Chapter 49

It's Not About Love

I hear the screech of Aiden's chair against the floor and his footsteps as he follows me to the foyer.

He catches my hand, intertwining our fingers as he turns me to face him. He has to lower his head to look at me, and he cups my cheek with his hand. "Alina?"

I close my eyes and hum in response.

"Are you okay? I know this is weird, but we can deal with it. It doesn't all have to be bad."

I nod, letting my head drop against his chest.

"Do you want to stay over tonight?"

"I want to, but I think I need to go home. Talk to my mom."

He sighs. "Yeah, I guess that's the smart thing to do."

Mother stomps down the hall, apologizing to Jake and Aiden. She stops only for a second

beside me.

"You're coming home with me. Say goodbye," she whispers into my ear, low and angry.

She squeezes Aiden's bicep and smiles at him. "Goodnight, Aiden. We'll see each other

soon, I hope."

Aiden nods, watching her walk away before returning his attention back to me. "Text me,

okay? I want to make sure you're okay after your... conversation."

I try to smile, but I'm cut off as he leans toward me, cupping the back of my neck. He kisses me hard, shoving his tongue into my mouth. I wrap my arms around his neck and push myself to the tips of my toes as I welcome the deep kiss, the warm caress of his

tongue.

Fuck, I don't want to go home.

pull apart when Jake clears his throat behind

and say a quick goodbye before following my mother out of

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It's Not About Love

home is a thick, choking silence. My mind races, and I notice the way her

this even happen? My mother is marrying

the house, and the door has barely shut before my mother spins around, eyes blazing. “What the fuck is wrong with you?"

shut my mouth and look at

bag on the floor and crosses her arms over her chest. "Do

you?" My voice is sharp, barely containing the anger that's been

cocks her head, looking at me like she never even thought of

embarrassing me.

even think about

already tired of the

already told you. You know this isn't about love, Alina. It's about stability. It's about a

didn't think you were being serious. You're moving

really want to tell her is that she cannot marry the man I lost my virginity to, but saying

biting into my brain. "Don't lecture me. I'm

the adult here."

shake my head, disbelief gnawing at me. “You think using a man for

want. Jake understands, anyway. He's a widower too, and he's well aware that I don't have to love him to marry him. He's already promised me

hate, hate, desperately hate the fact that it makes me feel better to hear

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It's Not About Love

don't

about the money, then? Not even a

as if I'm being overly dramatic. "Stop being so naïve, Alina. Life isn't some fairytale, and

your father, and I

dad's death evident. For the first time in

like

there was a time she

clears her throat, straightening her expression. "This arrangement is

I don't need to 'like' him for it

at her, stunned, and words fail

me to

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