Amara immediately tensed up. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.


    Hogan snapped back to reality and blurted out, "Have you been in touch with Finniantely?"


    The question came out of nowhere. Amara''s voice turned icy. "What''s it to you?"


    Her attitude was less than friendly, and Hogan felt his temper re. They never really saw eye to eye, so what was he doing here, looking for trouble? He turned on his heel and left.


    Back home, Hogan couldn''t shake the unsettling news that Liliana wasn''t actually pregnant. It gnawed at him.


    But by nightfall, a crucial thought struck him-Liliana wasn''t pregnant yet had convinced Finnian she was. What was her n when the nine months were up? Was she going to bring in someone else''s baby to pass off as theirs?


    The idea sent chills down his spine. The Everly family raising someone else''s child? He couldn''t let that happen. He had to tell Finnian the truth.<fn4096> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? findnovel</fn4096>


    Despite thete hour-past ten and Finnian likely asleep-Hogan rushed out of his apartment, heading straight for Finnian''s.


    Halfway there, he paused, realizing this wasn''t the best approach. He had always thought highly of Liliana. She might have her reasons. Finnian had been dragging his feet about marriage; maybe she felt cornered.


    It made more sense to talk to Liliana first, give her a chance toe clean to Finnian. If he went to Finnian first, it might be the end for them.


    Once that was clear, Hogan changed direction, heading over to Liliana''s ce instead.


    Liliana was still up, though the hour waste. She was curious why Hogan hade by.


    Settling into her living room, Hogan epted the cup of tea she offered. He eyed her, then her stomach. "Liliana, you''re not really pregnant, are you?"


    Her heart skipped a beat, but she kept herposure, smiling. "Of course I am. What makes you think otherwise?"


    "I overheard you and the family doctor at the hotel," Hogan said bluntly.


    Liliana''s face lost some color, and a nervous sweat broke out. Her mind raced.


    Her first instinct was to ask, "Hogan, have you told Finnian?"


    "Not yet," Hogan replied. "So it''s true? You''re not pregnant?"


    "No..." she admitted reluctantly.


    veet


    "Why would you lie to Finnian?" Hogan was getting angry. He liked Liliana, but the thought of an


    unknown kid inheriting the Everly


    fortune made his blood boil.  s


    Liliana knew what Hogan was upset about. She bit her lip, looking vulnerable. "I didn''t know what else to do tcare abour Franian so much, but it''s like he wants to stay Single forever..."  s


    Tears welled up in her eyes. "I felt desperate..."


    Once, Hogan would have jumped tofort her, maybe even confront whoever had upset her. But now seeing her tears, he felt something else skepticism. Was she genuinely upset, or was this part of her act?  s


    After all, how do you trust someone who''s spun such a colossal lie?