Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

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.

when Jake clears his

a glare and say a quick goodbye before following my mother out of

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It's Not About Love

mind races, and I notice

this even happen? My mother is marrying Jake,

the house, and the door has barely shut before my mother spins around, eyes blazing. “What the

my mouth and look

over her chest. "Do you have any

sharp, barely containing the anger

head, looking at me like she never

embarrassing me.

can you even think about marrying

of the conversation. "Don't throw your father

about love, Alina. It's about stability. It's about a life I've

think you were being

want to tell her is that she cannot marry the man I

laughs, the sound biting into my brain.

the adult here."

me. “You think using a man for money

promised me that I won't have to share a room or... anything else with him. He can provide, and

hate, hate, desperately hate the

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It's Not About Love

they don't plan to

huff a breath. "So, it's all about the money, then? Not even a shred of... liking

me off, dismissing me as if I'm being overly dramatic. "Stop being so naïve, Alina. Life isn't some fairytale, and marriages don't need to be built on love to

I will

voice cracks, the pain of dad's death evident. For the

like

me that there was a time she

throat, straightening her expression. "This

'like' him for it

at her, stunned, and words fail me.

me to my running