Under the Veil I Rule
Chapter 76

Finnian was already fuming because Amara had hidden him away, and her latest remark did nothing to soothe his temper.

"Make it up?"

He let out a cold chuckle, his demeanor dropping a few degrees. Amara was taken aback, not understanding why he was even angrier now.

She figured she had indeed wronged him earlier, so she apologized immediately. Wasn't that the polite thing to do? Why wasn't he satisfied?

"Yeah, I know what I did was out of line."

Amara had this habit of becoming overly apologetic when she knew she was in the wrong, as if saying sorry a hundred times could magically erase the other person's anger.

Not that she would actually do that it would be an excessive humility.

After a moment's thought, she offered, "I know I didn't handle it properly. If there's anything you need as compensation, just let me know."

Finnian's dark expression deepened. "Do you treat everyone this politely?"

He had been observing Amara standing her ground against Elowen recently, and just when he thought she was starting to toughen up, she turned all meek around him.

Sure, she had ticked him off by hiding him away, but he wasn't some terrifying monster. Why did she feel the need to keep apologizing?

Amara looked up at Finnian, puzzled by his question. "Not everyone."

With Elysia and Keith, she was far less formal. But Finnian wasn't like them, she reckoned.

"Why did you hide me when you met up with your friend?"

Finnian decided not to press her further on her character, opting instead to omit the topic and to address the real issue.

Amara calmly explained, "That friend is a celebrity. His personal life..."

"His personal life needs to be kept private, and you need to be discreet when meeting him?"

Finnian finished the sentence for her. Amara paused, and then nodded. "Yeah, that's exactly it."

She genuinely believed her

reasoning was sound. Even if Keith

had no beef with Finnian, as a top-tier celebrity, his personal life

had to be kept under wraps.

So her actions weren't wrong at all, but when Finnian said it, it sounded off.

"And you couldn't tell me?"

Finnian finally articulated the crux of his frustration, his voice simmering with restrained anger.

"Whatever our arrangement, we're officially married. We're partners in this, aren't we? Do you really think I'd go blabbing about his private life?"

Amara was momentarily at a loss for words. On the surface, what he said seemed fair, but she was quick enough to detect the flaw in his logic.

"But Mr. Everly, I think we both know it's not that simple. We're not a typical married couple after all."

Amara tilted her head, her voice a bit softer. She was being as tactful as she could.

Their marriage was merely a business deal; they weren't even friends, just two people who knew each other but weren't close.

In such a relationship, it was only natural to keep certain "private" matters to oneself.

Finnian's expression grim, he stared

at the crown of her head for a while, saying nothing. Finally, he uttered, "I didn't mean to make a big deal out of today. You don't owe me anything. I'll get going."

With that, Finnian left Amara's apartment.

Downstairs, he loosened his tie, letting the cool breeze hit his face, clearing his head. He realized

This

earlier reaction might have been a bit over the top.