LOGINAlina’s POV"Yes, and then the lights and the flowers should also match the dresses."“Hannah, I don't think that's a good idea."Lila and Hannah kept going back and forth about the decorations. Meanwhile, I just sat there, clutching the coffee Edrick had left for me as I stared at the door he had walked through with his father.I didn't care what Mr. Vale thought of me. I didn't. But I hated that I already knew he didn't like me and that I wasn't welcome in his family.….That evening, Edrick and I didn't get to talk privately until we were in bed."So, you spoke to your father about the engagement?" I asked.He nodded as he applied lotion to his body."I didn't know you hadn't informed him earlier," I said.He nodded again and took a deep breath."Why didn't you tell him earlier?" I asked again. I didn't want to push him, but I felt like I needed to.Edrick turned towards me and finally made his way to the bed, sitting beside me. He pushed back a few strands of hair that had fall
Edrick's POVWe walked through the back door and into the garden. Not a word passed between my father and me until we were seated in one of the garden chairs.“So, you're getting married. Remarried,” Father said.I looked up at him.“Yes. Yes, I am.”“And you didn't think it was a good idea to tell me you were getting engaged?”I kept quiet and looked anywhere but at him.Honestly, I didn't even know why I hadn't told him. It wasn't that I was scared or anything, but I just…“It's not a big thing, Father. It's the engagement. It's not like I'm getting married without letting you know,” I said. I had been busy, and he had been busy too. And maybe, just maybe, I felt uncomfortable with his lack of support during Clover's case.He hadn't shown a bit of love. In fact, he hadn't even appeared in front of Clover since she and Alina moved in with us. With everything that had happened, I just felt like he didn't welcome them here.“An engagement is a big deal, Edrick, and I am your father,
Alina’s POVAfter we got back from the park, Edrick and I had the longest sleep.You know that kind of sleep where your entire body feels relaxed, and you don't even want to open your eyes because you're just so comfortable? The kind where you fall asleep without realizing it and wake up feeling like you've been away from the world for hours?Yeah, that was exactly the kind of sleep we had.When I woke up, it was already noon on Sunday.Edrick wasn't beside me, so I stood up, freshened up, and headed downstairs for breakfast. Or lunch, maybe. Whatever it was, I was hungry.As I got to the mini dining area in the kitchen, Edrick was already there, and beside him sat someone else. A lady with golden hair was writing something on her notepad.I squinted.Was I dreaming?But when I took a step closer, I could see her face clearly.“Lila!” I screamed.She looked up.“Alina!”She stood up and ran towards me, wrapping her arms around me in a warm hug.“God, I've missed you,” she said.“I mis
Edrick'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







