Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 147

I Don't Know My Own Sons

The silence that follows after Jake storms off is thick, almost suffocating. I sit there, staring at my half-eaten plate, my heart still pounding.

Should I have waited until we were done with the trip to bring something up? No, not when they're talking about separating our days.

I look at Zaid, who is watching me with a soft smile. It mirrors how uncomfortable

I am and yet lets me know that he feels better about the truth being out.

Aiden hasn't moved, hasn't spoken a word.

Zaid exhales heavily, then stands, clapping Aiden on the back. "Come on, man. We should go talk some things through."

Aiden finally blinks, his expression still unreadable, but he nods without a word and pushes back from the table.

Zaid turns to me, his eyes warm as he leans down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against my lips. "I'll check in with you later, okay, love?"

I nod, squeezing his hand before he follows Aiden out of the room, leaving me alone.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself before I stand and head upstairs.

Jake's door is shut, and I don't bother knocking. I push it open, stepping inside to find him sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. His broad shoulders are hunched, his entire body tight with frustration and tension.

He looks like I could touch him and he'd crack in two. He's not crying, but his body

trembles as if he's trying to hold it in.

My heart clenches.

I walk over, sinking to my knees in front of him. Without hesitation, I reach for his

wrists, gently prying his hands away from his face.

whisper, searching his

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Don't Know My

shut tight, his nostrils flaring as he

okay?"

When he finally opens his eyes, they're shining with unshed tears. "I feel like I don't know my

ache blooms

Looking back now,

"Jake-"

father in the world," he

as I crawl onto his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. His face presses against my chest, his breath warm against my skin. I cradle him close, threading

struggled with things, Jake. Losing family members isn't easy. None of this has been easy.

against me, his arms tightening around my waist. "I should have

his eyes

He blows out a stream of air. “I have so

his hair. "He hasn't

eyes, jaw clenching in anger. "And Aiden?

into his eyes. "Don't trade in your anger

would just

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Know My Own

He studies me.

between them and between you and Zaid." I'm panicking. Maybe overstepping, but I can't let this fall apart when we're so

"But Aiden-"

the one that insisted. They love each other. He wanted to protect him. You want to punish Aiden for worrying about his future?" The words come out of me shaky, broken. I want

lying to me. For letting Zaid take

They need to work through it. "Do you what

without the three

as if he's letting go of something he's

chest warms me, and I sigh, leaning my head against him. "For so long, I did think of you as the glue. I had hoped that we would get closer because of you, but this shit can only be

that's a lot