"I can''t keep doing this," Elysia sighed, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "When Dorian said he was going to stay with Jessica, it hit me. I can''t let him go, but I''m just so worn out. I can''t live like this anymore."


    "Maybe it''s time to try someone else," Amara suggested.


    Her encouragement for Elysia to find someone new was a bold move, but Amara didn''t feel she was wrong. Dorian had started seeing someone else first, so it was only fair for Elysia to do the same.


    "You''re right. I''d thought about it before, but it was just a way to fool myself. Now I really want to do it," Elysia said firmly, lifting her head with newfound determination.


    Amara gave her friend aforting pat on the back, choosing silence over words.


    She spent the night at Elysia''s, and the next morning, she drove straight to the film set. Barely two minutes in the break room and Finnian walked in.


    Amara felt a twinge of annoyance at the sight of Finnian. Perhaps it was a case of guilt by association with Dorian. She opened the door and asked coolly, "What do you need?"


    "My car''s fixed," Finnian announced. "Will''s looking into the car that hit us. The license te was covered with a CD, so it''s taking a bit longer to trace."


    A CD to cover the te? That sounded like a deliberate act. Amara''s expression darkened. "Keep me updated if anythinges up."


    "Will do," Finnian nodded.


    After discussing the important matters, Amara expected Finnian to leave. But he lingered in the room, seemingly oblivious.


    She felt the urge to usher him out when Finnian, noticing her irritation, asked, "You want me to leave, don''t you?"


    Amara hesitated before turning away. "No."


    Finnian took a couple of steps


    closer. "Dorian spent the night at the hospital with Jessica. She''s not


    seriously hurt and will be discharged this morning. Dorian''s heading home today."


    Amara was curious about Elysia''s home situation, but the mere mention of Dorian


    set her off. Her brows furrowed with annoyance.


    Finnian spoke softly, "Dorian was wrong in this. I''ll try talking some sense into him when I get the chance."


    "What good will that do? Dorian''s always been like this. He enjoys making Elysia''s life difficult!"


    Amara''s voice wasced with


    frustration. Content belongvel


    The sudden outburst caught Finnian off guard, and he paused, unsure of what to say.


    Amara turned her back on him, her chest heaving with emotion. Once she''d calmed down, she said coolly, "Sorry, I got carried away. I''ll be okay. If you don''t have anything else, feel free to leave, Mr. Everly."


    "Are you alright? You seem upset."


    Finnian moved closer, instinctively reaching out to touch her arm, but he withdrew at thest second.


    Amara shook her head. "It''s nothing. I was just reminded of my own situation."


    She''d said something simr before, but her circumstances were nothing like Elysia''s. Why was she bringing up her own past?


    Back at his office, Finnian couldn''t shake off Amara''s words. He thought about it while working, during meetings, and even while eating.


    During his lunch break, as hey in the office suite, her words echoed in his mind.


    Then a thought struck him, jolting him awake-could it be that Amara once had feelings for him?


    Yes, it was entirely possible!