MasukALINA'S POVEveryone paused their panics and gave me strange looks. I knew I shouldn't have said I wanted to come too. But I could not help myself."I mean, I feel like, Aria is so devastated and would need support." I hoped my excuse sounded right and not stupid. ''Oh, Liana, you don't have to stress yourself." Aria reached out to tap my shoulder. "I insist. And I can just go home from there." "Alright then, can we stop the time wasting now?" I could not tell if Edrick was suspicious or just pissed as he chirped in. Either way, It did not matter at the moment. We hopped into the car and drove silently to the hosopital. I tried my best to not panic or act out of place. I neded to act normal. All my resolve broke when we got to the hallway and stumbled across mom. Hair disheveled and tears streaming down her cheeks. I haven't seen this woman in almost seven years, and now that I see her, I did not know what to feel. "Mom," Aria ran to hug her while I stood aside. Why was I fee
ALINA'S POVI stood by the sink and washed my face for the tenth time. I did not care that all my make up was now smudgy and ugly. I just wanted to wash the anxiety away.From being sad for Grandma Vale to being scared she was about to reveal my identity. "Saying trash again." That was what Aria had said. The woman says things, but why did it have to be so accurate with me? A few minutes passed and I realized it would start looking odd if I don't go back to the table. So, I washed my face one last time, clearing the remaining make up.As I walked towards the dining area, my minfd was fixed on getting a suitable excuse to get out of this dinner without raising suspicion. I was so lost in my thoughts I did not notice when I bumped into someone. Hard and strong. I did not need to look up to know it was Edrick. I waited for him to call me clumsy as usual. But instead, he asked. "What are you doing here?" I raised a brow. "Came for dinner. Can't you see?"His eyes raked over my bo
Alina's POVI was starting to regret my decision. Hell, I regretted it the moment I stepped out of the fashion house three days ago. After I told Aria we can be friends. I am not sure what friendship means to her, judging from the type of person she is, it's probably something very dark. But now, as I stared at my phone ringing with her caller ID boldly written on the screen. My regret started becoming curiousity, and a little bit of hope. May be it was not aa bad idea. "Hey Liana!" She squealed like a teen. "Aria, whats up." "Oh, nothing much! Just that, we havcen't met since tuesday. So, I was thinking , if you don't have plans tonight, you can join us for dinner at the Vale Mansion." Dinner, Vale Mansion. I haven't step foot in that building since the day Aria exposed me, called me a liar and made me the villian. How am I even tolerating this bitch? That's it, she deserves to be exposed. For all she had done to me. "I'll be there." I said. And I was there right on ti
Alina's Pov.Annoying. That is the only way I could explain how Aria's voice was sounding in my head. She kept talking about shit like "Oh, I hope Edrick wasn't bothering you," Blah blah blah. No bitch, he was not bothering me. Infact, he just caused me a heartache that I know might end me. What's worse? He made me feel again. Yes. Edrick sittiing here, spiitting how much my death hurt him, how he still was hurting, how he believed it was his fault. That was enough to make my heart beat again. "Liana?" Aria tapped my shoulder, and I snapped out of my thoughts. "Sorry." I said, taking my seat. "How may I help you, Mrs Vale?" "Oh, nonsense," Aria sat beside me. "Call me Aria. The whole Mrs Vale title is too formal, don't you think?" She chuckled. "Oh, okay. So how may I help you?" "Well, Liana, It's nothing much. Just about the stuff we discussed at the Gala.""The job?" I almost rolled my eyes. "I already told you we are not...""I know, I know." She cut in. "You aren't h
EDRICK'S POV."Edrick," I did not know when Liana left her seat, her sketch pad and all and sat beside me.Her hands tapped my back softly.But I was too ashamed to look at her.What have I done? Came here spilling my business to a total stranger.spilling words i have never let myself say out loud before. Words I thought I would never be brave enough to spit out.All to a lady I did not even trust at all."It's okay Edrick," she rubbed my back softly."You cannot just blame yourself for whatever it is that happened to Alina. I am sure she would not want you to do that."Oh she has no idea."The thing is I failed. Whether A lina blamed me or not, I failed. I failed her, I failed myself. And because I hadn't acted fast enough, I let her die. I let her dreams and everything she could have become die.""You did your best. That is what matters the most."I took a deep breath."Thank you, Liana." I could not believe I was saying this.But talking to her made me feel a thousand times better
Alina's PovChaos. A Jumble. A mess.That is what the days after the gala became for me. I had a lot on my plate. too much, if you ask me.First, I got an apartment. We cannot be staying in a hotel for the rest of our lives. Not that I plan on staying here for that long."Six months to a year." I mentally promised. it should be enough to get things flowing here. Once my business becomes stable, the wisest option is to leave and visit once in a while.The apartment I got was not out right luxury. it was comfortable. two rooms, a living room, a nice balcony view and a safe enviroment for my daughter. That was all that mattered.With that settled, I moved to the next big issue. School.Clover cannot be staying at home all day with her babysitter. I asked around for the best schools and was referred to a nice one not too far from our quiet enviroment.Again, perfect.With everything in place, my morning routine was always just, cooking, getting dressed, dropping Clover at school and going
ALINA’S POVHis lips crashed into mine with a desperation that stole the air from my lungs.For a split second, I froze.I didn’t want this, not like this, not now, but my body reacted before my mind could catch up. Maybe it was shock. Maybe it was the weight of everything between us. Maybe it was
ARIA’S POVIt felt useless sitting in the luxury when in reality, it wasn’t mine. Edrick still wasn’t mine. At least not the way I wanted him to be.I sat alone in the sitting room, my hands folded over my stomach, listening to the slow tick of the antique clock on the wall. Every second felt louder
ALINA’S POVThe cab finally stopped in front of a small hotel tucked between two aging buildings. The sign flickered like it was tired of trying. This will do, I told myself as I dragged my suitcase
CHAPTER 67 — ALINA’S POVThe minute I stepped out of the embassy, the heat slapped me across the face like it owed me money. The sun was ridiculous, sharp, blinding, burning into my skin. I hissed under my breath, but I didn’t take a cab. I couldn’t. Not anymore.If I was going to survive six whol







