Under the Veil I Rule (Amara) novel Chapter 896

Finnian stumbled through a long, rambling explanation. Realizing Amara was upset and not wanting her to resent him, he frantically tried to clarify himself.

But even as his mouth went dry, Amara kept her lips pressed tightly together, clearly unwilling to engage. Finnian finally caught on that she was tired of his nonsense, so he stopped explaining and shifted gears.

"Amara, I went to see Liliana this afternoon," he said. "I made everything crystal clear. I told her I would never see her again."

At the mention of Liliana's name, Amara frowned but stayed quiet.

Oblivious to her shift in mood, Finnian pressed on. "It's true she saved my life once, but I've more than repaid that debt. So, I won't be seeing her anymore."

"But after I told her, she completely lost her mind. She wasn't acting like herself at all. She even bared her scar and demanded to know why I was throwing away my gratitude. But I didn't let her manipulate me. I settled that debt a long time ago."

"Besides, she stole your credit and faked a pregnancy..."

"She ruined my chance to be with you. She did so many terrible things, and I haven't even settled those scores with her yet. What right does she have to try and control me?"

Finnian was deeply intoxicated, his words disjointed and stumbling, but Amara understood exactly what he meant. She turned her head slightly, refusing to look at him, a sour ache blooming in her chest.

He claimed he had cleared the air with Liliana and severed ties. Was it true, or just empty talk?

Amara figured that if he was bringing it up, he had likely actually done it. Yet, she found it hard to believe he could truly cut Liliana out of his life so cleanly.

It was a life-saving debt, after all. Someone had literally saved his life.

Throughout the drive, Finnian didn't put up a fight. He simply kept his head turned, watching her with an incredibly docile expression.

Amara couldn't help but think it would be nice if he were always this obedient, though she knew that was impossible.

Resigned, she pulled up to his building. After a moment's hesitation, she got out, opened the passenger door, and helped him out, personally supporting his weight as they rode the elevator up.

Finnian's door used a fingerprint lock. When they reached it, Amara grabbed his hand to press it against the scanner. Finnian, however, mistook the gesture for a handshake. He grasped her hand firmly, lifted it, and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles.

"..."

The soft touch of his lips on her skin sent a sudden, electric jolt up her arm. The unexpected intimacy made Amara's face burn violently red.