Chapter 2
“Hey, Ama, don’t be upset. Let’s go out for a bit. I’ll treat you to some delicious food!” Elysia suggested.
“Alright, let me just grab my things, and we can head out.”
Life has to go on, Amara thought, as she tidied herself up and drove to Galleria Lane. She met Elysia at an upscale shopping mall.
Amara stood tall at 5 feet 7, with a perfectly balanced figure. If it wasn’t for the mask she wore to protect her sensitive skin, she would surely turn heads everywhere.
The duo took the escalator up to the second floor, which was dedicated to women’s handbags. Elysia, eager to celebrate Amara’s divorce, insisted on gifting her a purse. Despite Amara’s protests, Elysia was persistent.
“Ama, let’s check out that section. The sales associate said they just got some new arrivals. Maybe you’ll find something you like,” Elysia said, pointing excitedly toward the CAVELLE display.
Amara nodded and walked toward the sleek, elegant counter. But as soon as she spotted the man standing there, she froze in her tracks.
The man was tall, about 6 feet 2, dressed in a black shirt and tailored pants, his profile facing Amara, standing with one hand casually in his pocket. His gaze slightly lowered, his demeanor was nonchalant, yet he looked like he could step right into any movie scene.
Amara was puzzled. Why was her husband, Finnian, who was always so busy running multiple companies, here at the mall in the middle of the day?
Just then, a beautiful woman with long, wavy hair approached and wrapped her arm around Finnian’s. She pointed to a red handbag on the shelf and cooed, “Finn, I want that one. Doesn’t it go perfectly with my dress today?”
Finnian glanced at it and instructed the sales associate, “Wrap that one up.”
At that moment, Amara’s mind went blank, a loud buzzing filling her head. She stared hard at the profile of the woman in the red dress, unaware that her nails were digging into her palm.
“Who is that woman?” Elysia’s eyes became wide. “Is she Finnian’s…”
Though Elysia held back the word
if she had plunged into icy watersver“, Amara understood all too well. Despite the summer heat, she felt as
chills running through her bones.
So Finnian wanted a divorce not only because she was no longer of use to the Everly family but because he had someone else all along?
The woman in red giggled. “Aren’t you going to ask the price?”
Finnian, always distant and exuding a natural elegance, remained detached to everyone, and yet at the moment, he just allowed that woman grasping his arm and acting all coquettish. He uttered, “The price doesn’t matter. If you like it, that’s all that counts.”
Amara took two steps back, clutching her aching heart, wishing she could disappear right then and there. Suddenly, she noticed Elysia’s actions and panicked. “Ely! What are you doing?”
Elysia squeezed between Finnian and the woman in red, leaning on the counter with a playful grin. “Lina, I want that red bag. I messaged you about it yesterday. Wrap it up for me!”
She slapped a black card on the counter and flashed a smile at the woman in red, though her eyes were devoid of any humor.
Seeing this unfold, Amara felt her head spin. Reluctantly, she walked over, avoiding Finnian’s gaze, and tugged Elysia’s arm as she gently said, “Ely, let’s just go.”
>
Finnian, initially glaring at Elysia, suddenly recognized the familiar presence. His eyes focused on Amara.
16:17
Chapter 2
L
“What are you doing here?” he asked, his well–shaped brows furrowing as he stared into Amara’s bright eyes. Despite their infrequent meetings, he knew her instantly. She was his lawful wife, Amara.
Amara turned, trying to steady her trembling voice. “We’re just shopping. Sorry if we’re intruding.”
Irritated by Amara’s mild attitude, Elysia was about to retort when the woman in the red dress sized up Amara and extended her hand confidently.
“You must be Ms. Sullivan. I remember seeing you at Mrs. Grace Everly’s funeral. I’m Liliana Porter.”
Liliana? Amara’s face turned pale.
For eight years, she had loved Finnian, and countless times she had heard the name Liliana–Finnian’s first love. This name was etched into her heart like a haunting nightmare.
Though she was aching inside, Amara showed no sign of it. She reached out and shook Liliana’s hand.
16:18
