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 stand the emotions in

no right to say that," I say, my voice cold and sharp. "You don't get to

She flinches.

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

can swallow them down like

across the face.

streaming down my

stares at me, hardening her expression to mask

needed you for the past

"I needed time-"

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

want to hit her across the face. "I don't remember saying

of-"

won't let you use your alcoholism as an excuse. Fuck

have. He's been here. He's been constant. You? You only show up when it's convenient, when it makes

would be fine if he cared for

the stairs, and then Zaid is there, his face tight. His gaze flickers between us, taking in my mother's shaking hands, her clenched jaw, the

toward me, taking my hand in his. I

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A Terrible Mother

he asks, his voice low,

tother. "Um. She

my mother finishes for me. "I came here after getting calls and emails from your school about your teacher. I came here to make sure

roll my eyes, knowing she's only using that

ever thought of him as a husband and not just

He stands between me and

narrow. "You knew

flinch, his eyes

nostrils flare. "And you think

doesn't even look at her, just shrugs. "Just because

mean it's bad."