Chapter 28
“Moreover, Finnian and I are legally married. And what are you here? From a moral standpoint, you’re just the other woman. What gives you the right to talk to me like this?”
“Ha, showing your true colors, are you? Deep down, you don’t really want to leave Finnian, do you?” Liliana sneered.
Amara couldn’t tell if Liliana genuinely had a few screws loose or if she was just saying this nonsense to get under her skin.
She figured it was probably the latter. Liliana was anything but clueless–she was sharp, just had a knack for playing the damsel in distress around men.
So, Amara replied, “Why would I want to leave Finnian? He’s such a great guy. Do you think I could find anyone like him after a divorce? You must be really mad, right?” Amara continued with her mockery. “Well, tough luck. You’re just a two–bit actress from the wrong side of the tracks. His grandpa doesn’t even acknowledge your
existence.
Dream on if you think you can marry into the Everly family. You’re stuck being the side piece. But what good is that, really? Do you dare call Finnian your husband in front of the cast? Can you call him that in front of his grandpa?
Try calling him that in front of the Everly family. See if anyone gives a damn. I’ll tell you right now, they won’t. No only that, they’ll just see you as a pitiful clown.”
Finally, she got all those words out. That wasn’t really what Amara thought, but Liliana had been pushing her buttons for too long.
Every time Liliana tried to bully her, Amara would imagine someone just as snarky standing up to her. Now she was that snarky person, and boy, did it feel good.
Across from her, Liliana’s face had turned sour.
The graceful, composed facade she maintained around Amara had crumbled. She glared at Amara with flaring nostrils and clenched fists, teetering on the edge of fury.
“Finally showing your true colors now that Fin’s not around?”
Amara chuckled scornfully at Liliana’s words.
For the sake of confidentiality, she had installed a detector near the door. If anyone entered with a bugging device, it would beep, so she felt safe saying those things to Liliana.
“What, have you no shame left?” Liliana fumed when Amara stayed silent.
“Liliana, the one without shame here is you.”
As satisfying as it was to clap back, continuing endlessly started to lose its charm.
Amara walked to the door, opened it, and said to Liliana, “This is my room. Please leave. And remember to knock next time.”
Liliana shot her a venomous look, tossed her curls with a flourish, regaining her usual elegant self, and strutted out with her chin raised high.
In the shadows outside, a man replayed Amara’s words in his mind, “Why would I want to leave Finnian? He’s such a great guy. Do you think I could find anyone like him after a divorce.” His expression darkened, eyes cold and calculating.
He sent the recorded conversation to Finnian and tucked away his phone. Ten minutes later, he sat in the car downstairs, his phone buzzed. The name “Finn” lit up the screen.
He answered, “Hello?”
10.00
“Dorian,” Finnian greeted, “you’re back?”
Dorian had taken Jessica back to her hometown yesterday, hence Finn’s question. Dorian leaned back against
the leather seat, his sharp features cast in shadow.
