The inherited vow

Chapter 11 : Alina

I was half-awake when I heard running water coming from the bathroom.

For a few seconds, I didn't remember where I was.

Then it all came back.

The club.

The stranger.

Last night.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

I probably should have felt more guilty than I did.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes.

Another knock.

I sighed.

I knew it wouldn't take long for Orlov to find me.

It never did.

No matter how carefully I thought I had planned something, somehow, he always found me.

I got out of bed and walked toward the door.

Before opening it, I took a breath.

Here goes nothing.

I slowly pulled the door open.

“Miss Alina.”

Orlov stood there, his usual unreadable expression firmly in place.

He glanced behind me, scanning the room.

Then his eyes returned to mine.

“You're in so much trouble.”

I winced.

“I know.”

“I thought you were sleeping over at Bella's.”

“I know.”

“This is not what we discussed.”

“I know.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Is that the only thing you know how to say?”

I almost laughed.

“Probably.”

He sighed.

“We need to leave. Now.”

I glanced back into the room.

“One minute. Let me get my bag.”

“Forty-five seconds.”

“One minute.”

“Miss Alina.”

“Please?”

He stared at me.

Then sighed again.

“Fine. One minute.”

I smiled.

“Thank you.”

He stepped aside.

I quickly turned back into the room.

My eyes landed on the table.

For a moment, I hesitated.

Then I pulled out a piece of paper and a pen.

I wrote something quickly, folded it, and placed it on the table.

I didn't look at it again.

I grabbed my bag and walked back outside.

The moment I stepped into the hallway, I knew something was wrong.

Orlov wasn't alone.

My brother's car was parked outside.

Lucian stepped out.

My stomach dropped.

Of course.

But at least he hadn't called Father.

That was something.

Lucian's expression was enough to tell me he'd already heard everything.

He walked toward us.

“You?”

His eyes moved from me to Orlov.

“Why did you defy Father's order?”

Orlov's expression remained calm.

“She tricked us. She told me she was staying at her friend's house.”

Lucian's jaw tightened.

“You should have checked.”

“Lucian,” I said quickly. “It's not his fault.”

He looked at me.

“Stay out of it.”

“But—”

“Alina.”

I stopped.

His anger wasn't loud yet.

That was worse.

He pointed toward his car.

“Get in.”

I obeyed.

As I walked toward the car, Orlov suddenly spoke.

“There was a man in the room.”

I froze.

Lucian went completely still.

Slowly, he turned toward me.

“Who?”

I swallowed.

“I don't know his name.”

Lucian stared at me.

“You don't know his name?”

“No.”

“ I met him at the club.”

His expression changed.

“You went to a club?”

I looked away.

“So let me get this straight you went to a club, met a man whose name you don't know, and followed him in a private room?”

I looked away.

“When you say it like that, it sounds stupid.”

“Because it is stupid, Alina.”

I said nothing.

Lucian closed his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again, the anger was still there.

But underneath it was something else.

Fear.

“Get in the car, Alina.”

This time, I didn't argue.

I climbed into the back seat.

Lucian got in after me.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then he turned toward me.

“Did he hurt you?”

The question caught me off guard.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded.

He watched me for another moment before turning away.

“Good.”

He started the car.

Then, after a few seconds, he added,

“Because I'm still furious with you.”

I almost smiled.

“I'm aware.”

He glanced at me through the mirror.

“Don't.”

I looked out the window.

Maybe I should have felt worse.

Maybe I should have regretted everything.

But all I could think about was the stranger I'd left behind.

And the fact that, somewhere behind us, a folded piece of paper was waiting for him.

..............

We got out of the car.

The moment my feet touched the ground, I looked up.

Father was standing on the balcony of the master bedroom.

Watching me.

I stopped walking.

For a second, neither of us moved.

I couldn't read his expression from where I stood, but somehow that made it worse.

If he had been shouting, I would have known what to expect.

Instead, he just stood there.

Silent.

Judging me.

I swallowed and followed Lucian inside.

The house felt unusually quiet.

Too quiet.

I kept waiting for Father to come downstairs and demand an explanation, but he didn't.

Not even a word.

Lucian led me upstairs.

When we reached my bedroom, he stopped outside the door.

“Hope you know what this means.”

I sighed.

“Yeah.”

I opened my door.

“House arrest.”

“Exactly.”

I stepped inside, but before I could close the door, Lucian spoke again.

“And, Alina…”

I looked at him.

“Grow up ,want u did isn't a way out”

He walked away before I could respond.

I stared after him.

Grow up?

I closed the door.

Okay.

If marrying a man I'd met once was apparently the adult thing to do, then I had no plans of growing up anytime soon.

I dropped my bag beside the bed and changed into something comfortable.

The moment I lay down, my mind went straight back to last night.

I should have been panicking.

I should have been regretting everything.

Instead, I found myself smiling.

I had actually done it.

I'd walked out of that house without my father's permission, gone to a club, found a stranger, and asked him to help me ruin my own engagement.

Was it reckless?

Absolutely.

Was it intelligent?

Probably not.

Did I regret it?

Not yet.

I reached for my phone.

Bella.

She had to be dying to know what happened.

I opened our messages.

TEXT: How was it?

I smiled.

I could practically hear the excitement in her voice.

TEXT: Magical.

The typing bubble appeared immediately.

TEXT: So my Alina is officially not a virgin?

I covered my face with my hand.

Of course that was her first question.

TEXT: Not really.

Three dots.

TEXT: What do you mean, not really?

I stared at the screen for a moment.

How exactly was I supposed to explain that last night had gone completely differently from what I'd imagined?

TEXT: Let's just say things didn't go the way I expected.

Her reply came almost immediately.

TEXT: So what did you guys do? Talk?

I laughed.

TEXT: Relax. We talked. He kept his distance.

There was a pause.

Then:

TEXT: That's strange. Who wouldn't want a hot girl like you?

I rolled my eyes.

TEXT: Maybe he's smarter than he looks.

TEXT: Ohhh.

I frowned.

TEXT: What?

TEXT: You're defending him.

I stared at the message.

TEXT: I'm not.

TEXT: You totally are.

TEXT: Bella.

TEXT: hahaha, with a laughing emoji

I shook my head, but I was smiling.

That was Bella.

She could turn literally anything into an opportunity to annoy me.

I typed again.

TEXT: At least I got to disappoint my family.

Her reply came quickly.

TEXT: Yeah. He's a loser.

I laughed.

TEXT: What if this doesn't work?

This time, she didn't answer immediately.

I watched the typing bubble appear, disappear, then appear again.

Finally:

TEXT: Then your stupid decision wasn't worth it.

I stared at the message.

I sighed.

There she goes again.

Always so encouraging.

I smiled and typed back.

TEXT: Thanks. I feel so supported.

TEXT: I'm serious, Ali.

The smile faded slightly.

I knew she was.

Because beneath all the jokes, Bella knew exactly how much this mattered to me.

TEXT: I know.

I paused before adding:

TEXT: But I think it'll work.

TEXT: You're sure?

I looked toward my bedroom door.

Then toward the window.

Father was still somewhere downstairs.

My future was still being decided without me.

And yet, for the first time, I felt like I had managed to take a tiny piece of it back.

TEXT: I have to be.

A few seconds later:

TEXT: And the guy? Wasn't he hot enough to get his number?

I laughed.

Of course.

Back to that.

TEXT: Haha. Very funny. Bye, Bella. I'm not ready for you today.

TEXT: Coward

I locked my phone and dropped it beside me.

I stared at the ceiling.

I didn't know his name.

I didn't know where he came from.

I didn't know whether I'd ever see him again.

And honestly?

Maybe that was better.

He was just a stranger.

A reckless decision.

A temporary escape.

At least, that's what I told myself.

I smiled to myself.

Today was going to be interesting.

I couldn't wait to see my future in-laws' reaction.