Chapter 177
“Check out this photo of Keith with a black eye. Isn’t it hilarious?
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 p>
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 p>
Her last 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 p>
Finnian’s fists clenched slowly, the knuckles cracking ominously. “Then why didn’t you marry him? Why choose me if you love him p>
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 relationship. We were so close that we didn’t realize our friendship had become 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 p>
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 glance.
As the door slammed 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 p>
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 p>