LOGINAlina's POVI let her stare at me for as long as she needed.The longer she stared, the more confused she seemed. She seemed hopeful, yet reluctant to believe.“No.” She stood up, her eyes still on me, scanning every inch of my body like I was a corpse that was just dug out of the grave.“It, it,” she sniffled. “It can't be.” Her fingers touched my arms wearily.“Alina?” I could see how scared she was to even say the name.“How? How? You are alive!” she said a little too loud.“Shhhh!” I pulled her back to sit beside me.I shouldn’t be smiling. But the joy on her face was making it impossible to keep a straight face.“You're alive!” she said, this time in a whisper.“How?” The tears were coming back.“I survived the fire,” I said. I was crying, but she was crying even harder when she wrapped me in her arms and hugged me like I'd disappear if she let go.“No, Alina. Where have you been? What happened to you? How did this happen?” She finally pulled away from the hug. But it didn’t seem
ALINA'S POV. I did not know what had come over me, but I wanted to hold on the the strands until they were no longer attached to her scalp, and even then, it will not match the pain she had put me through. Not Even half. But today was Grandma Vale's day and for her sake, I let go of her. Her face was sweaty, her eyes red, and they were little boils popping on her scalp. A grin I could not hide appeared on my face. But Aria was too busy trying to stand on her feet to even care. One advantage of being her twin and growing up with her, I know her weakness.. Want to end Aria in a fight? Grab her hair. "You bitch!" she gritted. But she was too scared to step closer. I could see it in her eyes. "This is just the beginning." I scowled. "I thought you were my friend!" She yelled. People were starting to gather. It won't be nice to create a scene today of all days. I did not want to do what will hurt Edrick or Mr. Vale, or any of them. So, I moved closer to Aria, grabbed her chin,
Alina's POVI was on his lap, my head on his chest, and my shirt halfway across the room.There was just something about this calm silence that felt so intimate, that made me feel so close to Edrick. Like we had never been separated before."I love you, Alina," he broke the silence.I froze.I slowly moved away from him and started looking around for my shirt.He held my hands tightly."Let me go, Edrick. I need to leave.""Alina...""It's Liana!" I snapped.He went silent, but his eyes did not leave mine as I started to put my things together."I need to leave.""I know it's you. It has to be you!" His voice broke.I did not want to stay here any longer. I did not want to look at him any longer. It hurt. It hurt to do so.But at this moment, I was scared, scared to admit I was Alina.Because the Edrick I know will fight to have me once he knows it's me."Alina," he stood up, not bothering to button his shirt up. He placed his hands on the small of my back and pulled me closer."Pleas
Aria’s POVI searched again.I checked the nightstand, the vanity drawers, my jewelry box, the wristwatch cases, the closet, my handbag, and my wallet! Hell, I even checked the bathroom! But I could not find Edrick’s debit card.Did he really take it? No, he wouldn't.I sat on the floor amidst scattered bags, dresses, and half-folded rugs.Edrick would not do this to me.He had moved out completely, that I understood. But taking his card? He always left it here carelessly in case I needed something for myself or Jaime.I stood up and checked the messages on my phone.Clarice, the lady from our association, was having an auction. I needed Edrick’s card badly. If not, those women might suspect something is not right in my life. From there, they will start monitoring my life. Once they find out Edrick is leaving me, I will be kicked out of the association. Those bitches have always hated me because I was not high-born. Without Edrick's name, I will go back to being nothing. Purely irrele
Alina's POV"What? Why has no one said a word to me?" My question was directed mainly to Hannah. I cannot believe that the sickness has gotten bad to the point that she no longer wants to be alive.I tried to fight back my tears. I did not want to hurt them further than they already were. But it was too late, because Lila was already sobbing. Hannah wrapped an arm around her, tears streaming down her cheeks too.Lord knows I will never understand the depth of their grief. I had only known Grandma Vale for a short period of time. Yet, the thought of losing her was killing me. What about them? They had known her, lived with her through sad and happy moments, through the good and the bad days, throughout their lives. I can only wonder about their level of ache. I can only wonder what they were feeling. I could only wonder what Edrick was feeling.My heart stung at the thought of him grieving. I remember clearly the relationship he had with her on the island. The way she'd yell at him lik
Alina's POVI was seated in my favourite spot at work. The balcony where all my creativity flows. But today, I was unable to put the pen on the sketchpad.Not just today. For the past two days, all I did was sit here, watch the beautiful view, and procrastinate. That is all I have done since the day Edrick left my apartment.He had called me Alina. And I had sent him away. So why was I wasting my days waiting on the balcony as if he would sneak up on me like he has done in the past?But today, the third day after that incident, I finally started giving up. Maybe he heard me and chose to stay away. How long will he avoid this office?"Liana? Are you busy?" Hannah wrecked my train of thought. I was so engulfed in it, I hadn't noticed when she appeared."We have a guest," she added.Hope welled in my heart. Was it Edrick?But Hannah would not address Edrick as a guest. Still, I kept an open mind. Well, at least until she continued."She is a fan of your designs. Can you spare a minute to
ALINA’S POVI still couldn’t believe she drove all the way to come pick me up. For real.I followed Lila without a word, my footsteps light, almost apologetic, like I was afraid the ground itself might reject me. Shame clung to my skin the same way the evening heat did, sticky, suffocating, impossi
EDRICK'S POVBy the time I got back to where my car was parked, my head felt like it was being split in the middle.A sharp one-sided headache, pulsing behind my right eye. The kind that made the streetlights blur when I stared too long, the kind that made me regret every drink I’d poured down my t
ALINA’S POV“So you really are a slut,” my landlady spat, her voice sharp enough to cut skin. “Jumping from one man to another under my roof. You don’t even deserve my mercy.”I stood there, numb, my hands hanging uselessly by my sides. There was no point explaining. No point begging. Even if I scr
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







