Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 226

Somewhere Else-2

I nod slowly, careful with my expression. "Yeah."

He lets me go then leans against the counter, arms crossed, studying me. "And you? How are you feeling about everything?"

My stomach tightens. "I'm fine."

It's a lie. I know it, but I smile anyway and go back to covering the vegetables in olive oil.

We finish making dinner, mostly in silence. The clinks of silverware and the simmering

pot fill the space where words should go. When we sit down to eat, I try again.

"How's everything going?" I ask, spearing a piece of roasted zucchini.

Jake sighs, the sound is heavy and tired. "The board's pushing me to step down. Sell my

shares. The stock's tanked since the story broke."

I freeze mid-bite. "Jake, I'm so sorry."

He waves it off with a bitter twist of his mouth. "It's my fault. I don't lose all of my money, so I can't complain."

I don't have anything to say to that, my eyes going to the hallways that leads to the

wondering when Zaid will make

the soap bubble around our fingers,

memories cross my mind, of

to drown the noise and the grief getting lost in their arms and in

will things feel easy like

head upstairs. The bedroom light is warm

sits right at the center of it. Jake picks it up before I can stop him, turning it

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Somewhere Else-2

laugh awkwardly, plucking it from

raised. "My

my hair up. His cologne hangs in the air, and I blink a few times at the bathroom mirror, unsure what I'm looking

I feel off.

here?" he asks when we climb under the sheets. "Aside from

Zaid."

take that. I settle into the pillow,

father's sister."

me, a frown on

either, but it's

adds, "Didn't realize you

at that. Zaid knew. He paid

don't respond. I don't need

His touch is gentle, familiar. He