ALINA’S POV.

    “Anyway, about this Jacobi guy-

    She began, but we were interrupted by thest person I wanted to see.

    “Hey Lina.”

    Adrian’s annoying voice spoke from behind me.

    Seriously, why was he everywhere?

    “Why the heck are you everywhere?”

    Talia took the words right out of my thoughts, frowning as she looked over my shoulders. !--

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    “If it isn’t Alina’sp dog.”Adrian snarled at her.

    “Seems like you want a repeat of yesterday.”Talia growled, narrowing her eyes and ncing deliberately at his crotch as she stepped forward.

    He winced, his hands automatically flying to cover his family jewels.

    I couldn’t help but scoff, a bitterugh escaping my lips.

    “I am not here for you, Talia Hart.” Adrian snapped, ring.

    “Like you have the balls to be.” She sneered.

    “Why are you here, Adrian?” I asked in a bored tone, not bothering to hide my irritation.

    I really was in no mood to deal with him today.

    Adrian turned to me, his expression shifting.

    “I am very upset at what you did yesterday, Lina, but I forgive you because of how you decided to make it up to me.” He said, his mood switching from annoyance to a creepy kind of happiness by the end of his sentence.

    Talia shot me a questioning look. I only shrugged in response, just as confused as her.

    “What are you talking about?” I stood up, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

    “Oh,e on Lina, you don’t have to act dumb.”He smiled wider, as if we shared some inside joke.

    “I genuinely have no idea what you are talking about.” I said in all sincerity.

    “I knew you loved me. All of those acts you were putting up since the night of the engagement up untilst night were because you were nning something big for me.”

    “Can you speak in thenguage we all understand or get lost?”Talia snapped, already tired of his cryptic statements.

    He was beginning to get on my nerves too.

    “Stay out of this, Talia.”Adrian red at her, venom in his voice.”I am sure you are the one always advising her to defile metely.

    “Or else what?!” She challenged.

    “Do not make me take care of you.” He warned, his tone dark.

    That didn’t sit well with me.

    I knew he and Seraphina had killed Talia in the past life just because she got in their way.I’d be damned if I let anything happen to her in this life.

    “Do not threaten my friend, or it won’t end well for you.”I got into his face, voice hard and eyes zing. His eyes widened in shock.

    Even I was a little taken aback by how dangerously scary I sounded.

    I sounded just like Lucian.

    “Damn girl, Mr. ckwood is definitely rubbing off on you.” Talia whispered behind me.

    “I was just kidding, Lina. Rx.”Adrian chuckled nervously, trying to cover his difort.

    We both knew he wasn’t kidding. He meant every word.

    “She just keeps meddling-”

    “She is my best friend. She’s allowed to meddle.”

    I cut him off sharply.

    “Alright, calm down. Don’t be mad. We’re supposed to be celebrating, not fighting, after all you—”

    He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze suddenly fixed on my neck.

    He reached out, pushing my hair aside, and his face contorted in rage.

    “You fucked him!”He sneered.”You let him fucking touch you!”

    I looked around quickly. Thankfully, there weren’t a lot of people around, and the few that were near us were busy with their own things.

    “What is it to you if I did? He is my fiancé.” I reminded him, my tone defiant.

    “Did he force you? He must have forced you because there is no way you would willingly let him touch you. He forced you, right?”

    “It’s actually the other way around.” Talia muttered under her breath, snickering.

    “Let go of me.”I shoved his hands away as they tried to search my body for signs of injury.

    “Are you sick or something?” I snapped.“Of course Lucian didn’t hurt me. I let him touch me, willingly.” I said it smugly, wanting to piss him off. It worked.

    “You don’t mean that,” he gritted out. “You love me.”

    215

    “I suggest you control yourself unless you want to be on the top search tomorrow on the blog,” Talia warned him.”I can already see the headline: ‘Adrian Vaughn, the newest dog licker in town.””She added, holding her hands above her head to mimic a giant shing sign.

    I was grateful for that save. He was beginning to draw attention.

    He took a deep breath, struggling topose himself before he spoke again.

    “I forgive you, Lina.” He said softly.

    I stared at him in disbelief. Talia, on the other hand, burst intoughter.

    “Oh Lord, you are killing me, Adrian.” She said, doubling over, but he ignored her.

    “I know you did all of this to get me the Fairview Project, so I will let it slide this time-”

    “Oh, shut your damn mouth.” I snapped, finally having enough.”What Fairview Project? What are you talking about?”

    The Fairview Project… It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite ce it.

    “Don’t be modest now, Lina. I’ve been asking you to get the Fairview Project for me for the longest time because it’ll be huge for mypany. Remember, you threatened to slit your wrist, or was it jump over the balcony?”He muttered, tapping his chin.”I can’t remember which, because you’re quite creative with your threats, babe.”

    He chuckled.

    “But you threatened to hurt yourself if Lucian didn’t give the project to me.”

    “Oh.”

    The word slipped out of my mouth as the memory hit me.

    God, I had been such a fool.

    How could I have put Lucian through such emotional torture for this moron standing in front of me?

    “If only I knew sex was all it took for him to hand over the project to me, I would have suggested it a long time ago—”

    My hand flew andnded on his face with a satisfying smack before he could finish his statement.

    “You are disgusting.” I spat at him.”Let’s get out of here before I murder someone.” I said, turning to Talia.

    We grabbed our things and walked away, leaving a stunned Adrian behind.

    “How could he? Why would he give that project to Adrian?”I said angrily.

    We were at the gaming part of the mall, and I was shooting zombies in front of me with ruthless precision.

    “Maybe because he thinks that’s what you want.” Talia responded, sitting at the corner and watching me.

    “What I want? How the hell would he know what I want?I thought he was done making decisions for me, ones that concern me,without telling me.We spoke about this justst night, now he does this?” I nearly yelled, taking out thest zombie before pulling off the VR sses and dropping them with the gun in front of the screen.

    “Damn girl.” Talia said, shocked at my score.”To think you’re not even into shooting games.”

    She wasn’t the only one surprised. A few onlookers were staring at my score in awe.

    “I’m pissed, okay? I needed an outlet, and I’m not satisfied yet.”I told her, my whole body shaking with barely controlled

    rage.

    “Let’s go.” I said firmly.

    “Go where?” She asked, grabbing her bags and rushing after me.

    “You’ll see.” I replied, jaw tight.

    Jordan, who had been waiting outside the mall, rushed over and helped Talia with her bag.

    “Thanks, Jordy.” Talia said in appreciation, but I was already sliding into the car.

    “Alina, you need to calm down.” Talia told me, getting in beside me.

    “No, Talia. You don’t understand. Lucian doesn’t trust me.” I said, my voice breaking with frustration.”I thought we were making progress, but what he just did only proves that he doesn’t trust me.”

    “How sure are you? Maybe the project was already signed and is only getting to Adrian now.” She offered gently.

    “Lucian doesn’t operate like that.”I shook my head, gripping my knees.”That project is a big one, Talia, and I remember him saying no when I asked him. He didn’t relent, not even when I threatened to hurt myself. But all of a sudden Adrian has the project?”

    “He probably feels like, since you both are in a good ce right now, he wouldn’t want to ruin it. That’s why he decided to fulfill something you’ve been pushing for.” She shrugged.

    “But I don’t want that anymore!” I yelled.”Why can’t he trust me and see that I do not love Adrian again?!”

    “Can you me him though?” Talia said softly, making me frown.”Alina, I get it, you’ve changed. Yes, it’s shocking, and it’s also hard to believe. Only we knew how head-over-heels in love with Adrian you were. Not everybody is going to just believe that you’ve changed.Especially Mr. ckwood because he got the biggest burn in all of this.” She reasoned.

    “Whose side are you on?” I red at her.

    “The side of truth, always.” She shot me a small smile.

    “Whatever.” I grumbled, folding my arms.

    I knew she was right, but that did nothing to simmer down my anger.

    “Where to, ma’am?”Jordan asked, sliding into the car.

    “To the warehouse.” I instructed.

    “To the what now?”

    “What?!”

    Both Talia and Jordan spoke at the same time.