Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 200

A Terrible Mother

I stop breathing. I stop feeling.

It all comes crashing back down when I inhale.

Panic rushes through me. I fumble, my movement stiff and yet fast. I wipe my mouth, adjusting the hem of my nightgown while lifting my strap back to my shoulder.

The room feels like it's closing in, suffocating, too bright, too loud.

My mother starts screaming. Her purse swings through the air, colliding with Jake's bare shoulder.

"Get off my daughter, you sick pervert!" she shrieks, hitting him again, her face red with

rage.

Jake just takes the hit, steps back and keeps his eyes on her.

She only gets closer to him, hitting him over and over again. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Stop!" I cry, jumping off the counter and raising my hands as if I can physically push back her fury.

My voice cracks, but she doesn't stop, doesn't even hear me. She's too far gone, her wide,

frantic eyes darting between me and Jake like she's witnessing a nightmare.

"I need to call the cops," she gasps, her fingers scrambling for her phone. "This is disgusting. He needs to be arrested!"

"No!" The desperation in my voice is raw. "I'm fine. There's no need for that." Her gaze whips back to me, disbelief stretching her features.

"You think this is okay?" she spits.

I shrug. "I wanted this."

"That man is manipulating you, using you." Her voice wavers, but the anger doesn't fade.

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A Tarde Mother

snaps, because I can't

say that," I say, my voice cold and sharp. "You don't get to pretend to care

She flinches.

a terrible mother. A bitch. A selfish woman." The words come

before I can swallow them down like

acts like I've hit her right across the face. "I

streaming down my face. "I lost my father!

Mother just stares at me, hardening her expression to mask her emotions like she always

for

"I needed time-"

just distant, you were mean. You blamed me. You drank until you couldn't even look me in the eye, telling me I was the reason they died. Telling me you wished I

hit her across

of-"

use your alcoholism as

cared for me more than you ever have. He's been here. He's been constant. You? You only show up when it's convenient,

like I'm some deranged stranger. "It would be fine if he cared for you as a father

stairs, and then Zaid is there, his face tight. His gaze flickers between us, taking in my mother's

me, taking my hand in his. I breathe out a sigh of relief, tangling my fingers with

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A Terrible Mother

going on?" he asks, his voice

"Um.

me. "I came here after getting calls and emails from your school about your teacher. I came

knowing she's only using that word to

ever thought of him as a husband and not just

exhales sharply, then moves. He

eyes narrow. "You knew about

flinch, his eyes on me.

nostrils flare. "And you

look at her, just shrugs. "Just

mean it's bad."