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."

1/4

Happy Family

course you are,

shake of his head as if

heart drops to

that, looking at him with a grateful nod. "That's a wonderful idea. Oh, I can

placing a hand on

Zaid forces out, looking

being watched too much, too

Matthews in

to run and hide, find a corner in this world where no

are you being so difficult, Aiden? That usually falls

back down to his plate. It makes my heartbeat quicken and I want to comfort him. It

I only shake my head. I don't want this

treats me, how she

my dad and

I couldn't stomach that.

listens to me, looking at Jake with defiant glare. "Fine. Just tell me what you ant me to

it."

forces a smile on her face,

program for the wedding and everyone's jobs for that

2/4

Happy Family

glows with the fairy tale she's been building

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

They loved each other.

wasn't always such a horrid person and now part of me wonders how much of that was actually

look down at the fillet on my plate and set my fork down.

in my body and all I

his thumb rubbing circles on my skin. "I can't eat." He whispers so only I can hear

head and lean back in my