Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 222

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I'm trembling.

It's subtle, mostly in my hands, the way my fingers twist together in my lap like they're trying to braid my nerves into something useful instead of completely destructive.

I can feel my nerves everywhere. In the pit of my stomach. In the tightness in my chest. Even my heartbeat feels wrong, like it's trying to outrun this moment.

The sitting room is like nothing I've ever seen before. Like from a movie. If I thought Jake was rich, this is a whole new awakening.

Tall ceilings. Gilded crown molding. Paintings on every wall, some classic, some modern, all expensive. Everything smells like lilies and lemon polish. Like wealth.

I sigh, dropping my eyes to the woman sitting in front of me.

Elena Hanson. My aunt.

She sits across from me in an armchair that probably costs more than everything I've ever owned in my entire life. She's dressed in a cream silk blouse and navy trousers, her heels tucked neatly under her chair. Her dark hair is swept back, not a strand out of place, and her lipstick is the exact same shade of mauve that used to stain the edges of my grandmother's teacups in the only photo I have of her.

She looks like someone important.

And she looks like him.

slope of her nose, the almond shape of her eyes, my eyes. Every little detail

almost wistful. "You look just like your grandmother when she was younger. I have some pictures

hard. My mouth moves before my fear

never

met you before?"

the pain behind it. She

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coward. Young,

little sister. I adored him. Still do." Her lips tremble for half a second, but she catches

bite down on my cheek so

he married your mother, Diana, our parents, they didn't take it well. Old money. Old minds. They'd chosen someone for him, someone they thought would elevate our name, secure alliances, whatever nonsense they cared

glancing toward one of the paintings on the

disowned him," she continues. "Told him he could stay in the family or stay

her. He chose her."

spreads through

smiles, her voice soft. "Of course he chose

confusion spreading. "He never

long

"I don't blame him. They were terrible