Had he arrived much earlier but only just now decided to tell her?

Amara’s guess was right; Finnian had been standing at her door for nearly two hours.

He had originally planned to just check on her without letting her know he was there, but in the end, he couldn’t resist calling her out. He wanted to talk to her.

“Mr. Everly, is there something you need?”

Amara averted her gaze as she spoke.

Finnian took two steps forward, stopping about a foot and a half away from her. “I want to ask you something,” he began. “Why have you suddenly become so cold to me? You weren’t like this a couple of days ago.”

Was she imagining it, or was there a hint of hurt in his voice?

Amara bit her lip, a flicker of reluctance in her heart.

But then she remembered the photos from the other day, and her resolve hardened. She had to make a clean break.

“I’ve just had some time to think things through,” she said. “I feel like we’ve been getting too close lately, and it’s not a good idea.”

She looked up at him and continued, “Mr. Everly, I don’t know what your feelings are for me, but I have no intention of getting involved with you. I’m very sure about that. Please, don’t come looking for me anymore.”

“If you’re not going to be with me, then who? Keith?”

Finnian’s voice was heavy, his expression darkening.

Amara considered for a moment, then decided to be honest. “I won’t be with Keith either. His family would never approve. We’re good friends now, and that’s all we’ll ever be.”

“I don’t think I’ll get married again. I have no expectations for married life anymore. I think I can be perfectly happy on my own.”

Here, Amara paused before adding, “Mr. Everly, I remember you used to say you weren’t the marrying kind. Surely you can understand how I feel?”

Of course, Finnian understood, but that wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to be with Amara.

Just as he was about to speak, Amara took two steps back. “It’s getting late. You should head home. I need to get some rest, too.”

She didn’t want to prolong the conversation with him. She had said what needed to be said.

Without another glance at Finnian,

she turned and walked back into the villa. But Einnian’s eyes remained. fixed on her retreating back bis heart clenching painfully.

Amara had truly grown cold toward him. What was he supposed to do now? He really didn’t want to give up on her…

Back in the villa, Amara splashed her face with water, trying to erase the meeting with Finnian from her mind.

She had expected to lie awake all night after seeing him, but surprisingly, as soon as her head hit the pillow drowsiness washed over her, and she fell asleep shortly after.

The next morning, Amara woke up early. Thanks to a good night’s sleep she was full of energy. After breakfast, she immediately sat down at her desk to start revising the script for *Letters from Yesterday*.

But she had barely started when her phone rang. It was Liliana.

“Ms. Sullivan, do you have a moment?”

Liliana’s voice came through the line. “Would you like to meet up? There’s somewhere I’d like to take you.”

When Liliana first asked to meet, Amara’s instinct was to refuse. But the mention of being taken somewhere piqued her curiosity. “Where do you want to take me?”

Liliana’s light laugh came from the other end. “Why don’t you come out and see? It’s a place you’ll find interesting. I’ll send you the address.”