They ended up talking from dusk well into the night. Around ten, Mr. Kevin Everly asked, “Do you have anything to do tomorrow morning? If not, why don’t you stay over tonight? I’ll have someone prepare a guest room for you.”

Keith was clearly pleased. “I’d love to stay-gives us a chance to chat a bit more.”

As Keith spent more time talking with Mr. Everly, his impression of the man shifted; he no longer saw him as a stubborn old curmudgeon. Instead, he realized Mr. Everly was actually quite adaptable and open-minded. It left Keith wondering why, back then, the old man had been so intent on pushing Amara and Finnian together. He just couldn’t figure it out.

Before long, a staff member came to let Keith know his room was ready. After a little more conversation, Keith, Mr. Everly, and Amara each retired to their rooms for the night.

Back in her room, Amara read for a while before eventually drifting off to sleep. In the middle of a hazy dream, she was startled awake by a knock at the door. “Ms. Sullivan? Ms. Sullivan, are you awake?”

Blinking away the sleep, she checked her phone-it was only 12:30 a.m. Who would be looking for her at this hour?

She got dressed and opened the door to find a staff member waiting anxiously. “Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Everly and Keith have gotten into a fight. You should come quickly.”

“What?” Amara was taken aback.

Finnian and Keith had gotten into a fight? Sure, Keith was staying at the Everly home, but how on earth did he end up fighting with Finnian? Did Finnian really come back in the middle of the night?

“Where are they? Take me to them,” she said at once.

The staff member hurriedly led her back. Amara found Keith and Finnian facing off at the kitchen entrance. Finnian was in a suit jacket, holding a tie in his hand, looking like he’d just come back from outside. Keith was still in the clothes he’d worn when he arrived.

They weren’t fighting anymore, but both men were glaring at each other with barely restrained anger. Amara thought to herself, there must have been a real scuffle here just moments ago.

“What are you two doing?” Amara asked urgently.

Keith turned around. “Why are you out here?”

He frowned the moment he saw her, then walked over to check she was bundled up enough before finally relaxing.

Finnian turned his gaze on Amara, his eyes unreadable and dark, saying nothing.

Amara took a deep breath to steady herself, then demanded sharply, “What is going on? I was told you two were fighting.”

Finnian kept his eyes fixed on Keith

and replied coldly, “When I got home, Isa

I saw a dark figure by the kitchen door I thought it was a burglar, so I

went after him.”

Amara almost laughed in disbelief. Finnian didn’t have bad eyesight-how could he possibly mistake Keith for a burglar?

Keith shot back with a cold laugh, “Mr. Everly’s eyesight must really be going if he could make that kind of mistake.”

Amara closed her eyes for a moment, then pulled Keith aside and asked quietly, “What really happened? Tell me the truth.”

She had a strong feeling that Keith wasn’t completely innocent and eyed him with suspicion.

Keith scratched his head and said, “I

came down to the kitchen to get

some water, and then I ran into

Finnian. He was shocked to see me, asked what I was doing here, and

before we knew it, we started arguing-then things escalated.”

Keith made it sound simple, but Amara was sure “arguing” was an understatement

for whatever had just happened.

She gave Keith a light smack on the

arm. “Why were you picking a fight with

him in min the middle of the night Couldn’t you just go back to bed?”