Amara thought it over. So much had happened in the past two days it really was

best to explain everything to Finnian directly. She gave him an address and told him to wait for her there, then hung up and left her apartment.

Outside her apartment building was a shopping street, and she suggested meeting Finnian in a café along that street.

At this hour, the café was nearly deserted. Amara chose a seat in a quiet corner, one that was out of sight of the counter-making it easier for them to talk without being overheard.

Soon enough, Finnian arrived. He sized Amara up and down, then asked, “Are you alright?”

Amara was a little bewildered by the question. “Why wouldn’t I be? Why are you asking?”

Finnian didn’t answer right away. He wasn’t even sure himself why he’d asked; it just came from a genuine concern for her wellbeing.

Since discovering that the child Amara was carrying was his, everything about her pregnancy had become more real to him. He couldn’t help but feel as though Amara had become fragile, like a delicate piece of glass.

Finnian finally said, “The wedding is off. I’ve already had Will notify everybody, and the Everly Group made an official statement online.”

Amara had already learned of this when she was still at Elysia’s. She didn’t reply, just looked down at her hands, determined not to meet Finnian’s gaze.

Still, she could feel his intense eyes fixed on her.

Finnian’s presence was forceful, and it was impossible to ignore his stare.

Seeing Amara remain silent with her head down, Finnian pressed, “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Amara finally looked up. “Mr. Everly, if I’m overstepping, just take it as me imagining things.”

“You found out I’m pregnant with your child, and you called off your engagement to Ms. Porter. Are you hoping to get back together with me so we can be a family of three?”

“Mr. Everly, if those thoughts have ever crossed your mind, please dismiss them. I have no intention of marrying you again.”

Turning to the window, Amara’s

voice grew distant. “I probably won’t marry anyone else in the future

either want to raise my child on my

own don’t want you to acknowledge the child.”

“I’ve always known the baby is yours, but I never told you. I just didn’t want to have anything to do with you. From now on, I only want to live my life quietly with my child.”

Finnian hadn’t really expected anything different, but hearing her say it out loud hurt nonetheless.

He reached for her hand and gently turned her to face him. “Amara, now that I know you’re carrying my child, do you really think I’ll just walk away?”

His gaze was deep, intense, full of a powerful emotion that was impossible to ignore. Amara instantly looked down, feeling as if she’d been burned.

She’d anticipated he would react this way, which was why she had avoided eye contact and stared at the window before.

With her eyes lowered, she said, “Mr. Everly, please don’t do this.”

She pulled her hand free from his.

“I don’t want to be involved with you anymore, and my child doesn’t need your support. It would be better if you pretended not to know about. any of this. I’ll take my child and leave Wye, you won’t have to see üs again.”

Those words hurt Finnian for real this time. How was he supposed to pretend he didn’t know? Now that he was aware he had a child, how could he just feel nothing?

And what was this about them being ‘an eyesore’? When had he ever thought that?

If anything, he wanted nothing more than to love and cherish them both…

A bittersweet feeling welled up in his chest. Since they were sitting where no one could see them, Figman stood, slid into the seat beside Amara, and-without another word-wrapped her in his arms.