The inherited vow

chapter 4 : Alina

After reminding bella ,today was for me, she should stop making faces.

“You know,” she said, staring at the supplies in front of her, “we could've gone shopping.”

I laughed.

“You're the one who planned this.”

“I was trying to be supportive.”

“You are supportive.”

“Exactly. So let's support my idea of leaving.”

“No.”

She sighed dramatically.

“Fine.”

I looked toward the front of the room.

A large painting had been placed on an easel.

I stared at it.

Then I stared a little longer.

“Wait.”

Bella followed my gaze.

“What?”

I pointed toward the painting.

“I think that's what we're supposed to recreate.”

She looked at the painting.

Then at me.

Then back at the painting.

Her face slowly fell.

“Oh.”

I laughed.

“What's wrong?”

“That looks difficult.”

“It's not that bad.”

“You say that because you can actually draw.”

I smiled.

“And you can't?”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Be nice to me.”

“I am.”

“You're smiling.”

“I'm encouraging you.”

“That's not what that smile says.”

Before I could answer, the instructor stepped into the room and welcomed everyone.

A few minutes later, we were given our instructions.

And then we started.

At first, Bella kept talking.

Then she started complaining.

Then she became suspiciously quiet.

I glanced up from my painting.

She was staring at her canvas with the most serious expression I'd ever seen.

I bit back a laugh.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You're laughing at me.”

“No.”

“You are.”

“Just paint.”

She shook her head and went back to work.

I smiled and returned to mine.

As the minutes passed, the room grew quieter.

The soft sound of brushes moving across boards filled the space. Occasionally, someone would laugh or ask the instructor a question, but for the most part, everyone was focused.

I lost track of time.

I added another layer of color, stepped back to look at my work, then added a few more details.

When I finally leaned back, I smiled.

I was proud of it.

Not because it was perfect.

But because it looked like something I'd actually imagined in my head.

I looked across the table.

Bella was still working.

“Are you done?”

“No.”

“How long do you need?”

“As long as it takes.”

I laughed.

“Okay, artist.”

She gave me a look.

A few minutes later, the instructor announced that time was up.

Bella immediately dropped her brush.

“Finally.”

I laughed.

“Ready?”

She looked at me suspiciously.

“For what?”

“To see whose painting is better.”

She placed a hand over her chest.

“You're very confident.”

“I have every reason to be.”

“Okay, Picasso.”

I turned my board toward her.

“How does this look?”

Bella stared at it.

She didn't say anything for a few seconds.

Then she slowly nodded.

“P-E-R-F-E-C-T.”

She dragged out every letter.

I laughed.

“Perfect?”

“Perfect.”

I looked at my painting again.

“Honestly, I think I did pretty well.”

“You did.”

There was no teasing in her voice this time.

She genuinely meant it.

I smiled.

“Let me see yours.”

Bella immediately pulled her painting closer to herself.

“No.”

I laughed.

“Why?”

“Because I don't think you're emotionally prepared.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Bella.”

“Promise you won't laugh?”

“I won't.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

She hesitated.

Then, very slowly, she turned the board around.

I stared at it.

For a few seconds, I said absolutely nothing.

Bella watched my face carefully.

I pressed my lips together.

“Not bad.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Don't.”

“I'm serious.”

“You're trying not to laugh.”

“I'm not.”

“You are.”

I looked away for a second because I could feel the smile spreading across my face.

Bella gasped.

“Come on! You said you wouldn't laugh!”

She dramatically placed a hand over her chest like I'd just broken her heart.

“I said I wouldn't laugh. I didn't say I wouldn't smile.”

“That's basically the same thing!”

I finally laughed.

She rolled her eyes and pulled her painting back toward herself.

“Whatever. I'm never painting again.”

“You say that now.”

“I mean it.”

“You'll forget by tomorrow.”

“No, I won't.”

I smiled.

She was definitely going to forget.

Bella looked toward the door.

“Okay, let's take a short break before I decide to destroy my painting.”

“Alright.”

I stood up.

“I need to use the restroom anyway.”

Bella nodded.

“Okay. I'll wait here.”

I grabbed my bag and headed toward the door.

“Don't touch my painting!” she called after me.

I turned around.

“Why would I?”

“Because you're jealous.”

I laughed.

“In your dreams.”

Then I stepped out of the room, still smiling.

The restroom wasn't difficult to find.

I walked inside and slipped into one of the stalls.

I'd barely settled in when I heard the sound of running water.

Then came two female voices.

“Oh my God,” one of them said excitedly. “Did you know this whole place belongs to Semyon Arsenyev?”

I froze.

Semyon Arsenyev.

My future husband.

“Wait, seriously?” the other girl asked.

“Yeah. Apparently, he's the founder.”

“Wow. That man is seriously rich.”

“And ridiculously handsome.”

I rolled my eyes.

Of course.

There was always someone ready to praise his looks.

“I heard he's engaged, though.”

“He is.”

There was a brief pause.

Then the other girl laughed.

“I don't care. I'd still sleep with him.”

My eyebrows shot up.

What?

The first girl laughed.

“Girl, be serious.”

“I am serious. If I got the chance, I'd take it.”

“You're crazy.”

“I'm just saying.”

“You should be careful what you wish for,” the first girl warned. “That man isn't someone you want to get involved with. I've heard things about him.”

“What things?”

There was a pause.

“That he's connected to the mafia.”

I stared at the stall door.

Of course she knew.

Apparently, people knew more about Semyon than I did.

“And a dangerous one,” the girl continued. “You should be praying you never cross paths with someone like him.”

I rolled my eyes again.

Okay.

I'd heard enough.

I stepped out of the stall and walked toward the sinks.

Both girls looked at me.

One of them gave me a small, polite smile.

“Hi.”

“Hey.”

My reply came out colder than I intended.

I ignored their curious looks and turned on the tap.

As I washed my hands, I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

Why was I annoyed?

The girl could say whatever she wanted.

It wasn't my business.

Semyon was engaged.

That was all that mattered.

So why did the thought of another woman openly talking about sleeping with him bother me?

I frowned at myself.

Ridiculous.

I dried my hands and watched as the two girls walked out.

For a moment, I remained in front of the mirror.

Then I sighed.

“I think I've had enough for today.”

I wasn't sure if I was talking about the art class or everything else.

Either way, I suddenly didn't want to be there anymore.

I picked up my bag and left the restroom.

When I returned to the class, I found Bella sitting in her chair, casually eating snacks while scrolling through her phone.

She looked up when she saw me.

“Hey. That was fast.”

“We need to leave.”

Her eyebrows immediately pulled together.

“What?”

“Let's go.”

She put her phone down.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing.”

I grabbed my things.

“I just don't want to be here anymore. Let's go somewhere else.”

Bella stared at me for a few seconds.

She knew me well enough to know that something was definitely wrong.

But instead of pushing, she simply sighed.

“Fine.”

She stood up and gathered her things.

We walked toward the exit together.

Just before we stepped outside, Bella looked at me.

“But you're going to give me the gist.”

I glanced at her.

“What gist?”

She gave me the look.

The one that said she knew I was lying and wasn't going to let me get away with it.

I sighed.

“Fine.”

Her face immediately brightened.

“That's what I thought.”

I shook my head as we walked outside.

“You're so annoying.”

“And yet, you still love me.”

I couldn't help smiling.

“Unfortunately.”

She laughed.

“Now talk.”

I breathed out slowly.

“Okay. I'll tell you.”