Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 55

Happy Family

Fifteen minutes later, we're all sitting around a beautifully set dining table.

Mother smiles at everyone. "I wanted tonight to be a test for the setup for the wedding. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I look down at my plate. Clean, with white napkins and gold silverware. There are flowers, vases, and candles spread across the middle of the table. I shift my gaze to Aiden, who is sitting beside me and he is eyeing the entire thing with a scowl.

The chef is putting the final touches on some of the dishes, and I can't help but think that this is all a bit too extravagant.

A little too forced.

Mother thanks the chef, and then she turns to Aiden, Zaide and me. "I wanted to talk to

you three about the program for the wedding."

I tense, and Aiden snaps his head to my mother. Zaid, who is on the opposite side of the table and beside my mother, lifts an eyebrow, but keeps his gaze on his plate.

"Why?" I whisper, my voice cracking.

"Well, we would like you guys to dance together. You know, to show how happy we are to bring our families together. It would be right after Jake and I's first dance."

My eyes dance between my mother and Jake. "You want me us to have a dance?"

Mother nods enthusiastically, but Jake stays expressionless.

"You want me to dance with them?" My eyes now shift between Aiden and Zaid.

"Seriously, Alina," mother whispers, rolling her eyes. "Can you stop being such a pain?"

Aiden tenses beside me. "She can feel as uncomfortable about this as she wants. I'll dance

with her, not Zaid."

Zaid recoils, drawing his eyes away from me to look at his brother. "Hold on, if Diana here wants us to look the part of family, then I am more than happy to dance with Alina."

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Happy Family

you are,

looking to mother with an apologetic shake of his head as if saying this is what he expected out of his sons. "You will both dance with

heart drops to my

with a grateful nod. "That's a

grits, placing a hand on my thigh and

looking

being watched too

Matthews

a corner in

are you being so difficult, Aiden? That usually falls on your brother?" Jake

the way his jaw clenches and his eyes drop back down

head. I don't want this night to

about how my mother treats me, how she blames me

dad and

I couldn't stomach that.

can tell he doesn't like that I'm holding back, but he listens to me, looking at Jake with defiant glare. "Fine. Just

it."

a smile on her face, continuing to

for the wedding and everyone's jobs for

2/4

Happy Family

her eyes lighten and her face glows with the fairy tale

her mind.

didn't have a wedding. They were married in the courthouse after they found out she was pregnant with Alex. They were in love and

They loved each other.

horrid person and now part of me wonders how much

on my plate and set my fork down. I'm not hungry,

it is doing somersaults in my body and all I can

on my skin. "I can't eat." He

shake my head and lean back in my chair. "Neither can