LOGINEdrick's POV“Edrick! Edrick!”Alina giggled and yelled at the top of her voice as the pirate ship swung left, right, up, and down. My stomach clenched with every swing.This should be my least favorite ride.I enjoyed the Ferris wheel, even though it was scary at first. The swings, the merry-go-rounds, and every other ride were okay. They were fun, but this one? This one was just an avenue to get me to throw up all the cotton candy and ice cream I had eaten this evening.Still, I held the railings as tightly as I could with one hand while the other wrapped around Alina’s waist.Oh, I was going to fall sick.But I loved it. Most especially, I loved the sound of her laughs. I loved the way she giggled with every swing, even though this ride was a death knell.The speed of the ride slowly reduced until it finally stopped.Stepping out, I could barely hold myself up, and Alina was equally dizzy as she clutched my shirt. Her fingers were tightly knotted around it as we stepped out.“That
Aria's POV I walked slowly, keeping my body close to the wall and making sure I didn't look up, just so my eyes wouldn't meet anyone else's.The moment I made it to my room, I let out a breath.This was the first time in a whole week that I had eaten my breakfast without getting picked on, without getting beaten up by a group of gang members or whatever they were.And for that, I was grateful.I didn't want to spoil this good luck, so I kept walking, avoiding everyone I came across. If they had forgotten about me today, if they had forgotten to bully me, then that was good news. It meant that maybe things would start getting better.But even if they didn't, I would take today as a lucky day and keep moving.I got to my room earlier than my inmate and used the opportunity to lie down on the hard, thin sofa.Lord, I sighed.I closed my eyes and let myself relax, even though the air stank of pee and everything around me was horrible. I tried to find some positivity in that moment of sil
ALINA'S POVEvery word he said, every time he shook his head, every time he closed his eyes, and every time his voice grew louder, I felt my heart clench.So much pain. So much hurt his mother had caused him. And instead of making things better, I'd only reopened his old wounds.I closed my eyes, shame and disappointment filling me.Through all the times my mother had abused me, through all the times she'd chosen Aria over me, Edrick had stood by my side. And now, it was my turn to stand by his side. I was ready to do that, no matter what it cost me.I inched closer, wrapping my arms around him. His hand instinctively wrapped around my wrist as he pulled me closer.I waited until his breathing had steadied before leaning back a little."I'm sorry, Edrick," I said."You didn't do anything," he finally said."No, I did. I knew you weren't on good terms with her, even though I didn't know the whole story. I feel terrible, Edrick. I just... I ruined everything for you.""You didn't know t
Edrick's POVMaybe I overreacted. Maybe I got too angry. Maybe she only did it because I never gave her the story. I never told her who Vanessa really was.“It's not Mary. It's Vanessa,” I said.She looked more confused than I'd ever seen her.“That's her real name. She started answering to Mary after she ruined our lives,” I added. Then I turned back to face the sea..Alina inched closer, gently placing a hand on my shoulder.“We never knew what a happy home was like,” I began. “She was always out doing one thing or another to ruin my father's reputation. She was a drunk, an alcoholic who went out, got drunk, then came home and did nothing but yell and break things. The next morning, we'd wake up and go to school. We'd come back, and we wouldn't see her again until nighttime, when she'd return home drunk. Then the cycle would repeat.”“Anna and I never knew what peace was growing up.”“Oh, my Edrick,” Alina said softly.I shook my head. I didn't want sympathy. I didn't want pity. I
Alina's POVI hated it.I hated that I had just ruined the most beautiful moment for Edrick, and I hated that I had put him in this position. I hated that I had put Mary and everyone else in this position, too.It took everything in me to speak. I was too scared to say anything, especially with the tension growing heavier by the second. Edrick looked like he could unleash all his anger at any moment, and I knew I had to stop it before things got worse."I told her to come," I said, my voice trembling.Edrick finally looked away from her, his eyes settling on me with what I could only describe as confusion and a hint of betrayal.I gulped."I'm sorry. I swear I didn't mean to show up. I didn't know," Mary stammered. "I didn't know this would happen.""Get out. Get out of here!" Edrick snapped.She gave a quick nod, glanced at Clover one last time, then turned and began walking away."Edrick, please," I said, reaching for him. "She just wanted to say goodbye to Clover. I didn't know all
Edrick’s POVSince the court hearing, I had been focused on two things. Two things I could not afford to mess up.First, finding out who had bribed the judge on Aria’s behalf, because I refused to believe she had paid that money herself.Finding that out was hard enough, especially with all the work I had to do at Vale Enterprise and the fact that whoever was behind it had a very strong hold. Because how on earth had the person sent money that could not be traced?I had tried everything, and the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became.My second task, however, was much more soothing and fulfilling than the first.Proposing to Alina.I had thought about it for a while. I had never had the time to consider it while we were chasing Aria, not with all the chaos in our lives. But finally, I could sit down and peacefully think about how to propose to my woman, how to make Alina my wife, and how to make her Mrs. Vale.Because she deserved it.She is Mrs. Vale. No one else.She







