ログイン-ALINA'S POV.Dragged. I dragged my feet upstairs to our cozy apatment. Clover was asleep and so was her babysitter, Grace. I let them sleep in the room, and buried myself in the living room sofa. There, I let it all out. I cried my pain out, cried the pain of seeing my family so devastated. Of seeing my mom in so much pain. I hate it. I hate that I still loved them. I remember when I started a new life as Liana. I never thought I would miss them even for a second. I belived I hated them for all they have done, that they meant nothing. but now, right here, I knew I was still the same old Alina. It did not matter that I changed my hair and face. I still had the heart of the girl that loved her family like crazy. And I doubt that would ever change. I woke up the next morning with swollen face from all the crying. After a whole hour of dipping my face in ice cold water, I gave up and accepted my fate of going out with the face like that. I dropped Clover at school and then went st
Edrick's POVShe was still trembling.And no, I do not mean Aria whose father was in the ICU.I meant Liana, the lady who was hearing of Aria's family for the first time in her life.Was she just an empath? But how deep can empathy run? She looked completely worked up. At the hall ways while we waited for Aria and Mrs. Dawson, she looked as if she was forcing herself to stay put. As if she was fighting not to race into the ICU.And now, as we drove back home, she has her palms between her legs to stop them from shaking. Her face, pale. Everything seemed wrong with her. She looked even more worried than Aria.Why?Why was she so bothered."It's oaky, he will be fine." I said as we made a turn to Liana's street. At this point, I didn't even know who I was consoling. It seemed they both needed it."Thank you for tonight Liana," Aria said, when we parked in front of the big apartment building."That's what friends are for." Liana practically forced the words out before stepping out.As we
ALINA'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 POVI woke up to the taste of alcohol still burning the back of my throat. Again.The sunlight stabbed through the curtains of my office like it had a personal vendetta against me. My head pounded, my eyes heavy, my chest tight.I checked the time.10:07 AM.And I was already halfway thro
Edrick’s POV I shouldn’t have come here.The bar smelled like sweat, stale beer, and desperation. the kind of place where people drank to forget, not to celebrate. Perfect for me, I guess. I picked it because it was buried deep in a poor neighborhood where no one would recognize me. No uniforms.
ALINA’S POV Three days.Three miserable, silent, lonely days since the humiliation that ripped every piece of my life apart. I hadn’t spoken to anyone, not Edric, after that call, not Aria, not my mother or father, not even the neighbours I usually avoid. I had no one. No friend. No shoulder. No
Alina’s POVMorning came like punishment.I slowly peeled my eyes open, and they burned, swollen, hot, heavy from all the crying I’d done until my body just… gave out. I wasn’t even on my bed. I was lying on the cold floor, still in the same dress I wore to the dinner.The same dress I had been exc







