Chapter 909
The fact that Larry had instantly dropped the formal ‘Mr. Everly’ in his head told her everything she needed to know about his shifting stance.
Amara bit her lip so hard she tasted copper, entirely unsure of how to answer.
The two people she had desperately wanted to keep this from were Finnian and Larry.
Finnian finding out was a disaster, but Larry knowing was a catastrophic complication. She was furious.
When she failed to deny it, Larry instantly knew Finnian was telling the truth. He was utterly dumbfounded.
He had assumed Amara had been taken advantage of by a stranger. To find out the father was Finnian completely upended everything. Doing the math in his head, he realized she was over four months along. Four months ago, they were still married. That meant she conceived this child while they were legally husband and wife!
Which meant that Finnian had divorced her while she was carrying his legitimate heir.
He had thrown away his pregnant wife.
A volcanic rage toward Finnian erupted in Larry’s chest.
He shot Finnian a look of absolute disgust. “Let’s take this outside.”
As Amara’s father, Larry demanded answers, and he wanted them now.
Besides, with Finnian standing there like a guard dog declaring he wouldn’t allow the abortion, today’s procedure was officially ruined. They might as well find a quiet place and put all their cards on the table.
Amara knew she had lost this battle. She pressed her lips into a tight line, seething with frustration.
The group left the hospital. Elysia gripped Amara’s hand tightly in silent solidarity, shooting daggers at Finnian’s back.
She had no idea how Finnian had discovered the secret, but she found his interference utterly despicable.
Even if he had some redeeming qualities now that the truth was out, Amara had the absolute right to decide the fate of her own body For Finnian to aggressively hijack her medical decision was unforgivable.
They walked over to The Gilded Leaf Tea Room just outside the hospital and booked a private room. They took their seats around a square mahogany table, and the door clicked shut behind them.
Larry leveled a lethal glare at Finnian. “Explain yourself. Amara’s child is yours? Meaning you knew she was pregnant and still divorced her?”
Larry’s voice was dangerously low, practically vibrating with fury.
He was an intensely traditional man who believed that if a man got his wife
pregnant, it was his absolute duty to provide for and protect her and the child, no matter the circumstances.
They were legally married. For
Finnian to divorce her while she was carrying his flesh and blood was the ultimate act of cowardice and irresponsibility. Larry’s contempt for him hit an all-time high.
Sitting across from Larry, Finnian met the older man’s gaze steadily.
Larry was an imposing, stern figure radiating patriarchal authority. Amara looked
nothing like him; she must have been the spitting image of her mother.
Seeing Larry Standing guard at the hospital proved their fractured relationship was healing. Finnian knew he could no longer treat the man as a mere business associate. He had to address him with the absolute deference owed to a father-in-law.