Under the Veil I Rule (Amara) novel Chapter 476

To honor the pretense of making up for their past marriage, they slept in the same bed, but at Amara’s insistence, they used separate blankets.

Lying beside him in the darkness, Amara stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts racing.

“Amara,” Finnian whispered beside her, “are you asleep?”

Her heart fluttered, and she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to answer.

He knew she was pretending. His hand slipped under her blanket and found hers. The sudden warmth of his large hand enveloping hers made her entire body go rigid. She lay perfectly still, taking several deep breaths to calm herself before speaking. “Let’s just sleep, Mr. Everly.”

“Okay.”

Finnian closed his eyes but didn’t let go of her hand. Amara’s first instinct was to pull away, but then she thought, *it’s just for one night*. A final indulgence. Her body relaxed, and she let him hold her hand as she drifted off to sleep.

The night was quiet, the sky dotted with stars. Amara slept soundly, but Finnian remained wide awake. He gently gathered her into his arms, then leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. It was a soft, tentative kiss, more of a lingering touch than a true embrace.

*Amara, Amara…* he repeated her name silently, over and over, as if to carve it into his very soul. He stayed that way, holding her, until morning.

When Amara woke up, Finnian was gone. He had left breakfast on the table and a note saying he had gone to work. He’d had Will bring a car over for her, so she could leave whenever she was ready.

“It’s fine,” she said, deliberately vague. “He’s at work most of the time, so I barely see him. And when I do, we don’t have much to say.”

Keith didn’t reply immediately. Then he said, his voice serious, “Just remember what I told you. Finnian is not a good man. If he tries to win you back, don’t you dare fall for it.”

“I know,” Amara said with a small smile. “I can take care of myself and the baby. I don’t need his help.”

Keith glanced at her, unconvinced. He couldn’t help but worry. The way Finnian acted around Amara was anything but indifferent.

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