To be honest, reading Finnian’s post had left her feeling terrible.

Even now, just thinking about it brought a heavy weight to her chest, and she clearly realized that her hatred for him had significantly faded.

She looked down, silent for a few seconds before saying, “Ely, I don’t want to be with him.”

“Liliana did save his life, so it’s completely understandable that he treats her so well.”

“But because of that life-saving debt, won’t they always be entangled with each other?”

Amara let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I wouldn’t be able to handle that.”

Noticing her distress, Elysia reached out and squeezed her hand.

Amara squeezed back, turning to look at her. “And Ely, do you remember the photos Liliana sent me a few days ago? They were practically holding each other.”

“Even if Finnian only loves me and only feels gratitude toward Liliana, the fact that his gratitude allows him to embrace her is something I just can’t tolerate.”

Elysia frowned, recalling the pictures Amara had shown her. That was indeed a tough pill to swallow.

“You’re not wrong,” she said. “With that life-saving debt hanging over him, Finnian will always be chained to Liliana. It would be a constant headache if you got back together.”

Amara nodded, a sudden wave of suffocating despair washing over her. A lump formed in her throat as a single tear slipped free, which she quickly wiped away.

She admitted she was heartbroken. Knowing that Finnian likely loved her wholeheartedly brought her a mix of being moved, joyous, and even experiencing an irrepressible flutter in her chest. Yet, she still didn’t want to be with him.

“Besides, he hurt me too deeply. I can’t just forget everything that happened,” Amara added.

“Even if he doesn’t love Liliana and only loves me, so what? Just because he loves me, does that mean I have to be with him? Why should I?”

Her tone carried a hint of stubborn defiance. Given her usual temperament, this was rare. Elysia knew that Finnjan must have shattered her completely for her to act this way.

Her heart ached for her friend. She wrapped an arm around Amara’s shoulders, rubbing her back soothingly.

“If there’s a hurdle in your heart you just can’t get over, then don’t be with him.”

“Remember, whatever decision you make, the ultimate goal is your own happiness. If something makes you miserable, don’t do it.”

Amara nodded. “I know.”

The two huddled together, chatting for a while, which made Amara feel a bit better.

Elysia glanced at her slightly swollen belly. “Ama, if you’re really certain about not getting back with him, then you shouldn’t keep the baby.”

“He truly loves you, and he’s incredibly persistent. Look at him, twenty-nine years old, and he’s never loved anyone else all these years. When a guy like that falls, it’s

forever. He’s going to relentlessly pursue you.”

“It would be fine if there was no baby, but a child will forge an unbreakable bond between you two. He’ll have every excuse to come looking for you and shaking him off will be nearly impossible.

Amara knew this logic all too well. She bit her lip gently, falling into deep thought.

Sitting there quietly, her mind drifted back to the post Finnian had written.