorian sounded incredulous.

    "Yeah, I don''t."

    Silence hung between them, Dorian at a loss for words.

    Finnian didn''t

    what was in his mind

    He''d ke Pon''t lying. He genuinely

    Amara twice now, both

    times acting on some inexplicable impulse.

    He''d never felt that way about any other woman, regardless of how beautiful they were. And Amara, well...

    Honestly, he wasn''t exactly allergic to women, but he didn''t enjoy theirpany either. The one time with

    Oana had been under the influence

    of the drug.

    And more details he couldn''t remember. He only recalled waking up to find her sitting on the bed, the sheets stained with evidence of what had transpired, his body still humming with the aftermath

    His behavior towards Amara was baffling, even to himself. Was it really just

    jealousy over someone like Keith that drove him to madness?

    "You need to divorce her ASAP. You''re getting weirder by the day. Can''t you feel it?" Dorian cautioned.

    Even Dorian was saying it now? Finnian narrowed his eyes. "No, I won''t."

    Dorian was left speechless.

 Chapter 168

    "You are as stubborn as a mule, is there really any point in dragging this out?"

    Like everyone else, Dorian didn''t think Finnian had any real interest in Amara. No, he figured Finnian was tormenting Amara over being cheated on. But still, this was a ssic case of cutting off his nose to spite his face, totally unnecessary. Why couldn''t Finnian see that?

    Meanwhile, Amara was just about to hit the hay when her phone buzzed with a message from Elysia. "Ama, how was the birthday bash today? Did Finnian lose his cool?"

    Amara had almost managed to push the whole ordeal out of her mind, but Elysia''s message brought it all rushing back. She sighed, trying topose a reply, when her phone rang. It was Elysia.

    "Ama, I''ve been texting Keith but he''s not replying. What''s going on with you guys?"

    Amara was puzzled. Why was Elysia messaging Keith first instead of her? They weren''t exactly besties. Shrugging off the thought, she replied, "Not great."

    "Huh? What''s the deal?" Elysia pressed on.

    Amara hesitated. Should she spill the beans about tonight''s fiasco? If she did, Elysia would definitely be livid and probably confront Finnian. No, she would definitely confront him. But if she kept quiet, it was only a matter of time before Elysia found out some other way.

    After a moment, Amara decided, "It''s a bitplicated. Can Ie over and tell you in person? Are you home?"

    "Yeah, I''m home."

    "Alright, I''ll be there soon."

    Amara got dressed and headed over to Elysia''s ce. Once inside, they settled on the couch, and Amara grabbed Elysia''s arm, saying, "Promise me you won''t lose your temper after I tell you this. You have to stay calm, okay?"

    After extracting a promise from Elysia that she wouldn''t fly off the handle, Amara recounted the evening''s events.

    Elysia listened, eyes widening and her body tensing up. She leapt to her feet. "That son of a gun, Finnian! I''m gonna give him a piece of my mind!"

    She was ready to storm out and dere war.

    Amara quickly pulled her back. "You promised you wouldn''t get mad! Sit down!"

    "How can not be mad at that jerk!" Elysia fumed,unching into a tirade against Finnian before continuing, "What on earth is that bastard thinking? He''s gone too far this time."

    "Exactly, I can''t figure him out either. It''s just bizarre."

    Elysia finally calmed down, and they started dissecting Finnian''s mindset together. Their conclusion was simr to Amara''s earlier thoughts: Finnian was upset about being cuckolded. Rich guys were at the same, and it seemed Finnian was no exception. That was likely why heshed out by kissing Amara.

    This revtion made Amara sigh again. It was disheartening to realize that the man she''d admired for so long was just as bad, if not worse, than the others.

    Now that Elysia waspletely calm, she began strategizing. "If you want a divorce, you have two

    options. Either you appeal to his

    sympathy by ying nice, or you hit him with something he can''t ignore, forcing him to divorce.

    You have to choose one or the other."

    "Yeah, that''s what I was thinking too," Amara nodded in agreement.

    Seeing that it was gettingte, Amara uttered, "We''ll figure out the detailster. I should head home. Got an early call on set tomorrow."

 Chapter 169

    "Alright, you head home. Call me when you get there."

    Amara grabbed her phone and keys and headed back to her apartment. Once inside, she flopped onto her bed, but sleep was elusive.

    The day''s events had shaken her to the core, leaving her wide awake.

    By the time three in the morning rolled around, Amara was still tossing and turning, though the rest of the city was deep in slumber.

    Well, most of them were. Some folks, like Keith, were just getting off work due to their busy schedule.

    After eventually wrapping up an urgent event, Keith drove back to Maple Crest. Exhausted, he parked his car and trudged toward the stairs.

    But just a few meters from the entrance, he halted.

    A sleek ck car was parked ahead, and a tall, lean man leaned against its door, gazing up at the second or third floor, motionless. Who knew how long he''d been standing there?

    Keith''s brow furrowed as he strode forward.

    The man by the car turned at the sound of Keith''s footsteps. Upon recognizing him, his gaze darkened.

    He moved to meet Keith, and they both stopped about a yard apart.

    "Why do youe to see her at this hour?"

    Finnian''s face was stormy, his eyes glinting with a touch of malice.

    It was past three in the morning. What business did he have with Amara at this time?

    Surely Amara was asleep by now. Did he have a key to her ce, or was she waiting up for him?

    Keith knew Finnian had the wrong idea, but he didn''t bother to set him straight. With a coldugh, he said, "So what if Ie to see my girlfriend? Surely you won''t meddle in this, right Mr. Everly?"

    "Girlfriend?"

    Finnian echoed the word.

    "She''s my wife."

    Keith chuckled darkly. "Mr. Everly, you''ve got Liliana. Why are you still holding onto Ama? Is this some kind of game to you?"

    "That''s none of your business."

    "Ama is my girl, so it absolutely is my business."

    Keith''s words were sharp, his eyes icy inch by inch.

    A few days ago, before he''d sorted out his feelings for Amara, saying something

    like this wouldn''t have affected him much.

    But now, he realized he''d truly fallen for Amara and wanted a future with her. So his words carried a weight of any and determinationo

    Finnian, being a man himself, caught onto the gravity in Keith''s voice.

    argument, he swung a puught

    Abandoning the "she''s my wife

    unhesitatingly.

    Keith hit the ground, wiping the blood from his lip, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

    "Mr. Everly, you want a fight?

    I''m game!"

    He hauled himself up and swung right back at Finnian.

    Finnian blocked the punch, and the two men, in the dead of night and under no

    one''s watchful eye, began exchanging blows.

    "What on earth are you doing?

    Stop it right now!"

    A sharp voice cut through the chaos, halting Finnian and Keith mid-brawl.

    Keithy on the ground, Finnian kneeling with his elbow poised to strike Keith''s temple.

    He had Finnian''s arm twisted, as if ready to snap it off with an exertion of strength.

    Both were battered and bruised,

    breathing heavily, with murderous res that suggested they truly wanted to finish each other off.

 Chapter 170

    Amara stood at the entrance of the passageway, wearing her pajamas and slippers, eyes wide open in a mix of shock and fury.

    Finnian got up and marched over to her. "Did you ask him toe over in the middle of the night?"

    In the moonlight, Finnian''s expression was dark and menacing, his mouth stained with blood, making him look quite terrifying.

    Amara took a step back, gritting her teeth hard as she replied, "What''s it to you?"

    She knew Finnian had gotten the wrong idea.

    Keith, who lived across the hall, must have been returning home from ate shift when he ran into Finnian. Somehow, Finnian assumed Keith was there to see her, and that misunderstanding led to their fight.

    Amara had only just caught a glimpse of them brawling from her window and, in her anger, blurted out her words without thinking.

    To Finnian, Amara''s reaction seemed like a confirmation, and his gaze grew even more twisted.

    Keith, meanwhile, had managed to get back on his feet and was now the calmest of the three.

    He limped over to Amara, looking pitiful. "Ama, I''m really hurt. I thought I was a goner for a second there.

    Look at this, all thanks to him. He nearly killed me!"

    Amara knew Keith was exaggerating a little, but his injuries were indeed more severe than Finnian''s. Plus, when she first ran outside, it was Keith who was pinned down by Finnian.

    Having known Keith for years, her instincts naturally leaned in his favor, and her rage skyrocketed.

    Without a second thought, she stretched and pped Finnian across the face.

    The sound echoed, leaving both men stunned.

    "Get the hell out of here!" Amara shouted, pointing at Finnian, ignoring their dumbfoundedness.

    "Leave us alone. Don''te back, or I''ll call the police!"

    With that, she turned and led Keith upstairs.

    A handprint on Finnian''s cheek was vivid, veins bulging in his arms, his eyes filled with a twisted intensity.

    Back in her apartment, Amara sat Keith down on the couch and began cleaning his wounds with alcohol, prompting him to yelp in pain.

    "Does it hurt? You should''ve thought about that before getting into a fight, you silly!" she scolded, giving him a light p on the head.

    Keith straightened up, trying to sound noble. "I didn''t start it. He hit me first. I couldn''t just stand there and take it, could I?"

    Finnian had thrown the first punch?

    Amara had assumed Keith had finally snapped after enduring Finnian for three years and decided to fight back. But it turned out the instigator was Finnian.

    This revtion only fueled her dissatisfaction with Finnian even more.

    Thankfully, it seemed Keith didn''t know what Finnian had done earlier that night. If he did, things might have ended much worse. She must figure out a way to hide it from him in case the matter was escted.

    "You''re impressive. Instead of being the usual craven self, you actually pped Finnian."

    Keith still felt surprised as he recalled the scene.

    In his eyes, Amara had tolerated Finnian for the past three years, so her sudden defiance was astonishing.

    Amara paused, and then replied, "You fought for me; the least I could do was stand up for you, you fool."

    Over the years, Keith had fought

    countless battles on her behalf. especially during the difficult years when she was recovering from her scars.

    So, when Keith once again took a stand for her, if she hadn''t done something in

    return, she would have felt ungrateful.

 Chapter 171

    Keith chuckled softly, saying, "Well, you owe me a little something in return. I don''t feel like heading back tonight. It''s been days since I''ve been home, and it''s just too quiet there. I''m crashing here."

    "No way, go back to your own ce," Amara insisted sternly, giving him a gentle pat after finishing up bandaging histest injury.

    Even though she was renting a two-bedroom ce, the study didn''t have a bed, and the sofa was way too cramped for someone to crash on. No way was she going to share her bed with Keith. Sure, if push came to shove, they could squeeze in for the night, but his ce was just across the hall. It was literally a stone''s throw away. So, she shooed him off back to his own apartment.

    With a resigned sigh, Keith headed home to sleep.

    The next morning, Amara didn''t roll out of bed until ten. After a quick wash and a simple breakfast, she was out the door, heading to the shooting set.

    Just as she stepped out of her apartmentplex, she spotted a sleek ck car parked at the curb. She walked on, pretending not to notice, but then the driver''s side door swung open and Will stepped out, approaching her with a respectful nod. "Mrs. Everly, Mr. Everly wants to have a word with you. Could youe with me?"

    "I''m not going," Amara replied, her expression t as she kept walking.

    Finnian wanted to talk, and she had to listen to him? Why?

    After everything that happened yesterday-first that unsolicited kiss on the hotel rooftop, then the scuffle with Keith outside her building-Amara had enough reasons to be upset with him. She definitely wasn''t in the mood to see him.

    "Mrs. Everly, please, juste with me. Mr. Everly... he won''t do anything to you."

    The events of the previous day had reached Will''s ears. Knowing his boss had pulled such stunts with Amara, he felt more than a little embarrassed, and yet, here he was, stuck having to bring her to his boss.

    Even when he uttered those words, what he felt was merely to disappear right there and then.

    "How can you guarantee he won''t try anything?" Amara almostughed at the absurdity.

    "And even if he''s all talk, why should I jump to his beck and call?"

    Amara had always put on her most patient face with the Everly family but this was thest straw. She finally understood the old saying, "Give an inch, and they''ll take a mile."

    Was it her own soft demeanor that made Finnian think he could keep pushing her around?

    "Uh, Mrs. Everly, that''s not what I meant." Will stammered, caught off guard.

    She used to be so gentle, and now she was actually standing up to people?

    Not that he minded this new side of her, but it only made him feel as if he''d never truly known her.

    "Mr. Everly genuinely wants to talk things out and find a solution. Could you please reconsider?" Will pleaded as he tried to intercept Amara once more, his face imbued with difort.

    With a look of exasperation, Amara halted and imed, "I said no. Now move aside!"

    She sidestepped around Will, determined to leave.

    Just then, the door of another car nearby swung open with a bang, and

    a tall figure strode over, grabbing

    Amara''s wrist and attempting to

    lead her to the car.

    "Let go of me!" Amara eximed, staring at the man who''d suddenly appeared.

    What was going on? Was Finnian really nearby, in that car?

    If so, why didn''t hee to speak to her himself instead of sending Will?

    Trying to see the silver lining, maybe he was feeling a bit ashamed after his actions yesterday.

    "Come on, we need to talk," Finnian said as he shoved her into the car, his behavior dominating.

    Amara instinctively resisted, but afterst night''s drama, facing Finnian now made her a bit hesitant.

 Chapter 172

    The pressure Finnian brought was overwhelming,pletely different from when she faced Will. He had practically pinned her in the passenger seat.

    "Mr. Everly, what do you need from me?" Amara asked after Finnian settled in his seat as well, her head bowed as she clutched the strap of her bag.

    Finnian remained silent, simply turning to stare at her. The car was a confined space, and the atmosphere was undeniably charged when they were left alone, especially after their kiss yesterday.

    Luckily, the mask covered her face, hiding her blush from Finnian. Amara kept her head low, hoping he wouldn''t notice her difort.

    But Finnian continued his silence, his thought unfathomable. Amara nced at him quickly. The injuries on his face were minor, just a faint bruise at the corner of his mouth. His pale skin made it more noticeable, but it did nothing to diminish his handsome, almost otherworldly features.

    Yet, no matter how good-looking someone was, staring without speaking was unsettling. Amara shifted back, asking again, "Mr. Everly, what did you want to discuss?"

    "Mr. Everly" and the formal tone again? What happened to the fiery spirit she had yesterday when she pped him?

    Finnian leaned closer, his hand resting on the car door at the passenger''s seat. His face suddenly loomedrge, triggering unwee memories from the day before. Frightened, Amara pressed against the door. "Mr. Everly!"

    Finnian paused, his eyes fixed on her for a few more seconds. Then, as if finding the situation uninteresting, he backed off.

    Amara let out a sigh of relief. The car felt stifling, the silence oppressive, creating the illusion that she could hear Finnian''s heartbeat.

    Now that he had moved away, she dared to breathe more freely.

    "Break up with Keith," Finnian suddenly stated.

    Amara froze.

    "End things with him, and I''ll divorce you," Finnian continued.

    Amara felt a surge of anger. Despite her fear of the man before her, ske couldn''t help but ask, "Mr. Everly why are you making such a demand? Why don''t you break up with Liliana?"

    "My situation with Liliana is different."

    His past with Liliana was

    So, his rtionship with Liliana was not the same as Amara''s with Keith.

    As Amara heard this, her anger intensified. She pressed her lips together tightly.

    Why was Finnian making such a demand? Was he worried that people would gossip, saying their divorce was due to her infidelity, thus tarnishing the Everly family name?

    No way.

    His rtionship with Liliana was practically an open secret. If anyone was going to be gossiped about, it would be her, not Finnian.

    Thinking of this, Amara was fuming but didn''t dare burst out. She remained silent, lips sealed.

    Seeing her quiet, Finnian assumed she needed more time to think and didn''t push further. He started the car and drove her to the set.

    Once at the entrance, Amara got out and slowly walked toward the set. The brisk wind cleared her head.

    Finnian wanted her to break up with

    Keith. Regardless of whether he

    feared gossip about the Everly

    family, he had said it: if she broke up with Keith, he would divorce her.

    So, why was she clinging to her pride?

    IMS

    The priority was to get a divorce from Finnian as soon as possible.

 Chapter 173

    So, all she really had to do was exin that she and Keith had never been together, and she''d be free.

    Once that thought clicked, Amara stopped in her tracks and hailed a cab straight to the Everly Group headquarters.

    As she arrived at the entrance to the president''s office, she noticed Lisa and Will standing by the door. Curious, she approached them and asked, "Lisa, what brings you here? Is Kevin inside?"

    Lisa and Will exchanged nces, their expressions slightly ufortable.

    Amara peeked toward the office door, hearing faint sounds of an argument. Lisa

    and Will looked even more uneasy.

    "Are they fighting?" Amara asked.

    "I''ll go in and check," she said.

    She had a hunch that Kevin was confronting Finnian because of her, so she figured it was best to step in.

    Lisa and Will seemed relieved and quickly stepped aside, urging, "Please, go in and talk some sense into them. They''ve been at it for ages."

    Amara nodded at them, knocked three times on the door, and called out, "Kevin, Mr. Finnian Everly, I''ming in."

    Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and entered.

    Inside, Kevin was leaning on his cane, standing by the couch with a flushed face, clearly fuming.

    Finnian stood opposite him, looking equally grim. They were definitely in the middle of a heated argument.

    "Ama, you''re here!"

    Kevin''s demeanor shifted immediately upon seeing Amara. He hurried over with his cane, gripping her hand as hemented, "Ama, this scoundrel Finnian dared to do that to you. It''s infuriating! I''m here today to set him straight for your

    Yesterday, Patrick had witnessed the two of them kissing andter heard Finnian exin their so-called marriage. Patrick had called Kevin as soon as he got home.

    The two older gentlemen, who were about the same age, had a lengthy chat for over an hour. After hanging up, Kevin was delighted, thinking that Finian finally had feelings for Amara, given the kiss and the public acknowledgment of their

    wn

    resationship.

    So, early this morning, he had marched into Finnian''s office to get to the bottom of

    it.

    What he didn''t expect was Finnian''s foul attitude.

    Finnian''s stance toward Amara hadn''t changed at all. His actions seemed to be nothing more than a means to toy with her, which infuriated Kevin.

    Hence, the shouting match.

    "Kevin, please don''t be upset. It''s all in the past now," Amara tried to soothe him.

    The incident wasn''t really in the past for her, but she knew she had to calm Kevin down with those words offort.

    ¡°No, this isn''t something you just move past!" Kevin shouted. "That''s scoundreldom, and I have no idea how he ended up this way! It''s disgraceful!"

    "Listen here, I won''t allow you to divorce!" He turned sharply, pointing his cane at Finnian as he stated, "You must be ountable for your actions!"

    Finnian''s eyes shed with a hint of sarcasm at those words, which only fueled Kevin''s anger.

    "Ama never cheated on you, she''s

    been devoted to you from the start! I

    didn''t want you two to divorce in the

    first ce, and now that you''ve done something bad to her, I''m even more against it!"

    Finnian''s face remained stony, but Amara''s eyes widened in surprise.

    Kevin had never wanted them to divorce?

 Chapter 174

    Previously, Kevin had promised that after Grace''s forty-nine days had passed, he would agree to their divorce. At the time, Amara believed him.

    But now, it seemed like that was just a stalling tactic from him.

    Seriously, who in the 21st century still believed in such superstitions?

    So, had she been yed by Kevin all along?

    "Don''t worry, Ama. I''ll make sure Finnes around. You two absolutely cannot get divorced! He''ll change, and you both will live happily together," Kevin dered, sping Amara''s hands firmly. His opposition to their divorce was crystal clear. He shot a re at Finnian before leaving the office with Lisa.

    Amara stood there, dumbfounded, unsure of what to say.

    Finnian approached her. "Grandpa said you didn''t cheat. Is that true?"

    Amara''s mind was a whirlwind of confusion.

    She had thought thating over to exin things to Finnian would lead to their divorce, but she hadn''t counted on Kevin throwing a wrench in the works.

    Trying to steady herself, she gazed up and said, "Yes, it''s true. I didn''t cheat on you. Keith and I were never a thing."

    Finnian let out a derisive chuckle, a mocking sound.

    Amara lifted her chin. "You don''t believe me?"

    "Do you really think I would?"

    His expression said it all; he genuinely didn''t believe her. Amara was seething.

    "I have work to do. Please leave," he said coldly, turning back to his desk.

    Amara wanted to exin further, but he had already shown her the door. There was no reason to linger around. She turned and stormed out, her anger simmering.

    On the way back, she still felt exasperated. By the time she reached the film set, she was calmer.

    Reflecting on the morning''s events

    Amara realized it was unlikely

    Finnian would ever believe she was

    innocent, especially with that

    recording Liliana had made.

    Liliana had secretly recorded their conversation and edited it to make Amara sound guilty, ying it for everyone in the Everly family living room.

    Now, everyone except Kevin believed she''d been unfaithful, and there was nothing she could do about it.

    At the moment, theplications mounted not just with Finnian, but also with Kevin, who Amara had thought wasn''t expressly stubborn considering the fact that he approved of their divorce, though Kevin had once kept persuading her being reconciled with Finnian,

    Today''s incident made Amara realize that Kevin''s previous approval was a mere

    plot to gain time and that he hadn''t changed.

    Thus, Amara resorted to Elysia''s second suggestion-take drastic action.

    After sorting through her thoughts, Amara made a decision and called Keith.

    "Pretend to be your boyfriend?" Keith''s voice rose over the phone as he heard her request.

    "Yes, I think the Everly family will only let me go if they truly believe I''ve had an affair. I just need to know if this is inconvenient for you."

    "No inconvenience at all! Just tell me what you need me to do, and I''m on board!" Keith responded eagerly.

    Amara was taken aback by his enthusiasm.

    "Why are you so excited? Don''t tell me you''re enjoying the drama. Just remember, I''m not paying you for this!"

    Amara had never considered Keith having feelings for her, reckoning he was solely in for the Everly family''s haplessness; she teased him rolling her eyes on the other end.

    Keith didn''t bother to exin. He just chuckled and assured her of his support before hanging up.

    That evening, Keith returned from an event and headed straight to Amara''s ce.

 Chapter 175

    The two of them had dinner together, took a photo as nned, and Keith went off to wash the dishes. By then, it was nearly nine o''clock, but he lingered around, reluctant to leave.

    Amara was firm in her stance and eventually ushered him out. She then crafted a Facebook post, "Yes, we''re together."

    The post was apanied by the photo they had just taken: a man embracing her from behind.

    Even though the man''s face was pixted, anyone who knew them could tell it was Keith.

    Amara''s face was partially covered by a mask, but her eyes sparkled with happiness, giving her a distinctly joyful appearance.

    After posting on Facebook, Amara turned off her phone, got washed up, and went to bed.

    That night, she slept exceptionally well, not waking up once, and slept through to the bright morning light.

    The next morning, she turned on her phone to find it flooded with calls, messages, and WhatsApp notifications.

    People were buzzing with curiosity about the photo she posted.

    "Amara, are you dating someone? Wait, aren''t you still married?"

    "Who''s the guy? Is it Keith by any chance?"

    "Whoa, what''s going on with you and Keith? Rumor has it you''re together-is it true?"

    Her friends reached out with questions, but Amara didn''t reply to any of them. She simply deleted all the messages and headed to the shooting set.

    She found it odd that she hadn''t blocked anyone from the Everly family when she posted on Facebook. Normally, this would have caused a stir, and the Everly family should have some reaction.

    Finnian hadn''t sent a single message or made a call. It was peculiar.

    But then again, what could Finnian do after seeing her Facebook post? Call her incessantly like a madman or send a barrage of angry texts?

    That wasn''t his style.

    So, Amara decided to wait and see what would happen.

    As she walked onto the set, she noticed the crew giving her curious nces.

    Amara understood what they were thinking. They found it hard to believe that someone like her could be involved with Keith, given that most people saw them as worlds apart.

    Ignoring the stares, Amara made her way inside.

    On her way, she spotted Liliana and Finnian.

    The two were standing by the cameras, Liliana chatting with Cedric, while Finnian''s icy gaze was fixed on her.

    Amara paused briefly before quickly averting her eyes and heading into the break

    room.

    She had just entered when there was a knock at the door, and she had a strange feeling it was Finnian.

    Opening the door, she found him there, and asked, "What do you want?"

    Finnian walked into the room and

    tilted Amara''s chin up with a

    d

    bone-chilling voice. "What was that Facebook post about? You don''t want to split with him?"

    Amara was forced to look up at Finnian.

    Only then did she notice his stern expression and the dark circles under his eyes, indicating a restless night.

    She kept her gaze lowered. "No, I don''t."

    She didn''t look into Finnian''s eyes, but she felt his fingers tighten around her chin.

    She let out a pained whimper and

    jerked his hand away. "Mr. Everly, is this what you came to ask? I don''t

    wan to talk about it. Please leave."

    This time, she wouldn''t pursue Finnian about the divorce.

    She wanted to take control, waiting for Finnian to feel embarrassed enough to initiate the divorce himself.

 Chapter 176

    Oddly enough, Finnian remained silent. Amara, with her head lowered, couldn''t see his face, but she could feel a sudden chill in the air, a tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

    Just then, a knock echoed through the room once more. Amara assumed it was Liliana, her lips curling into a sarcastic smile as she moved to open the door. But when she saw who it was, her expression shifted to one of surprise.

    "Kevin, what are you doing here?"

    Kevin''s sudden appearance was unexpected, to say the least.

    "Ama, what was that post about on Facebookst night? Who''s that man?"

    Kevin, leaning on his cane, hurried inside. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, he pressed her for answers.

    Amara hesitated. It was only natural for Kevin toe calling after her post. She exined, "That man is Keith, the one Liliana used me... of having an affair with."

    Her head hung low, a hint of guilt shadowing her eyes.

    "Kevin, I''m really sorry. Actually, Ms. Porter was right. I am involved with Keith. She didn''t falsely use me."

    Kevin''s mind reeled, as if hit by a thunderp.

    He looked at Amara, his voice rising as he eximed agitatedly, "I don''t believe it, Ama, I can''t believe you''d do something like that!

    I''ve always believed in you. Are you sure there''s not something else going on? Is someone pressuring you? Tell me what''s happening, and I''ll help you clear your name!"

    His words came out in a rush, his face a picture of worry and hope, searching Amara for an exnation that would set his heart at ease.

    But Amara didn''t say a word; she just stood there silently, meeting his gaze with quiet resolution.

    Slowly, the light in Kevin''s eyes dimmed, his face turning ashen, tugging at the heartstrings.

    He eased himself onto the couch, muttering, "This can''t be happening, this just can''t be..."

    Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he looked up at Amara with renewed hope. "Ama, you just picked a random guy to fool me, right?

    After three years of being so veracious and scrupulous, why would you start seeing someone else?

    Did you find yourself unable to stand being with Finn, so you lied to leave him?"

    Amara was left speechless, surprised that Kevin actually had the correct spection.

    She sighed, grateful for the contingency n she had devised. Without it, she wasn''t sure how to navigate Kevin''s stubbornness.

    She retrieved a tablet from her bag, powered it on, and began, "Keving Keith and I have known each other since we were kids. We grew up next door, practically childhood O sweethearts."

    This revtion made Finnian shift ufortably.

    Lifting his eyes, he shot Amara a sharp nce.

    She could feel his icy stare on her back but paid it no mind as she continued, "Here''s a picture of us as kids. We were inseparable. He even drew up a little marriage certificate, saying he''d marry me when we grew up.

    But when I was ten, my stepsister shed my face with a knife, leaving me disfigured. My face became expressly grotesque.

    ?

    As a child, was considered quite pretty, always surrounded by friends. But after the incident, they called a monster and estranged themselves.

    Only Keith stayed by my side, unwavering, always looking out for me no matter what happened.

    Kevin, look, here''s our middle school photo taken by the ss president back then."

 Chapter 177

    "Check out this photo of Keith with a ck eye. Isn''t it hrious?

    That was when someone called me ugly. Keith got angry and went to fight them. Back then, he was always getting into scuffles for my sake. A bruised face was just part of his daily routine."

    The photo she referred to was an old snapshot of a teenage boy and girl, arms around each other''s shoulders. It had a vintage feel, capturing the awkward innocence of their school days. The two in white and blue were unmistakably a younger Amara and Keith.

    As Amara gazed at the picture, a warmth filled her eyes. "He''s always been so good to me, even when my face changed, he never abandoned me. That''s why I can''t abandon him now, Kevin."

    Herst words were directed at Kevin, who sat on the couch, astonished, his silence profound as he sifted through the photographs. After a long pause, he sighed, the weight of the years seeming to settle on him anew. Leaning heavily on his cane, he slowly rose and walked away.

    Watching his trembling back, Amara felt a pang of guilt, but she knew she had to do it. She couldn''t stay stuck in the Everly family forever.

    "You and Keith have known each other for so long?" Finnian asked, approaching her. His handsome face was expressionless, yet an unspoken intensity made him intimidating.

    Amara nodded. "Yes, we''ve known each other for as long as I can remember."

    Finnian''s fists clenched slowly, the knuckles cracking ominously. "Then why didn''t you marry him? Why choose me if you love him?"

    His voice suddenly sharpened. Amara remained silent, lips tightly pressed together.

    Finnian lifted her chin, forcing her to meet the stormy gaze in his eyes. She was taken aback by the darkness swirling there.

    She pushed his hand away and stepped back. She began, "Because back then, we hadn''t defined our rtionship. We were so close that we didn''t realize our friendship had be love.

    When your family approached me, asking me to marry you for their reasons, it was the perfect opportunity to escape the Sullivan family''s control. So I said yes."

    It was a story she had concocted on the spot. Finnian had no way to verify it, so she just went with it.

    He stared at her, eyes unreadable,

    for a few long seconds. The air

    around them seemed to grow colder, and goose bumps emerged on Amara''s skin. She touched Ker cold arms, a testament to he creeping fright.

    Then, Finnian abruptly turned and left without another word or nce.

    As the door mmed shut, Amara let out a breath. At least for now, Finnian seemed to have let the matter rest.

    "Finn, is everything alright?" Liliana, waiting outside, approached him as soon as

    he finally emerged from Amara''s room, her concern evident.

    Finnian didn''t pause. "I need to go out for a bit. Focus on your scenes."

    With that, he walked off, leaving Liliana biting her lip in frustration, her gaze

    flicking between Finnian''s retreating figure and Amara''s room, her expression darkening.

    Later that evening, back home,

    Amara took her phone and shot a message to Keith, "Did you see my Facebook post from yesterday? Kevin@ame to see me today. Looks like he bought the story about us."

 Chapter 178

    "Yeah, I saw it, you can use me however you want," Keith texted Amara, throwing in a few cheeky emojis for good measure. "If you need anything, I can even sacrifice my dignity and take a bed selfie with you."

    "Gross, no thanks. I don''t need to see that and risk my eyes getting infected."

    After some yful banter, Amara put down her phone. Despite Kevin and Finnian showing up earlier, both left without any word, no more news heard from the Everly family. She wondered what was going on.

    Amara decided to wait it out a little longer. If things stayed quiet for a few more days, she''d have to stir the pot herself.

    Finnian had vanished. He''d been missing for nearly a day and a night, and everyone around him knew it.

    Will had a stack of documents waiting for Finnian''s approval, but without any sign of him, he was getting frantic. Liliana, Dorian, and Kevin had all sent people out searching, turning Wye upside down, but no one could find Finnian.

    They''d tracked his passport; there were no records of him taking a flight or a train, not even a hotel stay. His private jet was untouched, and the car he''d been driving was gone too. Surely, he hadn''t driven out of state, they assumed.

    An anxious day passed, and by around 7 pm the next evening, Liliana and Dorian found him in a rundown little bar on the outskirts of Wye.

    The ce was a shabby, wooden hole-in-the-wall, more of a tavern than a bar, with no music or proper lighting. Liliana and Dorian paused at the doorway, taken aback by the worn-out decor, before spotting Finnian in a corner, downing drinks. They hurried over to him.

    "Finn, what are you doing? How much have you drunk?"

    "Why are you in this ce?"

    Liliana steadied his shoulder as Dorian snatched the ss from his grip, mming it onto the table.

    "What happened to you?" Dorian growled. "Having a rough time and youe to this dive to drown your sorrows? Seriously, Finnian?"

    Dorian was a mix of exasperation and amusement at the sight of Finnian. He was still in yesterday''s clothes, hair slightly disheveled, with a shadow of stubble from the hangover. His eyes were red-rimmed, likely from a sleepless night.

    Dorian pulled out his phone, using the front camera as a makeshift mirror for Finnian.

    "Look at yourself. All torn up because some heartless woman cheated on you? Where''s your pride? Did you feed it to the strays?

    If Amara''s infidelity bothers you, go find some other women to get back at her. Sitting here drinking alone doesn''t solve anything."

    Liliana frowned at Dorian''sstment, shooting him a nce, but he ignored herpletely.

    "Leave me be," Finnian muttered, pushing them away and reaching for his ss again.

    Seeing this, Dorian knew he was heavily intoxicated and once grabbed the ss, passing it to let

    Liliana. "Take this awayet

    him see it."

    Finnian was the kind of guy whose drinking didn''t show on his face,

    nor

    iel:

    did he get rowdy. To those unfamiliar with him, it was hard to tell when he was drunk.

 Chapter 179

    But Dorian knew he was definitely cooked.

    No surprise there, considering he''d been missing for a whole day and night. Who knew how much he drank during that time? Of course, he''d be stered.

    "Find a nearby hotel and book a suite. Let''s get him settled there first," Dorian instructed.

    Liliana didn''t move. "No need for all that hassle. We can just take him to our ce. It''s not that far, only a half-hour drive."

    Dorian was well aware of the history between Finnian and Liliana, as well as Finnian''s rough childhood. Keeping his expression neutral, he insisted directively, "Hotel it is."

    Ignoring Liliana''s look, he helped Finnian up and started guiding him out of the bar.

    A flicker of irritation crossed Liliana''s eyes but disappeared just as quickly.

    She hurried to catch up, grabbing Finnian''s other arm, and together they managed to get him to a nearby hotel and booked a suite.

    Theyid Finnian, who seemed alright but was actually quite wobbly, onto the bed and handed him a ss of water.

    That was when Dorian noticed something was off. He felt Finnian''s forehead, finding it hot to the touch.

    "He''s got a fever."

    "What, Finn''s burning up?" Liliana rushed over, confirming Finnian''s forehead was indeed quite hot.

    She reached to touch his neck, but Finnian, in a daze, swatted her hand away with a sleepy flip.

    Finnian turned over, clearly not wanting to be touched.

    Liliana stood there awkwardly, and when Dofian nced over, she quickly exined, "Finn''s never liked being touched by others. It''s just a reflex. He''s not like this when he''s sober."

    Dorian remained silent, his face emotionless, and turned away, causing Liliana to bite her lip in frustration.

    She''d thought Dorian was on her side, especially since he was known for disliking Amara. Turned out, he didn''t think much of her either.

    Oh well, he wasn''t Finnian''s family elder or anything. His opinion didn''t affect her rtionship with Finnian, and that was what mattered.

    "You go out and buy some fever medicine. I''ll stay here with him," Dorian

    Liliana was fuming. Since when did women have to do the errands?

    But with Finnian practically unconscious, she couldn''t really argue with Dorian. Forcing a smile, she nodded and went out to get the medicine.

    When she returned, the two of them managed to get Finnian to take the fever reducer. Dorian wet a towel, wiped Finnian''s face and hands, and then nodded towards the other room in the suite.

    "You can sleep in there. I''ll keep watch tonight."

    Liliana knew Dorian wouldn''t let her stay alone with Finnian, so she agreed Alright, I''ll be just next door. Call me if you need anything. Oh, by the way, do you have my number?"

    "Nope, but I doubt I''ll need it. Go get some rest."

    Liliana gritted her teeth, suppressing her irritation, gave Finnian onest look, and left the room.

    In the middle of the night, Finnian groggily opened his eyes to a dark ceiling.

    As his eyes adjusted, he turned and realized he was in a hotel room, with Dorian sleeping soundly beside him.

    A hotel? How did he end up here with Dorian?

 Chapter 180

    Waking up with a pounding headache, Finnian took a moment to piece together the foggy memories from the night before. He remembered turning off his phone and heading to the bar for a drink. That was where Dorian and Liliana had found him and brought him to the hotel.

    Slowly sitting up, he opened his mouth and realized his throat was parched, feeling like a desert. His head was swimming, and when he touched his forehead, it was scorching. Was he running a fever?

    ncing at Dorian, who was still asleep, Finnian quietly slipped out of the room and made his way to the suite''s living room. He poured himself a ss of lukewarm water, sipping it as he settled onto the couch, staring out the window.

    A nightmare had jolted him awake. It was a recurring one, dragging him back to his childhood. He was four or five, clutching a toy in his room when a noise startled him awake in the middle of the night.

    Wearing pajamas adorned with bears, he rubbed his eyes and wandered into the living room, only to be shocked by what he saw a flushed father and a woman with baster arms wrapped around him, creating an erotic scene that deeply scarred his young heart.

    Terrified, he ran back to his room, mming the door shut, and spent the night tormented by nightmares. Over time, this scene reyed in his memory with different women, but his flushed father and angry mother remained constants. Back then, he didn''t understand love or intimacy. But the ring scenes and endless arguments at home made him wary of rtionships. As he grew up, the nightmares faded, only to resurface without warning now. Why now, of all times?

    He sat there, his dizziness intensified, and his body felt increasingly feverish. Realizing the situation turned severe, Finnian decided he should probably head to the hospital. Checking his phone, he saw it was midnight. The nightlife in Wye was in full swing as he staggered out the door.

    Meanwhile, Amara had downed atte earlier that evening, leading to a sleepless night. By eleven, she had given up on sleep and decided to dive into a book. Just as she was getting into it, a loud knocking interrupted her. She nced at the clock. Nearly one in the morning. Who could it be?

    She got up, peering through the peephole, her eyes widened. Finnian? Here?

    "Do you need something... Ah!"

    Amara pulled the door open. She barely got the words out,

    questioning him what was his dealing to her in the middle of the

    night, before Finnian stumbled into her

    She let out a yelp, instinctively catching him, but he was too heavy. The impact sent her careening back into the wall. Finnian wrapped his arms around her, causing thetter''s heart racing. ¡°Mr. Everly, what''s going on? Are you feeling unwell?"

    Without a reply, Finnian sped her tight, his chin nestled into the crook of her neck, staying perfectly still.

    The faint smell of alcohol lingered around her, and his skin was burning hot. Was he feverish?

    After a moment of thought, Amara, gathering her strength, pushed him away. He looked at her with a dazed expression, starkly different from his usualComposed andmanding demeanor. She couldn''t help but feel resigned.

    Taking his hand, she led him to the couch, asking, ¡°Did you get lost trying to get home because of the fever?"

    Eyes blurred, Finnian just stared at her, mouth slightly open, saying nothing.

 Chapter 181

    Looking at him, Finnian seemed so utterly lost that it was hard for anyone to muster the will to scold him.

    Amara sighed, rummaged for some fever medicine, and handed him a ss of water. "Here, take this."

    She knew Finnian was too out of it to respond, so she carefully pried his mouth open and slipped the fever reducer in, following it up with some water.

    Thankfully, he waspliant, swallowing the medicine and then looking up at her. He looked just like a little abandoned puppy, the kind that tugged at your heartstrings.

    Amara turned away, trying not to look at him any longer, worried that her resolve might crumble if she did.

    She was contemting whether to call the Everly family member toe pick him up when suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, clutching her waist.

    Startled, she tried to pry his hands away. "Let go of me."

    Finnian pressed against her back, his face nuzzling into her neck, murmuring something she couldn''t quite catch.

    His warm breath tickled her neck, making Amara feel both embarrassed and flustered.

    Gritting her teeth, she pinched his arm sharply. "Let go now!"

    Apparently, the pinch did the trick, as Finnian finally released her, allowing Amara to slip away.

    Seeing him still sitting quietly on the couch, she sighed again and fetched a nket.

    "You can sleep here for the night. Just make sure you''re gone by morning."

    She didn''t want Finnian staying, but he seemed too out of it to understand her, and there was no way she was going to sleep outside somewhere while he stayed in her ce. So, she decided to make do for the night.

    As she set the nket down, Finnian grabbed her wrist.

    Before she knew it, the world spun, and she found herself lying heavily on the couch with Finnian on top of her, pinning her down.

    Amara''s eyes widened as she looked up at his face, now much too close. Panic set in as she eximed, "What are you..."

    Before she could finish, Finnian''s lips were on hers.

    He held her face, kissing her with an intensity that pierced even through the fabric of her mask.

    Amara was terrified, pushing and hitting him, but he was immovable, like a mountain. Tears welled in her eyes.

    "Let me go!"

    Finnian continued to kiss her aggressively, which scared Amara and her mind shed back to that rooftop incident. Then, she kneed him, not quite sure where she hit, but it was enough to make him grunt in pain and pull back slightly

    Amara shoved him off her, and he fell onto the floor.

    She didn''t care that he was still

    feverish. After what he had done et

    why should she? She stepped over him and dashed to her bedroom.

    She mmed the door shut, clutching her chest as her heart raced.

    Finnian had been so quiet earlier, doing everything she said, and Amara almost softened towards him.

    But then he had to go and ruin it; her resistance to him once again surged up, and now all she felt was indignation and distress.

    She closed her eyes for a moment,

    trying to appease herself, and once her emotions settled, she opened the door again. Finnian was sprawled awkwardly on the Couch, asteep.

    Amara paused.

    He was quiet again, and she realized he really had been out of his mind with fever

    earlier.

 Chapter 182

    She didn''t want to argue with someone who was sick, so she approached, spread the nket over Finnian, returned to her own room, locking the door securely behind her, and and went to bed.

    Probably out of the spectacle she''d experienced that night, which exhausted her, Amara quickly fell asleep.

    The next morning, she woke up, her eyes fluttering open to find someone sitting at the edge of her bed, staring down at her.

    The shock jolted her fully awake. She sat up quickly, making frantic attempts to pull the nket up to her side. "You got better?¡±

    She looked up at Finnian.

    He was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, but he seemed much more like himself.

    His face was calm andposed, his gaze steady on Amara.

    Amara felt a shiver run down her spine under his scrutiny. She was fully dressed in her pajamas, but his gaze made her feel strangely exposed.

    Just as she was about to ask him something, it hit her that something was off. She blurted out, "How did you get in here?"

    She distinctly remembered locking the doorst night, and there was no spare key in the living room. How on earth did Finnian end up in her room?

    Finnian held up something between his fingers¡ªa ck hairpin.

    Amara''s eyes widened. It was the hairpin she''d casually left on the coffee table.

    "You picked the lock with that?"

    Finnian could pick locks?

    Amara was angry, though she didn''t dare to directly berate him. Instead, she shot back sarcastically, "Mr. Everly, is there anything you can''t do? Even mastering less-than-honorable skills, impressive."

    Finnian ignored her sarcasm, cing the hairpin down and tilting her chin upwards to examine her.

    His gaze made her ufortable, as if he was sizing her up. She asked, "Mr. Everly, is there something you need?"

    From the feel of his hand, he wasn''t feverish anymore, which meant he should probably head home soon.

    Finnian released her and stood up, still observing her from the bedside.

    Lately, he''d been questioning his feelings.

    He realized that his fixation on Amara''s supposed infidelity wasn''t just about feeling humiliated or cuckolded.

    He wasn''t one to hold double standards.

    People had pointed out before that he was away for those three years, and Amara must have someone else by now. It never bothered him much. Their marriage was more of a business arrangement; what she did outside of it wasn''t his concern.

    He himself had thought when Liliana came along, if Amara had someone else too,

    it would be fairer.

    But when it actually happened, his reaction was nothing like what he''d expected.

    He was jealous. Jealous of the man who was with Amara.

    His feelings towards Amara had always been unique. Others had mentioned it a couple of times, but he''d never admitted it, always using his grandfather as an excuse.

    Now, after a drunken night and a fever, everything was clear. He finally acknowledged these feelings.

    But where had this special feelinge from?

    Was it because of that chance

    encounter when he''d returned to the

    house and identally seen Amara

    stepping out of the shower

    clothless, sparking a reaction and leaving a mark on his mind?

    After all, due to past trauma, he''d never reacted to any other woman.

    Maybe it was that singr moment that made Amara special to him.

    If that was the case, maybe he just needed to be intimate with her once to settle things.

    Just once, to satisfy his curiosity, and perhaps then everything would be resolved.

    He looked at Amara and said, "Do you want a divorce?"

    Amara nodded immediately. "Yeah."

    Finnian''s eyes darkened. "Spend one night with me, and I''ll let you go."

 Chapter 183

    Amara''s eyes flew open in disbelief. Had she misheard Finnian just now? Did he really ask her to spend the night with him?

    "That''s the only condition. Be at Vera Lodge, penthouse suite, by eight tonight. Spend the night with me, and tomorrow morning we get the divorce. I keep my word," Finnian said.

    With that, he left without caring about Amara''s reaction. It wasn''t until he disappeared that Amara snapped back to the reality.

    Spend the night with him? What did he mean by that? Was he implying they should sleep together?

    Casting aside the reason of him having the request, she thought the mere proposal was too outrageous to entertain. She couldn''t possibly agree to that. She leapt out of bed, barefoot, and ran to catch him.

    "Mr. Everly, we can''t do this!" she eximed, her hand instinctively covering her stomach.

    Not that she wanted to do anything intimate with Finnian, but even if she did, it wasn''t possible. Not with a child growing inside her.

    Finnian''s voice was icy as he dered, "If you don''t show up, there''s no divorce. I''ve made it clear, this is the only condition-it''s your choice."

    And with that, he brushed past her, leaving the apartment.

    Amara stood there, her mind reeling for a prolonged while. It wasn''t until her toes went numb out of coldness that she gazed immediately down and realized she was still barefoot. She then hurried back to her room.

    Back in bed, she twisted her fingers together, staring at the ceiling, her heart thundering in her chest. The events of the day felt surreal, and if it wasn''t for the brightness outside, she''d almost think she was still in a dream.

    A dream. Could Finnian have been delirious with fever when he made that outrageous demand?

    No, Finnian had been perfectly lucid, not feverish at all.

    Amara shook her head and continued with the contemtion. Even if he had uttered those words not because of being delirious, he might have

    spoken in a moment of madness and would regret it when he came to his senses.

    Without hesitation, she jumped out of bed and dialed his number, hoping for rity.

    "Mr. Everly," she ventured cautiously, "is this a good time to talk?"

    Finnian seemed to be driving, the sound of calming music in the background. His voice, low andzy, came through. "What is it? Want toe to me now already?"

    Amara was rendered speechless.

    What a scoundrel!

    Amara cursed him silently and hung up.

    She had assumed Finnian was muddled enough to bring up that request; turned out he was just as audacious as ever.

    She fell back onto the bed. It was

    nearly nine in the morning, a time for breakfast and diving into work. But with tonight''s looming rendezvous, she couldn''t focus on anything else.

    Her mind was a chaotic mess, and she needed someone to talk to. Who should

    she call? Elysia, perhaps?

    No, Elysia would be furious and likely confront Finnian directly.

    Keith, then?

    Absolutely not. Keith, being a guy, would explode at such news.

    As she mulled over her predicament, she nced at the clock. It was already close to ten.

    She got up, did her morning routine, and ordered takeout for breakfast. She forced herself to sit at herputer, intending to work on her script but her brain refused to cooperate. Not a single word made sense.

    The day drifted by in a blur, her mind

    elsewhere as she stared at the screen where not many lines about the script were created, until she noticed the time. Seven in the evening.

    Finnian had said eight o''clock. Yet here she was, unprepared, with no n for

    dinner, and utterly clueless about what to do next.

 Chapter 184

    She really didn''t want to go, but Finnian had made it clear: attending tonight was the only way he''d agree to the divorce. If she didn''t show up, was she really stuck in this marriage forever?

    Surely it couldn''t be that ck and white. There had to be another way... she supposed.

    Amara sat staring nkly at herputer screen for a while longer. Around 7:50, her phone buzzed with a message from Finnian, "Ten minutes left, did you arrive?"

    She clenched her jaw as she typed, "I didn''t! I don''t n on going."

    But just as she was about to hit send, she hesitated. Being this reckless would most likely irk him. She deleted the message, leaving the reply unsent.

    By 8 o''clock, another message from Finnian popped up, "You''rete."

    Just few simple words. No hint of emotion, but Amara could almost feel his displeasure seeping through.

    Whatever. Let him be upset. What could he really do to her?

    Her initial reluctance to go, which had been 95%, now soared to 99%.

    As the saying goes, "where there''s a will, there''s a way." She was determined to divorce Finnian, and surely there had to be some other way. Worst case, she could always ask Liliana for help.

    Amara was ready to throw caution to the wind. But at 8:30, another text arrived, "Giving you onest chance. Be here by 9."

    Staring at the message, Amara gripped her phone tightly and finally replied, "I''m noting, Mr. Everly. Don''t wait up."

    Finnian''s reply was swift, "It''s fine if you don''te. I told you, this is the only condition for our divorce."

    His words were calm, yet Amara could sense a storm brewing beneath the surface. Was she just being paranoid?

    She recalled everyone''s opinion on Finnian; they praised him as a brilliant man, a master of his trade, ruthless when necessary.

    No, no, she was letting her imagination run wild.

    Those were business traits. The Finnian she knew personally couldn''t be like that, she spected.

    A wave of uncertainty washed over Amara.

    There

    Wasza time she''d have

    said Finnian was a good in his personal life, but now

    she wasn''t so sure. Congs

    Lately, he seemed harsh, domineering, a bit of a rascal. That was the Finnian

    she''de to know.

    So, what was he really like?

    His "onest chance" - could it truly be her only chance?

    As she gazed out at the deep blue night sky, Amara felt a sense of dread creeping back up her throat.

    Her phone vibrated again. Finnian''s fifth message, "It''s 8:45. Still not here. nning on staying married forever?"

    Quickly followed by a sixth, "Amara, do you think I''m joking?"

    Amara went silent.

    In a sh, she sprang from her chair.

    Maybe it was the weight of Finnian''s threat, or perhaps genuine fear.

    set

    Minordless, she made

    her

    in an instant. Content Belongs

    She nced at the clock. It was 8:46. Just fourteen minutes until Finnian''s deadline.

    No time to waste. Grabbing her phone and keys, she hurried out the door.

    Vera Lodge wasn''t far from her ce, but getting downstairs, finding a cab, waiting at the front desk, all took precious time. By the time Amar@reached the penthouse suite, a good chunk of time had passed.

    BUMS

    Slightly out of breath, she knocked on the door in front of her.

 Chapter 185

    Soon, the door swung open, and there stood Finnian.

    He was wearing a ck robe, loosely tied at the waist, revealing a well-toned chest that screamed masculinity. Amara immediately lowered her gaze and said, "Mr. Everly, I''m here."

    Finnian lifted her chin, his eyes locking onto her face. "You''rete."

    Pulling away, Amara nced at her phone. "Only by two minutes. Does that really count?"

    "Of course, it does."

    Finnian pulled her inside, pressing her against the door frame, his arms on either side of her. "Haven''t you heard the saying ''time is money''?"

    Amara was at a loss.

    This man was impossible!

    Amara thought for a moment and replied, "Last time we went to finalize our divorce, Mr. Everly, you stood me up without a word. This time, I was a tad tardy. So, let''s call it even."

    Finnian hadn''t expected her to bring that up and was momentarily taken aback. Slowly, a smile crept onto his lips. "Alright, we''re even."

    He hadn''t really intended to make a big deal out of the two minutes; he was just teasing her.

    With a swift motion, he scooped Amara up and strode into the room,ying her down on the soft bed.

    From the moment he suddenly picked her up, Amara''s mind went nk. Everything happened so quickly, and by the time she processed it, his weight was already pressing down on her.

    Finnian''s knees and elbows were propped beside her. He seemed freshly showered, carrying the scent of soap and shampoo mixed with a warm, masculine aroma that was almost intoxicating. Amara felt a bit dizzy.

    But this was all happening too fast. She hadn''t even said what she came to say. This wasn''t right.

    "Mr. Everly."

    His lips descended on hers, cutting her off.

    This kiss was unlike the rough ones before; it was gentle, almost tender. Finnian seemed to be savoring it.

    Yet, through the mask, the pleasure

    was limited. Finnian soon grew unsatisfied and attempted to remove her mask. Amara startled, and held his hand. "Mr. Everly!"

    He lifted his head, his eyes slightly reddened with desire. "What, you don''t want

    to?"

    Amara froze for a moment.

    Finnian had seen the photos of her scars-ugly and shocking; even she found them repulsive.

    Surely, given Finnian''s sharpness,

    We forgotten her real

    appearance so soon. Why

    he

    wanther to remove the he

    She admitted that with the mask on, she still held a certain allure, so it was natural for him to desire her. But Without it, wouldn''t he be disgusted?

    "Forget it."

    Seeing her hesitate, Finnian took it as her rejection, so he didn''t push it. He

    cupped her cheeks and kissed her again.

    Amara''s body felt feverish, and she was incredibly thirsty.

    She knew what she was yearning for-she wanted to remove the mask. But she couldn''t.

    Gently, she pushed Finnian''s face away, and he shifted to her ear, continuing his kisses.

    Amara felt half her body going numb as she clung to Finnian''s robe, saying, "Mr. Everly, can we talk?"

    "What do you want to talk about?" Finnian asked, not bothering to lift his head.

    Amara stared up at the dark ceiling, trying hard to ignore the sensations coursing through her.

    "Mr. Everly, can I ask what your intentions are? Why did you make such a request?"

    "Why shouldn''t I?" Finnian replied swiftly. "What''s wrong with sleeping with my wife?"

 Chapter 186

    Amara was speechless. So, was that what he cared about, thebel of being a husband?

    Torn, she had a million reasons not to sleep with Finnian. For starters, she was pregnant, and the doctor had advised against intimacy in the first trimester. Then there was the matter of her principles; she wasn''t exactly a prude, but she wasn''t into casual flings either.

    And yet, despite all this, there was an unsettling thought that terrified her: if it were Finnian, she might not say no.

    It wasn''t just because they''d done it before. It was because it was Finnian. The very idea made her nervous, afraid that the feelings she''d tried so hard to bury would surface again, leading her down a path she feared she couldn''te back from.

    Her fingers clutched the sheets, her heart racing with indecision. What was she supposed to do now?

    Finnian, meanwhile, had moved closer, his lips brushing against her skin as he started to pull at her clothes with his teeth. The room was dark, the only lighting from the living room, casting a soft glow over them.

    He was tense, like a bowstring pulled taut, and as he moved, a drop of sweat fell onto her skin. For over twenty years, Finnian had never imagined intimacy could be so wonderful. He''d always been repulsed by women''s body, but touching Amara had changed that. It had left him with a pleasant memory, one that seemed to make everything feel right.

    Grasping her chin, he studied her face before leaning in for a kiss. It didn''tst long, and when he pulled back, his eyes filled with a certain intensity.

    "Did you ever sleep with Keith?" he asked suddenly.

    Amara froze, not knowing how to respond. The best answer would be "no", but she wasn''t a virgin, and Finnian might find out soon enough. What was she supposed to reply then?

    No, was she already assuming they''d go through with it?

    Things had progressed so far, it seemed inevitable, but she really didn''t want this. For the first time, she loathed her own indecision.

    "Can''t answer?"

    Finnian''s gaze was sharp, almost predatory as it was fixed on her eyes. "Then let me ask you this: has he kissed you?"

    His fingers toyed with the strap of

    really

    her face mask, hinting at what het sant-had Keith ever off to kiss her? Content bulled it

    Feeling the inexplicable danger in stare, Amara turned her head

    slight

    his

    She looked at the table

    nearby. "Mr. Everly, does it really matter?"

    Did it?

    Finnian asked himself the same question. It shouldn''t have mattered, yet somehow he desperately wanted to know the answer.

    "Mr. Everly."

    She thought they should talk, but he seemed to have dropped the question, leaning in to kiss her again.

    Was he really going to do this?

    Her heart pounded as she gripped his shoulder, finally finding her voice. "Finnian, please, don''t."

    But he didn''t seem to hear her, pinning her hands to the bed. As Amara began to struggle, feeling things spiraling out of control,

    Finnian didn''t have the intention of disentangling her.

    At the moment, a loud bang on the door erupted from outside. "Mr. Everly, open

    up!"

    Finnian''s eyes flickered with annoyance as he lifted his head, shouting back, "Shut up and go away!"

 Chapter 187

    Will kept knocking on the door, his voice tinged with urgency. "Mr. Finnian Everly, something''s happened to Mr. Kevin Everly!

    Lisa called me. She said he just got taken away in an ambnce."

    The warmth in the room seemed to evaporate instantly.

    Finnian''s eyes reddened, but he quickly regained hisposure. He rolled off Amara and onto his feet.

    Amara, initially flustered and worried, snapped back to reality and sat up immediately.

    Finnian stepped onto the floor, barefoot, across the bathrobe and Amara''s clothes strewn about, heading to the closet for a shirt and cks, slipping into them with swift precision.

    Amara got dressed as well, and as she finished, Finnian fastened thest button on his shirt. They exchanged a nce, silent but understanding, and headed for the door together.

    "What happened to Grandpa?" Finnian demanded as he opened the door, his expression grim.

    Will kept his eyes to the ground, avoiding their gaze. "It seems his blood pressure shot up really high, and then he passed out. They''re trying to stabilize him now."

    Finnian brushed past Will, striding purposefully out the door, with Amara quickly following. "Is he at the hospital he usually goes to?"

    "Yeah, that''s the one."

    They drove to the hospital in silence, as if the events that had unfolded moments ago were nothing but a distant memory.

    Atst, they reached the ICU. Looking over, they saw the main members of the Everly family gathered around. As soon as Finnian arrived, they rushed to him, talking over one another to exin the situation, with Amara listening by his side. Kevin''s condition was serious, but not necessarily dire, as long as he could be stabilized. However, the possibility of things going south lingered.

    No, Kevin would pull through, Amara thought with conviction.

    Her palms were mmy, and her knees felt a bit weak.

    Despite the rough patches she''d had with Kevin, including thest meeting where she had to prove her supposed infidelity, she still cared for him deeply and wished for his well-being.

    "Amara, how dare you show up here!"

    As she prayed silently for Kevin, a voice cut through the air.

    Amara looked up to see Celeste striding over, pointing usatively at her nose.

    "You know why Grandpa''s blood pressure spiked? It''s all because of you!

    It''s your betrayal of Finnian that caused this! Someone slutty like you should never have been allowed into our family."

    Amara''s anger red. Already frazzled by the day''s events, she was in no mood for Celeste''s usations.

    She was about to retort when Finnian''s cold, sharp voice interrupted. "Who taught you to spout those foul words? You''re only getting worse as you grow up."

    Silence fell over the emergency

    room entrance, everyone stunned as they stared at Finnian. Had they heard him right? Finnian, who''d always seemed indifferent to his wife, was standing up for he now, despite her alleged infidelity?

    "Shut your mouth!" Andrea approached, pinching Celeste sharply and scolding her quietly.

    Andrea then looked up, offering a conciliatory smile. "Celeste''s behavior is our fault. We''ve spoiled her terribly. Please, don''t be upset with her."

    Andrea was well aware of Finnian''s importance within the Everly family, and his anger was no small matter, prompting her to humble herself despite being the elder.

    Celeste pouted, muttering under her breath, "Mom, why are you doing this? So

    what if Ished out on her? She should..."

    "Shut up!"

 Chapter 188

    Andrea was about ready to lose it with Celeste. In a fit of frustration, she stomped on Celeste''s foot and, under Finnian''s icy stare, forced a smile before dragging the fuming Celeste away.

    Amara watched the drama unfold, feeling utterly drained. Celeste''s insults were essentially aimed at Finnian too, since they were still married. It was no surprise to her that Finnian defended her, but she had no intention of thanking him.

    She didn''t want to stay there under all those judgmental stares. So, she told the nurse to update her if anything happened and headed to the rooftop alone.

    It was quitete, and the rooftop was deserted, with only the chilly night wind whipping around, making it an ufortable ce to be. Amara stood there for a moment, contemting a change of scenery when the door suddenly swung open, and a tall figure stepped out.

    "So, this is where you''re hiding?"

    It was Hogan. He strode over to Amara, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You got my grandfather hospitalized and Celeste caught in the crossfire. Amara, you''re really something, aren''t you? You won''t rest until you''vepletely disrupted the Everly family, will you?"

    "Say that again!" Amara''s voice sharpened. "Do you want to get hit the second time?"

    Hogan flinched, recalling the p from Amarast time. Anger red in his eyes.

    "How dare you bring that up!" he fumed, "I haven''t even settled that score with you yet!"

    It all happened during Mr. Cooper''s birthday party at the hotel rooftop. Finnian had kissed Amara. Witnessed by everyone, Finnian publicly acknowledged their rtionship, leaving Liliana in tears. Hogan had confronted Amara about it, only to receive a p in return. The vivid memory of that night still kept him up with rage.

    "What, you want to settle scores?" Amara taunted, her gaze chilly as itnded on him.

    "Go ahead, see if Finnian doesn''t knock you out."

    She realized that while Finnian might

    not care about her personally, he valued their marriage. If Hogan dared toy a finger on her, Finnian wouldn''t stand by idly.

    Hogan knew this too. He red at Amara fiercely, his eyes zing with anger. Then, he noticed a red mark on Amara''s neck. As someone

    familiar with such things, he recognized it instantly. His eyes

    widened in fury.

    "You''ve just been fooling around with another guy beforeing to see Grandpa? Amara, have you no shame?"

    He didn''t even think before hurling the usation, disgusted by her absurd audacity, in spite of having long since learned about this woman''s shameless character.

    Amara shook with anger. "What did you just say? You dare insult me?"

    Following Hogan''s gaze, she noticed the conspicuous mark. She realized the misunderstanding but knew it was the kind of thing impossible to exin away. Frustration and fury welled up inside her.

    Amara''s hesitance consolidated Hogan''s theory as he sneered frigidly, "Can''t say anything, can you? Just admit it, you''re a shameless woman."

    "Shut up!"

    A cold voice cut through the air. Both Hogan and Amara turned to see a tall, imposing figure striding towards them, a fierce look on his handsome face.

    Finnian stopped in front of Hogan, each word deliberate. "Take back what you just said and apologize to Amara."

    "Finnian, you want me to apologize?"

    Hogan looked at Finnian in disbelief.

 Chapter 189

    Was he hearing things right? Finnian was actually asking him to apologize to Amara?

    Oh, Finnian must have missed the love bites on Amara''s neck and had no idea what kind of reckless things she''d done before all this. That was why he said that.

    He quickly pointed out, "Finnian, look at her. Clearly, she was just making out with another guy! A woman like this isn''t worthy of being part of the Everly family."

    "Shut your mouth!"

    Finnian''s gaze followed Hogan''s pointing finger,nding on the telltale red marks. His expression grew strange, a mix of embarrassment and anger simmering beneath the surface. But Hogan, oblivious to the nuance, stared at Finnian incredulously.

    He had just shown Finnian the evidence of Amara''s promiscuity, yet Finnian was still siding with her. How could that be?

    "Didn''t you hear me? Apologize to her."

    Finnian''s voice was cold and precise, each word like a sharp, unyielding chisel. Hogan clenched his fists, momentarily at a loss for words.

    Finnian was a man with amanding presence. When he instructed someone to do something, they often found themselvespelled to obey, almost by instinct. Hogan was no exception in this moment.

    So, even though he loathed the idea of apologizing to Amara, with Finnian giving a direct order, what choice did he have?

    He took a deep, furious breath, subduing his rage, and forced out the words. "Amara, I''m sorry."

    Amara fixed him with a cold stare.

    Just moments ago, Hogan had hurled such unpleasant words at her. How could a simple apology possibly erase that hurt?

    Moreover, while she wasn''t one to stand on formalities, the fact that Hogan''s tone further disyed his disrespect. That only fueled her anger.

    She turned her head away, her voice icy as she said, "I don''t ept your apology. Please leave."

    Hogan was at loss for words, his eyes widened in shock.

    He had lowered himself to apologize, and yet this woman had the audacity to reject it? He couldn''t suppress his wrath any longer

    But with Finnian still standing there, watching him with a decidedly0 unfriendly gaze, Hogan dared not challenge him. Despite his reluctance, he left the rooftop.

    BUMS

    With just Amara and Finnian left, silence settled over them.

    Their eyes met, and the atmosphere grew instantly awkward.

    Earlier, they had rushed to the hospital with their minds preupied with Kevin''s

    condition, leaving no room for any other thoughts.

    Now that Hogan was gone, the events of an hour ago came flooding back,

    heating the air between them with an unmistakable ambiguity.

    Amara looked around, searching for a ce to sit. She really didn''t want to be alone with Finnian right now.

    Finnian, too, felt a bit ufortable. He considered breaking the silence, but seeing Amara gazing around, who seemingly intended to excuse herself, he instinctively asked, "Where do you want to go?

    "Nowhere, really. I''m just a bit tired, looking for somewhere to rest," Amara replied automatically.

    As soon as the words left her mouth, silence descended once more.

    Amara''s im of being tired was just an excuse, but Finnian''s mind wandered elsewhere.

    She had been at home all day, and then rode with him to the hospital. She hadn''t done anything physically demanding, so why would she be tired?

    The only exertion she''d had today was... Could that really be tiring?

    Originally, Amara didn''t feel anything wrong, but as she watched Finnian''s expression, she realized he''d misunderstood her, and she felt wave of embarrassment. She hurriedly added, "That''s not what I meant. What I was trying to say is.... never mind, it''s nothing."

 Chapter 190

    Her cheeks were burning, and she felt like the more she tried to exin, the

    worse it got. Sometimes it was best to just let things be.

    Finnian watched her, noticing the slight redness in her eyes.

    Amara usually wore a mask, so people couldn''t easily tell when she was blushing. But she had a tell-when she blushed, her eyes turned red and she''d nervously nce down, looking adorably shy.

    So, what did her face look like now? Probably as red as a ripe strawberry.

    For some reason, Finnian felt a strange flutter in his chest.

    He stepped closer, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "Why do you have the feeling? I''m not even tired yet."

    Amara felt her face grow even warmer. The conversation was veering into territory she wasn''tfortable with. She quickly turned away, saying, "It''s not because of that..."

    These kinds of exnations only made things messier, Amara decided it was best not to continue. She thought about finding an excuse to leave and take a breather.

    Just then, a nurse walked in softly saying, "Mr. Finnian Everly, Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Kevin Everly is awake."

    ...

    The subtle ambiguity in the air slowly dissolved.

    Amara and Finnian exchanged a nce and returned to the hospital room together.

    ...

    Inside, the Everly family members were gathered around, asking about Kevin''s condition.

    Lying in the hospital bed, Kevin looked a bit pale and his voice was weak, but he seemed much better than before.

    He was speaking with some effort, and when Amara and Finnian entered, he reached out a hand toward them.

    The gesture was instinctive, and Amara hesitated, unsure if she should approach.

    Since she had lied to Kevin a few days earlier about being in a rtionship with Keith, she felt awkward facing the man who had always been so kind to her.

    Noticing her hesitation, Kevin called out again, "Ama,e here."

    Amara immediately stepped forward, ignoring the surprised or hostile nces from the Everlys, and took Kevin''s hand. ¡°Grandpa, how are you feeling?"

    "Not too bad, I''m starting to feel better."

    Kevin held Amara''s hand with one of his, while he took Finnian''s with the other. He looked up at the other family members. "Can you all step out for a moment? I need to speak with Ama."

    He released Finnian''s hand. "You too, leave us."

    Being the head of the family, Kevin''s words carried weight, and no one dared to defy him. Everyone gradually left the room, and Finnian, thest to leave, gave Amara a nce before closing the door.

    swnover

    The room fell quiet, and Amara shifted ufortably, asking in a low voice, "What

    did you want to talk about?"

    Kevin gazed at her for a moment, and then sighed.

    "Ama, how have you been these days?" he asked.

    "I''ve been well." Amara replied, nodding. ¡°And you..."

    She was about to ask how he was, but then remembered he was in the hospital, obviously not well, so she swallowed her words.

    Being an experienced old man, Kevin understood what she meant, and gently patted her hand. "You don''t need to feel guilty. My illness isn''t because of you."

    "But it isn''t entirely unrted either," Kevin continued. "To be honest, it''s

    the stress from everything

    "Grandpa, I''m really sorry."

    "There''s no need to exin," Kevin interrupted, raising a hand to stop her.

    "I know that the main issue isn''t you, but Finn. If he had treated you well these past three years, your old feelings for your childhood friend wouldn''t have rekindled."

 Chapter 191

    "You don''t need to take the me on yourself, saying how you and that guy were childhood sweethearts, destined to be together, even if Finn wasn''t in the picture. That''s what I thought at the time, but once I got home, I started to see things differently. If your rtionship with that childhood friend was so solid, you would''ve married him early on. Why else would you marry into our family? Something must''ve gone wrong between you two back then."

    Kevin sighed deeply, as if recalling old memories, his eyes carrying a touch of mncholy.

    "In these three years you''ve been with us, you''ve been a devoted wife to Finn- buying clothes, cooking meals, doing all sorts of things for him. I saw it all.

    I believe, at least during that time, you genuinely wanted to make it work with Finn. But he let you down. Not only did he divorce you after three years, but he also ran off with that actress. That''s why you became disappointed and turned to an old me."

    Amara''s eyes were red-rimmed as she clutched Kevin''s hand.

    "Grandpa, I really wanted to make it work with Finnian back then, but his heart wasn''t with me."

    Kevin wasn''t entirely correct-Keith wasn''t an old me. They were just childhood friends all along.

    But Kevin voiced what was in her heart. During those three years, she had truly tried with Finnian.

    As Amara''s tears fell, Kevin wiped them away gently, feeling a pang of sympathy.

    "Don''t be sad, Ama. After this illness, I''vee to terms with things. If you want to leave, go ahead.

    But remember, even if you''re no longer Finn''s wife, you''ll always be my granddaughter-inw, alright?"

    "Grandpa, I know. I''ve always considered you my real grandpa, and I''ll make sure to care for you always."

    "Good, just remember to visit me often."

    Kevin sighed again, and Amara leaned on his arm, crying softly for a while.

    She felt so heartbroken. Besides her two friends, no one knew about her feelings for Finnian. Yet Kevin understood her and treated her with such kindness.

    She had experienced so little kindness growing up that when she did, it moved her deeply.

    Ten minutester, Amara left the hospital room, with Finnian driving her home.

    After everything that happened tonight, they were both silent. When they reached the building, Amara

    finally spoke up, "Mr. Everly, can we

    get divorced now?"

    Finnian stared out the window with his deep eyes, silent for a few seconds, and then said, "Yes."

    He pulled out his phone, dialing Will''s number to ask about his schedule for the next few days.

    "Mr. Everly, you''re scheduled to fly to Eryndor for a business trip tomorrow morning, returning Friday morning Sunday afternoon, there''s a meeting

    at Sce Suites, followed by dinner with the SETON Group CEO.

    Q.UMS

    Will detailed his uing schedule, and Finnian ended the call.

    "Let''s do the divorce on Friday afternoon," Finnian suggested.

    Seeing that Finnian was taking this seriously, Amara felt a slight relief.

    "Alright, how about we meet at the city hall at 2 pm?"

    "That works."

    Neither of them objected, and Amara nodded before heading upstairs to her apartment.

    That night, Amara tossed and turned, unable to sleep as she reflected on recent events.

    But in the end, she decided to focus

    on the positives. Despite the unpleasantness of the night, nothing irreversible had happened, and she hadn''t lost anything of value.

 Chapter 192

    Kevin didn''t put up any resistance. He and Finnian had already discussed the divorce, and everything was going smoothly. What was there to worry about?

    Aftering to terms with this, Amara lightly patted her cheeks, reminding herself that a new chapter was about to begin. No more brooding over the past. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

    Two dayster, bright and early, Amara created a group chat, adding Elysia and Keith. She broke the news about her impending divorce that day.

    Elysia and Keith were thrilled. Naturally, as their conversation went on, they both started badmouthing Finnian. Amara chuckled when she saw this, humming a little tune as she went to freshen up.

    Elysia and Keith went on passionately trash-talking Finnian for about ten minutes before Elysia sent Keith a private message, "Ama''s about to be single again. When are you nning to make a move?"

    "I''m thinking tonight," Keith replied, taking Elysia by surprise.

    "I want to go over to her ce today, set things up, and then confess. What do you think?"

    "No, no, that''s way too soon! Ama just got divorced from Finnian. She needs some time to adjust. You shouldfort her first, help her through this."

    "How can she not be over it? Amara''s long forgotten about that jerk Finnian. There''s nothing to adjust to."

    Ever since Keith realized his feelings for Amara, he couldn''t stand hearing about her affection for Finnian.

    Elysia sent a few eye-roll emojis. "I know Finnian''s a jerk, but don''t kid yourself, okay?

    Ama had feelings for him for so many years. You think they''ll just vanish instantly?"

    Keith knew Elysia was right, but he didn''t want to admit it. He sent a few frustrated emojis and fell silent.

    Amara decided to skip heading to the shooting set today. She spent the morning at home working on her script, and around one in the afternoon, she was ready to head to the city hall.

    Before leaving, she made sure to text Finnian, confirming their meeting for the divorce.

    Finnian assured her there was no problem, so it seemed this was really happening. Amara felt a mix of emotions-mostly relief with a touch of somethingplex.

    She arrived at the ce, parked her car under the shade of a tree, and unbuckled her seatbelt. She watched the peopleing and going through the entrance.

    By 2 pm, Finnian hadn''t shown up. Was hete again? That didn''t seem like Amara was about to call

    hi her phone screen it up

    with a call from Will.

    Her heart lurched violently, a sense of foreboding washing over her.

    She took a deep breath and answered, "What''s up?"

    "Mrs. Everly, something''s up!"

    Will''s voice was urgent.

    "Mr. Everly''s been in a car crash."

    Amara''s eyes widened.

    Her fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly. She asked, "What exactly happened? Tell me slowly.

    Never mind, just send me the hospital address."

    Twenty minutester, Amara was at the hospital.

    She took the elevator up and, rounding the corridor, saw the red light above the emergency room and Will and Liliana pacing anxiously in

    front of the doors.

    Ignoring Liliana, she hurried over to Will and inquired, "What happened to him? Is

    he in surgery?"

    Amara didn''t notice the slight tremble in her voice.

    "Yes, Mrs. Everly, but try not to worry."

    Will had regained someposure as he continued, ¡°This afternoon, Mr. Everly went out driving alone, and

    just

    he got on the road, he was hit

    Other car."

    "What kind of car?"

    "It was a sedan. The driver was drunk and veered off course. He''s been taken

    away by the police, and Mr. Everly''s being treated inside."

 Chapter 193

    Will exined the situation in a few words, and Amara sped her hands together, her heart racing.

    Even though she was divorcing Finnian, she didn''t want anything bad to happen to him. Out of basic decency, she wished well for everyone around her.

    "How bad is Finnian''s injury?" she asked. "Did he lose a lot of blood?"

    "Yeah, Mr. Everly did lose some blood," Will began, but Liliana cut in, squeezing past him. "Finn''s not in serious danger. At least his life isn''t at risk. Ms. Sullivan, if you''ve got other things to do, go ahead, you don''t need to wait around here."

    Liliana shot Amara a hostile re. With Finnian out of the picture for now, she felt free to express her disdain.

    Amara ignored her, finding a bench to sit on. She fixed her gaze on the emergency room doors, nning to wait for Finnian to wake up.

    After all, it was because of the impending divorce that Finnian had driven off in the first ce.

    While it wasn''t directly her fault, now that she was here, she figured it was right to wait until he woke up before leaving.

    "Mrs. Everly, are you feeling alright?" Will uttered as he noticed Amara''s pale forehead, dotted with beads of sweat. "Should I get you some water?"

    "No, thank you," Amara replied with a faint smile. "I just rushed over here too quickly. I''ll be fine after a short rest."

    Her fingers curled into her palms, her mind a whirlwind of anxiety.

    She kept telling herself that it was normal to worry if anyone she knew was in the hospital, let alone someone she had cared about for so many years.

    So, her current panic was understandable.

    And since Finnian''s injuries weren''t severe, he''d be okay. She just

    needed to wait a little while lone

    until he woke up. There was no need for her to be apprehensive

    Soon, Kevin arrived.

    Amara stood up to greet him, and after a brief conversation, they sat together on the bench, waiting quietly.

    At some point, the doors to the operating room swung open. Everyone got to their

    feet instantly, looking to the nurse for an update.

    The nurse lowered her mask,

    el

    smiling. The surgery is over. Mr.

    Finnian Everly''s injuries aren''t.

    serious, and he''ll wake up once the anesthesia wears off.

    We''ll be moving him to a standard room shortly. Please be patient and you can visit him then."

    With those words, the weight that had been pressing on Amara''s chest lifted, and she sank back into her seat.

    She nced at her sweaty palms, realizing just how tense she had been.

    "Ama, he''s awake, he''s awake," Kevin eximed, his eyes moist. He struggled to stand up as Amara quickly offered him someforting words.

    Liliana watched the seemingly harmonious grandfather-inw and granddaughter- inw duo, a sh of resentment in her eyes, though she hid it well.

    About half an hourter, in a hospital room filled with the sharp scent of antiseptic, Finniany in bed.

    His face was a bit pale, looking slightly weaker than usual, but not fragile.

    He seemed alert, with no major injuries, though his arm and head were wrapped

    in bandages, making movement a bit difficult.

    "We conducted a full examination on

    him. Although he hit his head, it''s just a superficial wound. There''s no

    internal damage, and once the injuries heal, we can remove the stitches."

 Chapter 194

    "Mr. Everly has a minor fracture in his arm. It''s not too serious, and once healed, it shouldn''t affect his normal life or activities. But during this time, he needs to be careful," the doctor exined concisely, reminding the family not to overstay their visit. With that, he exited the room.

    Liliana immediately rushed to the bedside, grabbed Finnian''srge hand, and ced it over her own belly, much to the visible displeasure of Kevin.

    "Finn, the baby and I were so worried about you. Thank goodness you''re alright. Or I don''t know what we would do."

    "What kind of talk is that? He''s awake now. There''s no need for such gloomy words!" Kevin interrupted sternly.

    Liliana fell silent at once, tears welling up and spilling over in silent grievance.

    Lisa, who had tagged along, chimed in with a half-smile, "I''m just a housekeeper, probably shouldn''t say anything, but I can''t help myself.

    Ms. Porter, Mr. Finnian Everly got hurt, and instead of caring about his condition, you seem more worried about yourself and the baby. It''s natural to concern yourself, but isn''t that a bit cold-hearted under the circumstances?"

    Liliana became panicked at her usation. Of course she was worried about Finnian. But seeing Amara and Mr. Kevin Everly chatting so closely outside had stirred her jealousy and feelings of istion, which was why she rushed to Finnian''s side to express her concerns.

    "Finn, that''s not what I meant. I''m most worried about you! During filming, when I heard about your ident, I fainted right on stage. Mr. Zade and the others had to bring me around. You can ask them if you don''t believe me."

    Normallyposed, Liliana was near tears, genuinely distressed over Finnian''s condition.

    Finnian, overwhelmed by the bickering, rubbed his temples and said, "I

    understand, Liliana. You don''t have to exin."

    Finnian was a man of few words and never one to lie forfort. His assurance

    meant he truly didn''t take Lisa''s words to heart.

    Relieved, Liliana let a few more tears fall, holding Finnian''s arm with deep

    affection. "Does it hurt a lot? That drunk driver was awful. People like that should be locked up for longer."

    Watching the two of them so

    engrossed, seemingly oblivious to the others present, Kevin couldn''t hold back any longer. He snapped, "Disying such affection in public is disgraceful. I''ve always said we shouldn''t associate with people of lesser upbringing-no manners at all!"

    Liliana was stunned, internally cursing Mr. Kevin Everly. Why did this old fogy have to be so difficult?

    Finnian, meanwhile, hadn''t been

    paying attention to Liliana who was clinging to his arm or to Kevin''s stern expression. From the moment the group entered the room, his eyes had been fixed on Amara.

    Amara''s face was masked, her expression unreadable, but she seemedposed. Was she really impervious after learning of his ident?

    Of course, she only had eyes for Keith. Why would she care about him? With a

    dark look, Finnian said, "Grandpa, Liliana, could you please step out?"

    Liliana froze. "Finn, what are you doing?"

    Why did he ask her and Mr. Kevin Everly to leave but not Amara?

    "I need to talk to Amara."

    Liliana bit her lip, feeling a surge of frustration. But since Finnian asked, she couldn''t refuse. Muttering a few words to remind him to rest and not strain himself, she left the room with Kevin.

 Chapter 195

    Everyone had gone outside, leaving just Amara and Finnian alone in the hospital room. Feeling a bit awkward, Amara asked, "So, what did you want to talk about?"

    Finnian stared at her for a moment, and then out of nowhere, he asked, "When I got into the ident, what were you thinking?"

    The weird question caught Amara off guard.

    "Well, I was pretty worried," Amara replied after a pause. "I mean, idents are no small thing."

    She quickly added, afraid that Finnian might get the wrong idea, "Kevin was really concerned about you earlier, and so was Lisa. We all just want you to get better."

    Her words were meant to rify that her concern was just like everyone else''s, hoping Finnian wouldn''t read too much into it.

    Finnian''s eyes darkened, and he didn''t respond.

    "Uh, so, what did you want to talk about?" Amara pressed, noticing his silence.

    Finnian seemed to snap back to the present as he uttered coolly, "Sorry about missing the divorce appointment again. The doctor says I should be discharged in about a week, and then we can finalize things right away."

    He seemed unusually agreeable, like he''d reverted back to his old self, which was a bit disconcerting for Amara. After all, Finnian had been anything but pleasant recently.

    But his change in demeanor was a good thing. Amara replied, "No worries, it wasn''t your fault this time."

    "If there''s nothing else, I''ll get going," she added, ncing at the door.

    Finnian had no reason to stop her, so he nodded, and Amara left the room. As soon as she exited, she found Liliana standing right outside, eyes fixed on her. "What did Finn say to you?"

    Amara didn''t even spare her a nce. "If you''re curious, ask him yourself."

    With that, she turned and walked away.

    Liliana clenched her teeth, ring at Amara''s retreating figure for a few seconds before finally returning to the room.

    Outside, Kevin was ready to head home and offered Amara a ride. As she got out of the car, Kevin suddenly asked, "How are things with your actor boyfriend?"

    Amara wasn''t sure why he brought it up but replied, "It''s going well, I guess."

    "That''s good to hear. You should bring him over for dinner sometime. Let me get to know him."

    Silent, Amara was so surprised her mouth was agape. Though masked, her wide- eyed expression made Kevin chuckle.

    "Why the face? Too shocked?" heughed, but soon let out a sigh.

    "I''vee to realize that the happiness and safety of my family is what truly matters. From now on, you''re my granddaughter. Bring that young actor over, if he''s good to I''ll treat him like family as wet."

    "Alright, I''ll talk to him and bring him over."

    Kevin''s sudden change in attitude was astounding, like he''d gone from a traditional patriarch to a

    progressive granddad overnigh

    Amar@was almost bewildered by it. But his newfound openness was a refief.

    Once Amara got home, her phone buzzed with messages from her group chat, Elysia and Keith was asking about the divorce status. Just as she was feeling okay, their messages brought a fresh wave of apprehension.

 Chapter 196

    These two friends were truly looking out for her. If they found out that her divorce hadn''t gone through yet, they''d be worried sick.

    But it was something that had to be shared eventually. Amara briefly exined Finnian''s car ident, and Elysia immediately eximed, [He actually got into an ident? Why didn''t it just finish him off? That man is such a jerk!]

    [Oh shoot, I think Dorian saw my message. There would possibly be another fight. I better bail for now.]

    Amara chuckled, turned off her phone screen, andy on the bed for a moment. Before long, she felt a sudden pang of hunger. It was already five o''clock, so she grabbed her phone to order some takeout.

    She had eaten quite a bit for lunch, buttely, her appetite had grown due to the pregnancy. And she''d been experiencing morning sickness, feeling nauseous and throwing up quite often, which left her feeling hungry all the time.

    After dinner, which she ended up throwing up again, Amara clutched her empty stomach. She thought to herself, next time the divorce needed to be finalized, or things could get messy once her bump started showing.

    By seven in the evening, she nibbled on a little something to settle her stomach and then headed to the film set. There was a night scene to shoot, an important solo scene for the lead actress, and Amara needed to be there to take notes.

    Liliana was a skilled actress; she only had to redo the scene twice before nailing the challenging part. As everyone wrapped up and prepared to leave, Liliana approached, lowering her voice. "Is it true you and Keith are childhood sweethearts?"

    Amara was unsure where she''d heard that from. Was it Cedric who spilled the beans?

    She replied coldly, "Why do you ask?"

    "Don''t get too smug. You two won''tst," Liliana said with a sneer dancing at her lips.

    "Sure, you two have a history, but you know what a mess you are right now. Someone like Keith wouldn''t stick around for long. He''s not blind."

    "You came over just to say that?"

    "Yes, got a problem with that?"

    Liliana wore a self-satisfied

    expression leaving Amara speechless. Liliana must really despise her now. Even though she wasn''t interested in Keith, seeing Amara with someone as good as him must have gotten under her skin.

    Amara looked up, calmly saying, "Are

    you just jealous because I''m doing

    well? Let me tell you, jealousy is pointless. You''d be better off having some ice cream to cool down because seeing me seed will only make you more bitter

    "What did you say?"

    Liliana''s eyes widened in shock. Amara had changed. When they first met, she seemed so meek and easy to push around. Now, she was bing more formidable.

    "I''m speaking in words. If you can''t understand, that''s on you."

    Amara was done with the conversation. She grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

    At that moment, Will appeared in a sharp suit.

    Liliana noticed him out of the corner of her eye and immediately put on a bright smile, inquiring, "Will, what brings you here? Is Finn asking for me? Give me a moment, I''ll be ready soon."

    Will smiled politely. "Ms. Porter, there''s been a misunderstanding. I''m here to pick up Mrs. Everly."

    Liliana froze, turning towards Amara. Then she looked back at Will. "What did you just say?"

    "I''m here to pick up Mrs. Everly," Will repeated. "It''s Mr. Everly''s instructions."

    Liliana clenched her fists, her gaze towards Amara filled with unmasked hatred. But she was quick topose herself, turning back to Will with that familiar poised and graceful demeanor.

 Chapter 197

    "Finn must have something important to discuss with Ms. Sullivan. After all, they''re still legally tied. Go ahead. I''ll catch a cab hometer. Let Finn know he doesn''t need to worry about me."

    "Of course, I''ll pass on the message, Ms. Porter."

    With that, Will turned to Amara with a genuine smile. "Mrs. Everly, shall we?"

    Amara hesitated. "What does Finnian want with me?"

    "Mr. Everly didn''t specify."

    "Just hang on a moment."

    Amara nodded at Will and stepped aside to call Finnian. After a few attempts, her calls went unanswered. She figured a quick visit to the hospital wouldn''t hurt, so she returned to Will and uttered, "Alright, let''s go."

    In the hospital room, Finnian sat on the bed, engrossed in his tablet with his head down, his phone charging on the bedside table. As Amara walked in, she nced at his phone and asked, "Mr. Everly, what do you need from me?"

    Finnian, his right arm wrapped in a bandage, was holding the tablet with his left hand. He looked up and said, "I need you toe by and help me out for the next few days. You don''t have to stay all day, just drop by twice per day."

    Amara blinked. Helping him out? She had assumed Finnian needed to discuss something significant, not to ask her to y caregiver. Feeling a bit indignant, she said, "Mr. Everly, it doesn''t seem appropriate for me to do such personal work. Why not let Ms. Porter help?"

    "Having her here would be even more inappropriate," Finnian replied coolly. "We haven''t officially divorced, so technically, we''re still married. It wouldn''t be right to have others involved."

    Amara was taken aback. On the surface, Finnian''s reasoning seemed logical, but there were holes everywhere upon closer

    Why was he doing this? Did he really think that since they were still legally married, her presence wouldn''t raise eyebrows, whereas Liliana''s would cause a scandal?

    Yes, that must be it. Finnian must be trying to protect Liliana from gossip by not having her care for him. Realizing this only made Amara more annoyed.

    "What''s wrong?" Finnian asked. "You don''t want to?"

    "This is for your troubles," Finnian said, sliding a card towards her.

    Amara nced down. It was a card with a six-digit password taped to the back, easy to remember, yet she didn''t reach for it immediately.

    "What is this supposed to mean?" she asked, looking him in the eye. She couldn''t quite shake the feeling of being insulted.

    Sensing she might misinterpret it, Finnian rified, "It''s yourpensation for the work. No hidden agenda, so don''t overthink it."

    Compensation? The term felt odd to Amara. Were they in some kind of employer- employee rtionship now?

    After a moment, she said, "I don''t want to be your caregiver. Please find someone else."

    Her tone was icy, but Finnian didn''t seem bothered as he stated, "I need someone to look after me, and you''re the best fit. Stay."

    Amara couldn''t fathom why he thought she was the best fit. She''d never done.caregiving before, and she didn''t knew Finnian that well either _Besides, the most important thing was that with his wealth and influence, he could hire any professional help he needed. Why insist on her just because she carried the title of his wife?

 Chapter 198

    "Mr. Everly, really, I don''t think so."

    Amara pushed the credit card back towards him, her voice firm.

    "I''ve got a busy schedule these days and no time for this. Besides, I''ve never done any caregiving work before. What if I mess up and make things worse for you? You should find someone else. I''m going to head out now."

    With that, Amara turned to leave, but Finnian reached out and stopped her with his uninjured left hand.

    "Hold on a second."

    In his hurry to pull her, Finnian misjudged his strength, causing Amara to lose her bnce andnd in hisp, her hand identally pressing down on his bandaged right arm.

    Finnian winced in pain, and Amara, startled, quickly got up and turned around to check on him. Seeing Finnian clutching his injured arm with a pained expression, she hurriedly asked, "Mr. Everly, are you okay? Is it serious?"

    Finnian was about to say, "It''s not serious," but as if remembering something, suddenly changed his tune. "Very serious. You''ve aggravated my injury. You have to take responsibility."

    Amara was speechless.

    "Well, Mr. Everly, I..."

    "You don''t need to do much, just stay and take care of me. You''ll still get paid as usual."

    Finnian said this with such righteousness that Amara was taken aback. How had she never noticed Finnian''s thick skin before?

    "Do you have any objections?"

    Seeing her stunned expression, Finnian asked. He continued to clutch his injured arm, his face indeed pale, looking quite pitiful.

    Amara thought for a moment. The pressure she applied earlier was indeed quite firm, and Finnian must be in pain. He kept insisting she stay. Maybe she should.

    The main reason of her oscition was that she feared the divorce might face another hup.

    So, if she stayed and took good care of Finnian, ensuring he could be discharged safely in a week, the chances of a smooth divorce could be higher, she surmised.

    Having thought it through, Amara nodded and replied, "Alright, I''ll stay."

    Finnian hadn''t expected her to agree so quickly. The persuasive words he had prepared were now stuck in his throat.

    Without looking at Finnian''s

    expression, Amara walked over to the cab, her back to him, and said, "What do I need to do? Mr. Everly, just let me know if there''s anything you need."

    "For now, there''s nothing you need to do. I''ll let you know if somethinges up."

    Even with her back turned to the hospital bed, Amara had this inexplicable feeling that Finnian was watching her.

    Feeling a bit ufortable, she nodded and uttered, "I''ll step out for a bit, to buy some things. I''ll be back soon."

    With that, she left the room. Finnian watched her leave, his gaze lingering long after she was gone.

    That evening, after helping Finnian with dinner and finishing her own meal, Amara tidied up and prepared to leave. But then Finnian asked her to stay the night.

    Amara opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to decline. "Mr. Everly, maybe not."

    Though she had agreed to be a caregiver, she hadn''t anticipated staying overnight.

    Finnian''s room was a private one, with just a hospital bed and a cot for a caregiver, the two beds quite close together. Being alone in a room with Finnian felt rather inconvenient.

    But when Finnian heard her about to refuse, he interrupted, "I hired you to be a 24-hour caregiver. If you leave at night, what''s the point of having a caregiver?"

    Amara was rendered speechless.

 Chapter 199

    "But I..."

    "And, don''t worry, I can manage the bathroom on my own. Nothing awkward will happen, I promise."

    Finnian gave her a pointed look and added. Hearing this, Amara found it hard to refuse.

    She nodded. "Alright then."

    She knew Finnian''s words were pretty much meaningless. If she truly wanted to leave, she had a thousand legitimate reasons to do so.

    But she was too afraid of anything going wrong with the divorce, so she decided to go along with Finnian as much as possible before it was finalized.

    After all, there were clean linens here. She could endure it for a while, so she agreed to stay. Once they''d settled that, Amara sat nearby reading a book, while Finnian worked on his tablet. They both kept to themselves, so quiet the room seemed to echo with silence.

    After about an hour of this, Amara realized that being a caregiver was rather boring. She wasn''t needed for much at all here. Was Finnian insisting she stay just to waste her time and mess with her?

    Never mind, she thought. Best not to overthink it. Amara put down her book. Seeing the clock hands point to ten, she said, "It''ste, let''s get some rest."

    "Alright."

    Finnian had just finished his work, set down his tablet, and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

    Once they both washed up, Amara turned off the lights andy down, feeling increasingly uneasy.

    She had a nagging suspicion that Finnian wastching onto her.

    Could it be that Finnian was pretending to be nice, but secretly nning some sort of revenge? But if that were true, his method of revenge was pretty childish.

    She chuckled wryly to herself and

    closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep. Just as she was drifting off, she heard ¨¤ rustling noise. She was too sleepy to care much, so she@gnored it.

    Suddenly, a warm body snuggled up next to her, jolting her awake. As she was about to speak, a strong arm wrapped around her.

    Amara was froze. Her drowsiness vanished instantly. Shey there, stiff as a board, and cautiously asked, "Mr. Everly?"

    "It''s me."

    In the darkness, his voice was like a cello''s deep, mellow notes, soothing yet seductive.

    Amara was at a loss for words. Of course, she knew it was Finnian. After all, they had canoodled before, and his presence was unmistakable.

    Moreover, there was no one else in the room. She was only trying to figure out what he was doing. Just as she was about to speak again, Finnian rolled over, pressing his lips to her masked ones.

    Amara''s eyes flew open. In the dim light, she could just make out Finnian''s features.

    His eyes were closed, longshes casting a fan-like shadow on his cheeks. He seemed more innocent than usual, but his actions were far from innocent.

    "Mr. Everly."

    Amara turned her head to avoid his kiss. Finnian responded by kissing her cheek instead, though the mask made it unsatisfying. Undeterred, he moved down to her corbone.

    Amara''s skin tingled with warmth. She grasped Finnian''s shoulder. "Mr. Everly, what are you doing?"

    She never imagined that something

    like this would happen while she

    was supposed to be keeping an eye on him. Was this jerk trying to take advantage of her? Amara was genuinely angry.

    "You haven''t fulfilled your promise fromst time," Finnian mumbled. "I didn''t even put it in."

 Chapter 200

    Amara''s cheeks flushed a deep crimson in an instant.

    How could Finnian, who always seemed so proper during the day, turn around and say such risqu¨¦ things at night?

    "But you already agreed to the divorce," Amara reasoned as she tried to push Finnian away. "You shouldn''t be doing this."

    Finnian lifted his head slightly, his eyes a shade of red, though it was too dark for Amara to notice.

    "I agreed to the divorce on the condition that you''d spend a night with me. Last time, we were just interrupted. Now we have the chance to finish what we started, don''t we?"

    At first hearing, his words seemed logical, but something about them felt off to Amara. She was too flustered to think it through, though, as she pressed against his shoulder. "But I really don''t want to right now."

    "I do."

    Finnian buried his face into the warmth of her neck, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "Amara, I want you."

    Amara was on the verge of tears. She could feel his desire, but why did his wants mean she had toply?

    "Mr. Everly, don''t, please don''t do this."

    Amara thought, if only she wasn''t such a coward, she might have jumped up and pped Finnian across the face. After all, he was injured and couldn''t fight back.

    But she was too timid, too scared to do such a thing. Tears slipped silently onto the pillow as Amara bit her lip, crying quietly.

    Finnian lifted a hand, brushing her eyes with his thumb, freezing in ce. Was she crying?

    "You loathe me that much?"

    When he spoke again, his voice was void of any earlier desire, reced with a sharp coldness.

    Amara shook her head, unable to directly admit her resistance, mumbling, "I just really don''t want to."

    "Then who do you want to do it with, Keith?"

    His tone was ostensibly calm, yet a dangerous, maniacal undercurrent hidden behind, and it frightened her.

    Finnian''s logic was baffling. Sure, she didn''t want to do anything with Keith, but from Finnian''s perspective, since she and Keith were a couple, it would make sense. Why even ask?

    Finnian was smart, with an IQ way above average. How could he not figure this

    out? Was his brain malfunctioning?

    Of course, Amara couldn''t voice

    these thoughts. Instead, she bit her lip and said, "Mr. Everly, you agreed to the divorce today, and whether we do that or not, we''re still getting divorced. You can''t go back on your word, can you?"

    "And why can''t I go back on my word?"

    Finnian lifted her chin, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

    Amara was stunned by his rascality, her mouth slightly agape as she struggled to find words. After a few seconds, she mumbled, "You''re so unreasonable."

    Finnian hadn''t expected her to say that. He lowered his head, resting his forehead against her shoulder, and let out a low chuckle.

    "Fine," he said, "if you don''t want to, we won''t."

    For some reason, Finnian felt a bit better than before. He didn''t press Amara any further, rolling off the bed and returning to his own, lying down.

    Amara was somewhat in disbelief at how easily Finnian had retreated. His behavior tonight had been odd from the start-first demanding her body, then leaving abruptly.

    They said women were hard to understand, but now she felt men were just as mysterious.

    At least the ordeal was over. Finnian didn''t seempletely

    unreasonable. After waiting a bit and seeing him drift off to sleep

    peacefully, Amara presumed nating

    drastic would probably happen, so she closed her eyes and managed to fall asleep herself.

 Chapter 201

    The next morning, Amara had been nning to order something to eat, but Will beat her to it, bringing over enough food for two. So, she sat down with Finnian to share the meal.

    Today, Amara decided to take a break from the shooting set. She wanted to avoid giving Finnian any excuse to use her of neglecting him, which he might use as leverage to stall their divorce.

    Determined not to give Finnian any ammunition, she stayed in the hospital room all day. If Finnian needed something, she was right there to help. Otherwise, she busied herself with a book.

    By afternoon, Liliana made an unexpected appearance.

    She entered with a folder in her hands. She nodded at Amara in a casual greeting before walking over to Finnian, her face lighting up with excitement. "Finn, I had my prenatal checkup today."

    The words "prenatal checkup" hung in the air, freezing the room for a moment.

    Truth be told, since yesterday, it had mostly been just Amara and Finnian in the room. And Finnian had insisted Amara stay as the role of his wife. The events ofst night had added an unspoken ambiguity between them.

    But Liliana''s presence and her news about the prenatal checkup shattered that atmosphere, leaving the room feeling heavy and suffocating.

    Unfazed, Liliana continued, "The baby''s doing perfectly well. He''s going to be born healthy and strong. Finn, take a look."

    She pulled out some documents from the folder and handed them to Finnian.

    Eyes downcast, Finnian took a few seconds before epting the papers, scanning them carefully. Finnian sat on the hospital bed, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, which softened his usual demeanor.

    Liliana gently caressed her still-t belly, her face adorned with a gentle smile. The atmosphere between them was so harmonious and natural that it seemed almost intrusive to interrupt.

    Not feeling like staying in the same ce, Amara quietly slipped out of the room.

    She wandered into the hospital''s garden, letting the cold breeze clear her head. Yet, a feeling of heaviness lingered in her chest, like a weight that couldn''t be shifted.

    It was then that she noticed a familiar figure at the garden''s far end. It was Liliana, with the folder hand; even while pregnant, she.

    looked striking in her red dress I not exuding elegance and a nov

    She approached Amara with slightly curled lips and began in a tone that was patronizing, "Ms. Sullivan, thank you for taking care of Finn. I heard you used to bring him meals a flot. I guess he''s just used to your help, which is why he asked you toe. Don''t read too much into it, okay?"

    Though Liliana''s words were coated in sweetness, the underlying condescension

    and mockery were unmistakable. Amara''s hands clenched into fists.

    "I''m aware of that, you don''t need to remind me."

    Amara had already suspected Finnian was toying with her, and Liliana''sments only reinforced her feelings of being reduced to a mere caregiver.

    But even caregivers got paid, she thought suddenly, recalling the card Finnian had

    given her. She needed to check how much it held.

    Turning abruptly, she marched off. Liliana blinked in surprise, calling after her, "Where are you going?"

    "That''s none of your business."

    Amara didn''t.

    ''t know why Liliana had

    sought her out, but she certainly didn''t owe her any conversation. With a curt reply, she walked leaving Liliana to watch her

    silently, a shadow crossinge

    her face.

    Soon, Amara found herself at a nearby bank branch. She slid the card into the ATM, navigated through the options, and stared in disbelief at the screen disying a bnce of four million dors.

 Chapter 202

    A week''s worth of caregiving, and Finnian had paid her this much? Without wasting a moment, she grabbed the card and headed back to the hospital room.

    Liliana had already left, and Finnian, noticing Amara''s return, darkened slightly his face, looking disgruntled. "Where have you been? You took forever."

    Amara chose not to dig into the source of his irritation. Perhaps he was just displeased at being left alone by his caregiver.

    "I went to the bank, Mr. Everly," she exined. "Why did you give me so much money?"

    Bank visit, huh? Checking up on her paycheck? What a little moneygrubber. Finnian''s annoyance somehow faded.

    "One million dors is for your work as a caregiver," he replied with a slight smirk. "The other three million is your divorce settlement."

    Amara had previously turned down the divorce settlement, returning the three million to him, but Finnian didn''t want to ept it, determined to give it back.

    "I don''t need that money," Amara insisted promptly. "Please, Mr. Everly, take it." "It''s yours, so keep it," Finnian interrupted. "You deserve it."

    His tone was firm and unyielding, leaving Amara momentarily speechless.

    She had made up her mind not to take Finnian''s money, and she wasn''t about to change her stance now. However, continuing this back and forth seemed pointless and might lead to altercation, especially when they clearly had different views. Better to let it go for now and find a way to return the moneyter. Hence, she chose to be reticent.

    The following morning, Amara

    watched the nurse change Finnian''s bandages and then busied herself fetching him water. By the time she finished, it was already 10 AM, and she finally had a moment to check her phone. She noticed a text from

    Keith sent twenty minutes ago. [Are

    you at the hospital with Finnian?]

    Perhaps growing impatient with herck of response, Keith had sent another message ten minutester. [I''ming to see you.]

    Amara''s heart lurched. Keith and Finnian never saw eye to eye; theirst meeting had ended in a scuffle Keith would definitely disapprove of her caring for Finnian, and it would likely lead to another confrontation. She had to prevent him froming over.

    She quickly stepped into the hallway to call Keith, but after two attempts with no answer, she wondered what he was up to.

    Returning to the room, lost in thought, she closed the door behind her. Finnian noticed her worried expression and asked, "What''s wrong? You seem upset."

    "Nothing," Amara replied, shaking her head.

    She checked the time. It had been twelve minutes since Keith''s message, yet he still wasn''t answering her calls. What was he doing?

    Thinking quickly, she texted Keith, [Please don''te. I''m fine here, Finnian isn''t making me do much, and he''s paying me. I''m just reading and waiting for him to be discharged so we can finalize the divorce. No need to worry about me.]

    She sent the message, but Keith didn''t reply. Amara nced out the window.

    It was morning, and Keith was likely busy. Even if he wanted toe, he might

    not have the time. Perhaps his message was just an offhandment.

    Convincing herself of this, Amara managed to calm down. But just as her nerves settled, a loud knock echoed through the room.

 Chapter 203

    For some reason, Amara had a bad feeling. She jumped up from the couch, ready to go answer the door. She hadn''t taken more than a couple of steps when the door swung open on its own.

    Keith, tall and imposing, leaned casually against the doorway, his gaze fixed on Finnian inside the room. A smirk yed at the corner of his lips.

    "Well, well, if it isn''t Mr. Everly in a bit of a pickle," he drawled. "A busy man like you, I heard you''re gonna be hospital-bound for a week-must be quite the setback, huh?"

    He sauntered in, ignoring Finnian''s less-than-friendly re, and made himselffortable on the couch.

    "Amara, why are you standing around? Come and have a seat."

    Keith sprawled out on the couch like he owned the ce, legs spread wide, gesturing for Amara to join him. Then he turned his attention back to Finnian, whose expression was stormy.

    "Got our Ama ying caregiver, huh? That''s not exactly fair y, is it? Ama''s got a proper job, you know. This little arrangement of yours is really putting her out- she''s just too polite to say so, but I''m not. I''ll say it for her. Right, Ama?"

    He turned to Amara, grinning, thetter at a loss for words.

    Keith''s rapid-firements had Finnian''s face turning an even darker shade, and the tension in the room was palpable.

    Amara walked over, nudged Keith with her foot, and said, "Get up, out you go."

    Keith clutched his leg, groaning theatrically. "Ouch, ouch, I just finished a wire stunt and I''m still sore."

    Amara rolled her eyes.

    "Weren''t you the one who did a wire stunt in the morning and then wanted to run a marathon in the afternoon? Quit faking it, get up."

    Finnian observed the scene from the side. This vibrant and slightly feisty version of Amara was new to him.

    In his mind, Amara had always been gentle, kind and somewhat easy to take advantage of. Over time, he realized she was principled and could stand up for herself when it mattered, but overall, she was still quite soft-spoken.

    But now, she seemed so lively, almost like a different person. Finnian watched, his fingers unconsciously curling into a fist.

    "Amara, get him a ss of water."

    A few secondster, his tense expression rxed a bit, though his gaze remained cold.

    "Guests shouldn''t be neglected," he said.

    Amara felt her lips twitching, a bit on edge. Why were these two speaking in such a passive-aggressive manner?

    Sure enough, Keith took her hand,

    looking Finnian in the eye as he uttered, "No need for that, Ama''s already exhausted being here. She doesn''t have to wait on anyone. Besides, I don''t need that. When we''re together, I''m the one taking care of her."

    With those words, the atmosphere turned even colder.

    Finnian pulled back the covers, got out of bed, and walked over to Amara. He

    gently but firmly pried Amara''s hand away from Keith''s grip.

    "You''re not exactly up with the times, are you? You know, you can hire someone

    to take care of you both; why do it yourself?"

    Finnian stood in front of Keith, his presence seeming to tower over him. He pulled Amara behind him protectively and said, "Why don''t you take a seat on the bed? I''ll have a chat with him."

    Amara was baffled. Finnian was the patient here; he should be the one resting on

    the bed. Why did he want her to sit there instead?

 Chapter 204

    And then there was the whole idea of talking to Keith. Yeah, right, like those two could have a conversation without it turning into a full-blown brawl in under a few sentences.

    "No need, you''re still injured. You should go rest."

    She couldn''t just let them keep going at it. Taking Finnian by the wrist, Amara guided him back towards the hospital bed.

    Finnian nced down at her hand on his wrist but didn''t pull away. He let her lead him.

    "Take a rest, okay? I''ll be back in a bit."

    She gently pushed him onto the bed, tugging the covers over his legs before turning on her heel towards Keith. Her voice turned a bit moremanding.

    "Come with me."

    Keith lounged on the couch,zily protesting, "I don''t feel like moving."

    Amara was left speechless. What a dog! She grabbed his hand, dragging him out of the room despite his reluctance.

    "What the heck was that just now? Were you trying to start something?"

    Amara released him once they were in the stairwell. She huffed, "Don''t you think I have enough chaos to deal with?"

    "How could it be? Don''t get mad. I was just looking out for you, making sure you weren''t getting pushed around."

    Keith grinned, reaching over to massage her shoulder. "You''ve been running yourself ragged. Let me give you a shoulder rub. I see right through Finnian''s games; he''s just trying to wind you up."

    Amara couldn''t help but chuckle at Keith''s goofy attempt to smooth things over. He was either all jokes and grins or flipping a switch to

    someone seasoned in a hear ne

    no wonder he chose to be an actor.

    "Alright, alright, don''t be mad. I had an event this morning, but when I heard from Elysia that you were here ying caregiver for Finnian, I was so pissed off, and I ditched it toe see you."

    "You didn''t miss anything important, did you?" Amara quickly asked. "You should head back this instant."

    "Nah, no biggie. It can wait. I told

    them to handle the first part without me, and I''ll catch up in the afternoon. Won''t be a problem," Keith

    reassured her, leaning against the wall and throwing an arm around her shoulders.

    "See how much I care about you? Running around making sure you''re okay, like your problems are my problems. Why don''t we just get together once you''re divorced?"

    With a cheeky grin and a hint of sincerity, he added. He then watched her closely, maybe a bit nervous about what she''d say, but Amara was looking at the stairs, not noticing his tension.

    "Yeah, right," she scoffed. "I''m not getting involved with you."

    "What, you think I''m not in your league?" Keith countered agitatedly, standing up straight and thumping his chest. "How am I not good for you? I''m handsome, sessful, the standing of our families matches, and most importantly, I treat you nicely."

    He rattled off his virtues, earning a yful eye roll from Amara, who was confused about why the sudden seriousness.

    She hardly thought Keith had feelings for her, probably just joking around. Dismissive, she uttered, "Your career''s too sessful. If I ended up with you, your fangirls would tear me apart. No thanks."

    As Amara spoke, she cracked into a smile, giving him a light punch. Keith shrugged it off, about to respond when suddenly, the stairwell door swung open with a bang.

    They both paused, turning to see Finnian standing in the doorway, eyes dark and fixed on them.

 Chapter 205

    Amara jumped in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

    Finnian strode over, his eyes locked onto hers. "You two are not together?"

    Amara went silent.

    "You told me before you were with him. Was that a lie?"

    Amara stood there, speechless, as Finnian pressed. Her mouth was slightly open, unsure of what to say.

    Had Finnian overheard her conversation with Keith just now?

    "What do you mean, Mr. Everly?" Keith interjected, stepping in front of Amara with

    a face full of cold determination, though a smile tugged at his lips.

    "Whether Ama and I are together or not, what''s it to you? It''s not like you two are actually a real couple."

    "Stop calling her Ama. She''s my wife, and it''s none of your business."

    Finnian grasped Amara''s wrist, pulling her to his side, their bodies almost touching. Keith''s anger red as he red at Finnian''s hand on Amara''s wrist, his fist clenching, ready for a fight.

    "Both of you, stop it right now!" Amara''s voice rang out, firm andmanding.

    Her sudden outburst made Keith pause, though his eyes still burned frostily with the threat of violence.

    Amara shook off Finnian''s hold and turned to Keith. "You should head back. We''ll talk about thister."

    "No way. I don''t trust him being alone with you."

    "I''ll be fine, just go. If anything happens, I''ll let you know."

    Amara took Keith by the wrist and practically dragged him out. Though she was usually gentle and soft-spoken, once Amara made up her mind, no one could mak@her waver.

    Keith gave her a long look, noticing the tension in her features, and frowned. "Alright, I''m leaving now. Just don''t be mad."

    Ine

    With that, he nced at Finnian, who stood behind Amara with an icy demeanor. Still uneasy, Keith spoke quietly to Amara before reluctantly leaving the hospital.

    Amara turned back to Finnian, the adrenaline from her earlier resolve fading, leaving her feeling a bit lost and anxious, her head bowed unwittingly.

    Walking up to her, Finnian led her back into the room without a word, shut the door, and asked in a low voice, "What exactly is going on between you and Keith?"

    Amara thought for a moment before replying, "We''ve been friends since we were kids."

    Right now, she was feeling a bit rattled. She hadn''t done anything wrong, yet the confusion and chaos of the situation had her on edge.

    Finnian lifted her chin, seeking confirmation. "You''re not involved with him romantically?"

    His gaze was deep, betraying a flicker of something like tension that Amara didn''t notice.

    "We''ve always just been good friends," she said. "I''ve told you many times I didn''t cheat on you, but you didn''t believe me."

    Her voice carried a hint of exasperation. Finnian released her. "But Liliana''s recording..."

    Mentioning that stirred Amara''s anger even more, given how much pain that recording had caused her.

    Usually slow to react and introverted, Amara had found herself flustered by this whole mess, even though she was the one wronged.

    But now, she was calmer and hearing Finnian bring up the past reignited her fury. She eximed, "That recording was edited by Liliana with malicious intent!"

    "Edited?"

    "Yes," she gathered her thoughts and spoke deliberately. "Liliana and S were talking outside, and she tricked me into saying some things that were out of context."

 Chapter 206

    "In the entire conversation, I never admitted to infidelity. Liliana is just trying to ruin me!"

    That day, Liliana had called Amara over to the Everly family house and gathered all the core family members. She announced, right there in front of everyone, that she had cheated on Finnian, causing Amara unbearable humiliation and disgrace. The memory of it still stung.

    Just thinking about it made Amara feel a knot in her stomach, and as she spoke, her eyes started to well up.

    Finnian looked a bit flustered and unsure of what to do. He instinctively lifted his hand as if to wipe her tears, but Amara quickly turned away, wiping them herself.

    "Oh, right, and about the stuff shown to Kevin, is that what you''re going to ask me next? Keith and I have been friends since we were kids. We were close, sure, but it was never about crushes. I only said that to make Kevin think I had someone else, so he would agree to our divorce."

    Amara was a bit calmer now, though her eyes still bore the redness. She turned away, staring at the window frame, speaking slowly and deliberately.

    Finnian stood beside her, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. He couldn''t quite pin down what he was feeling.

    Ever since he overheard Amara say there was nothing romantic between her and Keith, his emotions had been in turmoil. And now, with the mention of that recording from the other day, he was even more...

    He lifted his gaze to meet Amara''s and said, "I''ll make sure you get justice."

    Justice? Amara let out a dry, sardonicugh.

    "I''ve long stopped hoping for that."

    "Then what do you want?"

    "A divorce. Just make it quick, get all this mess sorted out."

    Amara really was exhausted. After saying her piece, she didn''t want to see Finnian anymore and left the room.

    Unintentionally clearing up the misunderstanding about her alleged affair was supposed to be a relief, but instead, she felt drained. She took a walk around the garden downstairs, trying to clear her mind, and finally felt a bit better.

    Finnian stayed in the room, sitting on the hospital bed, neither checking his phone nor his tablet, his body motionless, eyes clouded with darkness, sitting like that the entire day.

    During this time, Amara didn''t return to the room. She called Keith from outside to let him know she was safe, so he wouldn''t worry.

    Keith asked, "What did Finnian say when he found out we''re not involved like that?"

    "Not much," Amara replied. "He just asked about the recording from that day and said he wanted to make things right for me."

    "And what did you say?"

    "I told him I''m not counting on that. Besides, I won''t have anything to do with the Everlys after this. Whether they misunderstand me or not doesn''t matter. But I do feel a bit better now that it''s all out in the open."

    Amara chatted with Keith for a bit until he had to get back to work, and then she hung up the phone.

    That evening, when Amara returned

    to the hospital room, she found the scene rather peculiar. The room looked almost the same as when

    she had left it in the morning. Had Finnian really stayed there albday without going out or eating?

    "Mr. Everly, are you hungry? I could go get some food," she offered.

    "No need," Finnian replied. "Have you eaten?"

    "Yes, I have."

    Amara had eaten dinner beforeing back. She had no intention of going hungry, especially not with the baby to think about.

    Finnian nodded. "That''s good."

    His expression was calm, but the atmosphere was strangely tense, making Amara feel a bit uneasy.

    Since she hade in, Finnian had been watching her, but he hadn''t initiated any conversation. When she asked if he''d eaten, he only gave brief responses. What on earth was going on with him?

 Chapter 207

    The gentle rapping at the door filled the room. Amara felt a twinge of unease, and when she opened the door, her suspicion was confirmed it was Liliana.

    "Ms. Sullivan, I''m here to see Finn. I''lle in."

    Liliana was dressed in a sleek ck satin dress, her signature red lipstick and wavy hair unchanged. A string of pearls adorned her neck, adding a touch of elegance to her already striking presence.

    She clicked her way in on modest heels, lightly touching Finnian''s bandaged right arm. Her voice carried a hint of tenderness. "Does it still hurt? Have you changed the dressing today?"

    Finnian looked up at her, his gaze somewhat icy. Sensing his abnormality, Liliana asked, "Finn, what''s wrong? Did something happen?"

    "Leave us for a moment."

    Finnian turned his head slightly. Thement was directed at Amara, who stood behind Liliana.

    Amara lowered her eyes. Finnian''s real girlfriend was visiting, and as his pretend wife, she knew her ce was to step aside. Without protest, she quietly left the

    room.

    It was evening, and not nning to go far, Amara wandered the corridor, observing the various patients and their families. It was an interesting diversion. Soon, the door to Finnian''s room swung open and Liliana emerged. Her eyes seemed a touch red-had she been crying?

    As Amara watched, Liliana spotted her and quickly approached. "Ms. Sullivan, I have something to ask you. Could youe with me for a moment?"

    Amara thought for a moment before nodding. Liliana led her to the stairwell and asked, "You and Keith aren''t a couple?"

    "No, we''ve always just been friends."

    Liliana bit her lip, ring at Amara with a hint of resentment.

    Amara felt Liliana was miscing her anger. With her in looks, she posed no threat to Liliana, and she had never clung to Finnian, even signing that statement willingly. It was Finnian who held onto her all along, not the other way around. Liliana should be mad at him, not her.

    "Ms. Porter, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be going," Amara spoke calmly, turning to leave without looking back.

    Liliana didn''t stop her, lingering in the stairwell for a moment before heading down and exiting the hospital Outside, a car awaited Liliana opened the back door and slidin, joining Ethan and Jenny in the front.

    5

    "Why are you out so soon?" Jenny asked. "Is Amara still in the room?"

    "She is," Liliana replied coolly.

    Jenny, used to her demeanor,

    continued, "That shameless wretch, clinging to Finn when they''re nearly divorced. It''s lucky she had an affair,

    otherwise with Mr. Kevin Everly defending her, who knows what she''d do with the Everly family''s influence."

    "She didn''t have any affair!"

    Liliana, who had been aloof since getting in, suddenly exploded at Jenny''s remarks, shouting back.

    Silence fell over the car as Jenny and Ethan turned to her in shock.

    "She didn''t?" Jenny eximed. "Then what happened? Wasn''t she with that actor?"

    "It was all fake! They''re just friends, not in that kind of rtionship!"

    Liliana''sposure shattered, her voice rising in a near-hysterical pitch. Jenny was taken aback, needing a couple of seconds to regain herposure.

 Chapter 208

    "Does Mr. Kevin Everly even know she didn''t cheat on Finn? What are we going to do? What on earth are we going to do?"

    Jenny had been mumbling to herself for what seemed like forever when suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head. She pped her thigh dramatically and eximed, "But if she didn''t cheat on Finn, what about that recording you made?

    Weren''t you the one who exposed her in front of the entire Everly family? Does Finn know about this?"

    Mentioning Finnian made Liliana bite her lip fiercely, her eyes reddened again.

    Just earlier, Finnian had asked Amara to step out, wanting a private conversation with her. She had thought Finnian was about to say something sweet, and her heart had soared with hope.

    But to her shock, Finnian had begun with, "I found out today that Amara and Keith aren''t together, and as she said, she didn''t have an affair like she''s imed. What was that recording about?"

    When she heard those words, a cold shiver ran down her spine, leaving her speechless with shock.

    She tugged at her hair, desperately trying not to relive the unpleasant scene in the hospital room.

    In truth, Finnian hadn''t done anything to her beyond asking that one question. She had hurriedly tried to exin, "Back then, Amara''s words really sounded like she was being unfaithful. I had my reasons. I would really want Ms. Sullivan to be with someone else, I was just so terrified.

    So, I subconsciously believed she was having an affair and made that recording. Finn, please don''t me me."

    She poured out her exnation, and shed the river of tears.

    She didn''t know whether Finnian believed her, but after she was done, he said, "You used Amara of cheating on me in front of the entire Everly family, causing her emotional and reputational harm. You need to clear her name."

    As Finnian addressed those words, his gaze was icy, his demeanor authoritative. Liliana didn''t dare argue, nodding repeatedly before she left.

    She had promised Finnian she would clear Amara''s name, but how was she supposed to do that? Who was going to help her?

    The next day, Amara woke up around seven, as usual, and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Meanwhile, Will brought in breakfast.

    She joined Finnian for a breakfast, which went on quietly. Afterwards, she nned to read for a while but her ns were interrupted by a flurry of phone calls.

    First, it was Peter and Bess, then Martin and Andrea, followed by Finnian''s aunt,

    his uncle, and even Lisa. In short, everyone from the Everly family.

    They all called with the same

    purpose: to apologize, admitting they were wrong to use her of being unfaithful, affirming she was a good person and whatnot.

    Amara was bewildered by the calls. What was going on? She remembered Finnian''s promise to set things right for her. Was this his way of doing that?

    Clutching her phone, Amara bit her lip. Even though she had imed not to care about the Everly family''s opinions, no one liked being

    wrongfully used. Receiving those

    apologies felt pretty satisfying.

    After thest call, she returned to the hospital room from the corridor, where

    Finnian asked, "Was it Peter and the others?"

    "Yeah."

    "They apologized to you?"

    Amara nodded.

    "Anyway, thanks for that," she added after a moment of thought.

    Finnian nced at her.

    "You''re actually thanking me? That''s a first."

    Amara paused. "I''ve never thanked you before?"

    "Nope," Finnian replied as he reclined on the hospital bed, looking more rxed

    than his usual stern self, with a rare hint ofziness in his voice.

 Chapter 209

    "There were times when someone bullied you, and when I stood up for you, you''d say it was only right because we''re married-we''re a team."

    Those words felt oddly intimate, and Amara quickly pushed away the jumble of thoughts from her mind, recalling past incidents.

    Yeah, she did say that, and she believed she was right.

    "When someone criticized me right in front of you, it was like a p in your face too. So, I wasn''t wrong," she stated earnestly.

    Amara''s serious tone, as if she was analyzing something of great importance, made Finnian find her unexpectedly endearing.

    "Right, right, absolutely. I never said you were wrong," he replied with a soft smile.

    Their conversation was light, and the atmosphere shifted slightly. Amara noticed Finnian''s lips curve into a smile, feeling a bit uneasy.

    He rarely smiled, and when he did, he looked so handsome. Oh, whatever, she thought. Best not to dwell on it. He wasn''t hers anymore; to be precise, he never was.

    Amara shook off the unwee thoughts and nced at Finnian again.

    "What are you thinking about?" he asked, having been watching her intently.

    Amara shook her head. "Nothing much. Mr. Everly, are you getting discharged the day after tomorrow?"

    Upon hearing it, Finnian fell silent for a few moments before replying, "Yes."

    Amara nodded.

    "Mr. Everly, can we proceed with the divorce as soon as you''re out of the hospital?" she asked with a hint of uncertainty.

    Without any conflict, Amara felt she was at a disadvantage in front of Finnian, a result of their contrasting personalities and unequal social status.

    Finnian stood up. His right arm was now functional, though still in a sling and somewhat inconvenient. He approached Amara. "Do you really want to divorce that badly?"

    She wasn''t sure if it was her imagination, but his low voice carried an unidentifiable hint of intimacy.

    Amara looked out the window. "Yes, I want that. Too much has happened recently."

    She wasn''t one to dwell on the past, but she had endured too muchtely- constantly being wronged, insulted, hurt. She was human too, and thinking about it all made her sad.

    Finnian had witnessed her struggles firsthand. Hearing her words, he fell silent. Yes, it was time to let her go After all this time of entanglement, it was time to put an end. He stared out the window, his gaze darkening gradually.

    Liliana left the Everly family''sst rtive''s house, biting her lip hard. Once her anger subsided, she got into the car.

    "All cleared up?" Ethan, in the driver''s seat, inquired. "Can we head home now?"

    "Yeah, let''s go home."

    Sitting in the back seat, Liliana

    ¨¦t

    leaned her head on her hand, recalling the humiliating ordeal of repeatedly exining to the Everly family members that Amara hadn''t cheated and asking them too apologize to Amara. Her eyes grew fierce.

    Amara, a woman she never considered a rival at first, had

    caused her so much trouble. And it wasn''t just trouble; the thought of being bothered by a disfigured woman made her feel stifled incredibly stifled.

 Chapter 210

    But thankfully, once Finn was discharged from the hospital, they could finally get divorced.

    She kept imagining her life with Finnian after his divorce, and for the first time in a while, she felt a bit of relief, allowing herself to close her eyes.

    The next couple of days passed quietly, and by Thursday afternoon, Finnian was finally out of the hospital. Amara, however, was feeling uneasy.

    They had agreed to finalize the divorce on the day he was discharged, but after multiple failed attempts in the past, Amara was suddenly gripped by the fear that it might never seed.

    She knew she was probably just being paranoid, but she couldn''t shake off the anxiety gnawing at her.

    "I''ll head home first. Let''s meet at the city hall in two hours."

    Will hade to pick up Finnian. After all, he had just been discharged and needed to rest at home and gather the necessary documents before heading to the ce.

    So they had a n: Finnian and Will would head home, while Amara would return to her ce, and they would meet at the city hall at the agreed time.

    After saying this, Amara was about to leave when Finnian called out to her, "Wait a minute."

    She stopped in her tracks, her heart tightened.

    She was already nervous about the possibility of the divorce not going through, and Finnian''s call made her even more apprehensive.

    Turning around, she tried to maintain herposure as she asked, "Mr. Everly, is there something else?"

    Finnian looked at her intently without uttering a word. Amara''s anxiety, which had been at a manageable level, now spiked due to the other''s silence.

    "Mr. Everly, what is it?" she asked again. "It''s gettingte. If there''s nothing else, we should get going for the preparations."

    "Are you really in such a hurry to get divorced?" Finn questioned.

    Well, of course, she was, but did he ask it earlier?

    Amara couldn''t just blurt that out. Even though she couldn''t pinpoint why, she sensed that Finnian didn''t want to witness her eagerness to end things, and for a moment, she felt caught in a dilemma.

    Seeing her struggle, Finnian quit the teasing and exined, "I didn''t mean anything by it. I just wanted to ask if you''d like toe back with me to my ce and then head to the city hatt together."

    Amara looked up. "Really? Is that okay?"

    Truthfully, she did want to go with Finnian, to watch him gather the documents, and then head to the ce together. She didn''t want to be this suspicious, but only by being with Finnian every step of the way could she truly feel at ease.

    She just hadn''t dared to voice this request, so Finnian''s offer was unexpected.

    "Of course, it''s okay," Finnian replied nonchntly. "Shall we?"

    "Alright, I''ll go with you!" Amara agreed immediately.

    She joined Finnian and Will in the car, curious about why Finnian had extended the invitation. Could he sense her apprehension? Maybe he wasn''t entirely bad. He was a mix of good and evil, she mused.

    They arrived at Finnian''s apartment, and after entering, he went to change clothes while Amara wandered around the living room. Slowly, she walked over to the window, taking in the surroundings.

    So, this was where Finnian had lived for the past three years?

    During those lonely nights, she often wondered where her husband lived, what his house was like, and if he stayed away to avoid her. She had longed to see where he lived, but

    that wish had never been fulfilled.

    Now, on the brink of divorce, she finally stood in Finnian''s home, yet the emotions

    she once anticipated were nowhere to be found.

 Chapter 212

    "Finn, did you really get divorced? Why didn''t you tell me?"

    Liliana leaned forward on the table, her eyes sparkling with an excitement that made her seem more like an eager teenager than her usual graceful self.

    Finnian, however, didn''t notice her unusual demeanor, his gaze slightly darkened. "How did you find out?"

    Liliana brandished her phone with a little flourish. "Amara posted it on Facebook. I just saw it."

    Finnian paused, opened Facebook, and scrolled down. Sure enough, a few hours ago, Amara had posted a picture of the divorce certificate. Judging by the time, she must have posted it as soon as she got home. Was she really that eager?

    "Finn, is everything sorted with Amara? Are there still things that need to be divided?" she asked.

    Legally speaking, Finnian was once again a free man, but having been married to Amara for three years, there were bound to be things that couldn''t be easily untangled. Liliana had just thought of this and decided to ask.

    "It''s done, all sorted," Finnian replied calmly.

    "That''s good to hear."

    Liliana let out a sigh of relief. She looked up at Finnian. Since she had entered the office, he hadn''t moved from his spot by the window, not even toe over and greet her.

    His expression was as cool and detached as ever. Why was that? He had finally divorced the ugly woman-shouldn''t he be relieved?

    Liliana narrowed her eyes briefly and walked over to him, slipping her arm through his as she inquired, "How are you feeling, Finn?"

    "Why do you ask?" Finnian gazed down at her.

    Liliana didn''t answer, just silently observing his expression. His eyes were unreadable, calm and untroubled. He wasn''t happy, but at least he wasn''t upset or agitated either, which was a relief to Liliana.

    "Oh, nothing. Just curious." She smiled.

    There were so many other questions she wanted to ask, like what their future ns would be. But she didn''t dare voice them, afraid of hearing answers she wouldn''t like. Better to let things unfold when it was time.

    "Are you busy today?" Liliana uttered thoughtfully as she nced at the stack of papers on the desk. "Maybe I should head out and let you work. Don''t overdo it, though, especially since you just got out of the hospital."

    "Yeah, I''ll have Will give you a ride."

    Finnian personally called Will toe over, confirmed Liliana''s destination, and made sure Will knew where to take her.

    Though she hadn''t seen Finnian express any joy about his divorce, his thoughtful gesture of ensuring she got home safely left Liliana feeling quite satisfied. She gave him a small smile and left with Will.

    Finnian returned to his desk, ready to tackle his paperwork, when Dorian strolled in.

    "So, you finally went through with the divorce?" Dorian plopped down on the sofa, taking a sip of coffee. He cut to the chase. "What''s next? nning to marry Liliana?"

    Finnian didn''t answer, instead leaning against his desk and asking, "What about you and Elysia? You two are getting hitched, right?"

    "Yeah, the family''s pushing for it," Dorian replied, sounding almost bored. "It''s kind of dull, to be honest."

    Finnian studied his friend''s expression. Was it really dull? What was really going on between him and Elysia? Just as he was about to ask, Dorian''s phone rang. He answered it, "Jessica, what''s up?"

 Chapter 213

    There was a murmuring on the other end of the line that seemed to bother Dorian. His brow furrowed, and he hung up the phone, standing up abruptly. "Something''se up again. I barely gotfortable, and now I have to leave. Let''s catch up another day."

    "Alright, go take care of what you need to."

    "I will. Hey, you finally got through it all, so how about dinner on me sometime to celebrate?"

    Finnian nodded, seeing Dorian out before returning to his desk. He couldn''t help but think about Dorian and Elysia, which led his thoughts to drift toward his own situation with Amara. A wave of fatigue washed over him, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. He asked his assistant to bring him a cup of coffee before diving back into his work.

    The following evening, Amara invited Elysia and Keith over, filling the table with dishes and popping open a bottle of champagne. The three of them cheered, ready to feast.

    Amara took a moment to tweet, announcing her newfound single status after her divorce, and then logged off immediately. She didn''t bother checking thements, but she was sure the news would trend. Her divorce only meant Liliana would soon be marrying that high-profile investor, and plenty of people were keeping tabs on the drama.

    "Ama, did you tell your dad about the divorce?" Elysia asked.

    Amara nodded. "I messaged him around noon. He didn''t reply."

    "He probably saw it and chose not to respond. Your dad''s really old-school, and divorce is like a p in the face for him. He''s probably avoiding you," Elysiamented, pursing her lips.

    "Well, if he doesn''t want to talk, you do the same," Keith chimed in. "If he is unwilling to look after you, I''ll..."

    Before he could finish, a sharp pain shot through his foot, and he yelped.

    Keith set down his fork and red at Elysia, who had just stomped on his foot under the table. Yet she maintained her cheerful demeanor, chatting away with Amara.

    Fuming, Keith shot her a look that asked, "What the heck was that for?"

    Elysia, catching on, continued her conversation with Amara while texting Keith, [Hold off on the whole ''I''ll take care of you'' speech. Ama just got divorced. She probably doesn''t want to jump into another rtionship right away. Don''t rush the confession.]

    Though Amara seemed happy, Elysia could see she hadn''t fully moved on from Finnian. Keith, apparently, hadn''t noticed and was rushing to confess his feelings.

    [Fine, fine, I get it. I''ll follow your lead.]

    Albeit a bit grudgingly, Keith couldn''t deny that Elysia had a better read on Amara.

    If Elysia was convinced that Amara wasn''t ready for a new rtionship, then he would hold off on confessing his feelings, deciding to wait for the right moment. Picking up his ss, he took another sip of his drink.

    The dinner went on joyfully, wrapping up around half-past eleven. The three of them tidied up the living room before Elysia and Keith headed home.

    As Elysia was on her way back, a thought struck her, making her heart lurch-did Keith know Amara was pregnant? The idea jolted her sober. She had been supportive of Keith pursuing Amara, but if Ama was carrying Finnian''s child, how would Keith react to that revtion?

    When she got home, Elysia called Amara to let her know she''d gotten

    back safely. After some casual

    chit-chat, she asked nonchnt

    "By the way, you''re about two

    nove

    months along, right? Does Keith know you''re pregnant?"

    "He doesn''t."

 Chapter 214

    When Amara thought about it, she couldn''t help but feel a bit troubled.

    Once her belly started to show, Keith would definitely notice. And when that happened, Keith would probably be furious enough to go after Finnian. Just the thought of it gave her a headache.

    Elysia went silent for a moment, and then decided to change the subject. After a few minutes of chatting about other things, she hung up the call.

    Oh well, maybe it was best not to dwell on Amara and Keith''s situation. If they were meant to be, they''d find a way. If not, well, sometimes life didn''t give one a choice.

    [By the way, I forgot to mention something.]

    Amara''s message popped up just as Elysia put her phone down.

    [The crew''s heading to a small ind next week for filming. I''ll be there for about three to five days, then back here for over a month to wrap things up.

    After that, I might move to another city to have the baby. Maybe after two or three years, once the kid''s a bit older, I''ll return to Wye.]

    Elysia was a bit surprised by Amara''s n to leave the city for a few years after filming Whispers of Winter.

    But it made sense. In a few months, Amara''s pregnancy would be noticeable, and she''d need to avoid the Everly family. A big belly would certainly raise questions.

    "If you''re moving away, what about the Sullivan family affairs?" Elysia asked, a thought suddenly urring to her.

    How long Larry could live was a mystery, and yet he seemed to be preparing to hand over control of the Sullivan Group. Amara would need to keep an eye on things to secure her rightful share of the inheritance.

    [I won''t quit considering the Sullivan Group''s matter. I''ve got someone to keep an eye on things, and I''ll return if anything majores up. I won''t be too far away.] [That''s good to hear.]

    Elysia was well aware of the history between Amara''s mother and Fiona. If Fiona and her daughter ended up controlling the Sullivan Group, it would haunt Amara forever. It was expressly crucial.

    [BTW, remember to stay safe while filming. Don''t forget you''re pregnant!] Elysia reminded her at the end.

    Amara replied with a few smiling emojis, saying, [Got it, got it. No need to worry about me,] before setting her phone aside.

    Outside the window, the sky was as dark as if it had been painted with a thick brush, with no stars or moon in sight.

    Amara sprawled on her bed, staring at her phone screen, lost in thought. She had received the notice about filming on location shortly after Elysia and Keith had left.

    She didn''t mind traveling for work; she saw it as a mini-vacation. The only hassle was packing, figuring out what to bring along.

    The next day, Amara made a shopping list and shared it with her colleagues to make sure she wasn''t forgetting any essentials. Once she was sure, she headed to the supermarket.

    After gathering all she needed, she rested at home for the night. The following day, she dressed infortable clothes, grabbed her suitcase, and boarded the crew''s shuttle bus.

    The shuttle bus wasrge enough to fit dozens of people, mostly fellow actors and crew members like herself. The main stars wouldn''t be sharing the same vehicle with them.

    Liliana wasn''t there, likely having someone drive her. Keith wasn''t around either; he''d sent Amara a message in the morning saying he had an event and would join themter.

    Apart from Keith, the only other person Amara knew in the crew was Lucian, but he was absent too. So, she found a window seat and settled in.

    As she boarded, she felt people''s eyes on her likely whispering about her recent divorce. She chose to

    ignore them, nning to rest heret

    eyes for a bit. But just as she started to drift off, the seat beside her sank slightly. The producer, Louis, spoke up, "Amara, mind if I join you? You''re already falling asleep? Had ate night?"

 Chapter 215

    Amara opened her eyes and smiled, replying, "My eyes have been feeling a bit drytely, always wanting a little rest."

    "Oh, dry eyes? You definitely need to shut them for a bit. My wife has the same issue; she''s always using eye drops. By the way, Amara, I heard you got divorced?" Louis casually mentioned.

    A few ears perked up around them, discreetly listening in. Amara''s smile remained unchanged. "Yeah, we got divorced. Just finalized the paperwork."

    Amara was calm and collected, and the two colleagues in front turned around, asking a couple of questions about the divorce. Amara answered each one.

    Soon, the news of her and Finnian''s amicable split spread throughout the crew.

    The chatter continued as they journeyed to the edge of Wye. They got off the bus and boarded a boat, which rocked gently for about half an hour before they reached the ind Cedric had mentioned.

    The ind was beautiful, transformed into a tourist spot by developers with a sprawling garden. Cedric had rented the southwestern part of the garden for filming the royal hunt scene in Whispers of Winter. Once they disembarked, they drove to the location.

    Cedric was a man who didn''t waste a second. Renting the ce was costly, so he immediately directed the crew to start setting up the scenes.

    As a screenwriter, Amara didn''t have much to do at the moment. She wandered through the garden with her camera, pausing to snap pictures of any captivating sights.

    Gradually, she found herself in a secluded area. In front of her was a grove of trees, with a stone monument behind it. It was the setting for tomorrow''s shoot, quite picturesque. Amara raised her camera and clicked away, engrossed in her photography.

    She was so focused that she didn''t notice the footsteps behind her. As she finished taking a photo, a deep voice interrupted, "Do you like taking pictures?"

    Startled, Amara turned slightly to see Finnian standing beside her.

    "Mr. Everly," she greeted simply. "Yeah, I guess, I enjoy capturingndscapes."

    With that, she turned back to her camera, her expression neutral, but inside she was surprised. Finnian cared about Liliana so much that he''d follow her even on location shoots. How doting.

    His presence on the ind was surely because he had apanied Liliana. He''d probably stay a few days, ensuring Liliana wouldn''t get hurt on this remote ind.

    Unaware of her thoughts, Finnian offered, "Would you like some pictures of yourself? I can take a few for you."

    After that, he extended his long fingers, looking at Amara.

    "I... alright, thank you, Mr. Everly."

    Amara had initially thought to decline Finian''s offer, but with his hand already outstretched, refusing felt unnecessary. She handed him the camera and found a spot to stand.

    She wasn''t sure about Finnian''s photography skills, but he seemed to know what he was doing, finding angles and positions quickly. In no time, he snapped some shots.

    Once finished, Finnian stood up, and Amara walked over, thanking him again as

    she took back her camera to review the photos.

    "We don''t need to be so formal with each other."

    In just a short time, she''d thanked him twice. Finnian gazed down at her and

    added, "After all, we were married once."

 Chapter 216

    Amara remained silent. Married.

    Yep, because they were married for three years, standing next to Finnian now made Amara super ufortable. She really wasn''t the kind of person who could have a cordial rtionship with her ex.

    "So, how did you get here?"

    They''d already wrapped up the photoshoot, but Finnian seemed in no hurry to leave. He threw the question out there casually.

    Amara nced down at the photo, not really in the mood to admire Finnian''s admittedly decent photography skills. All she wanted was for him to leave. "Took the shuttle bus," she replied.

    Finnian''s mind shed to the rickety old bus he''d seen parked by the shore earlier. He frowned slightly.

    He stared at the top of Amara''s head. She''d been fixated on the camera since they finished, flipping back and forth between photos without actually looking at them. What was she doing? Was she pretending to be busy just to avoid talking to him?

    "Finn, Ms. Sullivan, what are you two up to?"

    A voice with a hint of yfulness suddenly broke the silence.

    Amara turned to see Liliana wiggling over in a snug-fitting dress, a smile ying on her lips as she linked her arm with Finnian''s.

    "Nothing much," Finnian replied, his tone t.

    Liliana gave a little "okay" and nced at the camera in Amara''s hands, surprised. "Ms. Sullivan, you brought a camera? Taking some pictures?"

    "Yeah, a few," Amara said coolly, not really in the mood for chit-chat with Liliana. After all, she and Finnian were divorced; no point in getting into it with his newdy.

    Liliana curled her lips upward as she asked, "Ms. Sullivan, could you do me a favor and snap a photo of Finn and me? We''ve been apart for years; it''s a pity we haven''t had some picture together."

    Amara felt a quick, sharp pang in her chest, but it faded just as fast. She kept her expression neutral, saying, "Sure, just step back a bit."

    Liliana beamed, towing Finnian backward. Finnian stayed rooted to the spot, staring at Amara. "You''re actually going to take our picture?"

    "Yeah," Amara said, eyes lifted as she gazed at him. "Just step back a bit, okay?"

    With that, she adjusted her position as well, angling the camera toward them.

    Finnian still hadn''t budged, and Liliana, who had been all bubbly a second ago; noticed. She tugged at him again, her smile faltering as he stayed motionless, his expression impassive, his eyes glued to Amara''s face.

    UM

    "Finn?"

    She nudged him gently.

    "Let''s get a picture. I want to have one before the baby arrives," she said, her

    hand resting on her still-t belly.

    Finnian nced at her stomach, and then finally relented, letting Liliana lead him back a few steps. Though his expression was still cool, they were at least in frame now. Amara crouched down and took a couple of

    shots. ,Mara

    Thinking of how Finnian had

    adjusted the angle for her earlier she figured it was only fair to do the same. She straightened up and suggested, "Move back a bit more. Let''s get another one."

    Liliana seemed delighted, pulling Finnian further back, though he didn''t move. His eyes remained locked on Amara, his voice icy. "You''re really going to take more?"

    Amara looked up from behind the camera, puzzled. Finnian''s gaze was bone chilling, his tone as frigid as a winter''s night. Was he upset?

    She lowered the camera, responding, "Mr. Everly, if you don''t want a picture, then let''s just skip it."

    She''d tried to be polite and return the favor by getting a good shot of them, but if Finnian wasn''t appreciative, she certainly wasn''t going to force it.

 Chapter 217

    "Ms. Porter, I''ll send you the photos. I''m heading out now."

    With that, she turned on her heel and left. Finnian watched her retreating figure, eyebrows knitting together.

    "Finn, what is it?" Liliana asked, tugging at his sleeve, her voice cautious.

    Finnian looked away. "Nothing. Let''s get going."

    The two of them trailed behind Amara as they exited the grove. From a distance, it seemed as if the three of them were together, even though they weren''t.

    Outside, the crew was busy setting up the scene. Cedric was directing the crew, making sure everything was in ce.

    As Amara, Finnian, and Liliana emerged from the grove, dozens of the crew nced their way, a wave of surprise washing over them. What was going on with these three? They were supposed to part ways, yet here they were, together?

    But then, it looked like Amara was leading, with Finnian and Liliana following at a distance. Maybe they just went there in order of time.

    "Ama, where''d you disappear to?" Keith had arrived early and approached Amara, speaking in hushed tones.

    Amara shed her camera at him. "Just taking some photos. The scenery in there is pretty great."

    Her eyes lit up when she saw Keith, a stark contrast to the cool demeanor she''d shown Finnian earlier. Finnian noticed this change; he walked over, stopping at a respectful distance from Amara and Keith, his eyes sizing up Keith.

    Keith turned to face him, his smile chilly. "Mr. Everly, what a surprise to see you here. Apanying your future wife, I presume? Such a devoted husband."

    Though his words seemedplimentary, Liliana wasn''t smiling. She watched Finnian, her nerves on edge. Something felt off about Finn today. Was it just her hallucination?

    Finnian, usually unruffled, seemed unusually distant today.

    "Weren''t you supposed to be at an event?" he asked, ignoring Keith''s jibe. "Why are you here early?"

    "Oh, Mr. Everly, you''re keeping tabs on my schedule? Liliana must have told you. You two are quite the team, sharing everything," Keith replied, his tone sharp enough to cut, his curled lips unfading.

    The people around them picked up on the tension and watched with keen interest. Finnian didn''t rise to the bait, his gaze growing colder.

    The atmosphere thickened with awkwardness. Amara, not wanting to waste time on this, turned to Keith. "Do you have a moment? Let''s go over the script."

    "Sure, let''s go." Keith''s demeanor softened significantly as he addressed Amara. He stretchednguidly before walking off with Amara.

    Liliana watched them leave,menting, "Ms. Sullivan and Keith are really close, aren''t they? He seems ready to do whatever she asks. Childhood friends, after all."

    Her tone was teasing, but she kept a careful eye on Finnian. Whether he heard her or not was unclear, as he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the pair''s retreating figures.

    That evening, the crew finallypleted the setup. Cedric organized a dinner at

    the hotel nearby, a pre-celebration of sorts.

    The private room featured a

    massive table fit for over twenty people. Among the key members the production team was Amara, naturally. She sat next to Keith, directly across from Finnian and Liliana.

 Chapter 218

    The most influential person at the table was undeniably Finnian, the investor.

    Director Cedric and producer Louis were sitting next to him, engaging in conversation while Finnian barely touched his food.

    Keith, despite being the leading actor and a top star in the industry thatmanded high regard, couldn''t care less about engaging with the others. He was either chatting with Amara or attending to her needs.

    Most of the food on Amara''s te had been ced there by Keith. Not only that, but he was also peeling shrimp and cracking crab ws for her.

    When Amara lifted her mask to eat, Keith watched over her, promptly handing her a napkin to wipe her mouth as soon as she was done. His attentive care drew frequent nces from around the table.

    As the evening wore on and more drinks were consumed, many people became drunk, including producer Louis, a man in his forties, who was usually cheerful and easygoing, but when he drank, he became clingy and outspoken.

    He was evidently stered now and noticed that Finnian''s ss was almost untouched, so as his food, and that Liliana, sitting beside him, had hardly eaten either. With a chuckle, he pointed at Amara and Keith, saying, "You two seem really close, huh? Keith, the way you look after Amara, you''re so nice to her. You and Amara seem more like a couple than Mr. Everly and Liliana do."

    The moment those words were spoken, the lively chatter at the table came to a halt, and all eyes turned to the small group.

    Amara furrowed her brow. Louis must have had too much to drink, speaking so carelessly. The situation was beyond awkward, and she had no idea how to brush it off with a casual remark.

    Right across from her sat Liliana, who had maintained an elegant andposed demeanor, smiling all along, though her expression was clearly strained.

    Finnian''s face was one of indifference, even colder than before.

    Amara thought for a moment and then addressed Cedric, "Mr. Zade, do you think Louis might have had a bit too much to drink? Perhaps someone should help him get home?"

    "Ah, yes, yes, Louis has definitely had a bit too much. When he drinks, he tends to ramble and loses all sense of direction."

    Cedric, looking flustered, immediately stood up and took the opportunity Amara provided to defuse the situation.

    After a moment''s thought, he directed the lighting director and the director of photography to help Louis out of the room.

    Then, wiping the sweat from his forehead, he turned to Liliana and said, "Liliana, you know how Louis is. Once he starts drinking, he can''t keep his mouth shut. He''s been advised not to have much alcohol but never listened. He''s gotten into more trouble with that mouth of his than I can count.

    But it''s just because he''s been so stressed and tiredtely that he drank a bit more than usual. He''s been the busiest of us all these past few days. Just trying to drown his stress in alcohol. Please, don''t hold it against him."

    Cedric offered a few words in Louis'' defense. Liliana''s smile was starting to falter, but she had to keep it up nheless. Despite Cedric''s excuses, she could see right through them.

    In fact, Louis wasn''t wrong. From

    the moment the meal began, Finnian hadn''t paid her much attention. Other than initially asking the waiter to bring a couple of

    pregnancy-friendly dishes father, Finnian had beenpletely disengaged.

    Meanwhile, Keith''s attentiveness to Amara was iparable. The difference between how Keith treated Amara and how Finnian treated her was like night and day. Amara was clearly the one up in the stars, and she was the one stuck on the ground.

    She had already been feeling uneasy watching them, and now Louis had brought

    the issue into the open, making her the subject ofughter among the twenty- some people in the crew. It was infuriating.

 Chapter 219

    But she was savvy enough to know that showing any displeasure would only make her the subject of ridicule. So instead of letting her irritation show, she had to find a way to smooth things over.

    She strove to subdue her rage, forced a smile, and said, "Actually, Louis isn''t wrong. Keith really has been looking out for Ms. Sullivan, and we''ve all noticed it.

    But you see, Finn is more of a reserved guy. He''s never been great at taking care of others. When I saw Keith being so attentive to Ms. Sullivan, I have to admit, I was a bit envious."

    Hearing Liliana''s words, Cedric let out a sigh of relief. He quickly yed along, chiming in with a few moreplimentary remarks.

    Liliana epted thepliments and turned to Amara, speaking in a tone that was half-joking, half-serious, "Keith is really wonderful, you know, but I''ve heard that you and he are just childhood friends? Ms. Sullivan, haven''t you ever thought about being with him?"

    Earlier, Amara had posted a picture on Facebook of her and Keith, but after her divorce, she deleted it, stating she was single and had only posted the photo because she lost a truth and dare game.

    So everyone knew that she and Keith were just friends.

    "No, I won''t," Amara replied, shaking her head. "We''ve been friends since we were kids. There''s no romance there."

    She didn''t notice the brief sh of discontent in Keith''s eyes as she spoke. Instead, she focused on the te of Brussels sprouts in front of her, wondering when this tedious dinner would finally end.

    Liliana''s smile didn''t falter as she said, "Being friends is fine. Sometimes that''s the best start to a rtionship."

    She giggled with a hand covering her mouth, as if what she said was the most reasonable thing in the world, while Amara''s expression turned a shade darker.

    To her, Keith wasn''t just a friend; he was practically family. The thought of being paired with him felt as wrong as "kissing cousins". Gross.

    "Ms. Porter, not everyone is preupied with romance."

    With a slight edge to her voice, Amara spoke the words that stopped Liliana''sughter, leaving the atmosphere awkward once more.

    Finnian said nothing, but his gaze remained fixed on Amara, flickering with inscrutable emotion.

    Keith had a slight half-smirk on his face, and though he was in a marked contrast

    to Finnian, his expression remained equally ambiguous and hard to read.

    With neither of them saying anything, the rest of the dinner

    guests remained silent. It see

    like Amara was having a head-to-head confrontation with Liliana, or thetter had been pestering Amara, while the two men just sat there and watched indifferently the scene unfold. The tension was more entertaining than the meal itself.

    "Ms. Sullivan, are you upset?" Liliana asked with a smile, setting her cutlery down.

    "Sure, not everyone is focused on

    love, but a good rtionship is important. We all need to find our own happiness, don''t we? Ms. Sullivan, when you say that, does it mean you don''t n on ever getting married?"

    "That''s right, I don''t," Amara replied simply.

    Though most people ended up marrying and having kids, more and more were choosing to remain single and child-free. Amara''s statement wasn''t as shocking as it might have been in the past, and no one found it particrly odd.

    But then again, her ex-husband was still sitting at the table.

 Chapter 220

    By all ounts, their marriage was nothing rted to a love story, so their breakup should''ve been a clean, amicable one. Yet, when Amara dered she would never marry again, it sounded like the words of someone nursing a broken heart.

    Suddenly, everyone started looking at them with a mix of curiosity and spection.

    Liliana snuck a nce at Finnian, eager to gauge his reaction to Amara''s deration. But Finnian''s face was as unreadable as a poker yer''s, leaving her with nothing to go on.

    Pondering for a short while, Liliana turned back to Amara. "Honestly, I think marriage is still the better option. Sure, being single gives you freedom, but the perks of marriage are something singles can''t experience."

    "Oh really? What are the perks of marriage?" asked someone single at the table.

    Liliana''s eyes sparkled with a hint of longing. "Once you''re married, you have a partner whopletes your soul and someone who genuinely cares about you. That kind of emotional fulfillment is something money can''t buy."

    She spoke slowly, with a pleasant smile that suggested marrying was the best decision ever.

    To Amara, though, these were just empty words. She believed each state had its own merits. Marriage or no marriage, a person could feel whole on their own. What nonsense was this talk of needing a partner to feelplete?

    Amara lowered her gaze, choosing not to reply. Noticing her silence, Liliana calmly pressed on, "Why so quiet, Ms. Sullivan? Don''t you have something to say?"

    Amara was baffled by why Liliana was so insistent on this topic. She and Finnian were divorced; surely, she was no longer a concern for Liliana in every aspect. Why was she so fixated on this?

    "I don''t have much to say," Amar? replied, not wanting to engage further Ms. Porter, you keep extolling the virtues of marriage, but I don''t see it that way, having been married once already."  swnovel

    Her words hung in the air, bringing a sudden quiet to the dinner.

    Liliana, who had been maintaining a strained smile, couldn''t keep it up any longer. Her lips tightened, and her fingers clenched on theps.

    Everyone turned from Amara to Finnian, hoping to catch a glimpse of his thoughts. But Finnian remained stoic, his calm demeanor unwavering-this man had an impressive poker face.

    Amara stared down at the edge of the table, realizing her words might have been too blunt. Though it felt liberating to speak her mind, it was probably a bit harsh on Finnian.

    Feeling a bit sheepish, she decided it was time to leave. Rising from her chair, she said, "Mr. Zade, I''m full. I

    have some work to finish, so

    head

    out now. Enjoy the rest of your meal."  swnovel

    "Alright, Ama, go ahead. Don''t worry about work today; take some time to rx," Cedric replied, relieved that the evening''s tension was finally dissipating. He stood to see her off.

    With Amara gone, Keith also stood, stretchingzily. "I think I''ll head out too. Enjoy your meal, folks."

    Skipping the pleasantries, he followed Amara out, unconcerned with the expressions left behind.

    With the main yers of tonight''s

    drama gone, the room was left in

    extremely awkward silence. But

    Amara had no idea. Once she

    stepped outside, she quickened her pace, breathing in the fresh night air and feeling a lot more at ease. C¨®ntent belongs to swnovel

 Chapter 221

    "Hey, let''s go check out that spot."

    Keith caught up with Amara, pointing towards the nearby grove. Amara turned and swept a nce at him.

    She wasn''t surprised to see Keith tagging along. Nodding, she walked with him towards the trees.

    They chatted about this and that as they strolled to the edge of ake. Finally, Keith couldn''t hold back any longer. He asked, "Did you mean it when you said you didn''t want to get married anymore?"

    "Yeah," Amara replied as she nodded, her expression serious. "I just don''t see myself getting married again."

    She genuinely meant it. With a child already, the idea of marriage didn''t seem as important. Besides, despite not considering love a disappointment, after ending an eight-year-long crush, she was exhausted. She didn''t want to risk falling into that emotional turmoil again.

    Keith frowned and gently turned Amara towards him, inquiring, "Why don''t you want to get married anymore? Just because of one jerk, you''re giving up on all men? Why would you think it that way?"

    His serious tone almost made Amaraugh. She smacked his hand away and rolled her eyes. "Who said I gave up on men? Don''t jump to conclusions."

    "Then why the aversion to marriage?" Keith pressed on stubbornly.

    He had waited for what felt like forever for Amara to be single, and before he could even make a love confession, she dered herself done with marriage. It wasn''t what he had hoped for.

    Oblivious of Keith''s mind, Amara assumed he was just concerned and thought it was a pity that she might be giving up marriage entirely over one bad experience; that was why he had the remarks. She thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I haven''t told you this, but I''m pregnant."

    Her heart raced as she said it, feeling a mix of anxiety.

    She had expected Keith to be upset when he found out, which was why she had kept it a secret. But the truth had toe out sooner orter. Better now than when her belly started showing.  swnovel

    She held her breath, observing Keith''s reaction carefully. As expected, his eyes

    widened in disbelief as he stared at her. "You''re pregnant?"

    Keith''s gaze dropped to her stomach as he questioned, "Whose is it?"

    "It''s... my ex-husband''s," Amara admitted euphemistically, carefu not to mention Finnian''s name. "There was a bit of an ident back then, then it happened, but he

    doesn''t know about the baby."

    swnovel

    Amara had imagined Keith would fly into a rage and confront Finnian. She had

    even thought of ways to stop him if he did.

    But she didn''t expect Keith to just

    stand there, as if he was struck by lightning, too stunned to speak. Then, slowly, his eyes filled with anger and something else, a mix of emotions Amara couldn''t quite decipher.  swnovel

    He clenched his fists, speaking deliberately, "Get rid of it."

    "What?" Amara looked up. "What did you say?"

    Thekeside was silent, save for them. She had heard him clearly, but the shock made her ask again.

    Keith, as if restraining himself, repeated, "I said, get rid of the baby."

    Amara was speechless. She hadn''t misheard. Keith really wanted her to terminate the pregnancy.

 Chapter 222

    "I''m not doing it," she said. "I want to keep this baby."

    Keith''s reaction was way beyond what she had expected. Why was the first thing he said to demand abortion? Even Elysia never pressured her into anything like this.

    Sure, men and women thought differently, but this seemed like a massive gap.

    Keith''s eyes were somewhat red. "What are you going to do about it then? Keep Finnian''s damn child?"

    Amara frowned immediately. She really didn''t like the way that sounded.

    "Why are you talking like that? This is my child. This baby won''t have anything to do with Finnian in the future."

    Worried that Keith''s anger was clouding his understanding, Amara reiterated, "This child will never meet Finnian. He''ll never know it exists."

    To Amara, blood ties didn''t mean much. She had an unreliable father herself, so she knew blood rtions were just that¡ªa connection by chance.

    What mattered more to her was raising a child, guiding them with the right values, and building a strong emotional bond. That, to her, was what being a family meant.

    So, she didn''t care if the baby was Finnian''s. It was hers, and that was enough.

    "Are you really going to keep it?"

    Keith''s eyes grew even more blood-red at Amara''s unwavering stance. His fists clenched tight enough that the knuckles cracked, like he was about to blow up.

    "Amara, I''m telling you one more time: get rid of this child. Don''t keep Finnian''s baby. You two are divorced."

    What was up with this guy? He was usually so smart. Why couldn''t he understand now?

    Amara thought about it and figured Keith was just too emotional to think straight. She spoke softly, "Don''t be mad. I know you don''t want me to have a hard time. But I just want a child. I''m not nning on getting married again. Having a child is enough for me."  swnovel

    "Enough!" Keith suddenly shouted.

    Amara was startled, her eyes wide as she looked at him. What was going on with this man? He was acting like he''d lost his mind.

    "Keith."

    Though her thoughts were jumbled, Amara still wanted to exin things to him. But she only got one word out before Keith turned and stormed off.

    He moved quickly, a storm of anger surrounding him, like a lion who let its prey escape. Amara watched him go, too shocked to call after him.

    "What''s wrong with him?"

    Amara was baffled. She couldn''t make sense of it, even after thinking for a long

    time. So, she texted Elysia, summarizing the conversation with Keith.

    Then she added, [Is he out of his mind? Why such a big reaction?]

    Elysia replied with a speechless emoji.

    fn

    She continued to vent, [He''s really crazy. I expected him to be mad, but I thought he''d go find Finnian for a fight, not tell me to get rid of the baby right away instead. What gives him the right? It''s my body, my choice. Whether I keep the baby is my business. Why does he keep insisting?]  swnovel

    Amara really hated when others made decisions for her. If someone other than Keith had pressured her like that, she would have lost her temper, despite usually being gentle.

    [s, it makes sense why he reacted

    that way,guess. He probably doesn''t want to see you burdened by the child. But if you have time, maybe try talking to him. No don''t. Just let him process it on his own.]  swnovel

 Chapter 223

    Amara stared at the text from Elysia, feeling equally speechless. Something about Elysia''s words felt off.

    As she pondered over it, two more people emerged from the hotel entrance- Finnian and Liliana.

    Just as they stepped out, Keith happened to pass by, his pace brisk and an air of icy anger surrounding him. He looked like someone you didn''t want to mess with. Liliana watched him walk away, surprised. "What''s up with him? He looks upset." Before she could get an answer, they noticed Amara emerging from the grove. Amara''s lips were pressed tightly together, a clear sign of her annoyance. Liliana remembered that Amara and Keith had left the room together earlier. A knowing smile yed on her lips as she remarked, "You think they had a spat?"

    Finnian kept his gaze on Amara, his look intense, remaining silent. Suddenly, he strode over and blocked Amara''s path. "What''s wrong? Did Keith hurt you?"

    Amara halted. "No."

    Earlier, she had texted Elysia, who had replied with some perplexing advice. Pocketing her phone, she had hurried to catch up with Keith, hoping to discuss the matter further.

    But Keith blew up at her, calling her foolish for wanting to keep the baby. He said it was the stupidest thing she could do. This made her furious, and they shouted at each other. Keith stormed off, and after a brief pause, she followed suit.

    She wasn''t sure why Finnian was asking such questions, but considering that part of her argument with Keith involved Finnian, it was hard not to be angry at the man in front of her.

    So, with a chilly tone, she said, "Mr. Everly, I have something to attend to," and strode past him briskly. Finnian watched her retreating figure, his expression deepening.

    "Finn, what''s up with Ms. Sullivan?" Liliana approached, feigning casual curiosity.

    Finnian replied dismissively that it was nothing, nced at Amara once more, and then turned to leave.

    Back in her room, Amara couldn''t hold back any longer. Tears streamed down her face. She had expected Keith to be upset after she shared the news, but she hadn''t anticipated his outburst, telling her to get rid of the baby and insulting her if she didn''t.  swnovel

    She had confided such a personal matter to a friend, hoping for support, but instead, it turned into this mess. Wiping her tears, she looked at her phone''s nk screen, unable to shake the sadness.

    Keith, once back at home, had copsed onto the couch, his hand on his forehead in silence for a few minutes before texting Elysia.

    Elysia''s reply came quickly, [Ama''s pregnant. She told me before, and I fully support her decision to keep the baby. In my view, a woman.

    doesn''t need a man, but hoan

    child of her own is essential. Ama has her career and finances; she can manage well on her own  swnovel

    [As for your ns to pursue Ama, I thought you two were a good match and got excited. Ipletely forgot about her pregnancy and didn''t mention it to you. Now that you know, it''s up to you to decide what to do next. But I won''t suggest Ama to terminate the pregnancy.]  swnovel

    Keith stared at Elysia''s messages, stunned.

 Chapter 224

    He''d always thought Elysia hated Finnian even more than he did, so he figured Elysia would be against Amara keeping Finnian''s child. To his surprise, Elysia actually supported her.

    But after thinking it over, he realized that women and men often saw things differently. Elysia''s friendship with Amara was purely tonic, while his feelings for Amara had turned into love. There was no way they could see eye to eye.

    So he replied to Elysia with a simple "Okay," leaving it at that.

    He put down his phone and kept reying Amara''s words in his mind, a swirl of bittersweet emotions churning inside him, leaving him feeling a bit lost.

    He sat there, frozen in his room, deep into the night without moving an inch.

    The next morning, the set was ready for shooting. Keith, the leading man in Whispers of Winter, was on point, nailing his scenes with hardly any retakes. It was a smooth day of work.

    But the moment the cameras stopped rolling, he became a different person- quiet, with a cold demeanor. He seemed irritated if anyone spoke to him, and soon enough, people stopped trying to engage with him.

    It was puzzling, especially considering how attentive he''d been to Amara at dinner yesterday. Everyone expected him to be glued to her side again today.

    Yet today, Keith and Amara behaved like strangers. Even though they worked in the same space, they didn''t exchange a single word during breaks, as if they didn''t know each other at all.

    Considering Keith''s odd behavior today, everyone spected that maybe they''d had a fight.

    By evening, their distant demeanor hadsted all day, and the whole crew was buzzing with rumors about what had happened between Amara and Keith.

    Amara was aware of the gossip but didn''t let it bother her. Though she worked diligently, her heart wasn''t really in it.

    After a three-year cold war with Keith, they had finally reconciled, and she cherished their friendship. Why had things soured again? Were they on the brink of another fallout?

    Feeling unsettled, Amara wrapped up her day around eight in the evening and decided to take a walk to clear her head.

    The ind was quiterge, and

    Cedric had rented a sizable area for them. To ensure safety, Cedric

    arranged for security around the

    perimeter the day they arrived, even venturing out alone at night didn''t feel dangerous.  swnovel

    Amara wandered near a small park. As she nced inside, the rocks there were

    towering and rugged, unlike anything she''d seen in the city, so intrigued, she ventured in to explore.

    At that hour, the ce was deserted. Walking alone among the tall rocks was a tad unnerving. Thankfully, there were lights overhead, brightly illuminating the area. Being a skeptic of aff things supernatural, she wasn''t too scared, just strolling around alone.  swnovel

    After about ten minutes, Amara realized that despite the initial intrigue, the park was nothing but rocks and barrennd. Not much to see, really, so after a moment of thought, she decided to head back.

    On her return, she chose a slightly different path, hoping to catch more of the scenery. But as she walked, something felt off-the ground was unusually soft, as if it was hollow underneath, leaving her with an unsettling sense that she might suddenly fall through.  swnovel

    Amara nced around, the areas beyond the light''s reach pitch ck and eerily silent, with not a single sound of footsteps, intensifying her fear. She hastened her pace, eager to get out of there.

 Chapter 225

    Amara had just taken a couple of steps forward when she heard a sudden

    crackling sound. Startled, she looked down to find a fissure opening right in front of her toes.

    In that moment, her heart leapt into her throat. Without a second thought, she turned to run back. But it was toote. The path she had just walked on was also splitting open, revealing a dark, seemingly bottomless chasm, as if a giant hand from the depths was reaching up to pull her in.

    Amara was so terrified she wanted to scream, but before she could make a sound, rocks began to tumble down. The ground gave way beneath her, and she plunged into the darkness.

    Later, whenever Amara recalled that terrifying moment, her heart would still race from the memory of the danger she was in.

    But right now, she couldn''t afford to dwell on it. All she knew was that as she walked, the ground suddenly split open, and she fell through.

    Then shended with a painful thud on her backside, feeling like it was going to split in two, but the pain reassured her that she hadnded safely and hadn''t met the grim end she''d feared. Trying to get ahold of herself, she opened her eyes to assess her surroundings.

    Everything around her was pitch ck. She couldn''t see a thing, except for a sliver of light from the crack above, about a foot wide and six to nine feet long.

    She reached out to touch the ground, finding only loose dirt and rubble. She knocked on the ground with her fist a couple of times, and theck of a hollow echo reassured her that it was solid and she wouldn''t be falling any deeper.

    Feeling a bit more secure, she stood up, looking around at the inky darkness with utter dread. She had no idea where she was. Was it a basement that had been dug out and then filled in? Or a naturally formed cave?

    The darkness was so oppressive that she was terrified to explore the

    expansion of this "basement",

    fearing that if she reached out, something might bite her hand.  swnovel

    She fumbled for her phone, relieved to find it hadn''t shattered. She immediately thought to call for help.

    But when she nced at the battery, her eyes widened in disbelief. She had only 1% left.

    In a sh, she remembered sulking all day after an argument with Keith. Her mood had been so low that she hadn''t bothered to do a thing, even charging her phone.

    So here she was, out on her own with a nearly dead phone. For a moment, Amara could have kicked herself for being so careless. How could she be so foolish?

    Suddenly her phone buzzed with an iing call from Finnian, making her eyes widen in surprise.

    Why was Finnian calling her now? There was no time to ponder this She didn''t know how long herst 1% wouldst. The phone might die as soon as she pressed the answer button, or even before.  swnovel

    Luckily, a shred of rationality kept her from wasting any more time. She hit the answer button and shouted into the phone, "I''m at Mystic Rock Garden! Help me!"

    "What?" Finnian''s voice was barely audible, probably due to the poor signal.

    Amara took a deep breath, trying to speak as loudly and clearly as she

    could. I''m at Mystic Rock Garden!

    There''s a big crack, and I''m at the bottom of it. Please, help..  swnovel

 Chapter 226

    The sentence cut off, and suddenly, there was just silence. Amara stared at the ck screen of her phone,pletely dumbfounded. Was it really out of battery this fast?

    A chilling thought crept into her mind, sending a shiver down her spine. If Finnian hadn''t called just now, and if she hadn''t thought to reach out for help immediately, would her phone have died in those few minutes of hesitation?

    Then she''d be stuck here, alone, in this underground pit beneath Mystic Rock Garden, and no one would find her. She''d just perish from hunger, and decadester, someone would stumble upon her remains.

    No, she had to stop thinking like that! Amara suddenly became aware of the icy chill in her limbs and the cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. Her own imagination had terrified her to the core.

    She sat down, trying to calm herself as she waited for Finnian toe to her rescue. But then she recalled an important detail-she''d been so frantic just now, and did Finnian catch her words?

    And even if he had heard her, would he actuallye to rescue her?

    After all, they were divorced. Finnian had no obligation to help her. What if he simply didn''t want to? Or what if Liliana, who was with him at the moment, hearing her words, stopped him froming to her aid? Or worse, what if Finnian dide, but couldn''t find her? What then?

    Her mind raced with dozens of scenarios, none of them good. The panic she had barely managed to suppress red up again.

    Biting her lip hard, Amara paced in circles, overwhelmed by the potential oues she was conjuring up, scaring herself half to death.

    With her phone dead, all she could see above was a small opening, and the surrounding silence was soplete she could hear a pin drop.

    She was terrified, gripped by the fear of not knowing when or if she''d get out of here. Every second felt like an eternity.

    She had no idea how long she''d been sitting there when she suddenly noticed her cheeks felt damp. Touching her face, she realized she was crying.

    No, no, she couldn''t cry; she needed to conserve her energy!

    Though Amara was easily

    frightened, she wasn''t entirely a pessimist. She forced herself to think of stories where people

    trapped for days in earthquakes and tsunamis had been rescued. She had to believe she would be saved soon too. She was too young to die here.

    swnovel

    She was beautiful, finally back to her original self after a long struggle. She hadn''t even had the chance to enjoy life fully yet, and she was pregnant. She couldn''t die here!

    Amara kept giving herself pep talks, but her legs continued to shake uncontrobly. It wasn''t just fear; the chill ofte autumn had seeped into the pit and the dropped temperature was much lower underground than above. She was freezing.  swnovel

    Sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, her head resting on them, she

    couldn''t help it anymore and began to cry softly.

    What time was it now? She wasn''t wearing a watch, her phone was dead, and

    she had no way of knowing the time.

    All those stories of miraculous

    rescues were just that-stories. They were newsworthy because they

    were rare, she spected. People who didn''t make it weren''t reported. Was her chance of rescue really that slim? Was she going to end here? C¨®ntent belongs to swnovel

    Once a pessimistic thought took root, it grew relentlessly in her mind. Gradually, Amara truly believed she might die here today, her quiet sobs turning louder.

    "Amara, Amara, are you there?"

 Chapter 227

    Suddenly, a voice called out from above. Amara froze instantly.

    She looked up, squinting at the light streaming through the hole above her. Peering down was a head she couldn''t discern in the darkness but recognized by its voice and hairstyle-it was Finnian.

    Could it really be him? Amara wobbled to her feet, feeling dazed. She opened her mouth and softly called Finnian''s name.

    She hadn''t expected to see someone she knew, fearing her mind might be ying tricks on her out of sheer desperation.

    "It''s me, Amara. Don''t be scared. I''ming down to get you."

    That familiar voice echoed down to her, and before she knew it, someone jumped through the dark opening. The mannded with a soft thud, sending a mild vibration through the ground.

    He was standing right in front of her now, his warm breath mixing with hers, blocking the light and making him all the more real.

    In disbelief, Amara reached out and touched his wrist, the normal body temperature. Her eyes widened. "You came?"

    "Yeah, I''m here. Don''t be afraid."

    Tears clung to Amara''sshes as she looked at him, seemingly hard to process the situation; her usually steady voice trembled with emotion, tugging people''s heart.

    Finnian watched her for a moment, and then suddenly pulled her into a hug, repeating, "Don''t be afraid."

    In that moment, Amara didn''t register how unusual this gesture was. She was simply too frightened.

    Just a minute ago, she had been gripped by the terrifying thought that she might die here, alone and unnoticed. But in the next moment, this man appeared like a guardian angel.

    She wasn''t even thinking about how

    he was thest person she''d expected to see; she just felt immense relief. She cried softly on Finnian''s shoulder for a moment, and then lifted her head to wipe her tears, murmuring repeatedly, "Thank you, thank you so much." swnovel

    Finnian patted her shoulder andforted her once more, "Don''t be afraid," as he switched on his phone''s shlight to illuminate their surroundings.

    It was only then that Amara realized they were in a small underground chamber, maybe four or five square meters, surrounded by loose dirt. No wonder dust kept tickling her nose.

    She sneezed a couple of times in a row, looked up, and estimated the height of the hole. It seemed around two or three meters high-just low enough to jump down without

    getting deadly hurt. ''swnovel

    As she regained herposure, a thought struck her, and she asked, "Mr. Everly,

    I''m really grateful, but why did you jump down here?"

    She appreciated Finnianing to her aid, but shouldn''t he have stayed up there

    to call for help while waiting for her? Why did hee down?

    Now, there were two of them needing rescue. It seemed a bit absurd.

    Finnian nced at her, sidestepping the question. "Don''t worry. I''m calling Will. He''ll help us out."

    With that, he turned on his phone screen and dialed Will''s number, exining the situation in a few words. Then he hung up, saying matter-of-factly, "Will''s on his way to get us."

    Amara was at a loss for words.

    There really hadn''t been a need for all this. Even if Will was the one to eventually help her, Finnian could''ve stayed up there. Why did he jump down too?

    The more she thought about it, the strangert seemed. But regardless, Finnian was the one who''d saved her. She wasn''t going to criticize him. She forced a smile and said, "Thank you, really, I''m very grateful."  swnovel

 Chapter 228

    "Why do you keep saying ''thank you'', aren''t you tired?" Finnian nced at her again.

    He led Amara to a nearby rock, gesturing for her to sit. As he looked at her slender back, he shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

    Amara''s eyes widened as the warmth of the jacket enveloped her. Suddenly, the chill she felt seemed to vanish. Despite thefort, she felt a twinge of anxiety and quickly tried to give it back. "Mr. Everly, there''s no need, I''m not cold."

    "Wear it," Finnian interrupted, wrapping the jacket back around her shoulders. He nced at her bare arms. "You''re having goosebumps even. Don''t tell me you''re not cold."

    His voice was gentle but carried a tone of authority that brooked no argument. Amara hesitated. She hadn''t expected him to not onlye to her rescue but also offer his jacket. Finnian seemed exceptionally nice to her.

    Given the situation, though, this was good as she knew she needed it more than he did. She was at risk of catching a cold without it, while Finnian, in his long- sleeved shirt, seemed to fare better in the chilly air. Hence, she didn''t refuse.

    In the dimly lit cavern, the divorced couple sat side by side on a rock barely big enough for the two of them, their bodies almost touching. After a while, Amara found herself feeling a bit ufortable.

    She stared at the dark ground beneath them, asking, "Mr. Everly, what were you trying to tell me when you called?"

    "Nothing much," Finnian replied nonchntly. "You disappeared, and I just wanted to know where you''d gone."

    Amara found his response puzzling. Why was he concerned about her absence? If they had been friends, she might understand the check-in, but apparently, they weren''t.

    "Are you cold?" Finnian asked again.

    "No, I''m fine," Amara quickly replied.

    Finnian ignored her response,

    casting another nce at her. His jacket was draped over her, not worn properly, leaving her arms exposed. He could clearly catch the goosebumps on her skin. He reached out, his hand closing over her forearm, the skin icy to the touch. "You call this fine?"

    belongs to swnovel

    Silent, Amara felt a flush of embarrassment. Why was he suddenly being so tactile? He didn''t treat other women like this. Was it because they used to be married, hence the frequent skin contact?  swnovel

    But they had been merely a couple in name; even if they''d had real conjugal rtions, they were divorced now.

    She pulled her arm back, awkwardly insisting, "Mr. Everly, there''s no need to worry, really. I''m not cold."

    "Don''t call me that," Finnian said softly, opening his arms and pulling her into his embrace. "I''ll keep you warm."

    Amara''s heart skipped a beat. Held

    ?

    tightly in his warm, strong arms, she froze, unsure of how to react. Why the sudden hug? Was Finnian really doing this just to keep her warm? He wasn''t usually this caring.  swnovel

    "Still cold?" he asked, as if genuinely concerned.

    Amara shook her head, her fingers lightly pressing against his shoulder. "Mr.

    Everly, I''m not cold. There''s no need for this."

    Ignoring her words, Finnian murmured, "Don''t be so formal with me."

    Amara was baffled. She''d always addressed him politely, even during their marriage, and he''d never seemed to mind. Why the change now? Was he bing more particr after the divorce?

    Though his embrace was undeniably warm, this wasn''t a solution. Amara tried again, "Mr. Everly, really, you don''t have to do this, your jacket is enough."

 Chapter 229

    Finnian loosened his grip on her a little. "If it were Keith''s jacket, would you refuse?"

    What kind of weird question was that? Amara was utterly bewildered by Finnian''s unpredictable behavior today. She didn''t even know how to respond.

    Seeing her silence, Finnian gave her arm a gentle squeeze. "Answer me."

    Amara thought for a moment and answered truthfully, "I wouldn''t decline because Keith is my friend."

    Saying this, a pang of sadness washed over her. Were she and Keith still friends?

    The dim light in the cave obscured her expression from Finnian. He pulled her closer again and said, "Then just think of me as Keith."

    "What? That''s impossible."

    How could she possibly do that? Finnian and Keith were worlds apart-no way she could confuse the two.

    Biting her lip, Amara uttered, "Mr. Everly, you really don''t have to..."

    "Mr. Everly! Ms. Sullivan! Are you down there?"

    Suddenly, a shout came from above, followed by a beam of light casting down from above their head.

    Startled, Amara reflexively pushed Finnian away and stepped back. Shielding her eyes with her hand, she looked up to see Will peering down, holding a shlight, its beam bouncing around.

    Not just Will-there were other faces, and was that Keith among them?

    "Mr. Everly, Ms. Sullivan! I''m sending down adder for you to climb up!"

    The shlight''s beam confirmed to Will that the people below were indeed Mr. Everly and Ms. Sullivan. He shouted again, directing the staff to lower adder.

    As the ropedder unfurled downwards, Finnian gestured for Amara to climb first. He supported her by the waist, helping her get started slowly.

    This ropedder wasn''t like a regr one; it was hard to get a grip on. Amara was a bit hesitant at first, but then she felt strong hands steady her from behind, supporting her waist.  swnovel

    The contact was a bit awkward, given the sensitive area, but at least she could climb steadily now.

    Thankfully, the night was dark, and with her mask on, no one could see her flushed cheeks. She gritted her teeth and climbed up determinedly.

    At the top, a pair of arms reached out, grabbed her under the arms, and hoisted her up onto solid ground. Before she could see who had helped her, she found herself engulfed in a hug.

    "Ama, are you okay? How did you end up down there?"

    Keith''s anxious voice sounded in her ear. Hearing him, Amara suddenly felt like crying.

    "It''s all because of you! You asked me yesterday to... If I hadn''t been upset

    with you, I wouldn''t have gone

    outte, and if I hadn''t gone out, I wouldn''t have fallen into that hole."  swnovel

    Amara was usually quite reasonable, but with friends, she allowed herself to be a bit more dramatic. After the scare she''d just had, her emotions were all over the ce. And she''d been worrying about her friendship with Keith all day, wondering if he''d end things between them.  swnovel

    After Amara spent the day in such a swirl of emotions, suddenly knowing Keith still cared so much about her brought everything to the surface, and she couldn''t help but speak her mind.

    And as she did, she started to weep.

 Chapter 230

    Keith saw her tears and was genuinely startled.

    "Alright, alright, it''s my fault. Please don''t cry. I promise I won''t upset you next time, okay?"

    His voice was a bit shaky, betraying his nerves. Amara nodded, wiping away her tears. That was when she noticed Louis, Cedric, and the rest of the crew standing nearby, watching her and Keith. Instantly, she felt self-conscious.

    She gently pushed Keith away and addressed them, "Mr. Zade, Louis, I''m really sorry for causing trouble today."

    Cedric and Louis immediately jumped in to reassure her, saying as long as she was okay, it wasn''t a bother at all.

    While they exchanged pleasantries, Finnian stood nearby, observing. He had climbed up thedder just a bit earlier and had caught the moment Keith was holding Amara tightly. His pupils contracted, his face remaining expressionless as he watched them, oblivious to Will''s attempts to talk to him.

    Seeing this, Will gave up trying to engage Finnian and moved over to Amara''s side, asking, "Mrs. Sullivan, I mean Ms. Sullivan, are you alright now?"

    Amara snapped back to reality, realizing Finnian and Will were there, and quickly replied, "I''m fine now, thank you so much."

    She slowly walked over to Finnian and said, "I really owe you one, Mr. Everly. I don''t know what I would have done without you today. I must make it up to you sometime."

    "Yeah, as long as you''re okay."

    Once they were up, Finnian noticed Amara''s hair was a mess, with bits of dirt in it. She looked quite disheveled, though he imagined he probably didn''t look much better himself.

    "You should go clean up and get some rest," he suggested.

    "Okay, I''ll head back then," she replied as she nodded, and then left with Keith.

    Keith escorted her back to her room. Amara urged him to get some rest himself, as she nned to take a shower and sleep.

    Keith nodded, but just as Amara was about to leave, he suddenly pulled her into a tight hug.

    A bit surprised, Amara asked, "What''s with you? I''m fine, aren''t I? Why are you still so worried?"

    Keith released her and looked at her intently, without saying a word at first. Then he spoke, "If you want to keep the baby, go ahead. It''s not a big deal."

    Amara was taken aback.

    "You''re not against it anymore?"

    Keith chuckled. "The baby''s inside you. It''s not like my opposition matters. If you want to keep it, keep it. Just think it through."

    A warmth spread through Amara''s heart. "Alright, I will. You should get some rest now."

    Amara was surprised at how quickly Keith hade around. Then again, having a child out of wedlock wasn''t such a big deal these days. Besides, she had a sessful career and enough money; she could manage just fine on her own. Keith''s having protested at it fiercely earlier probably just because he needed some time to wrap his head around it.  swnovel

    After leaving Amara''s room, Keith returned to his own and copsed onto the couch, letting out a heavy sigh. He hadn''t spoken much to Amar@all day, but he had been quietly observing her. When be realized she was missing after the shoot, he was curious about where she''d gone.  swnovel

    Then Will came running to Cedric, saying that Amara and Finnian had fallen into a sinkhole. That news had ified Keith, nearly scaring the life out of him.  Swnovel

    While others might not understand the significance of such a fall, Keith knew all

    too well.

 Chapter 231

    Keith had been here before for a shoot, so he knew the terrain was tricky. A few years back, developers had dug up thend, leaving behind dangerous pits. Falling into one could mean getting buried alive under copsing dirt and rocks.

    So, when he heard that Amara had fallen into one of those unpredictable pits, worry gnawed at him.

    He, along with Will and the others, raced over there. As they ran, Keith''s mind was racing too. He made a silent vow: if Amara came out of this unscathed, he''d ept whatever life threw at him.

    Even if she had a kid with Finnian, so what? Kids eventually went off to school, then college, leaving the nest. It wouldn''t change much in the grand scheme.

    And Amara saying she wasn''t ready for marriage? That was just past heartbreak talking. Keith thought if he put in the effort to win Amara over, showering her with tenderness, surely she''de around.

    Even if she didn''t, he''d keep trying. Persistence would pay off eventually. Once he figured all this out, Keith felt a weight lift off his shoulders.

    At this point, whether or not Amara had a child didn''t matter. The priority was being there for her, helping her heal from her previous heartbreak, supporting her through the pregnancy, and maybe finding the right moment to confess his feelings.

    Unaware of Keith''s internal resolution, Amara returned to her room. She immediately peeled off her dirt-covered clothes and headed for the shower.

    After a thorough scrub with shower gel, she finally felt clean. She rinsed off, got dressed, and stepped out of the bathroom.

    It was eleven at night. Ordinarily, with an early shoot the next day, she''d be climbing into bed soon. But today had been extraordinary. Amara decided to jot it all down; it might serve as inspiration someday.

    She opened herptop and started typing. After about thirty minutes, she had captured the day''s events. She closed theptop and prepared for bed.

    Then came a knock at the door, echoing loudly in the quiet night. Amara paused, ncing at the time from herptop. It was 11:40. Who could be visiting at this hour?

    She pushed her chair back and went to the door, asking, "Who''s there?"

    "It''s me."

    The maic deep voice came through the door, a familiar one. Amara bit her lip. What was he doing here?

    She nced down to ensure her

    thick bathrobe was securely tiedet

    Finding nothing amiss, she opened the door. "Mr. Everly, is something wrong?"  swnovel

    Why was Finnian here sote? Was he checking on her after the rescue? She hadn''t expected such kindness from him.

    "I wanted to see how you were doing," he replied, surprisingly aligned to what she''d assumed. "May Ie in?"

    "Oh, sure, Mr. Everly,e in."

    Amara silently chided herself. How could she be so slow on the uptake? Her rescuer was here, and she had left him standing outside instead of ushering him in.  swnovel

    Then again, it waste, and she was a woman living alone. Inviting a man into her apartment at this hour wasn''t exactly ideal.

    "Mr. Everly, have a seat. Would you like some water? I''ll get you a ss."

    Amara turned to find a ss, eventually locating a new paper cup. She filled it

    with water from the kettle.

    As Finnian watched Amara bustling

    around for him, his gaze deepened

    at the fealization that she was

    treating him better now than when he''d been hospitalized.  swnovel

 Chapter 233

    Amara looked up, her eyes wide with disbelief.

    Finnian held her hand, pressing it against his chest as he spoke slowly and deliberately, "You find it hard to believe, don''t you? Trust me, it''s even harder for me to wrap my head around.

    But it is what it is. There''s no mistake about that. So, Amara, let''s get back together."

    Amara pulled her hand away, tears welling up in her eyes, her heart aching with a bittersweet pain.

    Seeing her cry made Finnian panic a little. He instinctively reached out to wipe her tears, but Amara stepped back, saying, "Don''t touch me."

    She took two more steps back, quickly wiping away her tears with her hand. She had already divorced Finnian, and given up on himpletely. Now he suddenly imed he fell for her? Why was life ying such cruel tricks on her?

    Amara shook her head. "I won''t get back together with you. I can''t ept your feelings. Please leave."

    She didn''t believe Finnian truly had feelings for her. He must have misunderstood his emotions, gotten caught up in the moment to say such things. And even if Finnian did fall in love with her, what did it matter?

    First of all, their three-year marriage had left her deeply hurt. She was already disillusioned with him and didn''t want to be with him anymore. Secondly, he had Liliana. Why should she get back together with him?

    "Amara, give me a chance."

    But Finnian seemed unwilling to let go. He took a step forward, trying to reach for her hand, wanting to say something more.

    Amara jerked her hand back, insisting again, "Leave!"

    This time, her tone was much more firm. Finnian looked at her red-rimmed eyes, her sadness evident, and felt at a loss.

    His sudden confession tonight must have been a huge shock to her. It was only natural she didn''t believe him. He should give her some time to process everything.

    Thinking this, Finnian realized he shouldn''t push her. In a low voice, he said, "Alright, I''ll leave. You should get some rest."

    With that, he gave Amara onest look and left her room.

    The room fell silent, and Amara bit her lip vehemently, unable to hold back any longer. She covered her face and began to cry.

    She was devastated, utterly devastated. Why did Finnian have to confess to her now, just when she had finally moved on from him?

    But, in the end, it didn''t matter. She no longer held any romantic illusions about marriage. Moreover, she didn''t trust Finnian''s so-called feelings. He was probably just confused, and the only person he truly cared was Liliana.  s?novel

    Having worked through these thoughts, Amara felt a bit moreposed. She

    dried her tears, washed her face, and went to bed.

    The next morning, Amara woke up, the events of the previous night still swirling in her mind, leaving her incredulous.

    Finnian had confessed to her? No, no, no! He must have

    misunderstood his feelings. How could he possibly have feelings for her? This thought had been lingering in Amara''s mind countless times since the previous night.

    Now, she repeated it once more to reinforce the idea, and then got out of bed to wash up. She had a quick her room before heading downstairs to the shooting set.  s?novel

    As she reached the ground floor, she saw Finnian walking towards her. He was dressed in a dark gray suit with a ck shirt underneath, no tie, looking sharp and handsome.

    Seeing him made Amara''s heart tightened. Instinctively, she wanted to quicken

    her pace and leave, but Finnian''s gaze locked onto her, and he strode over with purpose.

 Chapter 234

    Amara was caught off guard and quickly nced around, looking for an escape route. Just then, she spotted Cedric emerging from another hallway, chatting with Louis. She hurried over to them.

    "Good morning, Mr. Zade, Louis," she greeted with a smile.

    "Well, Amara, you''re up early! After everything that happened yesterday, you should be taking it easy this morning. Why are you out and about?" Cedric chuckled as he greeted her.

    Amara waved her hand dismissively. "No need, really. I''m perfectly fine and ready to work as usual."

    "True, true. Thanks to Mr. Everly, of course. Oh, speak of the devil, there''s Mr. Everly now!" Cedric turned to see Finnian approaching. His smile widened as he waved him over. "Good morning, Mr. Everly. Heading to the set? Why not join us?"

    "Sure," Finnian replied as he nodded, giving Amara a sidelong nce as he casually walked over to join them.

    Amara''s smile froze on her lips. She''d hoped to avoid Finnian, but it seemed fate had other ns. Not that she could me Cedric-Finnian was the big-time investor in their production. It would be odd not to invite him along since he had already spotted Finnian.

    She silently cursed Finnian. In the past, he wouldn''t have deigned to walk with them. But today, he epted the invitation. Was he still the old Finnian?

    Once they reached the set, Amara was quick to say, "Mr. Zade, Louis, I''ll go prepare. Let''s catch upter."

    Cedric and the others nodded, mentioning they had work to do as well. Amara parted ways with them.

    She set up her folding chair next to the camera, spreading her notebook open across her knees, and began to focus on the filming and taking notes. About thirty minutes passed when a shadow fell over her. A familiar voice spoke, "You''re taking notes?"

    Amara looked up into Finnian''s lowered eyes and replied, "Yes, Mr. Everly. Is there something you need?"

    "Not really, just wanted to check on you."

    Finnian nced around and spotted an empty chair. He picked it up and walked over to her.

    Amara was startled. Was Finnian really going to sit beside her on the chair? It seemed so out of character for a man like him. More importantly, if they sat together like that, fumors would undoubtedly fly around the set.  s?novel

    Quickly, she stood up and faced Finnian as he approached, uttering, "Mr. Everly, let''s talk."

    Finnian''s lips curled into a slight smile, which vanished just as quickly. "Alright."

    Amara closed her notebook and headed towards a small grove nearby. Finnian followed her.

    They stopped at a spot far enough from the set to have some privacy, yet close enough to remain in sight. Amara asked, "Mr. Everly, what are you doing? Were you serious about what you saidst night?"

    "Do you think I was joking?"

    Finnian met her gaze. Amara''s eyes were clear and captivating, truly mesmerizing. Every time he looked at her, he was drawn not to the

    mask she wore but to those eyes.

    Amara thought for a moment before speaking. "Mr. Everly, I think you''re mistaken

    about your feelings. You don''t actually fancy me; it''s just a sense of

    possessiveness."

 Chapter 235

    Finnian''s expression turned a bit cold, just about to speak when Amara quickly interjected, "Mr. Everly, please hear me out first. We were legally married before, but I got entangled with another man.

    Even though things were cleared upter, you were upset for quite a while before that, right? You must have confused your emotions during that time."

    "Amara!" Finnian interrupted her, grasping her wrist. His handsome face was covered with a thinyer of ice. "Do you not believe in my feelings for you?"

    Amara looked up at him, his eyes filled with anger, and if she looked closely, maybe a hint of sadness?

    She quickly lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze. Finnian lifted her chin gently. "Amara, I''m twenty-seven years old now. I''m not a child who can''t differentiate the feelings.

    Sure, I was confused for a while before, but that was because of some childhood experiences and other reasons that led to misunderstandings about my feelings. But now, I''ve sorted it all out. I do have feelings for you."

    His words were so convincing, so moving. If it were the old Amara, she''d be over the moon, but now she couldn''t stop feeling heart-struck.

    She fought back the tears welling up in her eyes and asked, eyes lifted, "What about Liliana? What will you do about her? Can you really leave her behind?"

    Finnian''s pupils suddenly widened. Amara had been watching him closely, and she caught the flicker of emotion in his eyes, her own eyes filling with a touch of disappointment.

    "Mr. Everly, whether you''re sincere or not, you have Ms. Porter. You should be good to her."

    Amara took hold of Finnian''s wrist, firmly and slowly removing his hand from her arm, and walked out of the small grove without looking back.

    Finnian stood there, his hand slowly clenching into a fist. He watched Amara''s retreating figure, his eyes brewing a storm of emotions.

    Back on her chair, with the y unfolding vividly before her, Amara wasn''t in the mood to watch any of it. It was so ironic-this man imed he was into her, yet when she mentioned Liliana, he fell silent.

    She had no idea if Finnian''s feelings were genuine or not, but even if they were

    true, it had only developed in the past month.

    Before that, he had been entangled with Liliana, even had bonked he and ended up her being pregnant. He probably promised Liliana that he''d propose as soon as his divorce was finalized, she supposed.

    So, his heart was clearly with Liliana before, and now he came saying he fell for her-what a jerk!

    Amara cursed Finnian under her breath, discreetly wiped away the tears from her eyes, and pushed all distracting thoughts aside to focus back on the filming.

    The scene wrapped up in an hour. Keith, stiff in costume, the golden robe trailing behind him, approached her and asked, "What were you and Finnian up to just now?"

    "Nothing much," Amara replied, looking down as if tidying her things. "Just talked about Kevin''s situation."

    "You''re still in touch with that old man?" Keith asked, frowning. "You''re divorced, why still keep in touch? Are you bored or something?"

    "Get lost," Amara shot him a look. "Have you forgotten how good Kevin was to me?"

 Chapter 236

    "If it hadn''t been for him stepping in back then, Fiona and Elowen would have chewed me up alive."

    "Well, maybe, but treating him like your real grandpa? You''re way too good to that old man."

    "Oh,e on, what''s the point of bringing that up now? Just go change your clothes, look at how filthy you are."

    Amara gave Keith a yful shove. He chuckled helplessly and headed off to change.

    Finnian returned to his room, shrugging off his jacket and tossing it onto the couch. Though he wasn''t one for daytime drinking, he had called room service for a bottle of red wine. Pouring himself a ss, he wandered over to the window, taking a slow sip.

    He stared out, his eyes unfathomable. Before he could finish his ss, there was a knock at the door. "Finn, are you in there?"

    It was Liliana. He crossed the room to open the door. "What''s up?"

    Liliana stepped inside, biting her lip as she inquired, "Finn, did you just go out with Ms. Sullivan? What did you two talk about?"

    "Nothing," Finnian replied nonchntly. "Is something the matter?"

    Liliana''s fingers tightened, words momentarily escaping her. It had been a whirlwind of eventstely. First, Finnian''s car ident, where he hadn''t asked for her to look after him, instead choosing Amara.

    Then, there was the incident with Amara falling into that sinkhole, and Finnian rushing to her rescue without hesitation. People were still buzzing about that one. Even earlier, during filming, they''d been paying attention to the scene and yet suddenly gotten up and headed into the grove for a private chat.

    Liliana was worried sick but didn''t know how to voice it. But then she thought it over. Finnian and Amara were divorced, and honestly, with Amara''s face, she couldn''t imagine any sane man being interested. No need to stress over nothing.

    She raised her head, smiling. "Oh, nothing really. Just checking in on you. Finn, I''m truly touched that you put aside your work toe help with the filming."

    She walked over and looped her arm through his, resting her head gently on his shoulder. "Thank you, Finn."

    Finnian''s expression remained neutral. "It''s nothing. Don''t worry about it. You''ve got more scenes to shoot, you should head back."

    "Alright," Liliana replied, understanding, and let go of him. "I''ll get going then." She was almost at the door when Finnian called out, "Wait a minute."

    Liliana stopped, turning back with a hopeful look. "Yes, Finn?"

    Finnian set his wine ss down on the walnut side table, moving over to her. He gazed down at her for a moment before asking suddenly, "Do you really want this child?"

    Liliana''s heart lurched. She couldn''t fathom why Finnian would ask such a question, but she was sharp enough to know she couldn''t afford any misstep in this conversation.

    Thinking quickly, she replied, "Of course I do, Finn! Why would you ask that?"

    She looked up at him, her eyes a perfect mix of concern and slight sadness, calibrated just right.

    Finnian gave her a long look, rubbing his forehead as he responded, "It''s nothing. Go ahead with your thing."

    Liliana''s eyes flickered with thought. While she couldn''t discern why he''d asked, pressing him now wouldn''t be wise. It was better to leave for now. She nodded, slipping out the door.

    Once outside, she paused, leaning against the wall, her hand over her chest,

    trying to calm her racing thoughts.

 Chapter 237

    Why did Finnian ask her that question? Was he having second thoughts about the baby? Well, after all, she had been the one to push for it from the start.

    No, she couldn''t let her mind wander like that! Her eyes steeled with determination.

    The past was the past. The important thing was that Finnian had agreed to keep the baby, and he had been taking good care of hertely. All she needed to do now was focus on filming and preparing for the baby''s arrival, without letting her mind spiral into unnecessary worries.

    After all, she had the leverage of having this child, and as long as she made sure nothing went wrong, there was not necessary to harbor trepidation. With this rity, Liliana clenched her fists and left.

    In the days that followed, Finnian didn''t approach her again. Amara figured he must have been out of his mind to say those things before, and now he probably wanted to p himself for it.

    That afternoon, after wrapping up all the scenes on the ind, the crew piled onto the shuttle bus and headed back to Wye.

    Once they reached the set and settled in, Amara was just finishing unpacking when Elysia came bustling in.

    "Ama, what on earth happened the other day? You were in some kind of trouble?" Elysia asked as soon as she walked in.

    Amara was just putting thest box away when she saw Elysia, all flustered and clearly having just heard the news. She quickly sat her down on the couch and handed her a cup of warm water.

    "Here, have some water and calm down. I''m fine, really. By the way, how did you find out? Was it Keith who told you?"

    "Yeah, he just told me you fell into a sinkhole while out for a walk. How could you not tell me about something like that sooner? Keith is unbelievable, waiting until you all got back to mention it. What, he didn''t have hands or a mouth before?"

    Elysia had a fiery temper to begin with, and now she was all riled up, words spilling out nonstop. Amara gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. "I didn''t want to worry you, that''s all. I wasn''t hurt or anything, so what''s there to stress about?"

    Elysia shot her a look. "You not telling me makes me worry even more. Never mind, as long as you''re okay."

    Amara chuckled and sat down beside her. "Enough about that. So, you and Dorian are getting married next week, right?"

    Elysia had messaged her about it a few days ago, but Amara had been too busy

    to reply properly, so now was the perfect time to catch up.

    Elysia pouted. "Yeah, next Friday. You''ll be my maid of honor, right? I think Finnian''s supposed to be the best man, but thank goodness you two are divorced. Otherwise, it would''ve been awkward."

    To Elysia, Amara and Finnian''s divorce meant they had no ties left.

    Amara was gradually moving on, and Finnian had never really considered her feelings in the first ce, so when they met, it wasn''t like the typical awkwardnesse between ex-spouses. They could both just pretend the other was invisible.

    Amara hesitated and then decided not to mention Finnian''s recent confession. He probably regretted it by now.

    "Why the rush, though? Didn''t you just decide on the wedding?" she asked.

    "Yeah, well, Dorian''s grandpa''s going to kick the bucket. They want to have the

    ceremony while he''s still around to see his grandson get married."

    Elysia spoke with a casual air. She''d been fond of Dorian for years, but she''d never had much regard for the Hawke family or Dorian''s circle of friends. Her attitude toward them was always nonchnt.

 Chapter 238

    Amara was well aware of the situation and chose not to pry further. Instead, she simply said, "Ely, once you''re married, make sure to take good care of yourself. And if Dorian acts like a jerk, don''t just put up with it. Let him have it if you need to."

    Elysia, despite her fiery temper, found it hard to get mad at Dorian unless it was about something important to her.

    Over the years, Elysia had quarreled with Dorian many times on her behalf.

    "I know, I''m less inclined to spoil him now. You don''t need to worry," Elysia replied,

    her lips curling a bit as if she found Dorian somewhat beneath her.

    Her expression shifted slightly, her eyes clouding with a touch of mncholy as another thought crossed her mind.

    Just then, there came a knock at the door. Amara got up, moving to open it while calling out, "Who is it?"

    "It''s me, Amara."

    Lucian''s voice came from the other side. Opening the door, Amara greeted him, "Lucian,e on in. Oh... What happened?"

    She paused, noticing the redness around Lucian''s eyes, as if he''d been crying. This was surprising; Lucian was usually the strong one, even stronger than her. Why was he crying now?

    Lucian stepped inside, casting a quick nce at Elysia sitting on the couch but saying nothing.

    Amara quickly introduced them. "This is my best friend, Elysia. I''ve told you about her before. She''s here visiting me. Lucian, maybe we should step outside to talk."

    Concerned about his difort, Amara was about to step out with him.

    Lucian shook his head. "It''s fine. I''ve heard so much about Elysia, I know she''s not just anyone."

    "Well then, have a seat," Amara offered, pulling out a chair for him and sitting down herself, still unsure of what had brought him to tears.

    Elysia gave Amara a knowing look, silently confirming if this was the guy who had stood up for her alongside Keith.

    Amara nodded subtly, mouthing, "That''s him."

    As Elysia realized who he was, her demeanor softened. She began, "What''s

    troubling you, big guy? What''s brought you to tears? Maybe I can help."

    Lucian nced at her before speaking. "My girlfriend broke up with me."

    "What?"

    Amara was taken aback. She''d heard about Lucian''s girlfriend before. Both hade from modest backgrounds and had been working hard locally. Lucian hadter moved to pursue an acting career but always intended to return, marry her, and settle down after making some money.

    He''d even mentioned that after wrapping up the filming for Whispers of Winter, he nned to leave the entertainment industry with enough savings to start a life with her.

    Everything seemed so well-nned. How did it fall apart so suddenly?

    Lucian fell silent for a moment before continuing, "She didn''t want to wait for me anymore. She''s marrying someone else, someone her family arranged for her." "What?"

    Amara was stunned. She considered the situation, and then suggested, "She must have feelings for you.¨¨ Maybe you should talk to her, see if you can reason with her family You''re doing well for yourselfnow, and you have a lot to offer. If you approach them sincerely, they might reconsider."

    Lucian shook his head. "They''re already married. It happened yesterday."

    Amara was at a loss for words. How could everything happen so quickly? Did weddings really happen this fast now?

    Elysia, ever the blunt one, chimed in, "Did she tell you about the marriage before it happened or after? If it was after, you were being cuckolded. Why bother holding on to someone like that?"

 Chapter 239

    Lucian murmured, "She told me before we were supposed to get married. Her family had set her up with someone else. She resisted at first, but eventually, her father threatened to end his life if she didn''tply, so she agreed.

    Then she called me to break up. I was on set filming at the time, but I immediately asked for leave from the director and flew back to see her. I tried convincing her family for three days straight, but they just wouldn''t approve of me. I had no choice but toe back."

    "Why wouldn''t they agree?" Elysia asked, puzzled. "You seem like a pretty decent guy."

    "They thought being an actor in a sleazy ce like Wye meant I''d picked up bad habits. They refused to ept me. She''s a good person and very filial. Even though she knew her parents'' views were outdated, she still obeyed them in the end."

    "Ah, I see," Elysia said awkwardly.

    "At least she was honest with you and didn''t hide anything. She''s a decent girl, just too dutiful to her parents. But what''s done is done. She''s married now, and you should try to move on."

    Lucian nodded. "I''ll do my best to forget her."

    In the dimly lit lounge of a club, Finnian and Dorian sat on the central couch. Surrounding them were a few affluent young men from Wye, including Hogan and Dorian''s cousin, Arnold.

    Everyone was drinking and chatting animatedly, except for Finnian, who had been quiet and contemtive since they arrived. He barely touched his drink, seemingly lost in thought.

    A knock sounded at the door, and Dorian called out, "Come in."

    The club owner entered with a group of morously dressed women, nudging them forward, saying, "Go keep these gentlemen entertained. They''re all high rollers, so make sure you impress them."

    The owner then smiled at the men, reminding them to enjoy the drinks and call him if they needed anything before closing the door behind him.

    These women

    were seasoned at

    working the room, immediately taking seats next to the men and skillfully pouring drinks as sweet words flowed effortlessly from their lips, quickly warming up the atmosphere.

    The woman next to Finnian was dressed in a silver bodycon dress, with heavy makeup and noticeable cosmetic enhancements. She was attractive overall, but Finnian found the strong scent of her perfume overwhelming and wasn''t fond of such heavy makeup.

    Introducing herself as Luna, she poured a drink and handed it to Finnian with both hands, addressing him as Mr. Everly, mentioning how she''d seen him in financial news and that he looked even more handsome in person.

    Finnian nodded slightly, gesturing to the table with his chin to indicate he wasn''t drinking. Luna, catching the hint, ced the ss down discreetly.

    Finnian''s demeanor remained calm, and Luna kept her distance, though she continued to engage him in conversation.

    For every few sentences Luna spoke, Finnian would only respond with a word or two, unlike the other men, who were animatedly chatting with the women beside them, creating a lively exchange.

    Finnian''s aloofness made them stand out, and Luna''s smile began to falter as she realized she wasn''t getting through to him.

    As the night wore on and drinks flowed, half the men in the lounge were drunk, while the rest were at least tipsy.

 Chapter 240

    Finnian, on the other hand, nursing what was barely half a ss of whiskey, was the only one who seemed to be mostly sober.

    Luna had downed two sses already. Finnian had been lukewarm about her, even when she was trying to break the silence between them; she''d be pitifully embarrassed if not using the alcohol to ease up. Despite the drinks, she held herposure well.

    Finnian nced at her, contemting that thetter must have done some surgery to her eyes, which seemed to have that sultry allure. If it weren''t for those eyes, the heavy makeup would have seemed entirely out of ce.

    Suddenly, Amara crossed his mind. Amara''s eyes had that same allure, but with a rity that made any thoughts of disrespect seem impossible. What was he thinking,paring Amara to someone from this kind of ce?

    He straightened up and finally spoke, "Your name''s Luna?"

    It was the first time since he entered this lounge that Mr. Everly had addressed her, and Luna was almost moved to tears with relief. "Yes, I''m Luna," she responded quickly. "I noticed you''re not drinking much. Want a cigarette instead?¡±

    "No," Finnian replied coolly, getting to his feet. "Come with me."

    Luna gazed up, eyes imbued with surprise. The whole point of escorting these men was not just to drink. But given Mr. Everly''s aloof demeanor, she hadn''t expected to be the first one he''d ask to leave with him. She hastily stood up, thrilled by the unexpected turn of events.

    "Sure thing, Mr. Everly. Let''s go," she eximed as she quickly followed him out, leaving the other men in the room, who weren''t totally stered, gaping in disbelief.

    Finnian had never shown interest in these kinds of situations before. Even when Luna joined them, he had been as indifferent as ever, to the point where some of the guys had felt sorry for her.

    But now, he was doing somethingpletely out of character, leading the girl out. What was going on?

    "Hey, where are you going?" Hogan jumped up, charging over and blocking Finnian''s path at the door.

    "Move," Finnian said, his face steely.

    "No way!" Hogan stated angrily. "Are you really going to take her out?"

    He shot Luna a re and turned to Finnian. "Man, you''re not like this. What''s

    gotten into you? Are you really gonna let Liliana down?"

    There were a few chuckles from behind. Someone tried to calm things down. "Hogan, lighten up. It''s just a bit of fun. Not like he''s betraying anyone."

    "Yeah, let him have a break. He''s never done this before, and now finally got the chance. Let him enjoy it."

    "Break my ass Hogan snapped

    back at them. He turned to Finnian again, still holding the door

    stubbornly as he dered, "Finnian, you''re not going to get through the door if you wanted to take her with you!"

    The words hung in the air, awkward and harsh. Luna looked

    ufortable, Finnian''s expression sour. He was taller and much stronger than Hogan. Without a word, he gripped Hogan''s shoulder and moved him aside.

    He opened the door and walked out with Luna. Hogan''s eyes widened with

    disbelief. "Finnian! Stop right there!"

    "Come on, man, what''s your deal?"

 Chapter 241

    As Hogan seemed ready to bolt after them, Dorian stepped in, grabbing his arm.

    "Let it go, Hogan. It''s not the ce for a younger brother to meddle in his older brother''s business."

    "Dorian, how can you say that?" Hogan fumed, "My sister-inw is pregnant with his baby. Isn''t this like cheating on her during pregnancy? How can he do such a thing?"

    "Cheating during pregnancy?" Dorian smirked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Are you saying he and Liliana are officially a couple?"

    "Of course they are!" Hogan eximed, "They''re expecting a child together. How could they not be?"

    Dorian''s expression turned steely andmanding in its coolness. "Tell me, has Finnian ever openly acknowledged Liliana as his partner?"

    That single question left Hogan speechless, his face clouding over, unable to muster a response.

    Dorian gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, his tone softening slightly. "Come on, let it go. Just enjoy your drink. Finnian''s a grown man; he knows what he''s doing."

    With that, Dorian guided Hogan back. But as Hogan settled down, something clicked in his mind. He suddenly leaped up, startling the girl who had been trying to cozy up to him.

    "No way! I need to find Liliana!" he dered, gritting his teeth as he stormed out without a backward nce.

    Dorian watched him go, furrowing his brow before shaking his head and returning to his drink.

    Hogan had driven himself there, but since he''d been drinking, he couldn''t drive back. He called for a driver from the Everly family to take him to Liliana''s apartment.

    A few minutester, Hogan and Liliana were seated in the back seat of the car. Hogan looked worried, and Liliana''s expression was even more troubled.

    "Take us to the hotel next to YogLo Club," Hogan instructed the driver. "They should be there."

    "Yes, Mr. Everly," the driver responded deferentially.

    As the car started moving, Hogan turned to Liliana. "Don''t worry, Liliana. I trust Finnian. He wouldn''t do anything to hurt you."

    Liliana forced a smile, whispering, "I''m fine," but turned away, her lips tense and thin.

    She clenched her dress tightly,

    almost biting down hard enough to crack her teeth. She had been wary of Amara, but this situation

    blindsided her, leaving her feeling

    utterly defeated.

    As she watched the scenery blur past the window, a shadow crept into her eyes.

    The car pulled up to the hotel Hogan had mentioned, and they hurried to the front desk. Hogan demanded,

    "Did the Everly Group''s presidentet

    Finnian Everly check in here with a woman about half an hour ago? I need their room number."

    "I''m sorry, sir. We haven''t registered Mr. Finnian Everly, and we cannot disclose any guest information..."

    Growing impatient, Hogan pped a card down on the desk, interrupting the receptionist.

    "I''m Finnian''s brother. Give me the room number this instant."

    The card was his identification as direct

    escendant of the Everly

    family.

    The receptionist nced at it, rface paling slightly.

    "Mr. Hogan Everly, we truly can''t disclose guest information. I hope you understand."

    Though Hogan held a respected status, Finnian''s was even higher. They couldn''t just hand out information about his whereabouts.

    Hogan was beside himself with frustration. How could this young receptionist be so infuriatingly stubborn?

 Chapter 242

    Just as he was about to lose his temper, Liliana stepped in with a soft voice. "No need to be scared, Miss. We''re here to rescue Mr. Finnian Everly."

    "Rescue?"

    Liliana nodded firmly.

    "You might recognize me, right? I''m set to be his future wife. Today, he was lured here by a woman. If we can''t find him in time, things could get really serious, and your hotel might be held responsible. Please, quickly, give us his room number."

    Liliana''s voice was low butmanding, enough to make the receptionist nervous. Thetter took a careful look at Liliana. She did seem like that famous actress, and Hogan was indeed from the Everly family.

    Oh, what the heck! She lifted her head and said, "They''re in room 808. Here''s a spare key card."

    Liliana snatched the key card and hurried off, with Hogan quickly following her.

    They took the elevator up to the eighth floor, and as soon as they stepped out, they were hit by a wave of strong perfume.

    Liliana turned to see a morous woman in a silver bodycon dress brushing past them. The woman didn''t look happy, muttering under her breath, "What''s the point? If you didn''t want to, why go through all this trouble? Ridiculous."

    Mumbling to herself, the woman got into the elevator, pressed the close button, and disappeared from their sight.

    Hogan was puzzled. "Why is she leaving?"

    "Who?" Liliana paused. "You know her?"

    "Yeah, that''s the woman Finnian took with him earlier."

    Hogan nodded, and then suddenly recalled what the woman had muttered. His face lit up with relief.

    "Liliana, did you hear what she just said? Looks like Finnian didn''t do anything with her. Maybe he came to his senses. See, I told you, Finnian isn''t like that."

    Liliana forced a smile and quickly headed towards room 808. It seemed Finnian hadn''t done anything with the woman, which was a relief, but she wasn''t as optimistic as she looked.

    This time, Finnian hadn''t done anything, but what about next time? Why did Finnian take the woman out today, and why did he send her awayter?

    All these questions remained unanswered, and only Finnian himself could shed some light on her.

    Liliana knocked on the door. It

    opened to reveal Finnian, still in his suit he had been d in that

    evening, hair slightly tousled, and his expression dark. He looked at them both and asked, "What are you two doing here?"

    He turned to Hogan. "Did you bring her here?"

    Hogan lowered his head, fumbling nervously for words.

    At the sight of Finnian''s attitude, Liliana''s heart sank. She nodded at Hogan, who understood and turned to leave.

    Liliana stepped into the room and asked, "Finn, did you touch that woman?"

    "No," Finnian said as he moved to the window, hands in his pockets, gazing out at the night view, his expression calm and steady.

    Liliana bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. She lifted her hand and wiped them away, moving to stand beside Finnian. She inquired, "Finn, do you want to be someone else?"

    Finnian turned to her, noticing her red eyes, and asked, "Liliana, have you forgotten what I told you?"

    At first, Liliana was confused. Finnian had said many things to her. Which one was he referring to?

    But considering the situation, a thought suddenly struck her. She widened her eyes in shock-could it be that?

 Chapter 243

    "Finn, are you saying over a month ago..."

    "Yes," Finnian replied tly, nodding. "Do you remember?"

    Liliana bit her lip hard. Of course, she remembered.

    Just over a month ago, she''d walked up to Finnian with a pregnancy test in hand, telling him she was expecting.

    Back then, Finnian had told her his grandmother had passed away, that he and Amara would be getting a divorce soon, but he wouldn''t marry again, nor even

    date anyone.

    Then he pulled out a card from his desk and handed it to her, suggesting she terminate the pregnancy.

    She had burst into tears right there, reminding him how she''d saved his life on the construction site years ago. She poured her heart out, saying she regretted breaking up with him and had been waiting for him all these years. She confessed she''d gone through so much and still had strong feelings for him.

    ying the emotional card and shedding a river of tears, she eventually got Finnian to agree to let her keep the baby. But that was it just the baby. No promises beyond that.

    Liliana clenched her fists, feeling a huge wave of panic wash over her.

    Finnian looked at her belly in silence. His reasoning back then was straightforward. First, Liliana was desperate to keep the baby, constantly reminding him of how she saved his life and theplications that followed.

    Second, he figured since he wasn''t nning to marry, having a child might not be so bad-a bit of emotional sce. So, he agreed. But he hadn''t foreseen things turning out like this.

    Liliana reached for his hand, her usual confident demeanor now reced with vulnerability.

    "Finn, can''t we be together?"

    Finnian remainedposed. "Liliana, we''ve discussed this before."

    He slowly withdrew his hand from hers. Liliana was struggling inside. Finnian had made it clear many times that he didn''t want to marry, which was the reason for their breakup in the first ce.

    After they reconnected and the baby news came, Finnian''s stance didn''t change he wouldn''t marry.

    However, she once asked if they could live together to raise the child in a good environment. At that time Finnian had agreed. But that was all-just living together to care for the child. No other promises were made.

    Liliana felt both hurt and anxious, but she knew acting up wouldn''t help. It would only displease him. She tugged a smile. "Finn, I was just curious, didn''t mean

    anything else. Are you staying here tonight?"

    "I''ll stay here. You can head back with Hogan."

    Finnian pulled out his phone to call Hogan, who had been waiting downstairs all along, and told Liliana to go down.

    The room fell silent, and Finnian gazed out the window, lost in thought. He understood Liliana''s predicament and was grateful for her saving his life back then.

    Given he wasn''t going to marry again, he didn''t mind much when Liliana asionally called him her husband in public. He didn''t object. But when it came to Amara.

    Her bright eyes, the emotion

    flickering in them, and every little of her gesture would often sh

    through his mind, overwhelming

    him. For the first time in

    twenty-seven years, towards a woman, he felt something he''d never felt before.

    He had even gone to a club that night, attempting to see if he could feel anything for another woman, but realized he couldn''t bring himself to do it He only had feelings for Amara. What on earth was happening to him?

 Chapter 244

    He nced at the clock. It was gettingte, but he grabbed his keys and dashed out anyway.

    After filming for some days on the ind, Amara was exhausted and had gone to bed early. In the middle of the night, she was jolted awake by a nightmare. She sat up, touched her forehead, and felt the fine sheen of sweat on her fingertips, her back damp and mmy.

    The image of falling into a ck hole from her dream still haunted her. She got up, took a warm shower, and then headed to the kitchen for a ss of water, sipping it slowly.

    Usually, Amara slept well, but ever since she identally fell into the sinkhole a few days ago, as if traumatized, she''d been having recurring nightmares. This was the third one, and she wondered when they''d finally stop.

    After finishing her water, she intended to return to bed when she heard a faint rustling outside the door. The sound startled her.

    At first, she thought her mind was ying tricks on her, but after holding her breath and listening closely for a few more seconds, the sound came again.

    It was quiet enough that it wouldn''t have been noticeable with hypothetical the TV on, but the house was silent, and at this hour, with hardly any cars on the road, it was so quiet that every little noise was expressly evident.

    Amara nced at the clock. It was already past four in the morning. Who could it be outside? On tiptoe, she crept to the door and peeked through the peephole.

    To her shock, a familiar figure stood by the wall. Her eyes widened in disbelief. What on earth was he doing at her doorstep in the middle of the night?

    She nced down to make sure her body were decently covered, then swung the door open and asked, "What are you doing here?"

    The man outside looked up at her. He had been leaning against the wall with his eyes downcast, but when he heard the click of the door opening and saw her head poke out, he immediately straightened up.

    It was none other than Finnian. He stepped toward Amara and asked, "Why aren''t you asleep?"

    Amara opened the door wider. A wave of alcohol hit her. Had Finnian been drinking?

    "I was sleeping but got woken up by a nightmare," Amara replied. "Mr. Everly,

    what brings you here? Do you need anything?"

    Finnian leaned against the doorframe, staring into Amara''s eyes without saying a word. His gaze was intense, and Amara found it unsettling. She took a step back and asked again, "Do you need something?"

    Finnian continued to look at her and slowly said, "I missed you."

    Amara froze for a moment. She raised her head. "Mr. Everly, have you been drinking? Are you sure

    ???

    Voe thinking straight? Let me help

    you get home."

    "Ever heard of the saying, ''in wine, there''s truth"?"

    Amara''s expression remained stoic. "I tend to believe people talk nonsense when drunk."

    Finnian''s lips curled into a slight smile, teasing, "You''re like a rock, aren''t you?"

    Amara was curious why he was here at this ungodly hour? She didn''t want to see him.

    "Mr. Everly, you should head back," Amara said. "It''s reallyte, and you need rest. I need rest too."

    She emphasized thest part. Hearing that she also wanted to rest, Finnian couldn''t argue.

    Truth be told, he hadn''t wanted to

    disturb Amara''s sleep. When he arrived at her doorstep hours ago, he refrained from knocking, feeling guilty about waking her at midnight.

 Chapter 245

    But now, seeing Amara, Finnian couldn''t help himself. He took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her, closing the door with a thud.

    Amara jumped, startled, and immediately began to struggle. "What are you doing?"

    Finnian lifted his head slightly, gazing at her with a dazed expression.

    Amara had made a good point earlier he wasn''t exactly in his right mind, and when people weren''t fully conscious, they tended to act out of control.

    With that thought lingering, he clumsily lowered his head and, through her mask, kissed her. Amara''s eyes widened, and instantly, she pushed his shoulders, attempting to pull him away.

    Finnian''s gaze was still hazy, and he pressed Amara against the wall, lowering his head to brush her earlobe. "Why are you rejecting me?"

    Amara gritted her teeth furiously. "What do you mean, why? If some random woman kissed you, would you be okay with it?"

    "No, I wouldn''t. But," he replied and then paused, his voice cracking. "Last time I kissed you, you seemed to enjoy it."

    Amara''s face flushed a deep red. She shoved his shoulder fiercely. "I did not! Stop talking nonsense!"

    Finnian said nothing, just buried his head in the crook of her neck, holding onto her tightly as if he had no intention of letting go.

    Amara was genuinely infuriated now. She stomped on his foot hard. "Let go of me now!"

    Her tone was getting seriously stern. Finnian raised his head, seeing the anger zing in her bright eyes. He felt a pang of guilt and loosened his grip a bit. "Don''t be mad."

    This jerk! After what he''d done, how could she not be mad?

    Amara pointed at the door as she snapped, "Just leave, and I won''t be mad if you do."

    Finnian rubbed his forehead, slowly making his way to the door. As he grasped the doorknob, he paused suddenly and asked, "Elysia and Dorian are getting married, and she wants you to be a bridesmaid?"

    "Yeah, so what?"

    "Nothing." Finnian asked again, "Are you heading over two days early?"

    "Yeah."

    This man was just asking random questions, but for what reason? Amara thought for a moment before going over to open the door for him. "Mr. Everly, just go, get some rest."

    Seeing her tense little face, Finnian felt a bit helpless, but he didn''t want to push her any further. After giving her onest look, he left.

    Soon, Elysia''s wedding day arrived.

    As a bridesmaid, Amara needed to arrive two days early to prepare. She

    lugged her suitcase to the Vera Lodge and took the elevator up to

    the ninth floor.

    Traditionally, the bride''s room and the bridesmaid''s room shouldn''t be right next to

    each other; the bride''s room should be a notch fancier.

    But Elysia insisted on sharing a suite with Amara, despite the Hawke family''s objections. Sticking to her guns, she stayed with Amara.

    Amara ced her luggage in the room and headed to the suite''s living room, plopping down on the couch next to Elysia.

    Elysia was wrapped in a bathrobe, a slim female smoking cigarette between her fingers. She took a long drag and exhaled slowly, looking a bit annoyed.

    Amara snatched the cigarette away, stubbing it out in the ashtray and questioned, "What''s up? Having second thoughts? It''s not toote to back out."

    "Not exactly having second thoughts. After all, it''s Dorian," Elysia said calmly.

    She knew Dorian was a bit of a bastard; she''d never denied that. But Dorian was someone she had been fond of for many years. Now that they were finally getting thei happy ending, she didn''t want to let go.

 Chapter 246

    Amara sighed, understanding Elysia''s plight. "As long as you don''t regret it. But if you do, remember to cut your losses before you start feeling miserable."

    "Yeah, I know," Elysia replied, staring nkly out the window from her spot on the couch, lost in thought.

    Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She picked it up, and after a few moments of listening, her brow furrowed. "Jessica''s here too?" she practically shouted.

    "Alright, got it. I''ming over now."

    Elysia abruptly ended the call, tossed her robe aside, and began getting dressed with urgency.

    Amara followed her into the room. "What''s going on? Jessica showed up?"

    "Yes, despite saying she shouldn''te to the wedding, she''s here. It''s like she''s trying to push my buttons."

    Elysia, known for her fiery temper, was now seething. She quickly changed and stormed downstairs, with Amara hurrying behind her.

    They reached the hotel lobby, where guests were being received. Near the entrance stood a woman in a white cotton dress, looking up at Dorian with adoration in her eyes. They were standing way too close forfort.

    Elysia paused for a split second upon seeing the scene, then burst out, "What are you doing here? Who invited you?"

    "Elysia!" Dorian''s voice was sharp, his brow creased. "Why are you yelling?"

    "Why am I yelling? You''re not happy with me yelling at her?" Elysia stepped forward, but Dorian held her back.

    She didn''t struggle against his hold, instead pointing at Jessica. "How many times have I told you not to invite her to the wedding? Yet here she is. Are you deliberately trying to piss me off?"

    "What did you call her?" Dorian''s voice was dangerously low. "Try insulting her again."

    Elysia bit her tongue, her fists

    clenching tightly as she fell silentet

    though her eyes still seethed with

    anger as she red at Jessica, as if she could throttle her with a l look.

    Jessica seemed frightened, shrinking closer to Dorian and tugging at his sleeve. "Dorian, I''m scared."

    Dorian''s demeanor shifted, softening his tone. "Don''t worry, no one''s going to hurt you."

    Amara stood by the door, trembling with anger. She knew how fierce Elysia could be, yet just a few words from Dorian silenced her. How much had Elysia endured at his hands?

    She moved to Elysia''s side, taking her arm gently. "Ely, calm down."

    "I can''t calm down." Elysia''s voice quivered on the verge of tears. "Ama, I just can''t."

    Amara''s frown deepened as she tried to lead Elysia away. She was furious at Dorian''s behavior, but

    escting the situation wouldn''

    help. However, Elysia refused to move, her gaze fixed intently on Jessica.

    "Get back," Dorian said under his breath. "You''re making a scene."

    Elysia could have let it go, but his words were thest straw.

    "Making a scene? You think bringing her here isn''t a scene? How many times did I

    ask you not to bring her? Yet you did, just to spite me?"

    Tears brimmed in Elysia''s eyes, but she quickly wiped them away in anger.

    No matter what, she wouldn''t let herself cry. She wouldn''t give Jessica the satisfaction of seeing her break down.

 Chapter 247

    "What on earth are you doing?" Dorian snapped sharply, "Come with me."

    He grabbed Elysia''s arm, but she screamed, "Don''t touch me!"

    She shook off Dorian''s grip, red at him fiercely, then gave Jessica a look before running out.

    Amara had to muster all her strength to keep her anger in check as she chased after Elysia.

    But as she reached the door, someone stopped her.

    "Don''t chase her. Let her cool off for a bit," Finnian said.

    Amara paused, Finnian''s hand on her arm. She considered rushing after Elysia, but then remembered how Elysia liked to be alone when she was upset. She''d cool down ande back once she was ready. So, she decided not to resist.

    Still, she didn''t want to be around Finnian right now. Maybe she was just mad at Dorian and was taking it out on Finnian too.

    She removed Finnian''s hand, turning to leave.

    "What''s wrong?" Finnian asked, following her.

    Amara ignored him, walking briskly. Suddenly, tears welled up and spilled over.

    Finnian was startled and quickly caught her arm, halting her. "Why are you crying? Did someone upset you?"

    Was she this upset because of Elysia?

    Finnian frowned slightly, gently wiping away her tears.

    "I''m fine," Amara said coldly, pushing his hand away. "I just saw a bit of myself in Ely''s situation."

    With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

    Finnian watched her go, puzzled.

    Why did Elysia''s situation make her think of herself? What had happened in her past?

    Elysia, who seemed so fierce and strong-willed, had softened all her edges for Dorian. Amara genuinely felt for her, and it made her reflect on her own life too.

    She wasn''t as fiercely independent

    as Elysia, but she also wasn''t the type to y housemaid. Yet, for the past three years of marriage, she had been cooking and buying. clothes for Finnian, even though he never made an effort to meet her halfway.

    Thinking about all those things made Amara feel a deep sense of self-pity.

    Back in her room, after calming down a bit, she called Elysia to check on her whereabouts.

    Elysia didn''t answer the call but texted back: "I''m fine, just need some time to cool off outside. I''ll be back soon; don''t worry."

    Seeing this, Amara didn''t press further. She sat in her room for a while longer before deciding to call Keith.

    She dialed Keith West on video chat, and he picked up almost

    immediately. His face filled the screen, grinning widely. "Hey there! What''s up? Why are you calling?"

    Keith''s big smile was infectious, and the beach setting behind him was bustling with cameramen and crew. Was he working on an event?

    "Just wanted to check in on you. Can''t I?" Amara chuckled. "What are you up to?"

    "An event, you know. Later, we''re having a bonfire and doing an escape game. Check out how cool our set looks."

    Keith turned the camera to show off the backdrop, giving Amara a quick tour.

    "Looks great, really fun," Amara said. "Are you stuck there for a while?"

    "Yeah, it feels like being at a

    beachside jail. If we want to leave we have to book a mountain bike ride

    and get a local to guide us

    out.

    Otherwise, we''re stuck here, Keith joked.

 Chapter 248

    "Elysia''s wedding is happening way too soon. If she''d just given us a bit more

    notice, I would''ve definitely taken some time off to be there," Amara grumbled, a hint of regret in her voice.

    Amara remembered her surprise when Elysia first broke the news. It seemed like only yesterday.

    She yfully teased, "Looks like you''ll miss out on the wedding feast. Better have Elysia make it up to you with a dinnerter."

    "Sounds good... Oh, the director''s calling me. Gotta go, I''ll ring youter," Keith said hurriedly, as he saw the director approaching with a determined look.

    As the call ended abruptly, Amara chuckled softly at the nk screen. She''d only called Keith because she was feeling a bit down and needed to chat with a friend. Despite their conversation being mostly trivial, it cheered her up considerably. She ambled over to the window, casually gazing down at the street below.

    Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Elysia: "Hey Ama, I''m back. Going to my room now. Don''t worry about me."

    Elysia was usually the life of the party, always outgoing. The fact that she chose to text instead of popping by spoke volumes about her current state. Clearly, she needed some alone time.

    Amara respected her friend''s need for space and replied, "Take it easy. If you don''t feel likeing out today, just stay in. I''ll y bouncer if anyone tries to bother you."

    She paused, then added another message, "Get some rest. We have the rehearsal dinner tomorrow."

    In Wye, the wedding customs were a blend of traditions. The rehearsal dinner was held the day before the main event, featuring a casual meal and the couple making rounds to greet everyone. Today was two days before the wedding, with the rehearsal dinner set for tomorrow. Amara knew Elysia was stillmitted to marrying Dorian, hence her gentle reminder.

    Elysia''s response was a simple "Okay," and Amara set her phone aside. That night, she slept soundly, free from the recurring nightmare of falling into a ck void. She awoke early the next day, refreshed and ready to go.

    By 7 AM, she was already up and about. The hotel had left breakfast outside their door, so she wheeled the cart inside and texted Elysia, "Breakfast is here. I''m starving, so I''m digging in. Come join me when you''re up."

    The rehearsal dinner was scheduled for noon, giving Elysia plenty of time to get ready. Amara guessed her friend was still catching up on sleep and decided not to wait, enjoying her breakfast solo.

    Afterward, Amara went through her morning routine. Though she was a bridesmaid, today''s event was low-key, requiring minimal fuss. She

    applied some eye makeup, gav

    haira light curl, and slipped into a

    simple yet ttering satin dress

    her

    before heading out.

    Stepping out of her room just after 9 AM, she immediately spotted Finnian and Dorian chatting by the door. Both men turned to her, and Dorian approached her swiftly.

    "Is Elysia still in bed? She''s not up yet?" he inquired, a hint of impatience in his voice.

    Amara nodded, suppressing her irritation. Despite her disdain for Dorian, Elysia''s desire to marry him meant Amara had to y nice. "Ely''s still asleep. She texted me first thing, saying she''s not in any rush. She''ll get ready when she wakes up, and she doesn''t want anyone disturbing her," Amara exined, trying to keep her tone neutral.

 Chapter 249

    Dorian stood beside a woman whose simple yet elegant attire suggested she knew her way around formal events. She was carrying a makeup case and respectfully said, "You''re the maid of honor, right? It seems like there''s plenty of time, but it''s almost ten. We should get the bride out here for makeup."

    "It''ll take nearly two hours just for makeup, then there''s the dress, the hair, the walk down to the banquet, and the toasts. We''re a bit pressed for time."

    Hearing this, Dorian frowned, pulled out his phone, and tried calling Elysia again. As before, her phone was off.

    Frustrated, he lowered his phone and muttered, "What is she doing, not picking up?"

    He turned to Amara and asked, "Did she text you this morning?"

    "Yeah, around six. Maybe she went back to sleep after," Amara replied.

    Dorian''s expression soured. He strode toward the suite door, intending to go inside.

    Amara quickly moved to block him, saying, "Mr. Hawke, Ely doesn''t want to be disturbed."

    Dorian halted, ring at Amara. "Step aside."

    Amara clenched her fists.

    In the past, she would''ve been terrified of people like him. But Elysia had always shielded her, protecting her from many harms. Now was her time to stand up for Elysia.

    Knowing Elysia didn''t want to see Dorian, Amara said firmly, "No. She specifically said she didn''t want anyone bothering her."

    "I''m not just anyone," Dorian replied with a sharp smile. "I''m her husband!"

    "Husbands count as ''anyone'' too," Amara retorted quickly. "Anyone other than herself is ''anyone.'' By your logic, if Elysia wanted to meddle in your decisions, would you let her?"

    Dorian paused, a bemused smile creeping onto his face. Since when did his ex- wife be so sharp-tongued?

    "She''s holding up the whole event," Dorian argued. "We need to get her out here now."

    Amara hadn''t meant to show any emotion, but Dorian''s words made herugh, and she couldn''t hold it back.

    "Mr. Hawke, that''s a funny thing to say. Elysia''s holding everyone up? What about yesterday when someone held her up?"

    "Who held her up?"

    Amara pointed to the head peeking out from the end of the hallway, grinning. "Jessica held her up."

    The air grew tense and quiet.

    Amara kept smiling and continued, "Elysia said she didn''t want Jessica around, yet someone insisted. bringing her here. That''s not exactly great for her mood, is it?"

    it

    naturally dys things. Met ood gets affected, it

    you can''t just allow others to Elysia but not the other way around."

    Her heart was racing, but Amara''s words were clear and steady, showing no sign

    of her nerves.

    Dorian chuckled, irritated. "So, you''re saying it''s all my fault?"

    "Isn''t it?" Amara replied without hesitation.

    Then she added, "If you think you''re not at fault, fine by me. Doesn''t concern me either way."

 Chapter 250

    She swung the door shut with a determined click and continued, "Elysia doesn''t want toe out right now, so Mr. Hawke, please don''t go in. We have some time before the reception starts anyway."

    "As long as you don''t bother Elysia, everything else is none of my concern."

    Dorian was genuinely taken aback. He never expected Amara, usually so meek, to stand her ground like this.

    His eyes darkened as he took a couple of steps forward, ready to push the door open by force.

    Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed his wrist.

    "Dorian, calm down. She needs some space right now, just let her be for a bit," Finnian said, standing beside him.

    Dorian turned, surprise etched across his face as he looked at Finnian.

    Was he hearing this right? Finnian was actually trying to calm him down? Finnian was supposed to be on his side, so why was he stopping him? Then it hit him. He nced sharply at Amara, suspicion dawning in his eyes.

    Could it be that even after the divorce, Amara was still tangled with Mr. Kevin Everly, and Finnian was stepping in to help Kevin look after Amara? Was that why Finnian was upset with him for confronting Amara?

    Dorian furrowed his brow, lowering his voice, "Finn, are you taking Amara''s side? Look at the time, if Elysia doesn''t start getting ready soon, she''ll bete."

    Even though he tried to keep his voice down, it was quiet enough that Amara heard him.

    She replied, "So what if she''ste getting ready? Even if there''s only five or ten minutes left, Ely can still pull it together. It''s just a matter of how well."

    "Of course, Mr. Hawke, you think Elysia should look perfect to shine for the Hawke family, but don''t forget, once you invited Jessica, this wedding lost its sense of decorum anyway."

    "You want Ely to look like the belle of the ball to uplift the Hawke family''s image, but everyone can see the rot beneath the surface."

    Her words were sharp, and fury shed in Dorian''s eyes, cold rage radiating from him.

    If it weren''t for Amara''s connection to the Everly family and the fact that she was a woman, he might have lost his temper entirely.

    Amara had been nervous earlier, but with Finnian by her side, she felt bolder.

    "Does the truth hurt, Mr. Hawke? But it doesn''t make it any less true."

    "Reputation isn''t something others give you; it''s something you earn."

    "Mr. Hawke, I''ve said my piece. I''m going to rest now."

    With that, she opened the suite door, slipped inside, and clicked the lock behind her, retreating to the bedroom.

    She pondered for a moment before shooting a text to Elysia: "Ely, the makeup artist is waiting outside.

    When do you n toe out? We might be running short on time."

    Elysia didn''t text back. Amara thought about calling but decided against it, choosing to let Elysia make her own decisions.

    As time ticked past ten, then eleven, and still no word from Elysia, Dorian was

    pounding on the door, and members of the Moon family were knocking too.

    Amara''s phone buzzed incessantly, but she ignored it, opting instead to put on her headphones and bury herself in a book.

    She had tried speaking to Elysia through the bedroom door earlier, but Elysia hadn''t responded.

    While Amara was worried, she trusted that Elysia, strong and independent, had her reasons and would handle things her way. So Amara left her alone.

    It wasn''t until eleven thirty, with half an hour left before the reception, that the knocking grew so loud she couldn''t ignore it anymore. Someone was even threatening to break down the door. Finally, Amara sighed, got up, and opened the suite door.

 Chapter 251

    Outside the house, a group of people stood anxiously. Leading the pack was Dorian, his face a mask of frustration, alongside a makeup artist who looked equally distressed.

    As soon as the makeup artist saw her, he hurried over, asking, "Bridesmaid, is the bride still not out yet?"

    "We''ve only got half an hour before the reception starts. There''s no time for a full makeover or hairstyle. She could maybe change into her dress and get a quick touch-up... but she can''t possibly walk down the aisle without any makeup!"

    The makeup artist was practically tearing his hair out, while Dorian radiated anger like a thundercloud about to burst.

    He brushed past Amara, striding up to Elysia''s door and knocking loudly. "Elysia, get out here!" he demanded, his voice a low growl. "The wedding''s in half an hour! What on earth are you doing?"

    There wasn''t a peep from inside, leaving everyone to wonder if she was even in there.

    A timid voice from the crowd piped up, "Is Elysia really in there? Maybe she''s getting cold feet..."

    Silence fell over the room like a heavy curtain after that, and Dorian turned sharply to Amara, his eyes tinged with desperation.

    "Call her, yell for her, do whatever you have to just get her out here," he pleaded. Despite having all of Elysia''s family around, he knew Amara was the only one who might sway her.

    Amara''s voice was cool and unyielding. "Why should I? I''m not going to shout."

    Her demeanor had shifted from earlier, where she had at least been polite; now she was as cold as a winter morning.

    Dorian''s expression darkened, his jaw clenching. "What''s your angle here? Without her, there''s no wedding."

    Amara''s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Who knows if she even wants this wedding? Maybe she''s having second thoughts."

    Her words ignited a flurry of whispers among the onlookers, fueling the rumor mill.

    With less than twenty minutes to go until the ceremony, it was clear that there was no time for makeup or a grand entrance. Just getting Elysia into her dress and to the venue would eat up what little time was left.  s?novel

    Dorian''s anger simmered, inching closer to a boiling point.

    Just then, a smooth voice interrupted the tension. "Ms. Sullivan, aren''t you being a bit biased? Elysia might be your friend, but shouldn''t you consider the bigger picture here?"

    Amara turned to see Liliana standing

    there, and a quick nce around

    revealed Hogan by her side. It all

    vel

    made sense now-Hogan was determined to wee his sister-inw into the Everly family circle, regardless of the drama. She wondered if Finnian realized how far his brother would go for this.

    Without missing a beat, Amara shot back, "Ms. Porter, that''s a bit rich, isn''t it?

    Yes, Elysia is my friend, so of course, I''m looking out for her."

    "The bigger picture? Really? You mean the feelings of this crowd?"

    "Some of these people haven''t exactly been kind to Elysia. Why should I sacrifice

    her happiness for their so-called ''big picture''?"

    Amara''s blunt words left Liliana momentarily taken aback, though she quickly recovered. As a seasoned socialite, Liliana knew how to handle herself. She casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling as she replied, "Well, it seems Ms. Sullivan has her own perspective, so perhaps it''s best we don''t push it."

 Chapter 252

    She covered her mouth and chuckled, a simple gesture that somehow seemed to radiate charm. Yet Amara only cast a cool nce her way before looking

    elsewhere.

    "Amara," Dorian said, enunciating each word carefully, "are you still refusing to bring her out? You''ll regret what you''re doing today."

    Amara frowned, feeling an ufortable wave of irritation. Was Dorian actually threatening her?

    Just as she was about to respond, a tall figure stepped in front of her, blocking her view of Dorian and staring him down without a hint of backing down.

    "Dorian," the man in front of her said in a deep voice, "take back what you just said."

    It was Finnian.

    Amara was taken aback.

    By conventional standards, it might seem a bit much for her to refuse to call Elysia today. So, Finnian standing up for her in this situation was truly surprising.

    Not just Amara, but everyone else in the room was looking at Finnian with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.

    Finnian and his disfigured ex-wife had been like strangers for so long. Now, post- divorce, he was suddenly stepping up to protect her?

    Amara could feel a venomous gaze boring into her, and she didn''t need to look to know it was Liliana.

    Aside from that, there were numerous curious and gossip-hungry eyes on her, but she paid them no mind. She stepped out from behind Finnian and said to Dorian, "I told you, I''m not calling Elysia. If you want her, go get her yourself. After all, this is your wedding."

    Amara''s stance was firm. She was absolutely not going to call Elysia, especially with Finnian by her side offering his support. Dorian''s fists clenched, his knuckles cracking.

    He didn''t look at Amara but instead addressed Finnian, "Finn, move aside."

    Finnian didn''t respond verbally; his gaze simply grew colder, and the tension in the room was palpable.

    Then, just as the clock ticked closer to 11:50, the stalemate was broken by the sudden opening of the bedroom door.

    Elysia appeared in the doorway.

    She was dressed in a silk gown embroidered with golden threads, her feet d in stiletto heels. Her hair was elegantly pinned up, her makeup wlessly applied, and her ears, neck, and wrists adorned with expensive jewelry. She was every inch the bride ready for an intimate wedding reception.

    Everyone froze at the sight of her.

    Unperturbed, Elysia walked out in

    her there? The wedding''s

    her heels and said, "Why''s everyone

    about to start. Let''s get moving.

    Dorian stared at her, not quite processing what was happening.

    Elysia nced at him and said to Amara, "Ama, let''s go downstairs."

    "Sure."

    Amara,posed as ever, walked out with Elysia.

    Dorian snapped out of his stupor and hurried to catch up, wrapping an arm around Elysia''s waist.

    He held her tightly enough that she stumbled a bit and frowned, "I''m wearing heels, you know. Could you be a little gentler?"

    She gave Dorian a shove, and though he didn''t let go, he rxed his grip a bit.

    The two led the way downstairs, with Amara following closely behind. A chattering crowd trailed them, and Finnian was by her side.

    "What''s going on here?" Finnian asked in a low voice.

    Amara wasn''t in the mood to entertain him, still annoyed by the memory of

    Finnian forcing a kiss on her that day.

    But seeing how he had just stood up for her against Dorian, she replied, "I don''t know. Let''s just head down."

    With Elysia and Dorian leading, and Amara and Finnian trailing as the bridesmaid and groomsman, no one really found it odd. It made perfect

    sense for them to be close to the bride and groom.

 Chapter 253

    Elysia and Dorian stepped into the banquet hall. Elysia, who usually had this cool and distant aura about her, transformed instantly with a warm smile as she mingled with the guests congratting her. The change was so dramatic that Dorian couldn''t help but take notice.

    Trailing beside her, Dorian nced at her several times, hoping to find a moment to speak with her. But with the endless stream of well-wishers, there was hardly any opportunity for a private word.

    Just then, a delicate girl in a white and blue dress approached, calling out "Dorian," as if wanting to start a conversation with him.

    But a waiter, hurrying past, identally bumped into her, causing her to stumble against the wall, clutching her shoulder with a pained expression.

    Elysia let out a cold chuckle, not even bothering to nce her way before turning on her heel and walking off.

    "Dorian."

    Jessica winced, nursing her arm as she approached, her voice soft, "Are you guys..."

    "You should find a seat and rest for a bit, dinner''s about to start. I need to go make a toast," Dorian interrupted, swiftly moving to catch up with Elysia, whispering something to her, but Elysia merely gave him a cool nce without responding.

    Jessica watched their retreating figures with wide eyes, her nails digging into her palms.

    Nearby, Amara noticed the scene and felt a bit of unease. Elysia seemed different somehow, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on it. She decided she''d ask her about itter.

    While Elysia and Dorian went off to toast, Amara found a ce to eat. She was seated at a table with strangers, but she didn''t mind. She was used to being on her own and enjoyed her meal regardless.

    Soon, someone took the empty seat beside her. As he sat down, the surrounding people immediately stood up, eagerly shaking his hand, all the while calling him "Mr. Everly" with exaggerated ttery.

    Amara nced at Finnian, who had suddenly joined her, without saying a word and continued to eat, pulling down her mask.

    Finnian was the kind of person who drew attention wherever he went. After he finished exchanging pleasantries with the others, he

    finally rxed and leaned a bit

    closer to Amara, asking, "Is the food here any good?"

    Amara was surprised by the simplicity of his question and replied casually, "It''s alright."

    "Then have some more."

    With that, Finnian used his fork to ce a piece of garlic butter chicken wing onto Amara''s te.

    His gesture caught the attention of the others at the table, making Amara feel a bit awkward. She whispered, "I can help myself, you know. No need to trouble you."

    Finnian nced at her, "Why are you always so polite with me?"

    "We''re not exactly strangers, are we?"

    He added before she could say more.

    Amara thought for a moment, deciding it was best to be clear. As she poked at the chicken wing with her fork, she spoke quietly, "We''re not strangers, true. But we''re more like... adversaries. Or at least we were. Then again, you did save me the other day, so maybe you''re more of a... benefactor now. But deep down, we still have..."

    "What do you mean by adversaries?" Finnian''s tone grew serious, "Do you hate me?"

    "That''s not what I mean," Amara quickly rified. "It''s just that during our divorce proceedings, things got really messy. After all that, how can we just pretend everything''s fine?"

 Chapter 254

    "Why can''t we just get along?" Finnian asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.

    "Rtionships aren''t static," Amara replied, trying to sound wise. "They change with time and circumstances, and it''s all about the effort you put in."

    Finnian had a point, and Amara found it hard to argue back. Sure, rtionships change, but what if she didn''t want them to? She couldn''t just blurt out, "I don''t want to see you, leave me alone," especially after Finnian had helped her out recently. It would be too cold-hearted.

    For a moment, she was lost for words.

    Sensing her difort, Finnian suggested, "Let''s eat first."

    "Alright."

    "Finn, Ms. Sullivan, mind if I join you?" A gentle voice interrupted their thoughts. It was Liliana, standing beside them with her maroon clutch, smiling warmly.

    There were empty seats beside both Finnian and Amara, likely because people felt they were too "significant" to sit beside.

    Amara quickly looked up, "Ms. Porter, please, have a seat."

    Liliana''s timing was perfect. With her there, Finnian would be busy talking to her and wouldn''t pester Amara with ufortable topics.

    Liliana nodded, gracefully pulled out the chair next to Finnian, and sat down.

    As it turned out, Finnian didn''t engage Amara in conversation again, but he also didn''t chat much with Liliana, focusing on his meal instead. Liliana, however, made small talk and asionally served Finnian food, clearly attentive to him. Finally, the meal was over. Elysia and Dorian had finished their obligatory toasts, and as Amara saw them standing by the door, she got up to join them.

    As she approached, she overheard Dorian say to Elysia, "You haven''t eaten much today, have you? I''ve arranged for a meal to be kept aside for us."

    "No need," Elysia replied. "I''ll just eat with Ama."

    Ignoring Dorian''s attempt to put an arm around her, Elysia turned and walked away with Amara.

    As they left, Amara felt eyes on them. Was it Dorian watching them? She didn''t bother to check and continued with Elysia back to the suite. Once there, she asked, "What''s up today? Did you do your own makeup?"

    "Yeah, I did. Multitasking, you know? Doing my makeup while thinking things over. Exhausting, but I think I did a great job, didn''t I? As good as any pro."

    Elysia copsed onto the sofa, kicking off her heels, looking quite pleased with herself.

    Amaraughed, "Absolutely, you''re a makeup genius, better than any artist." "But, what were you thinking about?"

    Herst question came with a tinge of seriousness. Elysia''s smile faded, her expression turning cold.

    "Just pondering whates next," she said, lighting a cigarette but not smoking it, simply watching the smoke curl into the air.

    The blue-gray haze lingered around them until Elysia, seemingly bored, stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.

    "I''ve been thinking all night and this morning, and I''vee to some conclusions," she said calmly.

    "I''ve loved Dorian for so long, I can''t imagine being without him. I''ve made peace with that."

    "But Dorian can''t let go of Jessica,

    and after trying to break them up so many times without sess, I''ve

    decided it''s not worth the effort

    anymore."

 Chapter 255

    "And to be honest, Dorian''s heart isn''t really with me. Even if I chased Jessica away, there''d always be an Emily or a Rachel after her, so it is what it is."

    "If he really wants to see where things go with Jessica, I''m not going to stop him. Who knows, maybe they''ve already got something going on."

    "From now on, we''ll just be in an open marriage. We can both do our own thing, and I''ll just keep the title of being his wife."

    To some, Elysia''s perspective might seem shocking or even iprehensible, but Amara understood perfectly.

    Elysia was clearly emotionally attached to Dorian, yet seeing him with someone else made her feel frustrated and cheated.

    So, they agreed on not being physically exclusive anymore. Emotionally, she still loved Dorian, and as long as she held the title of his wife, that was enough for her.

    "This sounds good," Amara said. "But remember, if Dorian does get involved with someone else, you might still feel upset. You need to brace yourself for that."

    "Even if you have someone else by then, people are usually double standards about these things."

    Elysia chuckled and nodded, "Alright, I''ll listen to the wise ywright."

    They shared a fewughs on the couch, and soon, the food they ordered arrived.

    They assumed a waiter would bring it up, but to their surprise, Dorian himself pushed the cart in.

    Seeing him, Elysia''s expression turned neutral. Dorian looked at her and asked, "Are you sure you want to eat in here?"

    He added, "We''ve set a table downstairs with all your favorites, freshly made."

    Elysia shook her head. "No, thanks. Ama and I will eat here."

    "Amara''s already eaten," Dorian pointed out.

    Amara quickly interjected, "That''s okay, I can eat a little more."

    Elysia smiled at him, took the cart, and closed the door to their suite.

    For the rest of the afternoon, Amara stayed with Elysia in the suite, and they didn''t go out.

    Dorian called several times, but Elysia kept the conversations short before hanging up.

    Around eight in the evening, Dorian finally finished his social obligations and came to knock on the suite''s door, only to be greeted by Amara while Elysia''s room remained closed. His expression soured.

    "Is she in there?" he asked, trying to step inside.

    Amara blocked his way, firmly saying, "Ely is indeed in there, but she''s resting now. Whatever you have to say can wait until tomorrow."

    Dorian''s face darkened, his voice sharp, "Move aside, or get her out here. I need to talk to her."

    His tone was harsh, holding back his frustration with Amara.

    He had been busy all afternoon with guests and tried multiple times to get Elysia to join him, but she kept saying she was too tired or unwell, refusing toe out.

    Finally done with everything, Dorian came over, only to find her still avoiding him,

    and he was getting angry.

    Amara stood her ground, "Ely''s

    exhausted. She''s been through, these days, and she genuinely

    doesn''t want to see you right now. If

    she did, she''d havee out."

    Herst words hit a nerve, and Dorian lost his temper.

    "We''re getting married tomorrow, and she''s about to be my wife. Why is she hiding from me?"

 Chapter 256

    He spoke with a heavy tone, enunciating each word clearly, "Move aside, I need to get in!"

    Amara frowned and replied, "Why are you so rude? Do you really think you can talk to her properly like this?"

    Dorian''s expression was stormy, and just as he was about to retort, a hand reached out and grabbed him. A deep, cold voice followed, "Didn''t she say Elysia''s asleep? If you have something to discuss, you cane back tomorrow. It''s toote tonight."

    Dorian turned to find Finnian standing beside him, his gaze dark and brooding.

    "Finn, what''s this about? You''ve been siding with this woman all day. What''s gotten into you?"

    Finnian opened his mouth to respond, and Amara feared he might blurt out something outrageous like "I have feelings for her."

    Though the chances were slim given Finnian''s usual demeanor, it wasn''t entirely impossible.

    Quickly, she interjected, "Because Mr. Everly is a reasonable man. He knows Elysia is resting and doesn''t want to be disturbed!"

    "Mr. Hawke, you should just leave. Ely is already asleep. Whatever you need to say can wait until tomorrow."

    "But tomorrow''s the big ceremony! How am I supposed to talk to her then?" Dorian was on the brink of losing his temper.

    Amara let out a derisiveugh, standing her ground, "So it was convenient for you to leave when Jessica called you during a date with Ely, but now it''s not?"

    "Mr. Hawke, you think Ely''s being unreasonable? What you did to her was a hundred times worse! And you talk about fairness-where does Ely go to get justice for that?"

    Perhaps it was Finnian''s presence that gave Amara the courage to stand firm, knowing Dorian wouldn''t dare harm her.

    Dorian was left speechless, his anger simmering just below the surface, eyes ring daggers.

    Finnian gently pushed Dorian back, his voice firm, "Dorian, go home. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow."

    Dorian shot Amara a venomous look before turning on his heel and leaving.

    Amara let out a sigh of relief.

    She turned to Finnian, "Thank you, Mr. Everly."

    "If you''re grateful,e with me to a ce." He said immediately.

    Amara hesitated, "Where to?"

    "Somewhere you know well. Come on."

    Finnian took her wrist, leading her away without waiting for her response.

    Amara

    Cought about resisting, but

    considering Finnian''s help with.

    Dorian, she felt grateful and a

    him

    allowed

    to guide her.

    They

    a left,

    Coulked down the stairs, r ¨¨ of turns before arriving

    a right, and another

    e wooden door.

    Amara''s eyes widened at the sight of the towering walnut door.

    "This is..."

    She looked up, a bit incredulous.

    Finnian smiled and pushed the door open, leading her inside.

    With a click, he flipped the switch on the wall, and the room lit up, revealing avish decor bathed in gold tones.

    Amara stepped forward, taking it all in with wide eyes.

    Finnian joined her side, asking, "Does it feel familiar?"

    Amara''s emotions welled up, "It does."

    She had almost forgotten.

    Vera Lodge, the hotel where she and Finnian had held their wedding ceremony.

    Though the ceremony itself hadn''t been ideal, she wore a mask, far from the typical radiant bride, her demeanor shy and uncertain a stark

    contrast to Finnian.  fo

 Chapter 257

    The wedding was a grand affair, filled with the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me of Wye''s high society. Even without hearing their whispers, Amara could feel their eyes on her, mocking silently. Her husband, Finnian, was distant throughout the event, and when she thought about it, the ceremony was just a coge of unpleasant memories.

    In the years that followed, Amara made a conscious effort to forget the details of that day to keep herself from feeling heartache. It made sense now why, when Finnian suggested they spend a night together recently, he had booked the Vera Lodge.

    "Elysia and Dorian didn''t use this hall for their ceremony. It''s been empty these past few days, so I borrowed the keys and opened it up early," Finnian exined gently, his eyes tracing her soft features.

    Aplex mix of emotions welled up inside Amara. Despite the ceremony''s many ws, revisiting the ce oddly brought back some of the few good memories- like the beautiful reception hall, the heartfelt words from the officiant, and the enchanting music.

    "The wedding dress was quite beautiful, actually," she reminisced, a wistful smile ying at her lips. "The diamonds sparkled brilliantly, and the train was so long. If only my face had matched the beauty of the dress."

    Finnian immediately recalled the moment they walked down the aisle together. He had kept a cold distance from Amara, not even holding her hand like a typical groom would. Guilt washed over him.

    "Amara, I''m sorry," he said sincerely. "I was awful that day."

    Amara paused, surprised by his apology. Finnian was apologizing to her? She pondered for a moment before replying, "It''s okay. You were just being yourself. After all, it wasn''t a real marriage."

    Their marriage had always been more of a business arrangement, and she knew she shouldn''t have expected anything more. Her feelings of disappointment were purely personal, anding to terms with that made her feel more at peace.

    Even though her mask obscured her expression, the twinkle of amusement in her eyes was unmistakable.

    "You seem happy," Finnian observed, curious.

    "Yeah," Amara nodded.

    "Why?" he asked, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.

    Was she happy because of something specific?

    "Oh, nothing much," Amara replied, choosing her words carefully. "I''ve just realized life is pretty good, now. I''m

    More open-minded, and can let go of past grievances. It feels nice."

    Finnian couldn''t help but frown slightly at her words.

    "Are you saying that being married to me for the past three years was miserable?"

    He thought about it; being married to him might have felt like a lonely existence for her, almost like a widow in waiting.

    yel

    "No, no, Mr. Everly, what are you thinking? Amara quickly reassured him. "We had a marriage of convenience. There was no pain involved."

    ?

    Her heart skipped a beat at Finnian''s question. Why would he think she was

    unhappy with their arrangement?

    In today''s world, many women

    met

    would find it appealing to have a marriage where they received financial stability and freedom. As long as they weren''t emotionally invested, it was an enviable

    situation. But for someone who loved their spouse, it would be a harsh reality.

    Could it be that Finnian had realized her feelings for him?

 Chapter 258

    Amara felt a twinge of nerves as she cautiously watched Finnian''s expression. He looked a bit somber and didn''t say a word.

    He never really understood Amara''s perspective. To him, her family background seemed pretty dire, so perhaps when she married him, she hoped for a fresh start. But instead of providing that, he wondered if he had only let her down.

    "I was really against the idea of marriage back then," Finnian murmured softly, "and all I could think about was my grandmother''s illness."

    Amara was a bit surprised. Finnian against marriage? That was news to her. She never heard of him having such reservations.

    Then again, Liliana was pregnant now, and she had already publicly called Finnian her husband. Surely, they were heading down the aisle soon.

    Even with his supposed aversion to marriage, Finnian was ready to marry Liliana. That must be true love, Amara thought, feeling a pang of sadness. She quickly brushed aside those useless thoughts and said, "Marriage is different for everyone. Some anticipate it, some dread it. I think it''s fine as long as people find what works for them."

    Their conversation was getting too deep for Amara''s liking, so she decided to put an end to it. "It''s gettingte, Mr. Everly. Shall we go?"

    "Wait."

    As Amara started to walk away, Finnian caught her by the arm. She stopped and turned to face him. "What is it?"

    Finnian looked into her eyes, silent for a moment. Three years ago, during their ceremony here, there had been a moment when he was supposed to kiss the bride. The officiant had sensed his reluctance and discreetly skipped it.

    Even so, that omission had left Amara feeling embarrassed and humiliated. He remembered hearing people snicker about it afterward.

    A wave of guilt and an inexplicable emotion washed over him. "There was something we skipped that day."

    Amara blinked, caught off guard. "What did we skip?"

    Without answering, Finnian leaned in slowly, closing the space between them.

    As his face drew closer, Amara''s eyes widened. What was he doing?

    Logically, Amara should have

    stepped back, but for some reason, she stood frozen. Perhaps it was the nostalgia of being back at their. ceremony site, or maybe the atmosphere had simply shifted. Whatever it was, she couldn''t tear her gaze away as Finnia moved closer.

    Finally, she felt the soft press of his lips. Finnian had captured hers in a kiss.

    Shocked, Amara snapped back to reality and instinctively moved to push him away.

    But Finnian gently ced her hands on his shoulders and wrapped another arm around her head, deepening the kiss.

    Finnian was not a habitual smoker, andtely he seemed to have quit altogether. He must have brushed his teeth earlier, as his breath was fresh, carrying a light, intoxicating hint of his natural scent.

    Amara felt dizzy, though a sliver of rationality remained, urging her to push against Finnian''s shoulders and attempt to say, "Mr. Everly, please don''t," but all that escaped her lips were muffled sounds.

    Suddenly, the sound of a door swinging open echoed through the room with a bang.

    "What are you two doing?"

    A woman''s voice, full of shock, rang out.

    Amara jolted in surprise, a mix of fear and embarrassment flooding her senses at being caught.

    She quickly pushed Finnian away and stumbled back, wiping her lips as she nced toward the entrance of the hall.

    There stood Liliana, d in an elegant gown, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes were wide with shock and fury.

 Chapter 259

    She stormed over with a fierce determination, her eyes locked onto Amara like a hawk spotting its prey.

    Amara couldn''t help but feel a pang of fear, instinctively taking a couple of steps back, unsure of how to handle Liliana''s fury.

    In a swift move, Finnian shifted to stand protectively in front of Amara, his eyes fixed on Liliana with a look so intense, it seemed almost palpable.

    Liliana halted in front of Finnian, her anger swiftly melting into tears. "Finn, what are you doing? How could you kiss her?" she asked, her voice trembling with hurt.

    Standing behind Finnian''s tall frame, Amara was almostpletely shielded from view. Yet, just hearing Liliana''s words was enough to make her feel a deep sense of shame and embarrassment.

    Even though Finnian had been the one to initiate the kiss, and technically, she was the victim here, being caught in the act by his actual girlfriend was mortifying. She wanted nothing more than to disappear.

    Sensing that this confrontation was not hers to resolve, she quickly turned and dashed out of the room.

    Finnian watched Amara''s retreating figure, something in his gaze suggesting he wanted to follow. As his foot shifted slightly in her direction, Liliana noticed and immediately grabbed his arm.

    "Finn, why?" she pleaded, struggling toprehend the situation.

    Once, on the hotel rooftop, Finnian had kissed Amara out of a misced sense of jealousy, thinking she had been unfaithful. That had been understandable, given the circumstances.

    But now, they were divorced. There was no reason for him to kiss her again unless... unless he actually

    had feelings for Amara? No, th

    couldn''t be! Amara wasn''t the sort of woman a man like Finnian would fall for Liliana convinced herself.

    Her lips trembled, lost for words, as Finnian''s expression remained stern. "It''ste, you should head back," he said tly.

    His words made it clear he had no intention of offering her any exnation.

    Not that he owed her one; he''d never promised her anything beyond gratitude for what he mistakenly thought was her rescue. He''d showered her with gifts but nothing more substantial.

    A month ago, she''d approached him with a pregnancy test. Finnian didn''t want the child initially, but her tears had swayed him to agree to co-parent, and nothing beyond that.

    But she wanted more than just being "the mother of Mr. Everly''s child.¡± It was clear Finnian had no ns to marry her, and now, seeing his cold demeanor, it seemed he was e annoyed at her for interrupting him with Amara.

    Anger red within Liliana, so intense she could have screamed. But she knew

    that wouldn''t serve her purpose. She needed a n.

    Her mind raced, and suddenly, she clutched her stomach and copsed to the floor, crying out, "Finn, my stomach... it hurts!"

    Finnian''s brow furrowed with concern as he scooped her up. "What''s wrong?"

    "It''s my stomach, it might be

    contractions from stress. Finn, can you take me to my room?" she

    moaned, her face ashen against her

    strikingly red lips, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

    Finnian carried her to her room on the third floor,ying her gently on the bed

    before urgently calling for a doctor.

 Chapter 260

    As Finnian stood there, his face a mask of calm while he spoke with the doctor, Liliana''s mind raced.

    It seemed Finnian had some feelings for Amara. She didn''t know the specifics, but she had to ept this reality.

    So, she needed to change her strategy.

    After Finnian ended the call, she asked, "Finn, do you have any thoughts about Ms. Sullivan?"

    Finnian''s expression remained cool as he replied, "That''s none of your business."

    Liliana bit her lip, her resentment towards Amara deepening.

    She forced a smile and said, "I overreacted earlier. I didn''t mean to interfere."

    Finnian nodded, his tone still indifferent, "The doctor will be here soon. I''ll go meet him. You should rest."

    He went out to meet Liliana''s family doctor, who arrived shortly. Finnian then left the room, standing in the hallway, his mind drifting.

    After a while, the doctor emerged. Finnian asked, "How is she?"

    "Mr. Everly, there''s no need to worry. Ms. Porter is fine, just experiencing some contractions. I''ve prescribed some medication for her to take over the next few days."

    "Alright," Finnian nodded, "I''ll see you out."

    After seeing the doctor out, he returned to Liliana''s room to confirm she was truly alright before heading back to his own.

    It was nearly the middle of the night by then. As he stared at his phone, Amara''s contact page open, he toyed with the idea of calling her, curious about her evening. But he hesitated, worried she might already be asleep.

    Ultimately, Finnian turned off his phone, took a quick shower, andy in bed, staring at the dark ceiling, reying the day''s events in his mind until he finally drifted off.

    The next day, Elysia and Dorian''s wedding had finally arrived.

    The Hawke family was the second most prominent in Wye, just behind the Everly family, and the Moon family had its own significant standing. This wedding was a powerful union, and the ceremony was predictably grand.

    As the maid of honor and best man, Amara and Finnian arrived early to be by the bride and groom''s sides.

    Since the bride and groom weren''t supposed to see each other before the ceremony, Amara and Finnian didn''t cross paths until it began. But as the ceremony started, Amara couldn''t help but notice Finnian.

    Recalling the events of the previous night, she felt a wave of embarrassment and wished she could vanish. Thankfully, her face mask hid her expression from everyone else.

    She quickly averted her gaze, pretending nothing was amiss, though she sensed Finnian stealing nces at her and wondered what was on his mind.

    Amara tried to focus on blessing her friends, but remembering the drama between Elysia and Dorian, she found it hard to muster genuine well-wishes, leaving her feeling a bit helpless.

    Soon, the ceremony reached the

    bouquet toss. Elysia took the

    I.ne

    microphone from the officiant and announced, "I''m not tossing my bouquet. I want to give it directly to my maid of honor, my dearest friend, Amara."

    This was a pre-nned moment, and amidst apuse, Amara confidently stepped onto the stage. Dressed in her stunning wedding gown, Elysia handed the bouquet to her and said:

    "Ama, whether you marry or stay single, may you always find happiness. Love yourself first and foremost, because you are the most important."

 Chapter 261

    The words might not have been inappropriate, but at a wedding, they felt a tad out of ce. The room fell silent for a moment, yet Elysia remained unfazed, smiling warmly at Amara.

    Amara epted the bouquet, gave Elysia a hug, and said, "Ely, you deserve all the happiness in the world. Remember to always love yourself."

    In a typical wedding, the emcee might tease the maid of honor a bit.

    But knowing that this maid of honor was the ex-wife of the Everly family''s big shot, who also happened to be the best man, he decided against it. With just a couple of words, he ushered Amara off the stage.

    The ceremony soon wrapped up, and Elysia carefully lifted her wedding gown as she descended from the stage. Amara was quick to help with the dress, and they, along with the wedding nner and others, made their way to the bridal suite. There, Elysia would change into her reception dress and get a new hairstyle before joining her husband in greeting their guests.

    A knock echoed from the door as the makeup artist was just finishing Elysia''s outfit change. "Who is it?" she asked.

    Dorian''s voice came from the other side, prompting the makeup artist to open the door.

    Dorian strode in, ignoring both the makeup artist and Amara, who was lounging on the sofa. "Leave us," hemanded, eyes fixed solely on Elysia.

    In his gray suit and stylishly understated hair, Dorian looked dashing. Yet, a cold, almost aggressive aura surrounded him. Ever since he entered the room, his gaze hadn''t wavered from Elysia, exuding an intense aura that seemed unchallenged.

    Elysia, however, appearedpletelyposed. She nced at Amara in the mirror and said, "Ama, we need to get ready soon. I''m not up for a conversation right now."

    "Got it," Amara replied, understanding at once. She stood and approached Dorian.

    "Mr. Hawke, please step outside. Ely needs to prepare."

    Dorian clenched his fists, anger

    flickering in his eyes. It had been et

    days since Elysia had spoken to him properly or even wanted to see him. What was she ying at?

    "Leave us," he repeated, his voice firm. "Getting ready can wait."

    "But Ely doesn''t want to talk to you right now," Amara responded bluntly. "Mr. Hawke, please go."

    Her straightforwardness made the room tense with awkwardness.

    The makeup artist, unused to such scenes, huddled to the side, eyes downcast.

    Dorian''s face twisted in confusion,

    trying toprehend what had

    gone wrong. Just days ago, everything seemed fine. Now, with the wedding over, things felt strained.

    He stayed silent, rooted to the spot.

    Amara considered her options, then decided to push him gently by the shoulders, guiding him toward the door.

    Dorian looked at her in disbelief, stumbling a bit as he reached the doorframe. "What are you doing?" he asked, steadying himself against the frame.

    Amara, who used to fear him, had, gained confidence from their recent encounters. "I asked you to leave, but you wouldn''t, Mr. Hawked had no other choice. Sorry."

    With that, and amidst Dorian''s incredulous expression, she mmed the door shut.

    Dorian stood in the hallway, the urge to punch the door surging through him.

 Chapter 262

    Finn walked over and gave Dorian''s shoulder a reassuring pat. "Inviting Jessica over was a bit much, you know. Elysia''s got every right to be upset."

    "She doesn''t want to see you right now, so just give her some space. After the ceremony, you two can sit down and have a proper chat."

    "What are you talking about, Finn?"

    Dorian stared at him in disbelief. Finn was never one to mince his words or y the diplomat, yet here he was, talking sense and all. Had he turned over a new leaf?

    Without answering, Finn simply tugged Dorian along.

    Dorian nced at the closed door, realizing there was nothing he could do at the moment. Letting Finn lead him, they headed to the groom''s lounge.

    About half an hourter, Elysia, now all dolled up, emerged from the bride''s room with Amara. Finn and Dorian were already waiting outside. The four of them headed over to the reception area to toast with the guests.

    Though Elysia was giving Dorian the cold shoulder, she was perfectly cordial with everyone else. The toasting went smoothly, signaling the end of the wedding festivities.

    Elysia and Dorian would head back to their new home, while Amara could finally return to her ce.

    As she stepped out of the hotel, Finn intercepted her. "I''ll give you a ride home," he insisted.

    "No need," Amara replied, shaking her head. "I can get back on my own."

    "Let me take you. It''s tough to catch a cab around here." Knowing she had taken

    a cab to the wedding, he gently took her by the wrist and led her toward the parking area.

    Amara followed for a few steps before stopping abruptly, biting her lip.

    "Mr. Everly, I really can manage on my own," she said firmly, freeing her wrist from his grip. "But thanks for the offer."

    With that, she turned and walked away.

    Finn watched her retreating figure, frowning slightly.

    "Why are you so against me?" He caught up with her in a few strides, trying to keep pace as they walked.

    Amara didn''t have the heart to directly admit it, but she couldn''t deny it either. She just continued strolling towards the exit.

    Afterst night''s events, being around Finn was awkward, at least for her. Didn''t he sense that? Why was he sticking around?

    As they reached the entrance, Finn saw the determination in her eyes and decided not to push further. "It really is hard to get a cab from here. If you can''t find one, give me a call. Or call Will. Don''t push yourself too hard." .

    He nced at her onest time, concern etched on his face, before turning to leave.

    Once Amara got home, she reyed the past couple of days in her mind, puzzled by Finn''s strange behavior.

    It seemed as if Finn genuinely liked her. He had even stood up to Dorian for her, which had caught her off guard. Yet, she couldn''t fathom why Finn would harbor any real feelings for her.

    After all, Finn seemed to have a significant part of his attention focused on Liliana. It was unlikely he could truly have feelings for her.

    The more Amara thought about it,

    the more she convinced herself that Finn must have confused

    possessiveness with affection. That was the only exnation for his

    repeated ims of liking her.

    Deciding it was best not to dwell on things that were out of her control, Amara

    resolved to focus on the present.

    It was past nine in the evening now,

    and about five or six hours since Elysia and Dorian had retreated to their new home. Surely, whatever was going to happen between them would have happened by now. Amara texted Elysia, "How''s everything on your end?"

    Almost immediately, Elysia replied, "All good here, no need to worry."

 Chapter 263

    Seeing Amara''s rxed response, Elysia felt a sense of relief wash over her.

    On Elysia''s end, after she sent the message to Amara, Dorian leaned in and asked, "What are you up to?"

    Elysia casually switched her screen to a shopping page she had been browsing. "Nothing much, just replying to Ama," she said nonchntly.

    Dorian rested against her, taking in the sight of her in a silk nightgown, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders¡ªa picture of icy allure. He swallowed, then moved closer to hold her, nting a kiss on her hair.

    Elysia frowned slightly, cing a hand on Dorian''s shoulder to push him back.

    "Didn''t we just...?" she murmured, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "It''s been exhausting these days. Let''s just get some sleep."

    Her dismissive tone was a stark contrast to her usual warmth towards him. And before, no matter how tired or stressed, she never turned him down like this.

    Dorian''s eyes lost their warmth, turning cold as he stared at Elysia. "What''s gotten into you these days? Did you take the wrong meds or something?"

    Elysia shot him a surprised nce. "You''re the one who''s off. Don''t you realize how hectic it''s beentely? Aren''t you tired? Let''s just sleep."

    She genuinely felt drained,cking the energy for such activities, especially since they had already been intimate earlier. They weren''t new to this; why the sudden obsession?

    She pulled up the covers andy down.

    Dorian sat on the bed for a long time, staring at her indifferent back, waiting for her to turn around andfort him. When she didn''t, he couldn''t hold back any longer. With clenched teeth, he lunged over and said, "What''s with this attitude? What''s going on with youtely? Do you even want this marriage?"

    "What''s the point of asking now? Haven''t we already tied the knot?" Elysia yawned.

    "Get some sleep. We have things to do early tomorrow."

    With that, she pushed Dorian away, pulled the covers up, and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.

    Dorian stared at her weary face, frustration boiling inside him with nowhere to release it.

    Barefoot, he stepped onto the balcony, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag, watching the night outside the window, silent for a long time.

    1.n

    Around four in the afternoon, Finnian returned from a business trip to a nearby city and entered the CEO''s office. After dealing with some leftover paperwork on his desk he powered up hisputer toget back to work.

    A knock on the door interrupted him, followed by Liliana''s voice. Finnian looked up

    and said, "Come in," and Liliana stepped in with a small handbag.

    "Finn, I''vee up with a few baby names. Tell me what you think," she said,

    cing a paper filled with names on Finnian''s desk.

    Finnian paused, then nced down at the paper.

    It had over a hundred names, most of which were crossed out, leaving a few circled in red pen.

    Liliana leaned on the desk, her eyes bright with excitement.

    "Even though it''s early and we don''t know the baby''s gender yet, I think it''s better to prepare ahead. A name is a big deal for their entire life, don''t think, Finn?"

    You

    Finnian''s eyes remained on the paper, silent.

    After a while, he ced the paper back on the desk and said coolly, "I don''t have

    strong feelings about this. You can handle it however you like."

    Liliana bit her lip, watching Finnian''s expression.

    "Alright, I''ll think of some more then Maybe I''ll even consult someone it''s probably best to leave it to

    fels

    professionals for something this

    important."

 Chapter 264

    Liliana quickly straightened up, her face lighting up with a cheerful expression. "Hey there!" she said happily.

    Finnian nodded in acknowledgment, just as another knock came at the door. "Come in," he called out, and Dorian walked in.

    Liliana paused when she saw Dorian, swallowing back whatever she''d been about to say. With a smile, she said, "Oh, Mr. Hawke, you''re here. You two go ahead and talk business, I''ll leave you to it."

    Liliana was the kind of person who knew how to make a graceful exit. Without waiting for Finnian to usher her out, she grabbed her purse and left.

    As the office door clicked shut, Finnian leaned back and asked, "Second day of being a newlywed, and you''re not at home with your wife? What''s brought you out here?"

    Dorian pulled up a chair and plopped down beside him with a huff. "Don''t even get me started," he groaned. "Elysia''s been acting so weirdtely. She''s been distant these past couple of days. Last night, she even turned me down. I can''t figure out what''s going on with her."

    Dorian raked a hand through his hair, looking genuinely frustrated.

    When he said Elysia was distant, he meant in the bedroom. Elysia used to be so enthusiastic, buttely, she was like a statue. When he asked her why she wasn''t responsive, she just said she was tired. It was killing the mood for him, and after getting out of bed, he wasn''t getting any affection from her. It was driving him insane.

    Finnian shot him a look. "Isn''t the reason obvious? She didn''t want Jessica at the wedding, and you brought her anyway. Of course, she''s upset."

    "It''s not that," Dorian insisted. "She never used to be like this."

    He ruffled his hair again, then asked, "By the way, what''s going on with you and Amara? You''ve been really taking her sidetely."

    Finnian lowered his gaze and said, "I like her."

    ef

    Dorian''s eyes widened slowly, as if he hadn''t heard right. "You like her?" he leaned forward, staring at Finnian. "You like your ex-wife, Amara, with the scars?"

    Finnian frowned. "She has those scars because she was attacked. It wasn''t her choice."

    Dorian was momentarily speechless.

    He couldn''t believe that something so surreal was happening with his best friend.

    After a moment, he stood up and said, "Come on, let''s forget about work for a bit and go grab a drink."

    Finnian had to be out of his mind if he was having those kinds of feelings. He was probably just overworked. A night out might clear his head.

    Dorian didn''t give Finnian a chance to protest, pulling him up and leading him out of the CEO''s office.

    Meanwhile, Amara was off getting a prenatal check-up. The baby was still very small, so there were limited tests they could do, but everything was normal so far. Feeling happy, Amara texted Elysia, and the two decided to meet up for a meal.

    They chose a cozy little diner on Galleria Lane. As they ate, Amara asked, "How''s married life treating you? Has Dorian been any better?"

    "Well, he''s definitely better than he used to be. Maybe he''s feeling the difference now that I''m not giving him much attention," Elysia said with a shrug.

    "But he ran out this afternoon without saying a word. Probably went to see Jessica. It would have driven me crazy before, but now I just don''t care."

    Elysia really didn''t want to deal with Dorian anymore. She felt like she was gradually letting go of a lot of things. Given some time, she believed she mightpletely move on someday.

 Chapter 265

    Amara gave Elysia a reassuring pat on the arm. "It''s good you''re thinking this way. If you want to be with him, then be with him, but always put your feelings first."

    Elysia nodded, taking a big forkful of her Caesar sd, closing her eyes as she savored the vors.

    Amara was about two months into her pregnancy. Many women experience quite strong symptoms at this stage, but she was one of the lucky ones, only feeling nauseous once or twice a week, with hardly any other issues.

    Her belly was still t, and she moved around just as easily as before. So far, she felt no different than she had before getting pregnant.

    Today was no exception. After finishing their meal, she and Elysia went shopping. Three hourster, both were feeling a bit exhausted, and they decided to head home.

    It was just past nine in the evening, and the autumn night was dark. Amara

    carefully climbed the stairs, holding the railing for support. As she inserted her key into the lock, she was suddenly enveloped in a pair of strong arms.

    Startled, she almost screamed, but before she could, she found herself spun around and pressed against the wooden door.

    In the moonlight streaming through the hallway window, a familiar face came into view. The scream died in her throat as she recognized him.

    "Finnian, what are you doing?"

    Finnian looked down at her, the smell of whiskey heavy on his breath. Amara wrinkled her nose. "Have you been drinking?"

    He didn''t answer, just pulled her closer.

    He towered over Amara, his broad shoulders easily enveloping her small frame. He rested his chin against her neck, nuzzling slightly, his lips brushing against her

    ear.

    Amara felt a shiver run through her, though her heart raced with apprehension. She pushed at his shoulders. "Finnian, you''ve had too much to drink. Let me take

    you home."

    She

    and Sure what had happened,

    but it

    clear Finnian was drunk

    gout. It seemed best to get him home as soon as possible.

    Still nestled against her neck, he mumbled, "I''m not going anywhere." Amara sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and concern.

    She reached behind her to open the door, guiding him inside.

    Once inside, she closed the door and

    doff her shoes, all while

    slipped off her shoes, all while

    Finnian stood in the hallwayne

    SWI

    gaze unfocused and hazy

    Turning to him, Amara saw the ssy look in his eyes and knew for sure he was

    drunk. She pressed her lips together tightly.

    "Amara," Finnian murmured, running a hand gently across her cheek.

    "Why aren''t you saying anything?"

    She brushed his hand away and silently led him to the living room settling him onto the couch before heading to the kitchen. She returned with a ss of cold water.

    In one swift motion, she flung the water in his face.

    Finnian blinked rapidly, water dripping from his handsome features, still sitting on the couch, staring up at her in shock.

    With a thud, Amara set the ss down on the coffee table, her voice icy. "Finnian, are you sober now?"

    His eyes slowly focused, and he stood up, wiping the water from his chin, looking at her with a sheepish smile.

    "I''m sober now," he admitted, his voice slow and deliberate.

 Chapter 266

    He was always an incredibly handsome man, and now with his hair damp from the rain and his eyes a little misty, he looked like some sort of water spirit under the

    dim light.

    Amara turned her face away, her voice cold as she said, "Now that you''re sober, you should leave. And maybey off the booze next time."

    She turned and opened the door, her back to Finnian, not wanting to see him.

    A warm presence came up behind her, and Finnian wrapped his arms around her waist again, murmuring, "I don''t want to leave. I want to stay."

    A surge of frustration welled up inside Amara, even stronger than before.

    Earlier, she could make excuses for Finnian, telling herself that he was just drunk and out of his senses. But now he was clearly sober, yet still lingering. How could she not be angry?

    "Mr. Everly, could you please calm down? Whether your words before were genuine or just drunken babble, think about Liliana, will you?"

    "You have Liliana, and the child she''s carrying. You should be marrying Ms. Porter soon and focusing on your future together as a family, not wasting time here with me."

    Amara pried his hands away, her voice icy.

    The man behind her fell silent, and he didn''t move. It felt like he had turned to stone.

    Amara sighed.

    She opened the door wider and said quietly, "Mr. Everly, please leave."

    She didn''t know what expression Finnian wore. She didn''t look up to see; it felt as

    if time itself had paused, with nothing around her changing.

    Then, the space around her suddenly felt emptier as he walked past her and out the door.

    She breathed a sigh of relief, closed the door, and leaned against it, resting for a moment before slowly heading back into her apartment.

    To be honest, Finnian showing up drunk at her ce had surprised her. But so what?

    She was slowly letting go of Finnian, and besides, Finnian had Liliana.

    Even without these obstacles, she doubted Finnian could truly love someone like her, someone who felt... damaged.

    He was probably just confused for some reason, and once he sobered up, everything would be back to normal.

    After leaving Amara''s apartment, Finnian called Will to drive him

    home. When they reached his ce, Finnian sent Will away and took the elevator upstairs. He found the lights on in his living room, and Dorian lounging on the couch with a book.

    Finnian paused, asking, "What are you doing here?"

    Dorian had a key to his ce, but he usually wouldn''te over without a heads-

    up. Today, he hadn''t even given a warning. What was up?

    "Nothing much, just feeling a bit off, so I came over," Dorian replied, leaning back on the couch and taking a sip of his drink.

    "After dropping you off, I went home and found Elysia wasn''t there. I tried calling her to see where she was, but she didn''t pick up."

    "Later, when she came back, I asked

    her where she''d been, and she wouldn''t give me a straight answer. She said since I went out without telling her, she didn''t owe mean exnation either."

    "I told her I was out with you, but she didn''t believe me. She insisted I must have been with Jessica and started throwing sarcastic

    how

    much I tried to exin, she didn''t buy it. It''s driving me nuts.

    Dorian downed his drink as he spoke, finishing it off before reaching for the bottle

    to pour another.

    Finnian stopped him. "That''s enough. You''ve had quite a bit already tonight. Keep going, and your stomach''s going to pay for it."

 Chapter 267

    "Heh, she doesn''t care even if her appetite''s ruined," Dorian murmured, his eyes clouded with a mix of emotions that were hard to decipher.

    "By the way, where did you run off to earlier?" he asked, looking up.

    "I dropped you home first, but when I came back, you were gone again."

    "I went to see Amara."

    Finnian was slumped on the couch, rubbing his temples.

    Dorian froze in his tracks, lowering his ss in disbelief as he looked at Finnian.

    "No way, man, are you serious?" He nudged Finnian''s shoulder. "Do you really like Amara?"

    That afternoon, Dorian had visited Finnian at his office. Finnian had mentioned liking Amara, and Dorian hadn''t taken him seriously, thinking Finnian must be confused.

    So, he took Finnian out for drinks, trying to talk some sense into him.

    He thought he had seeded, but now Finnian was still saying he liked Amara.

    Having been friends for over two decades, Dorian knew Finnian well enough to know that he wouldn''t say something like this unless he meant it. So, did he really have feelings for Amara?

    "Yeah," Finnian nodded, "I really do."

    Dorian was speechless, staring at Finnian with an incredulous expression.

    "But even if you like her, what can you do?" Dorian sighed. "I dropped by your office earlier and saw a paper filled with names. Liliana must''ve given it to you, right? She wants you to help name the baby?"

    "What are you going to do about Liliana?"

    Finnian closed his eyes, a turbulent darkness swirling around him, and for a long while, he remained silent.

    Dorian sighed again, patting Finnian''s shoulder. "You really need to think this through," he said before getting up and leaving.

    Finnian stayed on the couch the entire night, only rising at the break of dawn when the first light crept through the window.

    Staring out at the busy street below, his thoughts were distant.

    Dorian

    already in

    his life, what could he

    possibly do? With a child in

    picture, what options did

    He needed to make a clean break. It was time to understand this truth.

    The next morning, Amara finished her

    to bump into Finnian as

    W and headed out for et

    soon as she stepped outsid

    She hesitated, ready to turn back, but Finnian caught up, speaking softly, "Get in the car, I''ll give you a lift."

    "No need, Mr. Everly." She turned, smiling politely. "I only need to cross the street to get to the set. It''s not a big deal."

    "Please, I have something to say." Finnian insisted, his eyes earnest.

    Amara nced at him, seeing the sincerity in his expression. After a moment''s thought, she got into his car.

    She had rented this apartment because it was conveniently close to the set-just a short walk away.

    Finnian drove barely a hundred meters before stopping at the studio entrance, pulling over gently. "Amara, I''m sorry," he said.

    Amara paused, puzzled. "Mr. Everly, what do you mean?"

    Turning to face her, Finnian spoke earnestly, "I apologize for my behaviortely. I won''t act that way anymore."

    The car was quiet, the space between them just a foot or so,

    words seemed to reso

    ugh that their ?

    the air.

 Chapter 268

    Amara was stunned as she looked at Finnian, hardly believing what she had just heard.

    Lately, Finnian had been a constant presence in her life. Sometimes he was a nuisance, other times he was a lifesaver. Her feelings toward him were a tangled mess of contradictions.

    But never in her wildest dreams did she think he''d apologize to her.

    "Forget about what I said before," Finnian mumbled, his eyes cast downward, hiding his emotions.

    "I won''t say those things again."

    Amara was taken aback.

    Were those things the derations of affection he had made? For some reason, her heart skipped a beat, if only for a brief moment. She quicklyposed herself and smiled, "Alright, let''s leave the past where it belongs. I won''t dwell on it, and I hope you won''t either, Mr. Everly."

    No matter what Finnian''s intentions were, the fact that he hade to apologize and seemed to be closing a chapter in their rtionship brought a sense of relief to Amara.

    She nodded to Finnian, got out of the car, and left.

    Finnian remained seated, watching Amara walk away, his gaze fixed on her until she disappeared into the studio entrance.

    Once in the break room, Amara shook off her lingering thoughts and focused on rewriting the script.

    They were in thetter half of filming Whispers of Winter. In about a month, they''d wrap up, and she felt a twinge of nostalgia. She wanted to ensure she did her best during these final days.

    As she sat at herputer, contemting the plot, the door suddenly swung open. Amara started, frowning as she looked toward the entrance.

    She never locked her door while working-it was a film set, after all, where barging in unannounced was rare. Yet here it was happening.

    Amara''s eyes narrowed as she saw Liliana burst in. "What are you doing here? Ever heard of knocking?"

    Liliana stopped in front of Amara, her eyes narrowing.

    "What''s going on with you and Finn? Why did he kiss you at the hotel the other day?"

    Liliana was referring to the incident on the eve of Elysia''s wedding, when Finnian had kissed Amara in the chapel where they had first

    nov

    exchanged vows.  fo

    Amara replied coldly, "You said it yourself-he kissed me. If you want to know

    why, maybe you should ask Finnian, not me."

    Liliana''s voice turned icy. "I didn''t realize you had such a sharp tongue. Never saw that side of you before."

    "Well, now you know," Amara said,

    her eyes meeting Liliana''s fearlessly. "Besides, what''s wrong with speaking my mind? If I didn''tol''d be steamrolled by you."

    Their rtionship had soured beyond repair, so Amara spoke freely, without reservation.

    Liliana''s gaze was steely as she slowly moved toward Amara.

    Her steps were deliberate, each one echoing with menace, her eyes locked onto Amara''s with an

    unsettling intensity. Amara sensed

    something wasn''t right and frowned.

    "What are you doing?"

    "Liliana, if you''ve got issues, deal with them elsewhere. Don''t take them out on me."

    Amara was beyond fed up with Liliana, and working in the same crew made avoiding her impossible. From now on, she''d make sure to lock her door.

    Liliana said nothing, just kept advancing step by step.

    When she was about half a meter away and Amara was preparing to push her

    back if necessary, Liliana finally stopped.

    She stared at Amara, about to speak, but then her expression twisted in pain. Her body swayed, and she copsed to the floor.

 Chapter 269

    Amara closed her eyes, looking so weak that she seemed to have fainted. The sight startled her.

    "What happened to you?" she asked, shaking Liliana''s shoulders gently, but there was no response. Annoyed, Amara felt a strong urge to curse.

    Was Liliana really unconscious, or was she faking it to pull some kind of stunt? She had barged into Amara''s dressing room out of nowhere and now this.

    Amara decided it was best to bring Cedric over to confirm. Together, they realized Liliana was truly out cold and immediately called 911.

    The ambnce arrived quickly, and Amara and Cedric apanied Liliana to the hospital, while the rest of the crew stayed back to continue filming.

    Sitting on a bench outside the emergency room, Amara''s face was unreadable. She didn''t care much about Liliana''s condition. In fact, if something serious happened, she wouldn''t be afraid.

    Maybe it was because she wasn''t as scared of Finnian anymore that she also felt indifferent towards Liliana.

    "What did you do to my sister-inw?" a sharp voice interrupted her thoughts. Hogan approached, his anger evident.

    "My sister-inw fainted in your dressing room. Did you hit her or say something to upset her?" he used.

    Amara stared him down coolly. "Hogan, if you''ve lost your mind, go get it checked. Don''t take it out on me."

    "What did you say?" Hogan''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    During the three years of her marriage to Finnian, Amara had always been the one to swallow her pride in front of the Everly family.

    But in the past couple of amilye

    something had changed. Amara was speaking up more, and today, she even dared to snap back

    "Amara!" Hogan growled, "What kind of attitude is this?"

    "This attitude," Amara replied icily. "If you really think I caused Liliana''s condition,

    go gather your evidence and sue me. Yelling at me won''t solve anything."

    Her words hit Hogan hard. His fists clenched, and his forehead veins popped out, but there was nothing he could do. Amara was a woman, after all; he couldn''t justsh out physically.

    "What are you two doing?" another voice cut in. Amara turned to see Finnian striding towards them, his gaze shifting between Hogan and her, with a slight frown.

    "Hogan, what are you doing to Amara now?"

    "Finnian!" Hogan protested, "It''s this woman who upset Liliana, and now she has the nerve to argue back. Aren''t you going to say something to her? Why are you siding with her?"

    "You''re the one who''s shameless! Hogan, if you can''t speak properly, maybe it''s time to learn!" Amara shot back before Finnian could speak.

    In the past, Amara would have endured silently, especially during the years when Finnian was absent and she faced the Everly family''s disdain alone. She had suffered through countless insults, crying herself to sleep at night.

    But now that she was no longer tied to the Everly family, and her feelings for

    Finnian were fading, she didn''t bother holding back her words anymore.

 Chapter 270

    Hogan was fuming, ready to fire back when Finnian cut him off sharply, "Hogan, what nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Amara."

    "Finnian?" Hogan stared at him in disbelief.

    In his mind, Finnian had always been not-so-fond of Amara. So why was he taking her side now?

    "Apologize to her." Finnian''s voice was cold and unwavering. "Don''t make me repeat myself."

    Hogan was taken aback by Finnian''s insistence. He couldn''t believe Hogan would use a phrase like "shameless" to describe Amara.

    In the three years Finnian hadn''t been paying attention to Amara, how many such insults had she endured?

    "No need," Amara said coolly. "I don''t want it."

    What good was an apology from Hogan, especially if it wasn''t sincere? She had no use for empty gestures.

    She turned to Finnian, her voice detached, "Today, Liliana barged into my dressing room without my permission, said some bizarre things, and then fainted."

    "Her fainting has nothing to do with me. I called the ambnce to take her to the hospital purely out of basic decency. Now that you''re here, I''ll be leaving."

    With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

    Finnian watched her retreating figure for a few moments before striding after her, "Are you heading back to the set? Let me give you a ride."

    "No need," Amara replied, her eyes fixed on the tips of Finnian''s polished shoes, a wave of bitterness washing over her.

    Liliana hadn''t been at the hospital long before Finnian rushed in. He must be really worried about Liliana to havee so quickly. Every action he took seemed to scream his concern for Liliana. Not too long ago, he had pretended to have feelings for Amara, and she had almost believed him. How foolish.

    Pushing down the wave of emotion, Amara sidestepped Finnian and walked away.

    "Bro, your wife is still in the hospital room."

    "Don''t call her my wife. She''s not," Finnian cut Hogan off coldly, heading towards the emergency room door.

    The door swung open just as the nurse wasing out. Finnian asked, "How is she?"

    "Ms. Porter is awake. She can be moved to a regr room and you can speak to her there. Please wait a moment."

    Finnian nodded, waiting a few minutes before following the gurney to the regr

    room.

    Once the doctors and other staff had left, he turned to the now-conscious Liliana, "What happened today? Why did you faint?"

    "Just overworkedtely. I was exhausted and fainted from fatigue. You don''t need to worry," Liliana replied, her face pale, forcing a weak smile.

    Finnian''s eyes darkened slightly. "Why did you go to see Amara?" Liliana''s heart skipped a beat.

    She bit her lip, looking a bit forlorn, "It was nothing, really. I just wanted to chat with Ms. Sullivan about the y and, well, ask about you too. Did Ms. Sullivan mention anything to you?"

    Finnian studied her for a long moment, saying nothing.

    Liliana''s heart began to race, panic rising within her.

    Today had been a disaster. She hadn''t anticipated fainting in

    Amara''s dressing room. It

    because of the stresstely. If known, she wouldn''t have gone.

    Did Amara badmouth her to Finnian? Would Finnian think she was trying to frame

    Amara by fainting there?

    Just as she was about to fabricate

    another excuse, Finnian spoke, "Focus on taking care of yourself

    and the baby. Rest up and don''t

    worry about anything else.

    His words were curt, but Liliana sensed he wasn''t going to press the issue further,

    which eased her mind a little. She simply nodded in agreement.

 Chapter 271

    Finnian had just left when Liliana immediately called her family doctor over. "After I fainted, what kind of tests did they run? They didn''t find out about... you know, did they?" she asked anxiously.

    No matter which hospital she visited, her family doctor was always the liaison with the attending physician. She had told Finnian before that she didn''t trust outside doctors as much, reasoning that her family doctor knew her medical history better. Finnian hadn''t suspected a thing, so they''d kept the ruse going until now.

    But fainting today had been unexpected, and it had scared her half to death.

    "Don''t worry, Ms. Porter," the family doctor reassured her quickly. "Nothing about the... situation was revealed."

    Liliana sighed in relief, dismissing the doctor with a wave of her hand.

    Staring up at the white ceiling, her expression slowly turned more intense and determined.

    The truth was, she wasn''t pregnant at all. The so-called "baby" she was carrying didn''t exist!

    That day when Finnian had been drugged, it wasn''t even her who had saved him!

    But she had seized the opportunity to make Finnian believe it was her, thus binding him to her. Now, with Finnian''s feelings for Amara growing increasingly uncertain, she had to hold onto this charade of a pregnancy, or she''d lose everything.

    ll

    Meanwhile, Larry Sullivan, who''d been in the hospital for over two weeks, was finally discharged. was recovering well, able to eat a walk normally, and could even handle work without issue. Fiona suggested throwing a wee home party to celebrate, and Larry agreed. The party was set for that afternoon.

    As Larry''s only acknowledged biological daughter, Amara was naturally invited to the celebration Though Fiona and Elowen intended for her to be a guest, Amara arrived at the Sullivan estate hours early. She spent time fussing over Larry, then helped Fiona prepare for the party, assuming the role of a

    hostess.

    Fiona was seething, continuously making snidements to try and drive Amara away, but Amara just yed dumb, dodging Fiona''s barbs with ease.

    By five in the evening, guests began arriving in droves. Amara and Elowen stood

    by the entrance, greeting guests and solidifying Amara''s ce as a hostess.

    Fiona was fuming but couldn''t openly confront Amara. Instead, she vented her frustration in private, cursing Amara under her breath.

    "Ely! You made it!" Amara eximed as the grand hall filled with the who''s who of Wye''s elite. After weing twodies, she spotted Elysia elegantly dressed,

    approaching with Dorian in a sharp suit beside her.  s?novel

    Elysia hooked her arm through Amara''s and smiled warmly. "Of course, I had toe. Your lovely stepmother sent me an invitation, and besides, I wanted to see you."

    Grabbing Amara''s arm, Elysia started chatting away. Meanwhile, Dorian, feeling sidelined, frowned slightly and slid an arm around Elysia''s waist. "Shall we head inside?" he suggested.

    "Yes, let''s," Elysia replied, her tone towards Dorian neither warm nor cold. To outsiders, it seemed like a perfectly normal interaction, but Dorian felt uneasy.

    The Elysia of the past few days was worlds apart from the Elysia he''d known. What on earth had changed?

 Chapter 272

    Dorian wrapped an arm around Elysia''s waist as they headed inside, leaving

    Amara to continue weing the guests. She nced at their retreating figures and then turned her attention back to her duties.

    "Oh, Elowen! There you are! I was wondering where you''d disappeared to."

    The voice arrived before its owner-a woman in her twenties, donning a champagne-colored gown, swept over and linked arms with Elowen.

    She was striking enough, with makeup applied a bit too heavily, and carried an air of superiority. Standing next to Elowen, they looked like they could be sisters, as if they were meant to stand side by side.

    Amara''s expression soured the moment she spotted the woman, and she quickly turned away, hoping to avoid her.

    "Well, if it isn''t Ms. Sullivan," the woman said, her voice dripping with fake cordiality, as she made her way over to Amara. She waved exaggeratedly, forcing Amara to acknowledge her.

    Her eyes flitted over Amara,nding with disdain on the mask covering her face. "Still wearing the mask, huh? Even at your father''s celebration? Don''t you think that''s a bit rude, not showing your face?"

    Her tone was theatrical, clearly designed to provoke, and Amara''s gaze sharpened. "Amelia Abbott, are you looking for trouble?"

    Amelia seemed taken aback for a moment before arching an eyebrow. "Well, look at that. The shrinking violet''s finally grown a spine. Who would''ve thought?"

    Amelia was the eldest daughter of the Abbott family and Elowen''s closest friend. Back when Amara lived with the Sullivan family, the two had often teamed up to make her life miserable, and Amara had not forgotten any of it.

    Elowen sidled up to Amelia, covering her mouth as she giggled. "Amelia, why bother? Have you forgotten what Amara looks like? That face could frighten the guests more than a mask ever could."

    "Ha, you''re right about that," Ameliaughed, her eyes filled with contempt as she joined Elowen in mocking Amara. The nearby guests, catching wind of the exchange, paused to watch, smirking at Amara''s expense.

    Amara''s fists clenched slowly at her sides.

    She locked eyes with the pair of them. "Elowen, Amelia, if you can''t speak like decent people, maybe you should just stay silent."

    Amelia''s smile dropped.

    "What do you mean by that? Did you just insult me?"

    Amelia had always seen Amara as a pushover someone who couldn''t stand up for herself. After hearing about her recent divorce, she expected Amara to be even more meek, not this bold.

    "Yeah, I did insult you. And this is my house. If I can insult you, I can certainly throw you out. Want to test that?"

    Amara''s icy stare seemed to catch Amelia off guard, her bold words leaving Amelia uncertain.

    Elowen, having already witnessed

    Amara''s sharpened tongue, smirked. "Go ahead, hit her. But remember, this is

    Dad''s celebration. He''lbbe furious if you ruin it."

    Amara knew Elowen had a point. Larry cherished his reputation above all else. If

    she created a scene at his birthday party, he''d never forgive her.

    Yet, she wasn''t entirely without options in the face of their taunting.

    l.ne

    "Amelia, you''re getting married soon, right? What do you think your inws would say if they found out about your little escapades with the chauffeur?"

    Amelia''s eyes red with anger. "Amara, what are you implying?"

    "Exactly what it sounds like."

    "You''re threatening me?" Amelia''s initial panic was quickly reced by a steely calm.

 Chapter 273

    "But what''s the point of threatening me when you don''t have any evidence? What driver are you talking about? I have no idea what you''re saying."

    Amara had indeed caught her in apromising situation with the driver, but there was no hard evidence to back it up. All she had was her word, and that wasn''t much to go on.

    Amara''s lips curled into a sly smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I may not have evidence, but your inws could certainly dig some up. Once the whispers start, you can bet they''ll be itching to investigate."

    "I believe it wasst August, in the underground parking lot, wasn''t it?"

    Amara put on a mock thoughtful expression.

    "You were already engaged to Aaron Barlow by then, so it wasn''t just an ex- boyfriend thing. It was cheating. How do you think the Barlow family would react if they found out?"

    With each word Amara spoke, Amelia''s anxiety grew, anger zing in her eyes. She leaned in close to Elowen, whispering harshly, "What''s with your sister? Did her divorce make her this brazen?"

    "Yeah, she got a bit unhinged after the divorce," Elowen shouted back.

    She sneered at Amara, "So, why are you here alone today, sis? Where''s the ex- hubby?"

    "Oh, my mistake, I nearly forgot you got divorced. The Everly family ditched you, huh? My bad."

    Elowen covered her mouth, feigning surprise, andughed theatrically. Amelia joined in, theirughter echoing through the room as Amara watched them, expressionless.

    And, of course, the performance wasn''t over yet. Elowen continued, "Even in ordinary families, a divorce doesn''t cut all ties. People still show up for family events unless it ended really badly."

    "Amara, I heard you and your ex parted on good terms? So he should have been here for Dad''s celebration, right? Where is he?"

    "Yeah, where could he be?" Amelia chimed in dramatically, "He must find you so repulsive he can''t even stand to be in the same ce as you."

    Their words barely settled before the two wereughing together again, leaving Amara clenching her fists slowly.

    Though she had told herself countless times not to engage with airheads, she couldn''t help but feel the sting of their words.

    "What are you talking about?"

    A cold voice cut through the room, followed by a tall figure who came to stand by Amara''s side.

    "Ama, what talk of bad blood? That''s news to me."

    The voice belonged to Finnian, his

    presencemanding and

    formidable. With a face as

    handsome as an actor''s, he carried himself with a natural authority exuding an aura that made people take notice.  s?novel

    He wore a tuxedo with a bow tie, his hair neatly styled, clearly havinge prepared for the event, not just on a whim.

    His presence was strikingly different

    from those around him, and as he

    stood there, he created an invisible boundary of exclusivity. Instantly, all eyes in the room were on him.

    Amara replied coolly, "Oh, it''s nothing. These two were just suggesting that we

    didn''t part amicably, that we had some big falling out."

    Her gaze was icy, her demeanor calm, as Elowen and Amelia gaped at Finnian in disbelief.

    What was Finnian doing here all of a sudden?

    "A big falling out?" Finnian''s lips curled into a sardonic smile.

    "I seem to have missed that memo."

    "Me too."

    Standing side by side, the former couple looked more like a united front than adversaries, their banter catching everyone off guard. The

    onlookers'' gazes shifted to curiosity, seeing them so in sync.

 Chapter 274

    Elowen was taken aback. "What are you doing here?"

    "I''m here for the celebration dinner for your dad."

    Amara silently frowned. She appreciated Finnian''s unexpected arrival to bail her out, but what was this about a father-inw? They were divorced; Larry was no longer his father-inw.

    Amara stepped forward. "Elowen, maybe you should keep an eye on your friend. We wouldn''t want her saying something inappropriate around here, especially not in front of Dad. Imagine how he''d react."

    Elowen red at Amara with a look that could pierce steel, wishing she could strangle her for the embarrassment. Why was Finnian here at the Sullivan family event when he and Amara were no longer together? Were they still on good terms?

    Just then, amotion rippled through the room as Larry made his entrance. A crowd quickly gathered around to ask after his health and offer congrattions. Elowen promptly dragged Amelia over to join the throng.

    Finnian edged closer to Amara. "Were those two giving you a hard time?"

    Amara cast a nce at Elowen and Amelia''s retreating figures. "Yeah, but they

    can''t bother me now. Why are you here, anyway?"

    "Fiona sent me an invitation," he said. "Do you not want me here?"

    His gaze was fixed on Amara, genuine concern in his eyes.

    Amara pursed her lips. "It''s not that."

    With Elowen and Amelia gone, the air between them felt a bit tense, a stark contrast to earlier. After Finnian''s apology and his promise to leave her be, they hadn''t crossed paths much until now.

    Looking over at Larry, Amara said, "My father is over there. I should go talk to him."

    "I''lle with you," Finnian offered. "I need to discuss something with him."

    Amara was surprised. "What do you need to discuss?"

    Finnian gave her a sidelong nce. "Rx, it''s business. Nothing to do with you."

    Together, they made their way over

    vel

    to Larry, the crowd parting easily to let them through. Reaching Larry, Amara exchanged a few pleasantries to maintain appearances before excusing herself.

    Just then, Elysia approached with two sses of wine. Amara eagerly took one. "Where''s Dorian?" she asked.

    "He saw some of Jessica''s rtives and went over to say hi," Elysia said coolly.

    "Jessica''s rtives are here?" Amara frowned.

    She remembered the Sullivans and the Bishop family didn''t get along particrly well. The Bishops were quite a small frypared to the Sullivans. It seemed odd they were even on the guest list.

    "Probably Fiona''s doing," Amara spected before Elysia could respond. "She''s been on a

    build connections. But going for the Bishops? She''s really scraping the barrel."

    Elysia nodded, casting a nce at Dorian, who was chatting with Jessica''s

    cousin. Her expression was unreadable.

    Noticing Elysia''s gaze, Dorian approached them. "What are you two doing here? Come on, let''s get something to eat."

    "I''m not hungry. You go ahead," Elysia replied coolly.

    "I''ll eat with you," Dorian insisted.

    A hint of a sardonic smile yed on Elysia''s lips. "Why don''t you eat with Mr.

    Bishop? You seemed to be having a great chat."

    Dorian''s brow furrowed. "What''s this about? I was just talking to him."

 Chapter 275

    "You and him can do whatever you want. You don''t owe me any exnations."

    Elysia cut him off coldly.

    Dorian''s eyes flickered with anger, just about to retort when Larry and Finnian strolled over, their conversation drifting to everyone''s ears in bits, "Let''s sign the preliminary agreement first, and hopefully, we can deepen our coboration in the future."

    "The Sullivan project has caught everyone''s attention, and we''re quite interested too. I''m sure we''ll have the chance for extensive cooperation down the line."

    Finnian and Larry exchanged a few words, but even those brief exchanges made Amara''s brow furrow.

    As Finnian parted ways with Larry and walked over to her, she quickly asked, "What did you talk to my father about? Are you working together?"

    "Yeah, it''s the new project. Have you heard of it?" Finnian replied, watching her. Amara frowned.

    She knew about the project Finnian mentioned. Currently, both the Sullivan family and the Everly family were developing it, but the progress couldn''t be more different. Instead of a partnership, it seemed more like the Everly family was lending a hand to the Sullivan family, evident from the rare sight of Larry''s usually stern face breaking into a broad smile. So, what was Finnian''s angle?

    "Why are you doing this?" Amara inquired, "It doesn''t benefit you at all."

    "There''s always something to gain," Finnian replied earnestly. "No businessman makes a deal without some profit in mind."

    His answer seemed straightforward enough, but Amara couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off.

    Just then, someone approached to speak with Amara, and she followed them to the doorway, leaving Finnian and Dorian to head out to the balcony.

    "Did you really partner with Larry?" Dorian asked incredulously after closing the door.

    "Partnership? Hardly. The Sullivan family isgging on progress and technologypared to the Everly family. It''s more like we''re offering charity!"

    Finnian leaned against the railing, gazing at the twinkling nightscape with a calm voice, "Charity or not, the Everly family won''t miss it. No harm done."

    Dorian scowled at him.

    "It''s not about the money. It''s about why you''re doing it. You said you were done with Amara, so why help her?"

    "Don''t tell me this is just about the Sullivan Group and not Amara. I''m not a kid anymore. That excuse won''t fly."

    "I''m not making excuses," Finnian replied. "just saw how tough Amara had it growing up. Helping her out a bit isn''t a big deal. Besides, if the Sullivan Group prospers, it''ll be good for her in the long run."

    Dorian''s face remained skeptical. Why help if he imed to have moved on? Seeing her struggle? Finnian wasn''t known for being a soft-hearted guy.

    "Finn, you''re bing more iprehensible," he said bluntly.

    Finnian nced at him, offering no rebuttal, "If you say so."

    As the evening wore on, the party drew to a close, and guests began to leave. Elysia looped her arm through Amara''s, Ama, are you staying at the Sullivan''s tonight? How about I crash with you? It''s been ages since we had a sleepover at your ce." C¨®ntent belongs to

    "Sure, I''ll have my room tidied up, and we can head up together."

    Amara and Elysia had been high school buddies, often staying over at the Sullivan''s back then, and even asionally during college. But since graduation, those sleepovers had be a thing of the past.

 Chapter 276

    Seeing the two of them eagerly heading upstairs, Dorian stepped in front of them, his voice firm, "No way!"

    He grabbed Elysia''s arm, "You''reing home with me!"

    Elysia looked at him, clearly annoyed, "Let go of me. I''m just staying over at Ely''s for one night. It''s not like I''m noting back. I''ll be home by tomorrow."

    "That''s not happening," Dorian stated without a hint ofpromise. "You''ve only been married for a bit, and now you''re staying out? Let''s deal with thister."

    Elysia stared at him incredulously, "Are you from the medieval times or something? Just because I''m married doesn''t mean I can''t sleep over somewhere else."

    Dorian was momentarily speechless, his face still showing his displeasure.

    Just as he was about to continue, his phone rang. He answered it, "Hello?"

    "Dorian! Where are you right now? I need your help with something. Can youe over?"

    Jessica''s urgent voice came through the line. The hallway was quiet, so everyone around, including Elysia and Amara, could hear it.

    Elysia''s lips curled into a sardonic smile. She tugged on Amara''s arm, "Forget it. Let''s just head upstairs."

    Amara shot Dorian a disapproving look, noting how he was now fully engrossed in his phone call, seemingly indifferent to the scene he just caused.

    She felt a surge of anger and, holding onto Elysia, turned away without another word.

    Behind them, Dorian continued his conversation, not bothering to follow.

    Back in the bedroom, Elysia let out a coldugh, "See? He might seem like he cares a bit more these days, but his top priority is still over there. That''s just how he is."

    Amara was also upset, but since Elysia chose to ignore it, she decided to let it go too. "Then let''s not pay him any mind. Let them handle their own mess."

    "Exactly, let them deal with it themselves!"

    Just then, a notification buzzed-Finnian had sent a message.

    Amara, still annoyed by Dorian''s behavior after Jessica''s call, felt a bit of misced anger towards Finnian too. She didn''t bother opening the message.

    Shrugging off her coat and tossing it onto a chair, she said, "I''m exhausted from today. Ely, let''s take a shower and get some sleep."

    "Sure, Ama, you go first. You should rest as much as you can."

    Elysia was always considerate of Amara''s pregnancy and wanted her to rest early, so Amara took the hint and headed to the bathroom with her towel and pajamas.

    While Amara was in the shower, Elysia sat down and scrolled through her phone.

    She noticed a message from Dorian

    sent a couple of minutes ago: "I have something to take care of. Head home early tomorrow. If you need anything, contact my assistant."

    A wave of frustration and resentment washed over Elysia.

    So if Jessica needs something, she can call him directly, but Elysia has to go through his assistant?

    In that moment, she felt an intense urge to block him entirely.

    Letting go of someone is never as easy as it sounds. She had been putting on a

    brave face for everyone, but inside, she was far from okay.

    Elysia looked out the window, a hint of sadness creeping into her eyes.

    "Ah-help-!"

    A sudden scream shattered the silence, making Elysia jump to her feet and look towards the source.

    The bathroom!

    The door was shut, the frosted ss looked murky, and something was thrashing around inside. Smoke was seeping out from under the door, enough to smell even across the room.

 Chapter 277

    In that instant, Elysia felt her heart leap right up into her throat.

    "Ama, what''s going on?"

    Without a second thought, she dashed towards the bathroom and yanked open the door.

    A thick cloud of smoke billowed out, engulfing Elysia''s face. She coughed violently, her eyes watering and barely able to open. Clutching the cab for support, she tried to regain herposure.

    Squinting into the bathroom, she could just make out the flickering mes through the haze, and a silhouette huddled in the corner, crying out in terror.

    Elysia''s eyes widened in shock. How on earth could a fire start in such a damp ce like the bathroom, and such a big one at that? This was practically arson!

    Yet, the bathroom door had been closed since Amara went in. How could this have happened?

    Her mind was in chaos, but one thought was clear-Amara was in danger!

    She looked around desperately for something to shield herself from the mes, hoping to find something to wrap around her and make a dash inside. Spotting a thick shawl nearby, Elysia grabbed it, wrapped it around herself, and, with a determined look at the smoke-filled bathroom, steeled herself to run in.

    "Ms. Moon, what are you doing!"

    Themotion had drawn the attention of the housekeeper, a woman in her forties, who rushed in and grabbed Elysia to stop her.

    "Let go!" Elysia shouted, "Ama is in there!"

    "Please, calm down. I''ll call 911 right now. She''ll be alright."

    "There''s no time for 911, I don''t know how much longer Ama can hold on."

    The thick smoke and dancing mes made it impossible to see inside. She had no idea if Amara had found a safe spot or was enduring the fire''s wrath.

    Elysia''s eyes were red with emotion, and she was just about to charge in when a pair of arms wrapped around her waist from behind. "Are you crazy? Stay still!"

    It was Dorian. He hade over and was holding Elysia back, trying to prevent her from doing anything reckless.

    Elysia was beside herself, practically ready to p Dorian. "What are you doing, let me go, you-"

    "Finn-"

    Dorian was holding Elysia back when he suddenly saw a figure dart past them, hastily wrapping something around themselves before diving into the mes.

    He recognized the figure immediately, his eyes widening in disbelief.

    It was Finnian!

    "Stop right there!"

    The smoke was thick, the mes were roaring, and yet Finnian had rushed in without hesitation. Dorian felt @surge of panic, instinctively reaching out to stop him.

    But it was toote. Finnian had already plunged into the inferno.

    Watching this unfold, both Elysia in Dorian''s arms and the gathered house staff were wide-eyed with shock.

    Inside, smoke swirled and embers flew as the temperature soared to unbearable levels. Amara felt like she was either going to suffocate from the heat or choke from the smoke.

    Crouched in a corner, she tried desperately to avoid the sparks that threatened to burn her skin. But the fire crept closer, her safe space shrinking by the second, and escape seemed impossible. Was this really how it would end for her?

    "Amara, Amara."

    Suddenly, a voice called out to her through the chaos.

    Amara lifted her head and thought she saw a tall, familiar figure. Could it really be him?

 Chapter 278

    No way, this can''t be happening. How on earth did he show up here?

    As the thick smoke filled her lungs, Amara felt her breath slipping away. Just before she cked out, she thought she saw a mirage, and then she felt something touching her skin. It wasn''t fire; it was the warmth of human skin...

    In the hospital, as she slowly regained consciousness, the sharp scent of antiseptic hit her nose.

    Amara opened her eyes and instinctively tried to move, only to be met with a wave of intense pain. She winced.

    "Amara, you''re awake," a familiar voice said, full of concern. "How are you feeling?"

    Amara''s eyes widened, and she saw Elysia''s face hovering above her, etched

    with worry.

    "I... cough, cough..."

    She managed to get a word out before a fit of coughing took over. Elysia hurriedly poured a ss of water and helped her sip it.

    After drinking, Amara''s throat felt a bit morefortable, so she said, "I''m okay. Is this a hospital?"

    "Yeah, you''re safe now," Elysia assured her. "The doctors said you were huddled a corner away from the mes, so you didn''t get any physical injuries, but you did inhale some smoke. Your lungs might feel a bit ufortable for a few days, but some meds should help. Are you in much pain?"

    "It''s not too bad. It only hurts when I take a big breath, but I can manage by breathing lightly."

    After a few exchanges, Amara was fully awake and the memories of what happened before she passed out came rushing back.

    With Elysia''s help, she managed to sit up, her brow furrowed in thought.

    The only other person in the room besides Elysia was Dorian, who was sitting on the couch, rubbing his forehead, and watching the conversation unfold. But Amara didn''t pay him much attention. Instead, she asked anxiously, "What exactly happened? You were just taking a shower, how did a fire start? The police are investigating the source, but there''s no news yet.¡±

    Amara sat on the hospital bed, recounting the events as she remembered them. "I had just stepped into the shower, starting to undress, when something next to me exploded. I think it was a stic container."

    "Then mes erupted all around me, and they spread so quickly. It was terrifying." "Oh, and one odd thing-the sound of that container exploding was really faint. If I hadn''t been in a silent bathroom, I wouldn''t have heard it over music."

    "No sound?" Elysia frowned. "It must have been a silencer device or something."

    "This seems really deliberate. Someone''s trying to hurt you," Elysia said, her expression darkening, eyes full of shadows.

    Amara''s face paled as she ran through a list of names in her head, her eyes growing darker.

    Suddenly, she remembered something that sent a shiver down her spine. "Thank goodness I went to shower first. If it had been you..."

    The thought of that oue made Amara break out in a cold sweat.

    Elysia had already considered that possibility. "That person genuinely wanted you dead! If I hadn''t been there with you, if I hadn''t heard themotion and yelled for help, you might not have made it out."

    Amara nodded. ¡°Yeah, who could possibly want to harm me.¡±

    Dorian cleared his throat and walked over, looking serious. "Are you two done talking? Finn is still in the hospital bed, you know."

    Finnian?

    The mention of his name jolted Amara''s memory. She recalled just before passing out, she had seen a familiar figure rushing through the mes towards her, picking her up.

 Chapter 279

    The handsome face looking down at her seemed to belong to Finnian, but Amara just couldn''t wrap her head around the idea that Finnian would risk his life to save her.

    But from what Dorian was saying, could it really have been Finnian who braved the mes to rescue her yesterday?

    "How''s Finnian?" Amara asked immediately. "Was it really him who saved me yesterday?"

    "Yeah, it was him," Dorian replied. "He passed out from carbon monoxide poisoning after getting you out. He''s still in critical condition. Do you want to see him?"

    Dorian''s face betrayed no emotion, but his eyes were clearly filled with intense discontent.

    Amara closed her eyes momentarily and said, "Alright, I''ll go see him."

    With Elysia''s support, Amara got out of bed, and the three of them made their way to Finnian''s hospital room.

    Dorian had exaggerated a little-Finnian had indeed been in a life-threatening situation, but he''d been stabilized a few hours ago. He was out of immediate danger, though still unconscious, and no one knew when he''d wake up.

    Amara entered the room. Finniany there, his handsome face ghostly pale, looking so fragile, a stark contrast to his usualposed self.

    Amara''s heart ached, but she showed no sign of it. Her expression remained cool, almost indifferent.

    Dorian had been watching her closely, his frown deepening, and he said slowly, "Last night, I got a call from Jessica and was about to head over when I saw Finnian running upstairs."

    "Finn had just received an anonymous text saying someone was out to get you. When I asked him what was going on, he told me, and we both headed up."

    "We saw the staff gathered outside your room, shouting, as the incident unfolded."

    Dorian had apanied Finnian

    upstairs partly because he was

    worried about Elysia, who was

    Amara, and feared she might get caught up in it.

    Amara pondered, who could have wanted to harm her?

    Elowen was her prime suspect, given their history. Elowen had tried to harm her before, even going as far as shing her face with a knife. Wanting her dead wasn''t out of the question.

    But Elowen wasn''t the only possible suspect. Amara couldn''t be certain.

    And who had sent that anonymous text to Finnian? Who was secretly helping her?

    "Ama, step outside for a moment."

    Elysia interrupted her thoughts, taking her by the wrist and leading her to the hallway. "Something''s up with Finniantely," she said.

    "During my wedding a few days ago, when you had that spat with Dorian, Finnian kept stepping in to defend you. And now, he''s risking his life to save you. What''s going on with him?"

    Amara hesitated and then said, "Finnian confessed to me recently. He said he likes me, but I just can''t believe it."

    Elysia was stunned. Finnian had feelings for Amara?

    If she''d heard this a few days ago, she''d have been just as skeptical as Amara.

    But after seeing Finnian risk everything to pull Amara out of the fire, she couldn''t dismiss it so easily.

    She furrowed her brow, deep in thought about the whole situation.

    Finally, she gripped Amara''s wrist and said, "No matter what, don''t get back together with him. Remember, Liliana is still carrying his child."

 Chapter 280

    She was genuinely worried.

    Elysia knew better than anyone how much Amara liked Finnian, and now that Finnian was showing interest in Amara, she was terrified Amara would fall into the same trap again.

    "Ely, don''t worry, I won''t," Amara reassured her, patting Elysia''s shoulder with a touch of sadness in her eyes.

    "He''s still tangled up with Liliana. Why would I get involved with him?"

    "That''s good. You really need to think these things through."

    Just then, a worried voice broke through. "Ama, how are you? You didn''t call me -I was worried sick."

    Before Amara could even register the person rushing toward her, she was enveloped in a bear hug.

    The sudden embrace nearly knocked the breath out of her. "Keith, what the heck? Let go of me!" she protested, yfully hitting his shoulder. After all, she had worked hard to look this good, and she''d kill Keith if he messed it up.

    "Are you okay? Did you get burned? Is it serious?"

    Keith was still in his stage costume, a vintage suit from a 1920s-themed y. It wasn''t too oundish, but the expression on his face shed hriously with his attire, making Amara burst intoughter.

    "Laugh all you want, but I''ve been worried sick. How can you find this funny?" Keith grumbled.

    "Worried about what? I''m perfectly fine, and can you chill out a bit in public?"

    "Nope!" Keith dered, hugging Amara even tighter and giving her a reassuring pat on the back.

    The two of them made quite the pair-Keith tall and broad, Amara petite and graceful. Elysia watched them with a mix of amusement and exasperation but stayed silent.

    Their moment was interrupted, though, as two hands appeared out of nowhere, prying Keith and Amara apart.

    A strikingly handsome face wedged itself between them, speaking in a cold tone, "What are you two doing? Can you be mindful of your surroundings in public?"

    Keith turned to face the new arrival, frowning, "Who the heck are you?"

    "It doesn''t matter who I am," the man, Dorian, replied with a dismissive huff.

    "Are you trying to start something?" Keith shot back, immediately suspicious of Dorian''s intentions.

    Just as things were heating up, Elysia sauntered over, tapping Keith on the shoulder. "Remember the photo I sent you? This is my husband."

    Keith looked Dorian up and down, eyebrows knitted in confusion.

    Dorian, too, was staring daggers at Keith. "Are you two close friends?" he asked Elysia.

    "Yep," Elysia replied casually. "Why do you ask?"

    With Elysia confirming their friendship, Dorian''s expression darkened further. "You''re friends, yet you''re hugging in public like that? Maybe be a bit more considerate."

    He was clearly referring to Amara and Keith. Elysia was taken

    aback Dorian usually didn''t meddle in other people''s business. What had

    gotten into him today?

    Suddenly, a realization hit her-Finnian''s confession to Amara. It all made sense

    now.

    Stepping forward, she retorted, "They''re both single, and more importantly, what

    does it have to do with you? Why do you care if they hug?"

    Dorian''s face fell when Elysia undermined him in front of the others.

    "What''s gotten into you, acting so hostile?"

    "You think I''m the one being hostile?"

    Elysia shot back sarcastically, "I should be asking you what''s up.. You''re not usually so uptight. Did you wake up stuck in the 19th century or something?"

 Chapter 281

    A group of nurses passing by couldn''t help but giggle at the exchange, and Dorian''s face turned as dark as a burnt toast.

    Just as the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife, a nurse approached them, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Everly is awake."

    "What?"

    All eyes immediately darted towards the room, and within seconds, Dorian was the first to dash inside, with Amara following closely behind after a brief pause.

    Finnian sat up in bed, his face pale but eyes bright with life, engaged in conversation with Dorian. When Amara entered, he fell silent, his gaze naturally gravitating towards her.

    Dorian, sporting a frustrated expression as if he couldn''t believe what he was seeing, stepped aside to give Amara space.

    She moved to where Dorian stood moments ago, sping her hands in front of her as she stared at her shoes. "Mr. Everly, thank you for pulling me out of there yesterday. How are you feeling?"

    Amara spoke without meeting Finnian''s eyes, unsure of his expression. The silence that followed was so profound it made her nervous.

    "I''m alright," Finnian''s steady voice eventually broke the quiet. "Were you hurt at all?"

    He reached for her hand, perhaps to check for injuries, but Amara noticed Elysia and Keith entering the room. Feeling awkward, she withdrew her hand. "I''m fine, Mr. Everly, no need to worry."

    She remained by the bedside,

    acutely aware of Finnian''s gaze pinned on her, particrly her eyes which made her ufortable However, leaving abruptly felt ungrateful given he was her savior. She pondered for a moment before adding, "Mr. Everly, I heard carbon monoxide poisoning can cause dizziness. Are you experiencing that?"

    "A bit," Finnian admitted, "but it''s not too bad."

    His slow speech suggested he wasn''t feeling his best. Amara considered her words carefully, "I really can''t thank you enough for saving me yesterday."

    "You''ve already said that," Finnian interrupted her gently. "No need to be so formal with me."

    Amara stiffened slightly, responding earnestly, "You can never express too much gratitude for something like

    as, Mr. Everly. I''ll find a way to

    repay you, and if there''s anything you need, just let me know."

    Her cheeks flushed slightly at her own words-what could someone like Finnian possibly need from her? Still, it was important to express her gratitude.

    Her feelings were a jumble at the moment. She was overwhelmed by Finnian''s selfless act and found it puzzling. Deep down, she struggled to believe that he truly had feelings for her.

    Finnian, too, was wrestling with his emotions. He had resolved to move on from Amara, yet the moment he learned she was in danger, he couldn''t stop himself from rushing back. He gazed into her beautiful eyes, remaining silent.

    "Ama, let''s go," Keith said, gently taking her wrist, intent on leading her away.

    "What are you doing? Can''t you see they''re talking?" Dorian sneered. "Finn''s just woken up, and Amara is thanking her savior. Don''t ruin the moment."

    Keith shot back a coldugh, retorting, "Sure, gratitude is important, but actions speak louder than words."

 Chapter 282

    "Mr. Everly, we owe you big time. If there''s anything we can do to help you in the future, just say the word. And let''s skip the formalities, alright?"

    Dorian''s brow furrowed with a hint of annoyance, ready to speak when Finnian interrupted, "Dorian, leave it."

    He turned to Amara, "You should go, Amara."

    Amara nodded, "Thanks, Mr. Everly. I''ll be heading out."

    She turned and left with Keith, Dorian''s eyes glued to her back until the door clicked shut.

    As soon as the door closed, Dorian anxiously asked, "Why did you let her go? Even if I don''t approve of you two being together, you can''t just..."

    "Let it go," Finnian''s voice was low but firm.

    "What''s done is done."

    Seeing Finnian''s expression, Dorian remembered what Finnian had said a few days ago and the list of names Liliana had brought. He fell silent, frustration etched on his face, and gave Finnian''s shoulder a sympathetic pat. "Alright then, do what you think is best."

    Word traveled fast, and it wasn''t long before Liliana heard about Finnian''s heroic act of charging into a burning building to save Amara. For the first time, her polished exterior cracked, and she trashed the room in a fit of rage.

    Copsing onto the bed, she screamed, "What did that little witch Amara do to make Finn act like this?"

    "There''s no way he did it just for Mr. Everly. He wanted to save her himself. How could it end up like this?"

    "Liliana, calm down, think of the baby," Nora tried to console her.

    "Get lost, don''t touch me!" Liliana snapped, pushing Nora away. She stood up, smoothing her hair, eyes glinting with determination.

    "Get the car ready. I''m going to see Finn."

    Liliana arrived at the hospital swiftly. Inside the room, Finnian and Dorian were talking. As soon as Liliana entered, Dorian excused himself.

    si

    Sitting beside Finnian''s bed, she first inquired about his health before ¡¤ gingerly asking, "Finn, do you have feelings for Ms. Sullivan?"

    Finnian nodded, "Yes."

    Liliana froze. He admitted it so openly?

    A storm of hatred and jealousy

    welled

    tro inside her, her nails

    digging into her palms as

    I with rage. Conteel

    belongs

    "What do you n to do about it?" she asked, forcing a smile, "Do you intend to be with Ms. Sullivan?"

    "No," Finnian replied, his eyes drifting to the window, his handsome face betraying no emotion.

    Not be with Amara? Was it because he didn''t want to, or because Amara didn''t?

    No! Even if they wouldn''t be together, she couldn''t stomach the idea of Dorian being fond of Amara!

    Unable to resist, she asked, "Finn, doesn''t Amara''s appearance bother you?"

    Finnian''s brow furrowed slightly, "That''s not your concern."

    Liliana stood up immediately, smiling, "I know, I was just curious."

    "Get some rest, Finn. I''ll be going now."

    As she left the room, her anger boiled over, snapping three nails as she mentally cursed Amara.

    "Liliana, what should we do now?" Nora asked cautiously outside the room.

    Liliana''s eyes were cold, "Let''s go. We''ll deal with thister."

    Afterpleting the discharge paperwork, Amara declined Elysia and Keith''s offer to apany her and returned alone to the Sullivan residence. The police were already there, investigating the explosion in the upstairs bathroom.

 Chapter 283

    Amara had been asking around, and the police finally revealed that they traced the explosion back to a small stic container. It was rigged with a silenced explosive device on a timer, making it tricky to pinpoint exactly when it was set up. They assured her there would be a thorough investigation.

    "Ama, you''re back," Larry said as he approached her, giving her the once-over. "How are you holding up?"

    "I''m okay, Dad," Amara replied softly.

    In truth, she hadn''t been physically harmed, just inhaled some smoke, leaving her lungs feeling a bit ufortable. She leaned against the doorframe, looking more fragile than she felt.

    Larry studied her for a moment. "If you''re not feeling well, take a few days off to rest. Work can wait. You don''t need to worry about earning money right now."

    Amara, now divorced from Finnian and without financial support from her ex- husband, knew this was Larry''s way of saying he''d take care of her financially.

    Nearby, Fiona and Elowen couldn''t stay silent any longer and walked over. "Ama, what happened yesterday was terrifying. I''ve been so worried about you," Fiona said, grabbing her hand as tears welled up in her eyes.

    "Even though we''re not blood-rted, you know I''ve always treated you like my own daughter. I never imagined something like this would happen in our family."

    "I''ve already fired those two security guards. Don''t worry, I''ll work with the police to get to the bottom of this."

    Fiona was quite the actress; even if she weren''t a housewife, she''d probably do well on Broadway.

    Amara pulled her gaze away, suddenly clutching her chest as tears streamed down her face.

    "Ama, what''s wrong?" Fiona asked urgently, reaching out to touch her.

    Amara turned away, avoiding Fiona''s hand, and didn''t respond. The room fell silent, the air thick with unease.

    Since the incident, although no one had said it outright, there was a creeping suspicion towards Fiona and Elowen. After all, the Sullivan family wasn''trge, and it seemed improbable that Larry would want to harm his own daughter. The other two had their motives, s¨¦naturally, suspicions arose.

    Amara hadn''t voiced her thoughts before, choosing to keep things unsaid. But now, her shift in demeanor towards Fiona was telling enough.

    Fiona looked flustered, quickly saying, "Ama, what''s going on? Surely, you don''t suspect Mrs. Sullivan, do you? Let her exin."

    "No need, I''m fine. I should get going."

    Amara wiped her eyes, putting on a brave face despite her apparent sadness, and edged past Fiona to leave.

    Larry watched her retreating figure, his brow furrowed so deeply it could''ve squashed a fly.

    Fiona and Elowen were speaking to him, but their words didn''t register. He strode over to block Amara''s path.

    "This wasn''t the doing of Mrs.

    Sullivan or your sister, I assure you.

    I''ll work with the police to ensure you get justice," he said firmly.

    Amara paused, a coldugh echoing in her mind, though her face remained impassive.

    "I know, Dad. You don''t have to worry about me."

    "I''ve got work to handle. I should get going."

    She refrained from ming Fiona ormenting on Elowen, but her detached demeanor spoke volumes. Larry watched her walk away, his brow still knitted in concern, unwilling to tear his gaze away.

 Chapter 284

    After leaving the Sullivan family, Amara was deep in thought about the whole situation.

    She figured there was an eighty percent chance that Elowen was involved, possibly with Fiona pulling the strings. Without Fiona, it was hard to imagine Elowening up with the idea of using a silencer on her own.

    If Fiona was truly behind this, things were going to get tricky. But Amara had faith in the police. She believed that with time, the truth would eventuallye to light.

    Shaking off the dark cloud that had settled over her thoughts, Amara decided to pay a visit to the hospital to see Finnian.

    Right after the explosion, she''d quickly covered her nose and mouth with a damp cloth. Even though Finnian had been in the mes for a shorter time than she had, he ended up with carbon monoxide poisoning, while she did not.

    Logically speaking, Finnian''s injuries weren''t minor; he should have stayed in the hospital a few more days. But when Amara arrived, she found him in the process of checking out, with Liliana by his side.

    Feeling like she hade at the wrong time, she turned to leave, just as Finnian''s eyes caught her retreating figure.

    "Amara!" he called out.

    Amara paused.

    Finnian took a few strides to catch up to her, pulling her to the side of the bustling hallway. Without asking why she was there, he said, "I''ve just been in touch with the police. They''re investigating, and I''ll help you get to the bottom of this. Don''t worry."

    Amara was surprised that Finnian was offering to help her investigate.

    "Mr. Everly, that''s not necessary. I''m already grateful that you saved me. You don''t need to go through all this trouble. I can handle it myself," she said.

    Finnian didn''t agree or disagree; he just looked at her intently, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

    Noticing Liliana peeking around the corner, Amara quietly said, "Mr. Everly, I just came to check on you. Seeing that you''re alright, I feel relieved. I''ll take my leave now."

    She turned and left, not ncing back once.

    Liliana joined Finnian, noticing his gaze still lingering on Amara''s retreating figure. "What did Amara want?" she asked.

    "Nothing," Finnian replied, dragging his attention back to his discharge paperwork.

    Back home, Amara felt exhausted and uneasy.

    The main issue was she had no idea who wanted her dead, and she

    feared that whoever it was might try again. This anxiety gnawed at her, like a relentless shadow.

    While she was brooding, there was a knock on the door. Amara opened it to find Keith standing there, and she invited him in.

    "When did you get back?" Keith asked, slipping off his shoes. "Why didn''t you let me know?"

    "You were busy filming, and I saw your updates on Facebook," she replied.

    "I could have taken time off. What''s more important than your safety?"

    "Come on, I don''t want to trouble you," Amara said, yfully nudging him.

    As they settled on the couch, Keith noticed the fatigue etched on Amara''s face. Knowing her cautious nature, he understood her fears. Let me get you a couple of bodyguards," he suggested. "They can be with you all the time, ready to jump in if anything happens."

    Amara shook her head. "It''s not necessary."

    Her near-death experience wasn''t a case of kidnapping or robbery; she''d almost been burned alive in her own home In such a scenario,

    bodyguards wouldn''t have made a difference.

    Keith, aware of her situation, didn''t push further. He ruffled her hair and said, "Just

    be extra careful when you''re out and about."

    "Okay," she agreed.

    They chatted for a bit, when suddenly there was a loud knock on the door, apanied by the familiar voice of Mr. Kevin Everly. "Ama, are you home?"

 Chapter 285

    Amara quickly stood up and hurried to open the door.

    "Grandpa, what brings you here? You should''ve let me know; I would''vee down to greet you."

    She helped Mr. Kevin Everly inside, with Lisa following closely behind, closing the door gently behind them.

    Mr. Kevin Everly settled down on the couch, gave a nod to Keith, and turned to hold Amara''s hand. He asked her again about yesterday''s events, his voice full of concern, and suggested getting her a couple of bodyguards for protection. Amara immediately declined the offer.

    He patted her hand reassuringly and said, "Finn''s back home too. Even though he had a bit of a scare with the poisoning, he''s young and bounces back quickly. You don''t need to feel guilty about him. But I must say, he surprised me."

    Mr. Kevin Everly mused aloud, and Amara''s instincts kicked in-she knew what wasing.

    Sure enough, Mr. Kevin Everly continued, "I never expected that boy to run into a burning building to save you. Though he won''t admit it, I can tell he cares about you, Ama. Have you thought about giving it another shot?"

    Amara shook her head firmly. "Grandpa, there''s no need for that. We''re divorced now."

    "Divorce isn''t such a big deal these days, and you two were married first; it''s not even remarriage, just reuniting," Mr. Kevin Everly pressed, sounding a bit anxious.

    Amara sighed deeply, her voice steady as she replied, "Grandpa, really, there''s no need. I feel good about where I am now. I don''t think Mr. Everly truly loves me. He probably just feels guilty for being absent before."

    Despite Amara''s efforts to dismiss Finnian''s feelings, considering he''d saved her life twice-once diving into a sinkhole and now this-rumors of Finnian defending her had reached Mr Kevin Everly''s ears.

    Initially, Mr. Kevin Everly had given up on the idea of rekindling their rtionship,

    but those rumors reignited his hopes, and he couldn''t let the chance slip by.

    Just as he was about to speak again, Keith chimed in nonchntly, "Mr. Everly, I hate to interrupt, but while it''s true Mr. Everly saved Ama twice we''ll find a way to repay that debt. But getting back together isn''t on the table."

    "So what if he has feelings for Ama? Just because he likes her, doesn''t mean she has to agree, right? What about the three years he was cold towards her? How do we ount for that?"

    "Our Ama has her own choices to make. It''s not like she has to follow Finnian''s whims, right?"

    Mr. Kevin Everly was momentarily at a loss for words, feeling slightly embarrassed.

    Amara spoke up, "Grandpa, it''s just not possible for Mr. Everly and me to get back together. Can''t we just keep things the way they are, with me as your granddaughter?"

    Keith''s words had hit Mr. Kevin Everly hard with the truth. Indeed, Amara had

    once shown a lot of affection towards Finnian, and he had ignored her.

    Why should she have to turn back just because Finnian suddenly decided to care? Why indeed?

    With his mind spinning, Mr. Kevin

    Everly stood up, saying, "Alright then, let''s leave it at that. I was just speaking off the cuff. I mainly came

    see how you were doing, and now

    that I see you''re okay, I''m relieved."

    He offered a few more casual words and made his exit. Keith lingered a bit longer

    before heading out as well.

 Chapter 286

    It didn''t surprise Amara when Mr. Kevin Everly came over and said those things earlier in the day. What caught her off guard was Finnian showing up at her door that evening because of it.

    "Did my granddade by today?" Finnian asked, standing at the threshold without stepping inside. "What did he say to you?"

    "Well."

    Recalling Mr. Kevin Everly''s words from earlier, Amara found herself at a loss for words.

    Finnian quickly added, "Whatever he said, don''t worry about it. I''ll talk some sense into him when I get back."

    Amara hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Thank you, I appreciate it."

    "It''s no trouble; it''s my responsibility," Finnian replied.

    He gave her a lingering look before turning to leave. Despite his tall and sturdy frame, there was a certain loneliness about his silhouette. Amara, unsure of what prompted her, called out, "Wait a minute."

    Finnian paused and nced back, "What''s up?"

    Amara contemted for a moment before asking, "Why are you interested in me?"

    She simply couldn''t wrap her head around it. Finnian had never seen her with her looks restored; the only image he had was of her scarred face, marked by those gruesome scars that even she found repulsive.

    Why would someone as impressive as Finnian be drawn to her?

    Finnian hadn''t anticipated the question, a slight smile ying on his lips before he quickly straightened his expression. "Does there need to be a reason?" he replied.

    That response left no room for further discussion. Continuing the conversation would only lead to an awkward tension. Amara chuckled softly, "Just curious, Mr. Everly. Take care."

    After Finnian left, Amara went through her nightly routine andy in bed, her mind reying the events of the past few days until she finally drifted off in the early hours.

    But Amara wasn''t the only one who found sleep elusive that night. Lilianay awake, pondering the situation endlessly. She couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off.

    Why on earth would Finnian be interested in Amara? It was a puzzle she couldn''t solve.

    The next morning, just after eight, Hogan showed up. He had heard about Finnian''s daring rescue of Amara from the fire and found it utterly bewildering, prompting him to seek his "sister-inw" for a chat.

    "Sis, Grandpa says Finnian''s into that girl-how''s that possible? Finnian''s not blind!" Hogan eximed the moment he walked in.

    Liliana''s face was a storm cloud. Indeed, Finnian wasn''t blind. Why would he like Amara?

    Amara might look decent with a mask on, but the photo of her unmasked face had made rounds on the inte, and it was enough to make anyone queasy. How could Finnian still be interested after seeing that?

    Seeing Liliana''s silence, Hogan continued, "Finnian really likes that girl? That''s insane. Maybe she cast some kind of spell on him."

    It was a throwawayment; no one in their right mind believed in such things in this day and age.

    Liliana replied coldly, "I don''t know what''s going on, but stay out of it for now."

    "Alright, sis, don''t stress out too much. Finnian''s probably just in a daze. He''lle to his senses soon. Take care of yourself and the baby; don''t let this get to you."

    After a slew of reassurances, Hogan noted Liliana''s nod and left.

    Even back home, Hogan couldn''t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong. After pacing back and forth several times, he couldn''t stand it any longer and went to Amara''s ce. The moment she opened the door, he blurted out,

    "What did you do to Finn¨ªan? Why does he keep saving you?"

    Amara had heard Hogan knocking persistently and calling her name, so she had

    no choice but to let him in.

 Chapter 287

    She had anticipated hearing something like this, and she looked at him coolly.

    "How should I know? Why are you asking me? Go ask your precious Finnian."

    "Amara, are you seriously trying to argue with me?" Hogan sneered, his expression icy. "Don''t think just because Grandpa likes you, you can do whatever you please. The Everly family still listens to Finnian."

    "Don''t you think your logic is a bit off? If the Everly family listens to Finnian, then go talk to him. Why are you here with me?"

    Hogan was caught up in her words, realizing he was getting nowhere with these verbal sparrings. He dropped the pretense and cut straight to the point: "I don''t know how you''ve managed to charm Finnian, but once this movie wraps, you''d better make yourself scarce around Wye. Don''t stick around Finnian and my sister-inw, or you know what''ll happen."

    Threatening her? Amara was livid, her anger boiling over.

    Since the day she married into the Everly family, Hogan had been a thorn in her side.

    Back when she was meek and mild, she had suffered under his thumb countless times. Now that she had finally gotten divorced and hadn''t done anything wrong, why should she put up with this?

    She stared coldly at Hogan, all her anger and resentment surging to the surface, her gaze growing icier by the second, making Hogan shiver involuntarily.

    "What are you doing?" Hogan scoffed, "Don''t think just because you''re looking at me like that, I''ll..."

    "Bang!"

    Amara grabbed Hogan by the cor and mmed him against the door.

    Hogan''s eyes widened in disbelief. How could someone as timid as Amara do something so aggressive?

    "Listen up, Finnian," she said fiercely. "If I hear those wordse out of your mouth one more time, I swear I''ll end you."

    Amara was beside herself with rage, shouting without a care if Hogan might retaliate.

    She was usually the quiet, easily bullied type, but when pushed to the edge, she could be a whirlwind of fury.

    She had already lost her temper in front of Finnian and Liliana once before; this was the second time she was losing it in front of the Everly family.

    She had indeed scared Hogan; his eyes wide as he stammered, "Amara, are you out of your mind? Did you take the wrong pills and lose it?"

    "You''re the one with the problem! If you weren''t, would you constantly shove your responsibilities onto others?"

    "Finnian says he likes me, how should I know why? If you want to know, ask him yourself! Stop bothering me all the time, aren''t you tired of it?"

    Amara released Hogan, still trembling with anger, breathing heavily.

    Initially, Hogan was taken aback Amara''s outburst, but slowly his gaze turned steely, his demeanor oppressive. Amara felt a twinge of fear but didn''t regret her actions.

    Hogan''s endless provocations would drive anyone to madness; she was justte to that party.

    "What''s going on here?"

    Suddenly, the door swung open to reveal Finnian and Liliana standing in the doorway, frowning at the scene before them.

    Someone had tipped Finnian off that

    Hogan was once again pestering Amara, so he had rushed over to the

    set, with Liliana joining him after spotting him on her way.

    Finnian knew all too well what kind of person Hogan was, and if he was seeking out Amara, it couldn''t be

    good. So he didn''t bother

    knocking and just opened the door.

    He hadn''t expected to walk in on such a scene, with Amara so upset she was

    trembling. Just how much had she been put through?

 Chapter 288

    He strode in, ready to speak, but as soon as Amara turned to look at him, her face crumpled, and tears spilled down her cheeks.

    Even though Hogan and Finnian were two separate people, she couldn''t shake the feeling that everything stemmed from Finnian.

    It was because Finnian had ignored her for three years that the Everly family felt they could bully her without consequence.

    Sure, theirs was a marriage of convenience, and Finnian wasn''t obligated to be kind to her, but couldn''t he at least stand by her side once in a while, just to show some support?

    Amara quickly wiped away her tears and dashed past them.

    "Where are you going?" Finnian frowned and immediately followed her.

    Amara, furious after her encounter with Hogan, stormed out. But halfway down the hallway, she realized that it was her lounge, and if anyone should leave, it should be them, not her. She stopped at the threshold, fixing her gaze on a distant tree, trying to calm her anger.

    "What happened just now?" Finnian''s familiar voice called out. She knew he''d caught up with her, but thest thing she wanted was to see him. "Your brother came over to interrogate me again."

    The words "ask me why you like me" were too hard to say, so she paused and rephrased, "Anyway, he said a bunch of nonsense, and I''m really upset."

    Finnian knew exactly what kind of person Hogan was and could easily imagine the things he''d said to Amara. His brow furrowed slightly, "I''ll make sure he apologizes to you. Don''t be upset."

    "Don''t bother making him apologize," Amara shot back immediately. "If hees near me again, I might just explode."

    "Alright, I won''t let hime over again," Finnian replied, his expression turning icy.

    "You should head back. Don''t stay here; it''s windy."

    Amara nodded, and the two of them slowly walked back.

    Hogan and Liliana had already left her lounge. Amara went in alone, noticing Finnian speaking to Hogan about something. She didn''t care what it was and simply shut the door.

    For the past few days, the police had

    been investigating the incident.

    Amara had been cautious, avoiding going out unless absolutely necessary, sticking to well-popted areas during the day, and never letting anyone into her home at night-not even ordering takeout.

    Finally, the investigation bore fruit. Finnian arrived at her home with a file. "It was Elowen."

    "I knew it!" Amara gritted her teeth.

    Thinking back to Elowen''s past misdeeds, the fear and helplessness during the explosion, and the heartbreak as mes consumed everything, her eyes turned a fiery red, as if they might bleed.

    Finnian instinctively reached out tofort her but stopped midway, realizing it might not be appropriate, and withdrew his hand.

    "Fiona didn''t help her. It was a woman named Amelia who did, and it was Amelia''s idea to use a silencer."

    Amara had suspected as

    much-Elowen didn''t have the brains for a silencer. But Amelia, despite her cunning, was still an amateur. If Fiona had taken charge, although Finnian''s connections would have uncovered the truth eventually, it wouldn''t have been this quick.

    Then again, Fiona was too cautious and would never engage in such reckless behavior.

    "Elowen was detained for a night, but Larry managed to get her out Now she''s locked up in the Sullivan family estate," Finnian continued. "I''ll help you get Elowen out and ensure she faces justice." ''

 Chapter 289

    "No need," Amara said quickly.

    Hearing that Larry had chosen to keep Elowen around filled her with a sense of mncholy and disappointment.

    But now that Larry had feelings for Elowen, if Amara stubbornly opposed him, even with Finnian''s help, it would only alienate Larry. That would mean losing her chance at shares in the Sullivan Group. She was clear-headed about this: patience was key. There would always be a future opportunity to deal with Elowen, but missing out on those shares would be final. She had to swallow her pride for now.

    Finnian understood her thoughts. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Elowen''s reckless and bold. You should be careful. Try to avoid staying at the Sullivan family home."

    "I know. Thank you for everything during this time."

    Even though the police had handled things efficiently, Finnian had been instrumental in uncovering the truth so quickly. Amara''s gratitude was genuine.

    Finnian looked at her intently. "You don''t need to thank me. It''s what I should do."

    His voice was deep, and Amara sensed the faintest hint of something more in his words. She quickly calmed her racing heart.

    That afternoon, Amara decided to visit the Sullivan family home to see Elowen.

    In just a few days, Elowen had lost a noticeable amount of weight. Her hair was disheveled, and her gaunt appearance was unsettling. Her cold gaze was like a ravenous wolf''s, making anyone uneasy.

    Amara stood at the doorway of her room, surveying the mess of shattered objects. Elowen had obviously wrecked the ce. Amara smirked. "Calmed down, have you?"

    "Amara, you witch! Do you know why I''ve hated you all my life? Ever since I came into this family, you treated me like an outsider, like my mom and were intruders stealing what betonged to you and your mom."

    "But there''s a huge secret I''ve been keeping. I''m actually Dad''s biological daughter too! I''m even a year older than you. By rights, I''m the rightful heir, not you."

    For over twenty years, Larry had

    kept his affair under wraps by iming Flowen was Fiona''s child from a previous marriage. This

    1.n

    secret weighed on him, and he often showed undue leniency toward Elowen''s misdeeds as a result. Though he wasn''t exactly a

    pushover for Fiona, he did feel guilty enough to be quite amodating.

    Fiona, with her strong nerves and long-term vision, understood that keeping Larry''s guilt alive meant keeping the secret. Elowen, however, was tired of holding it in and had wanted to blurt it out countle times.

    Elowen''s eyes bore into Amara''s. "Aren''t you shocked? Aren''t you furious? I''m Dad''s real daughter too, and I was here first!"

    She looked expectantly at Amara, hoping to see her crumble in disbelief. Instead, Amara remained calm, her clear eyes unwavering.

    Then, a look of derision crossed Amara''s face, as if she was watching a clown perform.

    Elowen was furious. "What do you mean by that? Don''t you believe me? Go ask Dad if you don''t!"

    Amara sighed. "Do you really think that''s a secret? Do you think everyone''s as clueless as you, unable to see what''s right in front of them?"

 Chapter 290

    Hearing the sarcasm in her voice, Elowen''s eyes widened. "You knew all along? When did you figure it out?"

    "Anyone with half a brain could see iting, Elowen. Not everyone is as clueless as you."

    Larry was such a conservative man, holding onto outdated values. The thought of divorce was beyond him, so how could he possibly ept raising another man''s daughter for thirty years, especially putting her above his own flesh and blood?

    It had to be that Elowen was his biological child, possibly his firstborn, which exined why he valued her so much.

    Amara''s fingers pinched Elowen''s chin, applying just enough pressure.

    Elowen, normally a bit sturdier and stronger than Amara, was now weakened. After days of fighting with her family, she hadn''t eaten much, leaving her powerless against Amara.

    "Blood rtion or not, what does it matter now? The Sullivan family hase to this point, and some things are just unavoidable."

    Amara''s gaze hardened.

    After over twenty years of timidity, she was finally rediscovering herself and was determined to reim what was rightfully hers.

    She released Elowen, stepping back. "Father didn''t confine you to the house to punish you. He just wanted you out of the public eye to avoid gossip. It''sughable that you think he did it out of spite, fighting with the family for days on end. You''re so ungrateful."

    Elowen wouldn''t understand the meaning behind Amara''s words. She''d only grow more resentful. Amara spoke freely, knowing this.

    She came to see Elowen''s misery, and having seen enough, she turned to leave.

    Larry stood in the hallway, his presence like a towering mountain. His face, usually so formidable, seemed a bit gaunt.

    As Amara approached, Larry spoke

    to her in a low voice for the first time. "Ama, your sister was wrong. I''ve confined her, so you don''t have to worry about being wronged by her anymore."

    Wronged? Almost being burned alive was just being "wronged"? Amara''s heart filled with a bitterugh.

    She looked up at him, catching a fleeting glimpse of guilt in Larry''s eyes. Yet he was too stubborn to offer even a basic apology.

    If it had been before, Amara would have been disappointed. But now having no expectations of Larry

    meant there was no room for

    disappointment.

    "I understand your intentions, Father, but these recent incidents have been tough.

    I... never mind, Dad. I''m leaving."

    Amara feigned a look of hurt but resilient, turning on her heel to go.

    Larry watched her leave, his brow furrowed with unresolved tension.

    "Hold it right there!" Fiona intercepted her as she stepped out of the house.

    Fiona, too, had lost weight. Once a well-kept woman, she now looked her age, her eyes sharp and intimidating.

    "Did you go in there to threaten Elowen? Let me tell you, if youy a finger on her, I''ll make you pay!"

    After over twenty years of pretending to be the gentle and caring wife, Fiona dropped the act.

    Amara replied softly, "We''ll see whoes out on top. I''d like to see you try."

    She felt grateful to herself now.

    Thankfully the woman she had be after the divorce was

    strong. The old her would have

    crumbled at Fiona''s words, reduced to tears.

 Chapter 291

    She locked eyes with Fiona for a few seconds, neither of them backing down, before she turned on her heel and walked away.

    Although Elowen didn''t get the punishment she deserved, Larry had her locked up, so she wouldn''t be causing any trouble for a while. With her crisis averted, Amara was in high spirits and decided to treat Elysia and Keith to dinner.

    Amara chose a restaurant that was understated yet luxurious-a ce that whispered sophistication. The three of them settled into a cozy booth by the window. Amara let them order while she gazed out, lost in thought.

    Once they''d finished ordering, Amara nced at the menu and realized they''d chosen all her favorite dishes. She chuckled and added a few of Elysia and Keith''s favorites before handing the menu back to the waiter. They began to eat, savoring the moment.

    Elysia and Keith asked a few questions about the Sullivan family. The conversation drifted to other topics, and they chatted leisurely for over half an hour. Elysia excused herself to go to the restroom and, on her way back, crossed paths with a woman.

    The woman had voluminous waves, red lips, and was wearing a sultry red dress -it was Liliana.

    Elysia rolled her eyes dramatically, clearly showing her disdain, and walked past her.

    But Liliana called out, "Ms. Moon, a moment?"

    Elysia stopped in her tracks.

    She was right by the table now, and Amara turned her head, matching Elysia''s cold gaze at Liliana.

    With a smile that didn''t reach her eyes, Liliana approached Amara. ¡°Amara, I heard the person who harmed you has been caught. Congrattions on getting through the crisis."

    Amara wasn''t interested in engaging, so she cut straight to the chase, "I don''t need your congrattions."

    Liliana wasn''t fazed by Amara''s bluntness. She flipped her hair and said, "I heard it was your stepmother who did it, and your face... well, it''s a shame really. They say you were quite the beauty as a child. Such a pity."

    Her tone was faux sympathetic, but the jab was clear. Amara''s eyes turned icy. Elysia was ready to p Liliana, but Amara stopped her.

    "Yeah, it''s your

    in bringing it up? Are you

    the end pity, isn''t it? So, what''s

    to see me down?" Amara

    Pas

    stood, her words as sharp as ss.

    Lilianaughed, "Oh,e on, Ms. Sullivan, why assume the worst about people?"

    Assume the worst?

    Ha.

    "Only a fool or a viin would bring up someone''s scars like that. Since you''re saying you''re not a viin, then what does that make you, a fool?"

    Liliana was at a loss for words, her smile faltering.

    ¡°Save it,¡± Amara interrupted. "Get out of my sight. I don''t want to see you."

    In the past, Amara had been wary of Liliana because she was Finnian''s woman, taking silent blows to avoid conflict. But recently, Amara realized Finnian wouldn''t truly harm her in fact, he seemed concerned for her safety. With Finnian no longer a threat, she had no reasomto fear Liliana.

    Seeing Amara stand her ground, Elysia and Keith were relieved and praised her once Liliana left.

    Meanwhile, Liliana stormed out of the restaurant, her heels clicking angrily on the pavement, and mmed her hand against her car door in frustration.

 Chapter 292

    These past few days, every time Liliana thought about Finnian''s feelings for

    Amara, she just couldn''t get a decent night''s sleep. She had to pile onyers of concealer to hide the dark circles under her eyes.

    As she settled into the car, her gaze turned steely.

    Finnian must be enamored with Amara''s personality, she reasoned. Amara always wore a scarf to cover the scar on her face, so she looked fairly presentable on the outside.

    But if Finnian were to see Amara''s scar, to witness her real, unsettling appearance, he''d surely be repulsed and would start to dislike her.

    The problem was, Amara never took off her scarf. Rumor had it she even kept it on while eating and sleeping. How on earth could she get Amara to remove it?

    Liliana pondered this, a shadow passing over her eyes.

    A few dayster, the film crew was ted for an outdoor shoot at thekeside park downtown, just a half-hour''s drive from the studio lot.

    That morning, there was a crucial scene to film-akeside confrontation between Keith and Liliana. Once the crew arrived, they immediately began unloading equipment, setting up the scene, and getting everyone into makeup.

    A makeup tent was set up not far from theke, where Liliana sat as the makeup artist worked on her.

    Nora entered, hunched over slightly, clutching a small box, looking visibly nervous. "Liliana, is it time now?"

    Liliana nodded coolly.

    "I''m still a bit scared." Nora admitted.

    "What''s there to be scared of?" Liliana snapped.

    Nora, naturally timid, recoiled at Liliana''s words. Seeing this, Liliana softened her tone, "Don''t worry, it''s just a small thing. We''re not doing anything wrong, we''re not spreading lies or rumors, right?"

    "Right."

    "Exactly, so get moving. We don''t have all day."

    Despite her fears, Nora had long been under Liliana''s thumb and dared not defy her. With a shaky resolve, she nodded and left the tent.

    Liliana let the makeup artist fuss over her hair as she closed her eyes, mentally rehearsing the day''s n. Confident there were no loose ends, she exhaled slowly.

    Today was the day. If everything went as nned, her future would be paved with sess and luxury. She repeated this mantra in her head.

    Soon, the crew''s greetings of "Mr. Everly, Mr. Everly," filled the air, and Liliana''s lips curled into a smile She counted down the seconds until she heard Finnian''s familiar footsteps.

    "Are you feeling unwell?" Finnian asked, stopping by her side.

    Earlier, Liliana had messaged him about the shoot, mentioning she felt under the weather and hoped he could be there for support. So here he was.

    "Oh, nothing serious, just a bit of a cold," Liliana exined, punctuating her words with a sneeze. "It started with one of the crew members, and now a few of us have caught it."

    The makeup artist, new to the dynamics among them, chimed in casually, "Yeah, I

    heard Ama''s caught it too. She seems to have it the worst."

    "Ama?" Finnian looked up, curious.

    "Yeah, Amara," the makeup artist rified. "Her screen name''s Amarise, but I keep forgetting her real name."

    Finnian turned thoughtful, and Liliana shot the makeup artist a discreet re before biting her lip. "Ms. Sullivan seems to be managing fine. She didn''t even take the day off."

 Chapter 293

    Finnian nodded, his expression giving nothing away.

    Liliana watched him closely, clutching her stomach. "I haven''t been feeling well this morning either, but for the baby''s sake, I avoided taking any medicine. Let''s hope today''s shoot goes smoothly."

    "If you still feel unwell, go to the hospital after we''re done," Finnian suggested.

    Liliana smiled and nodded, agreeing with him.

    Not long after, Amara arrived. She sneezed as soon as she stepped out of the car, rubbing her nose before quickly pulling herself together and heading toward the makeshift set.

    Keith joined her, reaching up to feel her forehead. "No fever, right?"

    "No fever, just a stuffy nose," she replied.

    "Then take some meds."

    Keith pulled out a box of cold medicine, but Amara shook her head. "No need, I already took some this morning."

    She ced herptop on a small table nearby and asked, "How about you? Any sneezing or stuffy nose?"

    There seemed to be a flu bug going around, with several members of the crew catching colds, but Keith appeared unfazed.

    Keith shook his head confidently, patting his chest. "I''m as sturdy as a rock. Nothing can bring me down."

    Amara chuckled, giving him a yful punch before opening herptop and making a few script edits.

    Keith lingered beside her, chatting and asking about the Sullivan family. Without looking up, Amara replied, "Same old story. Elowen''s cooped up inside, smashing tes and refusing to eat properly. She''s obsessed with going out."

    "What''s she want to do outside?"

    "She''s getting older and is eager to mingle with the Wye elite, hoping to find a good match."

    "And what''s Larry think about all this?"

    "He''s definitely got Elowen''s best interests at heart. But ever since the rumors about her causing trouble came out, her reputation''s taken a hit. Larry thinks she shouldy low until people forget about it."

    "But Elowen''s too short-sighted and desperate to get out, so naturally, they''re shing."

    Keith chuckled, "Hope their spat blows up. The bigger, the better."

    While they talked, Amara noticed a pair of eyes darting nces in their direction- Finnian''s.

    A smirk curled on her lips.

    Finnian was clearly here with Liliana. Amara had heard that Liliana caught a cold too.

    Even for a minor illness, he stayed by her side. Who''d believe he wasn''t fond of Liliana?

    So, if he was into Liliana, could he genuinely care for Amara? She was growing more doubtful by the minute.

    Just then, Finnian strode over, and Amara, not caring if he was there for her, turned her back to him.

    Keith saw Finnian approaching and

    in front of Amara, his tone

    . "Mr. Everly, something?

    your mind?"

    on

    Finnian nced at Amara, his expression as unreadable as ever. "She caught a cold?"

    "Yeah, Ama''s got a cold. I brought her some meds, so Mr. Everly doesn''t need to worry."

    Finnian eyed the medicine on the table, and Keith, catching his gaze, grinned wider.

    "I heard Liliana''s under the weather too, but she''s still able to work, no problem. told someone yesterday that even if Liliana''s symptoms are mild, Mr. Everly would definitely be here to take care of her. Looks like I was right. You two are quite the pair."

    His casual remarks left a chill in the air, Finnian''s gaze growing icy.

 Chapter 294

    Amara, though facing away from them, had her ears perked up, catching every word of their conversation.

    Finnian didn''t contradict Keith, which was a clear sign of agreement. Amara''s lips curled into a deeper, colder smile, though a pang of bitterness flickered in her heart. She quickly squashed it down.

    Just as Finnian was about to speak, Liliana approached with a smile. "What are you guys talking about?"

    "Just chatting about how you had a little cold, nothing serious, yet Mr. Everly still came to keep youpany. You two are really sweet," Keith replied.

    Liliana gave a genuine smile. "It''s okay. I heard Ms. Sullivan also caught a cold. Is this medicine for her?" She nced at the cold medicine on the table. "You really care about Ms. Sullivan."

    "Of course, if I don''t care about Ama, who else would I care about?" Keith said casually.

    While Keith was in a generally rxed and cheerful state, Finnian''s expression grew increasingly dark.

    The two stood facing each other, and it was as if the space was divided into two halves¡ªone bathed in warm sunlight and the other frigid as the Arctic. Even outsiders could feel the inexplicable tension in the air.

    Amara felt a bit uneasy and turned to tug on Keith''s sleeve. "Let''s find a quiet spot. I''ll exin the plot to you."

    This was clearly an excuse, but Keith was more than happy to let Amara lead him away. "Sure, let''s go."

    "Wait a moment." Finnian stopped them as they were about to leave.

    "Saturday at 5 PM, Grandpa is hosting a gathering at Vera Lodge. You shoulde," Finnian said, looking at Amara''s profile.

    Amara nodded. "Lisa already told me. I''ll be there on time."

    With that, she led Keith away.

    Liliana moved closer to Finnian, biting her lip. "What kind of gathering? Mr. Kevin Everly''s birthday has already passed, hasn''t it?"

    "Yes, it''s not a birthday party. Grandpa wants to announce something," Finnian replied, not delving into details, clearly not wanting Liliana to get too involved in the Everly family affairs.

    Liliana''s eyes dimmed a bit as she texted Hogan, "Is your family hosting a gathering on Saturday? What''s it about?"

    "I don''t know either. Grandpa just said he wants to announce something but didn''t specify what. Are youing? I can take you," Hogan replied.

    Liliana smirked slightly, not immediately agreeing, and replied, "We''ll see. I have to get back to filming now."

    Soon, the set was ready, and the main actors'' makeup was done. In a few

    minutes, they''d start shooting.

    Amara felt a chill on her cheek and sensed something was off. She touched her

    mask, frowning. Why had ite apart at the seam?

    wore on set was

    The mask she w

    different from the one she used at

    f

    home. On set, she needed tomunicate frequently, so her mask was more breathable, with tiny venttion holes, but the fabric was thicker and more durable.

    The mask she used at home was lighter with transparent holes and could easilye off, so her first task each morning was to switch masks when she arrived at the set.

    She remembered the mask was intact yesterday. Had ite apart from being worn too long? She''d need to buy a new one.

    Amara checked the seam again. It wasn''t too bad; as long as there wasn''t a strong wind or rain, it should be fine.

    Today''s weather was forecasted to be sunny, so she wasn''t worried and continued with her work.

    At that moment, Cedric called her over to discuss the scene by thekeside with Liliana and Keith.

    This scene was quite important, and

    Cedric had spent a significant

    amount of money renting out thekeside park. He hoped to nail the

    scene in one go, so Amara

    meticulously exined the plot to them, aiming to avoid any retakes. C¨®ntent

 Chapter 295

    Suddenly, Liliana let out a sneeze, rubbing her nose apologetically. "Mr. Zade, can I have my assistant bring me a tissue?"

    "Sure, go ahead."

    Liliana chuckled and waved over to Nora, who hurried over with a box of tissues in hand.

    Nora sneezed a couple of times as she ran, looking a bit pale and unsteady on her feet. Liliana said sheepishly, "I think I might''ve passed my cold onto her. Once we wrap up this scene, I''m giving her the rest of the day off."

    Cedric didn''t really care about whether Liliana gave her assistant time off or not. He just smiled nonchntly as Nora approached.

    Up close, it was clear that Nora was sweating and seemed feverish, her voice raspy as she spoke, "Liliana, here''s the tissue."

    Maybe it was the difort, or maybe she was just exhausted, but Nora wobbled a bit and identally stepped on a slippery pebble, losing her bnce. With a yelp, she stumbled sideways.

    Unfortunately, her fall led her directly into Amara, who was standing right by the edge of ake.

    In the blink of an eye, she grabbed onto Amara, and they both tumbled into the water with a loud ssh.

    Everyone within a hundred feet turned their heads, startled by themotion. Gasps and shouts echoed as the two women iled in theke.

    Cedric jumped in surprise. "What the heck just happened? Did they just fall in?" He was concerned, while Liliana was frantic, shouting Nora''s name as she rushed to theke''s edge, gathering up her skirt in her hands.

    In a sh, Keith sprinted forward, quickly shedding his heavy coat before diving into the water.

    Amara, unfortunately, couldn''t swim, but Nora could. She quickly made her way to the shore, copsing on the grassy bank and gasping for air.

    Finnian darted forward, ready to jump in, but Liliana grabbed his arm. "Finn!"

    "Let me go!"

    Finnian''s expression was fierce and intimidating.

    Liliana held onto him, pleading, "Keith''s already in the water. He have her out any second now. You''ll only make things worse if you jump in too."

    Finnian''s gaze was fixed on Amara, struggling in the water, watching as Keith

    reached her, pulling her close and swimming back to the shore.

    His fists were clenched tight, his body tense as a drawn bowstring.

    The moment t Amara hit the icy water, all her fears came rushing back. Memories of when she was twelve, being held underwater by Elowen, unable to breathe, flooded her mind. She nearly cked out, her limbs instinctively fighting against the water.

    But soon, a familiar figure swam towards her, wrapping an arm around her. "Ama,

    don''t be scared. I''ve got you," Keith''s voice was calm and reassuring.

    That voice, so familiar, instantly soothed Amara. She clung to his strong arm,

    closing her eyes, blocking out the terrifying water surrounding her.

    To avoid struggling and making it harder for Keith, she stayed still, allowing him to guide her up to the surface.

    She felt herself being set on the ground, a chilly breeze brushing over her wet skin, stealing thest

    warmth from her body. She of

    shivered, cold to the bone.

 Chapter 296

    As Amara blinked her eyes open, she found herself sitting on the grass beside Keith, surrounded by a crowd of people who were all staring at her in disbelief. More urately, they were gaping at her face,pletely stunned.

    Feeling a bit bewildered, Amara touched her face and froze when she realized her mask was missing. Her fingers brushed against her bare cheeks, and her heart skipped a beat.

    She had worn a mask since she was ten. It felt as natural as wearing clothes, and now, sitting in the sunlight without it felt like she waspletely exposed. She was suddenly overwhelmed with difort.

    A wave of nausea hit her, and she coughed up some water, clutching her chest. Keith immediately patted her back, concerned. "Did you choke on water?"

    Amara nodded, and Keith helped her to her feet. "Let''s get you somewhere to rest."

    They took a few steps before Finnian stepped in front of them. "I called 911. An ambnce is on its way to take Amara to the hospital for a check-up," he said, his gaze fixed on a pebble in the grass.

    Amara had been battling a bad cold and now, having nearly drowned, she was likely to develop a fever. Keith knew this was serious and nodded, agreeing with Finnian''s suggestion.

    He nced over at Cedric and the others, noticing how they were still staring at Amara. But now their expressions were mixed with shock, envy, and admiration.

    Keith frowned, wanting to shield Amara''s face from their prying eyes, but there was nothing around to use as a cover, so he just held her a little closer.

    The ambnce arrived swiftly, and Keith helped Amara inside. As the head of the film crew, Cedric needed to apany them, and Liliana, being the boss of the "culprit" Nora, also joined. Naturally, Finnian came along too.

    Finnian''s presence was logical from any perspective, and nobody objected to his decision toe along.

    Nevertheless, the memory of Amara''s face and her past connection with Finnian ignited a storm of gossip among those left behind.

    As the ambnce sped forward, the initial chatter died down. Suddenly, Cedric eximed beside Amara, "Wow, you''re stunning! Didn''t you have scars? Did you get them fixed?"

    "Yes," Amara replied, touching both sides of her face with a smile. "I used to have

    two nasty scars here, from someone who cut me with a knife."

    Cedric hissed through his teeth, cursing the person who had marked Amara''s face, then studied her features with renewed excitement. "Ama you shouldn''t be a

    screenwriter. You should be in front of the camera."

    "With your looks, you''d be a top star in Hollywood. You''d be a sensation."

    "Oh no, I could never be an actress. I''d rather stay behind the scenes," Amaraughed.

    Cedricughed heartily, then asked, "So why do you still wear the mask if you''re all better?"

    Amara instinctively touched her face again. "I just got used to it, so I kept wearing it."

    Cedric teased, "Afraid too many people will chase after you once the mask is off? With a face like yours, the line would stretch all the way to the Mississippi!"

    Though Cedric was joking, Amara felt a bit uneasy.

    The ambnce was cramped. With the doctors, nurses, and several passengers, space was limited Keith sat on her left, Cedric on her right, and across from her was Finnian.

    Finnian''s long legs nearly touched hers, and she had to be careful to keep her

    own legs from brushing against his.

 Chapter 297

    While chatting with Cedric, Finnian had his gaze fixed on the window, not even sparing a nce towards her. On the other hand, Liliana couldn''t help but steal nces at her, despite her best efforts to hide it. It was clear to everyone that Liliana wasn''t thrilled.

    "Hey, what''s up with you?" Keith shot Liliana a sidelong look. "Amara''s the one who took a dip, yet you look like you''re the one who got drenched. Is the pain contagious now?"

    Earlier today, Nora had identally knocked Amara into the pool, and her mask came off, revealing her face to the entire film crew, especially Finnian. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain that Liliana had a hand in this.

    Keith''s annoyance with Liliana had hit its peak, and he wouldn''t miss a chance to poke at her.

    Liliana forced a smile. "There''s no such thing as pain transfer, Keith. You''re quite the jokester."

    Keith chuckled dryly. "Well, if we''re talking jokes, you''re the real deal. Almostughed someone to death."

    That remark was a bit harsh, and Liliana''s face stiffened. Amara nudged Keith gently, "Take it easy."

    She wasn''t worried about Liliana Porter''s feelings; she just felt off and wanted some peace and quiet, hence her words.

    Keith immediately softened, whispering, "Alright, alright, I''ll zip it, okay?"

    His demeanor shifted aplete 180 degrees between Liliana and Amara. Finnian finally nced over, though his expression was unreadable.

    Soon, they arrived at the hospital. After a thorough examination, the doctor confirmed Amara was mostly fine, but she had a slight fever. They decided an IV would be best, so Amara was settled into a private room for treatment.

    Keith got a call from another film set, summoning him for urgent business. After giving Amara some words of caution, he left the hospital.

    Cedric also had to return to the set

    to manage the fallout. After

    a bit, he took off, leaving Fi Stav

    behind in the hospital room.

    Finnian stood by the bed while Amaray there. Neither of them looked at each other, the atmosphere awkward and tense.

    "How are you feeling now?" Finnian asked, his gaze fixed on a nearby potted nt.

    Without her mask, Amara felt exposed, like she was without clothes? She managed to suppress her difort, turning her head slightly. "I''m okay. Felt a bit off on the way here, but much better now."

    After the check-up, she had taken a shower and changed into clean clothes

    before the IV drip. She felt much morefortable now.

    Finnian nodded, briefly ncing at Amara''s face but not lingering. "Alright, get some rest. I''ll be on my way."

    "Thank you, Mr. Everly. Take care."

    Amara shut her eyes, listening for the sound of the door closing before she opened them again.

    Her heart was pounding against her chest.

    Ever since her face was exposed to everyone today, especially Finnian, she had

    been on edge, though she dared not show it.

    Once upon a time, all she wished for was to heal her appearance, to show Finnian how beautiful she was, and then...

    Now, even though those dreams

    ''t help but feel nervous

    her face. What was going

    on?

    She tapped her forehead lightly, trying to chase away those thoughts, and took

    out her phone to text Elysia.

 Chapter 298

    Liliana was waiting outside, tapping her foot impatiently, when Finnian finally emerged. He nced at her and said, "Let''s go."

    She nodded, keeping pace with him but fuming inside. Her mind was still reeling from what she''d seen earlier.

    When Keith had helped Amara out of theke, Liliana had caught a glimpse of Amara''s face beneath her scarf and was left absolutely stunned.

    A twisted jealousy surged through her, slicing her heart into pieces. How could Amara be so beautiful? What happened to her scars? How did they heal?

    Amara, the sly fox, had the nerve to keep wearing that scarf, pretending to be mysterious. What was her game?

    "How''s the n going?" Hogan texted her.

    Thinking about it only made Liliana angrier. The fact that it was her scheme that led Finnian to see Amara''s true face made her blood boil. She snapped her phone shut without replying.

    Finnian dropped her off at the photo shoot location, silent as ever. Liliana desperately searched his face for any sign of emotion but found none.

    Seeing that her cold wasn''t too severe, Finnian went off to deal with his own matters, leaving her there.

    Back at his office, Finnian didn''t immediately dive into work. Instead, he stood by the window, staring out at the cityscape, lost in thought.

    Later that evening, as Amara was getting through her second IV drip, Elysia and Dorian came to visit.

    Elysia noticed Amara wasn''t wearing her scarf and stopped short for a second before stepping inside. "How are you feeling? Fever gone?" she asked.

    Amara had only told Elysia earlier that she''d been pushed into theke by Liliana''s assistant and was now in the hospital with a fever, omitting the specifics. Amara nodded. "The fever''s down, but the doctor said I need to finish this second drip. Otherwise, it mighte back tonight because of the chill from earlier."

    "Then finish it," Elysia agreed, before adding, "Hey, why aren''t you wearing your scarf?"

    Amara recounted the day''s events, and Elysia, hearing the whole story, fumed, "Liliana again. Can she not stir up trouble for five minutes?"

    "Where did your scars go?" Dorian finally interjected, unable to hold back anymore.

    Elysia shot him a look, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Amara''s scars were healed ages ago. She was always this beautiful. Even as a kid. The scars were just a brief interruption."

    Elysia had been with Dorian for years, and when he first learned his friend had m married a woman with

    facial scars, he wasn''t exactly thrilled His attitude had often been a point of contention, leading to many arguments.

    Elysia adored Dorian, often bending over backward to amodate him, except when it came to Amara She was fiercely protective of her friend and wouldn''t stand for any derogatory remarks from Dorian, which had led to quite a few fights.

    Now, with Dorian seeing Amara''s unscarred face and looking surprised, Elysia finally felt vindicated, her wordsced with triumph.

    Dorian, realizing he was outmatched, retreated to the couch, choosing silence over further conflict.

    Later that night, after dropping Elysia home, Dorian headed over to Finnian''s ce. As soon as he walked in, he asked, "Did you know what Amara really looked like all along?"

 Chapter 299

    Finnian must have fallen for Amara after seeing her face, right? Otherwise, Dorian just couldn''t figure out why Finnian liked her.

    "Nope," Finnian said, shaking his head.

    Dorian was taken aback.

    Finnian wasn''t one to lie, especially about something so trivial. Dorian blurted out, "You mean to tell me you liked her before you even saw her face? How does that even happen?"

    Finnian shot him a chilly nce, and Dorian promptly mmed up.

    Great, now he was being protective. Dorian couldn''t even talk about it anymore. "So, how do you feel now that you''ve seen Amara''s face?"

    Dorian lounged on the couch, pouring himself a cup of coffee while he asked.

    Finnian leaned against the doorframe, his handsome face unreadable, and said something that left Dorianpletely gobsmacked: "Ever since I saw her face in the daylight, my heart''s been racing like crazy. It still hasn''t calmed down."

    Dorian spit out his coffee.

    "You''re a grown man pushing thirty. Could you not say stuff like that? It''s making me queasy."

    Finnian just gave him another look and turned away, ending the conversation.

    Recalling recent events and the evening when he saw Amara''s face, Dorian chuckled at the absurdity of it all.

    "Alright, alright. You can mull it over. I''ve got to head out," he said, thinking it was best to get home before Elysia started suspecting he was off with Jessica.

    Earlier that day, Amara had fallen into the chilly pond and was worried about her unborn child. She wanted to see a doctor but was hesitant to go to the general hospital for a check-up. Once her caretakers left in the evening, she pretended to head home but instead snuck off to a maternity clinic.

    After the check-up, the doctor assured her that her baby was doing fine, which was a huge relief.

    But once home, she remembered

    that she wasn''t supposed to take off

    her mask yet. She''d not only

    removed it today, but her skin had alsoe into contact with the murky pond water. Anxious again, she called her dermatologist.

    "Actually, you''re about ready to ditch the mask," the doctor said after hearing her story. "You should wear it for about five hours a day, give your skin some air the rest of the time, and in a month you canstop wearing it altogether."

    "As for the pond water, don''t worry. Your skin''s just like anyone else''s now. It''ll handle a bit of dirt."

    With that reassurance, Amara felt at ease.

    Taking off the mask was a bit weird, but it made her happy, especially when Cedric and the othersplimented her.

    Being pretty sure felt good, and since the doctor said it was okay, she decided to seize the moment and go mask-free to embrace her new life.

    The next day, Amara went to the film set without her mask. As soon as she walked through the gates, everyone flocked around her, eximing how beautiful she

    was.

    A bunch of young actors came over, calling her "sister" and praising her looks, urging her to ditch scriptwriting and be an actress instead.

    Amaraughed and chatted with them before finally escaping to the break room.

    The joy of being mask-free exceeded her expectations. She hummed a tune, sitting at herputer, and got back to revising the script.

 Chapter 300

    Just as she''d made a few edits, there was a loud, insistent knocking at the door, as if the person on the other side was ready for a fight.

    Amara found the knock oddly familiar and walked over, asking, "Who''s there?"

    "It''s me, open up!" came Hogan''s voice.

    A wave of irritation washed over Amara. What was he doing here again? Thest time he''d shown up, he had attacked her for no reason. What could he possibly want this time? Another fight?

    She yanked the door open and said coolly, "What do you want?"

    Hogan didn''t say anything right away, but Amara loathed him so much that her face twisted into an expression of pure disdain the second she saw him.

    Hogan was there to settle a score on behalf of Liliana. Liliana had mentioned wanting to embarrass Amara in front of Finnian by revealing her face without a mask. When Hogan followed up on the n, Liliana had been evasive, so he assumed she''d been humiliated by Amara again. That assumption fueled his anger and prompted him to confront Amara.

    What Hogan didn''t expect was to be greeted by a stunningly beautiful woman ring at him. Her eyes were clear yet alluring, her nose perfectly shaped, lips naturally soft and full, and her skin smooth and delicate. She was more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen.

    If he covered the lower half of her face, he knew exactly who she was his former sister-inw, Amara. So, this was Amara?

    Hogan was dumbstruck. How could Amara look like this without a mask? Wasn''t her face supposed to be scarred?

    "Do you have something to say?" Amara asked, noticing his speechlessness. She realized this was the first time Hogan had seen her without a mask.

    She didn''t want to give Hogan any sort of satisfaction, so she said in a low voice, "If you have nothing to say, get lost."

    The only reason she opened the door was to avoid Hogan''s incessant knocking drawing attention from the rest of the crew.

    "Amara." Hogan started, but he was at a loss for words.

    The tension was thick when a figure strode over, giving Hogan a cold re. "What are you doing here?" Finnian asked.

    "Finnian?" Hogan was surprised by Finnian''s presence and quickly said, "I just needed to talk to Amara."

    "I told you not to bother her again," Finnian interrupted.

    "Leave now."

    Hogan couldn''t possibly have any good reason to see Amara; he was simply there to cause trouble.

    After Hogan''s tast visit, Finnian had arranged for a couple of crew members to keep an eye on him. If Hogan showed up again, they were to notify Finnian immediately. He hadn''t expected Hogan to return so soon.

    IMS

    Feeling his pride wounded by Finnian''s blunt dismissal, Hogan opened his mouth

    to argue, but Finnian''s sharp gaze shut him up. Clenching his teeth, Hogan turned and left.

    With the area finally quiet, Finnian nced at Amara. His eyes barely lingered on her face before shifting to a nearby potted nt. "He didn''t do anything to you, did he?" he asked.

    "No," Amara shook her head.

    She hadn''t expected Finnian to show up and defend her so quickly.

    She wanted to thank him, but the atmosphere between them felt strange, and she couldn''t find the words.

    Finnian was typically a calm and

    reserved person, but Amara couldn''t shake the feeling that he seemed even more distanttely, especially toward her, as if he was constantly on edge.

 Chapter 301

    His eyes never lingered on her face for too long, always darting away quicker than you''d expect in a normal conversation. It felt almost deliberately awkward.

    "That''s good to hear," said Finnian.

    "If he bothers you again, just give me a call. I''m heading out now."

    With that said, he turned on his heel and left.

    Amara watched him go, a bit puzzled by how strange Finnian had betely. When Finnian had arrived, she''d been on the phone with Dorian, but the moment he showed up, she hung up.

    Back at the office, Dorian immediately messaged him, "Did you manage to talk to Amara?" He added a teasing emoji at the end.

    Finnian, not in the mood for banter, replied with a simple "Just exchanged a few words," then shut off his phone.

    Dorian was lounging in his living room, reading Finnian''s reply. He sighed and remarked to hispanion, Elysia Moon, "Back when Amara used to keep her face covered, Finn was all over her. Now that she''s revealed her face, he''s too shy to even chat her up."

    Finnian used to be a pretty assertive guy. In the past, he wouldn''t have settled for "just exchanging a few words" with Amara; he''d have stuck around, talking her ear off. But now, faced with her beauty, he seemed too bashful to engage. How adorably innocent.

    Elysia rolled her eyes. "He better not say more. Ama doesn''t seem too interested in his chatter anyway."

    "What''s that supposed to mean? You think my buddy isn''t good enough for your friend?" Dorian retorted, eyebrows raised in mock indignation. "What''s wrong with my buddy?"

    Elysia merely chuckled, "He''s not good enough in any way."

    Dorian paused, surprised by her bluntness, and chased after her, determined to argue his point. Elysia, uninterested in a debate, simply shrugged him off and walked away.

    Meanwhile, Finnian was still trying to wrap his head around it all. How on earth did Amara end up looking like that?

    Just then, his phone buzzed with a message from Liliana Porter: "Did youe by the set today?"

    "Yep, already left," he replied.

    Liliana didn''t press further, likely guessing he''d run into Amara. Finnian didn''t

    dwell on what Liliana might be thinking; his mind was still upied with the image of Amara.

    "Oh, by the way, are youing to Grandpa''s party on Saturday?" he suddenly remembered to ask.

    He''d previously invited Liliana, who had said she''d see how things went, but never confirmed. So he asked once more.

    "I''ll be there," she replied promptly this time, and Finnian sent back an "OK" emoji.

    Saturday rolled around quickly, and the party was held in the grand hall of Vera Lodge''s first floor. It wasn''t just the Everly family in attendance, a few notable families from the area were there too, but only those on par with the Everlys. The slightly less prestigious families hadn''t made the cut.

    Amara had gotten a call from Lisa earlier, and had been getting ready since around two in the afternoon She chose a blue-purple dress, a bit fancienthan her usual attire but not over the top Her hair was styled loose waves, casually draped over her shoulders. She applied a wless makeup look, and when she stood before the mirror, even she was taken aback by her own beauty.

    She rarely went for full makeup, often just focusing on her eyes, so this was a treat Her already lovely features were enhanced, and as she admired her reflection, she couldn''t help but smile.

    With everything packed, she got in her car and headed to Vera Lodge. As she walked into the hall, she felt a mix of excitement and anticipation.

 Chapter 302

    As Amara had anticipated, the moment she stepped into the grand hall, a wave of surprise swept across the crowd.

    Apart from Finnian and a few others, no one had ever seen Amara without her mask. They were all taken aback by the stunning beauty who had just entered, only to realize momentster that it was indeed Amara. Their surprise deepened.

    Amara felt a flutter of nerves. She had spent years working behind the scenes, her self-esteem bruised by the scars she bore, and had never been the center of attention for her looks. Her heart raced a little faster.

    Taking a deep breath, sheposed herself and walked in as if nothing was amiss.

    "Is that you, Ama? Did you get your face treated? You look absolutely stunning," Martin and Andrea eximed as they approached her, theirpliments genuine.

    Amara nodded in acknowledgment, exchanging a few casual words with them. Soon enough, Peter and Bess joined in,menting on her appearance in a tone that was dripping with ttery.

    Recalling how Peter and Bess had looked down on her in the past, Amara found the situation both amusing and ironic.

    Trailing behind the couple was Celeste, clutching a small purse so tightly that it seemed she might tear the strap, her eyes green with envy as she stared at Amara.

    Amara couldn''t stand Peter''s family, Celeste included, and wasn''t in the mood to engage with them. She uttered a few courteous words before moving towards Mr. Kevin Everly.

    Mr. Kevin Everly was already seated at the head of the table, waiting for her. As she approached, he extended his hand, "Our Ama looks so beautiful. Lisa told me you looked great without the mask, but I didn''t expect you to be this stunning."

    Amara smiled and looped her arm through Mr. Kevin Everly''s, yfully asking him to stop with thepliments or she''d blush.

    She was well aware that her unmasked appearance would cause a stir. After all, most of the people present had, at some point in the past three years, mocked her to varying degrees.

    Seeing the person they once ridiculed now transformed and so beautiful was bound to astonish them.

    But Amara had no interest in proving anything to these people. She was content with living her life well without paying heed to their gazes.

    "d you made it," Finnian said,ing up beside her. Amara nodded and casually asked, "What''s Mr. Kevin Everly nning to announce?"

    Finnian, dressed in a casual yet sleek ck suit, had opted out of wearing a tie for the small gathering. His usual handsome demeanor was intact and together, they made quite the striking pair drawing curious nces from the room. Amara felt a little awkward under the scrutiny, focusing her eyes on her shoes.

    Finnian seemed to know what Mr. Kevin Everly was about to announce and was just about to speak when

    Mr. Kevin Everly''s voice boomed across the room, "I''ve gathered

    everyone here today to announce something important."

    His voice was strong and clear, an indication of his good health, and the room fell

    silent as all eyes turned towards him.

    Pointing to Finnian, Mr. Kevin Everly continued, "That''s my grandson Finn, and

    you all know him well. I''ll get straight to the point."

    "The sole purpose of this gathering

    is to announce that from now on, I will hand over the position of chairman of the Everly Group to

    Finn. He will lead the Everly family into the future. You all have watched Finn grow up, so I hope you''ll

    support him."

    The Everly family was the most prestigious in the Wye business district. It was usually others who sought the Everlys'' favor, not the other way around. Mr. Kevin Everly''s words were just a polite gesture.

    The heads of several prominent families stepped forward to congratte Finnian, who responded graciously to each. Meanwhile, Amara discreetly took a few steps back, seizing the moment to slip away from the spotlight.

 Chapter 303

    It wasn''t all that surprising when Mr. Kevin Everly decided to step down from his position. Given his age, it seemed he was ready for some well-earned rest.

    As she watched Finnian mingle with the crowd, she couldn''t help but think, with him climbing the corporatedder, Liliana would transition from being the CEO''s wife to the Chairwoman''s wife. Their future seemed bright and promising.

    For some reason, she felt a bit uneasy. She didn''t want to see him anymore and moved to the side.

    Once the formalities were over, everyone started to dig into the feast.

    She had barely started her meal when her phone buzzed with a video call from Keith West. Excusing herself, Amara stepped out into the hallway to take the call.

    "Wow, you''re all dressed up today!" Keith teased as soon as the connection was made, seeing Amara''s elegantly made-up face on his screen.

    Amara chuckled, "Well, I''m at a fancy party, so I had to look the part. Where are you this time?"

    Every recent call with Keith had featured unusual backgrounds, and this time was no exception. He appeared to be on a windy cliffside.

    "I''m filming a reality show on the edge of a cliff. It''s freezing out here," Keith said, sneezing for emphasis.

    "Did you bring any hand warmers? If not, I can send some your way," Amara offered.

    "Don''t bother sending any. Those are for women," Keith replied dismissively.

    "What are you implying? That''s pretty sexist," Amara shot back. "Just give me your address, and I''ll mail them over. I don''t want you catching a cold andining about it in your old age."

    Keith sighed in resignation, "Alright, alright, I''ll use them."

    They chatted for a bit longer, with Keith sharing amusing anecdotes from the show, making Amaraugh. But herughter faded when she nced back and saw Finnian standing at the entrance, watching her with a stony expression.

    "What''s wrong?" Keith asked, noticing the change in her demeanor.

    "Nothing, something came up here. I''ve gotta go," Amara said, ending the call abruptly.

    She pocketed her phone and met Finnian''s gaze, sensing something off about him.

    Finnian walked over, his eyes fixed on her phone. "Were you talking to Keith?" "Yeah."

    "What were you two discussing?"

    "Nothing much, just some stuff about his crew."

    Finnian stayed silent, his face unreadable. The narrow hallway seemed to press in on them, making the air feel heavy.

    "Keith likes you," Finnian suddenly stated, catching Amara off guard.

    She frowned immediately, "We''ve been friends since childhood. He doesn''t feel

    that way about me. Stop making things up."

    Finnian''s towering figure cast a shadow over her, his face dark and his gaze cold. "He likes you," he insisted.

    Amara despised it when people tried to ship her with her friends,

    especially when it tainted pureel.ne

    friendships. It felt like a betrayal.

    Her voice was sharp as she retorted, "I told

    you, he doesn''t. We''re just ne

    friends. Can you please stop this nonsense?"

    Amara rarely lost her temper with Finnian. The only other time she had stood up to him was when he and Keith had gotten into a fight outside her apartment, and she had pped Finnian. Now, for the second time, she found herself defending Keith.

 Chapter 304

    Finnian''s voice was as cold as a winter''s night. "Do you really value Keith that much?"

    "Of course," Amara replied instinctively.

    From childhood to now, the two people who treated her the best were Keith and Elysia. How could she not value Keith?

    Her response was quick and unwavering, which seemed to twist something in Finnian''s expression.

    Just then, a gentle voice chimed in, "What are you two up to?"

    Amara turned her head to see Liliana walking over with the grace of a swan, naturally linking her arm with Finnian''s.

    For some reason, Amara felt a twinge of difort. She scoffed inwardly but didn''t show it on her face. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked away.

    Finnian watched her retreating figure, his eyes as dark as a moonless night.

    Liliana, slightly intimidated by his aura yet unwilling to let go, looked up and asked, "Finn, what''s up? Did you and Ms. Sullivan have a fight?"

    "No," Finnian replied, freeing his arm from hers and heading inside.

    As she watched him stride away, Liliana bit her lip in frustration before following him in.

    As a movie star, she usually outshone everyone at these gatherings. Yet today, all eyes were on Amara-someone she considered far less attractive than herself. Liliana was fuming.

    But there was nothing she could do about it. How was she supposed to change the situation?

    Amara had no idea why Finnian thought Keith liked her. It was utterly baffling!

    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Even during dinner, she was seething. But soon enough, plenty of people came over to chat with her, leaving her no time to stay mad. After the dinner party wrapped up, she drove home.

    The following days went by without a hitch until Tuesday afternoon. Amara received an anonymous call from a woman who sounded like she was in her forties or fifties. She shouted right away:

    "Ms. Sullivan, you need toe over, quick! Thedy and the gentleman are fighting!"

    The voice was unfamiliar, and Amara paused for a moment before asking, "Who is this?"

    "I''m the housekeeper for the Hawke family. Just now, Mrs. Hawke and Mr. Dorian got into a fight." Sensing Amara''s potential confusion, the older woman made sure to mention Elysia and Dorian''s names.

    Amara was startled and quickly asked, "How are they now?"

    She didn''t know the Hawke family''s housekeeper at all, and there''s an old saying that you don''t air your dirtyundry in public. For the housekeeper to share this, things

    must be pretty bad.

    "I can''t exin over the phone. The gentleman anddy both ran out just now,

    and I can''t find them. I''m worried. Could youe over?"

    "Alright, I''m on my way!"

    Amara ended the call, grabbed her keys and phone, and rushed out the door, driving as fast as she could to Elysia and Dorian''s new ce.

    When she reached the lobby, she was frantic, but there was Finnian waiting by the elevator.

    She blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here? Did the housekeeper call you too?"

    Finnian nodded, and without further questions, Amara joined him in the elevator.

    Once inside Elysia''s home, both Amara and Finnian froze at the sight before them.

    The once beautifully decorated living

    room was a disaster zone. Everything was smashed to bits, the couch covers and curtains ripped down. Most rming of all, there was a pool of blood on the floor.

    "Whose blood is this?" Amara shouted immediately.

 Chapter 305

    The butler, a man in his fifties wearing an apron, shook his head and said, "I have no idea. I''m not a live-in butler. I juste by for a couple of hours every afternoon to tidy up and manage some of the household affairs."

    "When I arrived today, I found the door wide open, and there was no one inside. I tried calling both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, but they wouldn''t pick up. They probably had a fight and stormed out."

    "I didn''t dare call their parents, so I thought I''d better ring you first."

    "You did the right thing. Let''s keep this from their families for now," Finnian replied.

    The butler nodded, and Finnian continued, "Stay here and keep an eye on things. We''ll go out and look for them."

    "Understood."

    Amara and Finnian headed downstairs. Amara suggested they split up to search for Elysia and Dorian, thinking it would be quicker.

    But Finnian stopped her. "It''s dark out. It''s not safe for you to be wandering around alone. Stick with me."

    "Not safe? We''re not living in the Middle Ages," Amara retorted immediately.

    "Where are you thinking of looking for Elysia?" Finnian asked. "Some bar or club?"

    Amara paused. She had nned on checking some of Elysia''s usual hangouts, which indeed included bars and clubs. Those ces could be sketchy, filled with the wrong kind of people. Maybe it wasn''t the smartest idea to go alone.

    "Come with me," Finnian said gently, holding her wrist.

    He nced at Amara''s face. What he didn''t say was that Amara was too eye- catching to be wandering around alone at night. It just wasn''t safe, and he couldn''t let her go on her own.

    "Alright," Amara agreed, getting into Finnian''s car.

    The two of them mapped out a n and decided to start with a club on the outskirts of town, a ce both Dorian and Elysia frequented.

    The club was quite a drive away, so Finnian hit the highway to make up time.

    As the car sped along, Finnian

    noticed Amara''s worried expression and tried to reassure her. "Don''t

    worry. That bloodstain probably isn''t Elysia''s Dorian wouldn''t hit a woman."

    Amara also doubted Dorian would stoop to hitting a woman. If anything, maybe Elysia might haveshed out in a moment of anger.

    No, no, even if someone might, it wouldn''t be Elysia against Dorian. She couldn''t bring herself to do that.

    "I''m just afraid they might have pushed and shoved during an argument, and Elysia identally got hurt." she said.

    It was a possibility. Finnian didn''t argue. "They only have a few usual spots. We''ll find them soon enough. Don''t worry."

    Amara knew she was showing her anxiety. Finnian must have noticed and was trying to calm her down, so she nodded in acknowledgment.

    Just then, with a sudden bang, their car was hit from the side. The

    airbags deployed, and the gar

    spun

    sharply sideways, tires screeching against the asphalt.  fo

    Amara screamed, feeling someone grab her arm¡ªit was Finnian.

    The moment he realized they were hit, Finnian wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.

    Thanks to the airbags, neither of

    them.

    I was hurt, but the car mmed into the highway barrier denting it inwards and stalling the vehicle.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!