Her breath hitched, and she turned to Finn. Her hands were clenched at her sides, like she was trying to hold herself together. "How long?"

"Since I was born," Finn’s jaw tightened.

"You both lied to me."

"Amelia, I was going to tell you…" Finn’s expression twisted with regret.

"When?" she snapped, her voice rising. "Before or after I found out like this?"

"And you? You set this up. You wanted me to see this," her glare could have set me on fire.

"You needed to see the truth," I met her gaze without flinching.

She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head.

"And what? You thought traumatizing me was the best way to do that?"

“I’m sorry, I knew that if I had told you, you wouldn’t believe, I just had to show you" I said.

Amelia stared at Finn, betrayed, then bolted for the door, her footsteps echoing across the cracked floor.

“Amelia, wait!” I called after her.

I found her outside, leaning against a rusted fence, sobbing and shaking, until she stumbled, clutching her chest, gasping for air.

“Amelia!” I reached her just as her legs gave out, catching her before she hit the ground.

Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear, and I realized she was having a panic attack.

“Breathe, just breathe,” I said, trying to steady her, but she was spiraling.

Her eyes rolled back, and she went limp in my arms. My heart pounded as I scooped her up and carried her to my car. The nearest place was one of my cottages, a secluded spot just a few minutes away. I drove like a man possessed, my mind racing.

When we arrived, I carried her inside and laid her gently on the couch.

“Get a doctor. Now!” I barked at one of my men, who immediately rushed out to make the call. I knelt beside Amelia, brushing a strand of hair from her face, my chest tight with worry.

It didn’t take long for her to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around, disoriented. When her gaze landed on me, she stiffened.

“Where am I?” she asked, her voice hoarse.

“My cottage,” I said, keeping my tone calm. “You fainted. I brought you here to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. I want to go home,” she sat up abruptly, pushing me away.

“You’re not fine,” I said firmly. “You just had a panic attack. You need to rest.”

“I’m a nurse, Aidan,” she snapped, her eyes blazing. “I think I know when I’m okay. And I don’t want to stay here with you. Not after what you did.”

Her words stung, but I didn’t back down.

“You’re not leaving until the doctor checks you out.”

“You don’t get to decide that!” she shouted, her voice trembling with anger. “You don’t get to control me! You lied to me,manipulated me, and now you think you can just…just keep me here? I don’t want to be anywhere near you!”

I clenched my jaw, struggling to keep my composure.

“Amelia, I did what I had to do. You needed to see the truth.”