bChapter /bb13 /b

ALINA’S POV

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MINDH”

“Before you bite my head off, hear me out.” I raised my hands in surrender, my eyes flickering momentarily to a startled Fluffy, who was now making a hasty retreat on her little legs to another part of the house.

“Look, now you’ve scared her. I frowned at Talia, trying to make light of the situation–but the intensifying re in her eyes told me she wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

“Were you not the person crying a few minutes ago about being a changed person, or did I imagine all of that?” The scowl on her face didn’t waver.

“It’s not what you’re thinking. Tally. bI /bpromise.” I assured her.

“You have two seconds to exin before I really lose my shit and throw you off the balcony. Her tone was slicing with impatience.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her threat.!--

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“Alina.” She called qut in a warning tone.

“Alright, tiger. You really should retract your ws” An angry Ta was a scary Talia

“You ran out of seconds five seconds ago. She reminded me.

“Fine” I sighed. “Remember, I have to keep them believing I’m still the dumb, naive Alina they know. And to keep up that image. I have to go see bAdrian /band y the perfect lover.”

My face scrunched in disgust at the image of me pretending to suck up to Adrian, and a bitter taste rose in my mouth. “Trust me more than you, bam /bnot looking forward to it.”

Talia searched my face for any sign of deception. When she found none, she took a deep breath of relief.

“Good. You scared me for ba /bbsecond /bthere. She told me.

“I really meant it when I said I’m not going to be a fool to them anymore, Tally. I know it’s hard, but you have to trust me. My voice was

soft.

“Fine.” She agreed reluctantly. “But you bhave /bto be careful. Those two aren’t as simple as they appear.”

Oh, she didn’t need to tell me that. I, bmore /bthan anyone, knew what they were capable of. They weren’t just thieves and maniptors, they were murderers. bThey /bhad murdered ine in my previous life, and I wasn’t going to let them get away with it.

“I will be.” I bpromised/b, rising to my feet and making my way to her broom /bwhere I had plugged in my phone.

Upon my return, she walked me to the door, and I pulled her binto /bba /bhug one bst /btime, feeling the need to bensure /bthat bshe /bbwas /breally here and not just another figment of my imagination.

“I’m bso /bhappy to see you.“I muttered into her neck.

“I’m bso /bhappy to see you bjoo/b, Barbie doll.” She said, making me chuckle at the nickname she’d given me the first time we met bas /bkids.

It was at the yground. She’d walked right up to me and told me I looked like one of her Barbie dolls–and then promptly demanded that I be her best friend.

We pulled away from the hug–me, reluctantly and I walked out the door.

“I’ll call you.” I told her.

“You better.” She warned bjokingly /b

ughed before making my way to the elevator.

One more thing, Ally,” Talia called out, making me stop and turn around.

“Yeah!”

“bDon’t /bgive Mr. ckwood a hard time. He loves you.”

“Okay mom.” I responded, amused.

he had always been Team Lucian, even though she was scared of him.

“Besides, the more you keep him happy, the better for everybody.” She added, making me pause in mild confusion.

My mouth opened to ask her what she meant by thatst statement–but she had already locked the bdoor/b, leaving bme /bstanding alone in the hallway.

Deciding not to read too much into it, I walked into the elevator, quite pleased with how the visit had turned out.

My journey to the hospital was a blur. I practiced breathing exercises to calm myself, reminding myself not to blose /bmy shit the moment I saw Adrian

I walked into the hospital, the smell of antiseptic and medication hitting my nostrils right away. My hands clenched tighter around the basket of fruits and white lilies that I was holding.

Good evening greeted one of the nurses at the station.

“Good evening, ma’am. How can I help you?” She responded politely.

“Please, what room is Adrian Vaughn in?”

“Just ba /bsecond.” She began typing into herputer

As I waited, my eyes wandered around the area and at the far corner, I noticed a strange figure in a ck hoodie staring directly at me.

At firstb, /bbI /bwanted to shrug bit /boff, but he did not budge, Rather, he quickly pulled out his phone and took a picture of me.

My body stiffened. I made a move to approach him, but just then, the nurse spoke again.

“Mr. Vaughn is in the VIP ward on the third floor.”

Of course he bwas/b. I had to bstop /bmyself from rolling my eyes.

“Do you need help getting there?” She asked.

“No, thank you. I can manage.” I smiled politely.

As I turned to bleave/b, I shot onest nce at the corner where the strange man had been, but he was gone.

He honestly gave me the creeps.

Who the hell was that?

Shaking off the strange encounter and writing it off as probably someone who recognized me as Lucian’s fiancée, I made my way to Adrian’s private bward/b.

Just as I reached the door I paused, taking a moment to calm my racing heart and steady my trembling hands. I was about to push the door open when I heard voices from binside/b.

“Do you think she woulde?” The unmistakable voice of Seraphina floated out

Of course she was here. I held back the scoff threatening to burst out from my throat.

“Most definitely,” Adrian’s tone was oozing with bpride/b–so much so that the rage surging through bme /bbintensified/b.

She would do anything I ask her to. She’s mypdog, remember?” he added, amused.

Fucking bastard. How did I not see this before? How bwas /bbI /bso blind to the fact bthat /bAdrian didn’t love me at all?

“I bhate /bwhen you have to pretend to love her though.” Seraphina said, in a sulking voice.

“I know, baby.” Adrian murmured–and then it went silent.

Chapter b13 /b

I bwas /bbeginning to wonder what was going bon /binside when the unmistakable disgusting sound of them making out reached my ears.

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