She really didn''t want to go, but Finnian had made it clear: attending tonight was the only way he''d agree to the divorce. If she didn''t show up, was she really stuck in this marriage forever?


    Surely it couldn''t be that ck and white. There had to be another way... she supposed.


    Amara sat staring nkly at herputer screen for a while longer. Around 7:50, her phone buzzed with a message from Finnian, "Ten minutes left, did you arrive?"


    She clenched her jaw as she typed, "I didn''t! I don''t n on going."


    But just as she was about to hit send, she hesitated. Being this reckless would most likely irk him. She deleted the message, leaving the reply unsent.


    By 8 o''clock, another message from Finnian popped up, "You''rete."


    Just few simple words. No hint of emotion, but Amara could almost feel his displeasure seeping through.


    Whatever. Let him be upset. What could he really do to her?


    Her initial reluctance to go, which had been 95%, now soared to 99%.


    As the saying goes, "where there''s a will, there''s a way." She was determined to divorce Finnian, and surely there had to be some other way. Worst case, she could always ask Liliana for help.


    Amara was ready to throw caution to the wind. But at 8:30, another text arrived, "Giving you onest chance. Be here by 9."


    Staring at the message, Amara gripped her phone tightly and finally replied, "I''m noting, Mr. Everly. Don''t wait up."


    Finnian''s reply was swift, "It''s fine if you don''te. I told you, this is the only condition for our divorce."


    His words were calm, yet Amara could sense a storm brewing beneath the surface. Was she just being paranoid?


    She recalled everyone''s opinion on Finnian; they praised him as a brilliant man, a master of his trade, ruthless when necessary.


    No, no, she was letting her imagination run wild.


    Those were business traits. The Finnian she knew personally couldn''t be like that, she spected.


    A wave of uncertainty washed over Amara.


    There


    Wasza time she''d have


    said Finnian was a good in his personal life, but now


    she wasn''t so sure. Congs


    Lately, he seemed harsh, domineering, a bit of a rascal. That was the Finnian


    she''de to know.


    So, what was he really like?


    His "onest chance" - could it truly be her only chance?


    As she gazed out at the deep blue night sky, Amara felt a sense of dread creeping back up her throat.


    Her phone vibrated again. Finnian''s fifth message, "It''s 8:45. Still not here. nning on staying married forever?"


    Quickly followed by a sixth, "Amara, do you think I''m joking?"


    Amara went silent.


    In a sh, she sprang from her chair.


    Maybe it was the weight of Finnian''s threat, or perhaps genuine fear.


    set


    Minordless, she made


    her


    in an instant. Content Belongs


    She nced at the clock. It was 8:46. Just fourteen minutes until Finnian''s deadline.


    No time to waste. Grabbing her phone and keys, she hurried out the door.


    Vera Lodge wasn''t far from her ce, but getting downstairs, finding a cab, waiting at the front desk, all took precious time. By the time Amar@reached the penthouse suite, a good chunk of time had passed.


    BUMS


    Slightly out of breath, she knocked on the door in front of her.