Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina) novel Chapter 55

Happy Family

Fifteen minutes later, we’re all sitting around a beautifully set dining table.

Mother smiles at everyone. “I wanted tonight to be a test for the setup for the wedding. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

I look down at my plate. Clean, with white napkins and gold silverware. There are flowers, vases, and candles spread across the middle of the table. I shift my gaze to Aiden, who is sitting beside me and he is eyeing the entire thing with a scowl.

The chef is putting the final touches on some of the dishes, and I can’t help but think that this is all a bit too extravagant.

A little too forced.

Mother thanks the chef, and then she turns to Aiden, Zaide and me. “I wanted to talk to

you three about the program for the wedding.”

I tense, and Aiden snaps his head to my mother. Zaid, who is on the opposite side of the table and beside my mother, lifts an eyebrow, but keeps his gaze on his plate.

“Why?” I whisper, my voice cracking.

“Well, we would like you guys to dance together. You know, to show how happy we are to bring our families together. It would be right after Jake and I’s first dance.”

My eyes dance between my mother and Jake. “You want me us to have a dance?”

Mother nods enthusiastically, but Jake stays expressionless.

“You want me to dance with them?” My eyes now shift between Aiden and Zaid.

“Seriously, Alina,” mother whispers, rolling her eyes. “Can you stop being such a pain?”

Aiden tenses beside me. “She can feel as uncomfortable about this as she wants. I’ll dance

with her, not Zaid.”

Zaid recoils, drawing his eyes away from me to look at his brother. “Hold on, if Diana here wants us to look the part of family, then I am more than happy to dance with Alina.”

1/4

Happy Family

“Of course you are, you-”

“Stop, Aiden.” Jake finally enters the conversation. He sighs, looking to mother with an apologetic shake of his head as if saying this is what he expected out of his sons. “You will both dance with Alina, as will 1.”

My heart drops to my stomach.

Mother smiles at that, looking at him with a grateful nod. “That’s a wonderful idea. Oh, I can dance with the boys, too.”

“No,” Aiden grits, placing a hand on my thigh and squeezing it.

“I will,” Zaid forces out, looking at me with narrowed eyes.

I feel like I’m being watched too much, too many eyes on me.

Too many Matthews in the room.

I want to run and hide, find a corner in this world where no one knows who I am.

“Why are you being so difficult, Aiden? That usually falls on your brother?” Jake asks.

I notice the way Zaid visibly tenses, the way his jaw clenches and his eyes drop back down to his plate. It makes my heartbeat quicken and I want to comfort him.

It surprises me.

Aiden looks to me but I only shake my head. I don’t want this night to turn into a

conversation about how my mother treats me, how she blames me every day for the death

“We have the fitting tomorrow, all of us,” Jake says, taking a bit of mashed potatoes.