Under the Veil I Rule novel Chapter 210

Finnian emerged quickly, now clad in a sharp suit jacket and trousers, clutching a file in his hand. "Let's go," he said.

"Sure," Amara replied as she nodded, stepping out with him.

Will was the one driving this time. Amara and Finnian sat in the backseat, each occupying opposite ends, enveloped in silence as they slowly made their way to the city hall.

They had missed finalizing their divorce during the cooling-off period previously, which normally would have voided the proceedings. If they had the intention of continuing the process, they needed to re-experience the cooling-off period.

But the Everly family had some serious connections, allowing them to bypass the wait and get their divorce papers directly.

The speed of the divorce left Amara feeling somewhat disoriented. Before she could even process it, they were exiting the city hall, certificates in hand.

Standing outside, Amara stared at the official document, unable to shake off the surreal feeling. She had anticipated this moment for so long, expecting it to be dramatic and life-altering. Instead, it felt mundane, like a drop of water disappearing into the ocean without a ripple.

Taking a deep breath, she slipped the document into her bag, ready to move on.

"Wait a second," Finnian called after her.

Amara turned, asking, "What is it?"

Finnian stepped closer and, to her surprise, wrapped his arms around her. Caught off guard by the warmth and firmness of his embrace, Amara froze, a wave of discomfort washing over her.

"Mr. Everly, what are you doing?" she stammered, instinctively trying to pull away, but Finnian held her tighter, softly patting her back.

"We were married, after all. A proper goodbye seems fitting."

Instead of feeling the elation she had imagined post-divorce, all she felt was emptiness. She snapped a picture of the divorce papers with her phone and posted it on Facebook before switching off the device, taking a melatonin tablet, and drifting to sleep.

Meanwhile, Finnian returned to his office. Days spent in the hospital had left a pile of paperwork waiting for him. But as Will laid out the documents for him to sign, none of the words seemed to register.

After nearly half an hour of sitting idly, he stood up and wandered over to the window, gazing at the bustling city streets below as his mind grew darker.

A sudden knock on the door broke the silence. Finnian turned and glanced at the clock in the corner of his computer screen. Another half hour had slipped by unnoticed.

"Come in," he said, moving his thin lips slightly.

Liliana opened the door and bounced in, her demeanor bright and cheerful.