The inherited vow

Chapter 6 : Alina

I got out of bed and headed downstairs.

When I reached the living room, I found Irina sitting on the couch with two of her friends.

They were laughing about something, completely unaware of the little rebellion forming in my head.

“Hi, guys.”

“Hi, Alina,” they replied almost together.

I smiled politely.

I honestly couldn't remember their names.

They were always around Irina, but somehow, I'd never bothered to learn which one was which.

My attention shifted to my sister.

“Irina, my lovely sister.”

I put on my sweetest smile.

Irina immediately stopped smiling.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Alina.”

“Yes?”

“Ali, what are you up to?”

“Nothing.”

I widened my eyes innocently.

She stared at me.

I stared back.

She knew me too well.

“Ali, you're not going to my birthday, are you?”

“Not if I can help it.”

“Ali.”

“Irina.”

“Mom and Dad will be furious.”

“They won't know.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

“What do you mean they won't know?”

I leaned against the back of the couch, trying very hard not to smile.

“I mean they won't know that I left.”

Irina stared at me in disbelief.

“You're actually serious?”

I smiled.

“Very.”

“They will.”

I frowned.

“Lucian will know. And once Lucian knows, Dad will know.”

I waved her off.

“Lucian won't know.”

“He will.”

“He won't.”

“He absolutely will.”

I sighed.

“Why are you so negative?”

“Because I know our family.”

She folded her arms.

“Lucian will notice you're gone, he'll tell Dad, and Dad will send someone to find you. Probably him.”

I paused.

Okay.

That part was a problem.

Lucian wasn't exactly the brother I'd want searching for me if I was trying to avoid getting caught.

“I'll be back before they even realize I'm gone.”

Irina gave me a long look.

“You really believe that?”

“Yes.”

She shook her head.

“Okay. Fine. Alina will always be Alina.”

I smiled.

“Exactly.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“So what's the plan?”

I leaned closer.

“You mean you want to know?”

“Obviously.”

“How else am I supposed to sneak out without my bodyguard noticing?”

Irina's expression immediately changed.

“Wait.”

She glanced toward her friends before lowering her voice.

“You're actually serious?”

“Very.”

“You do realize Dad will put you on house arrest if he finds out?”

“Which is why he won't find out.”

She stared at me for a moment.

Then a slow smile appeared on her face.

“You're crazy.”

“I prefer adventurous.”

“Same thing.”

I laughed.

“Leave the sneaking out to me and Bella.”

“And what exactly am I supposed to do?”

I smiled.

“You're going to help me get ready.”

Her eyes lit up.

“Oh, I love that plan.”

“I knew you would.”

“Does this mean I get to choose what you wear?”

I immediately regretted telling her.

“Within reason.”

“Deal.”

She grinned.

“Okay, bye.”

I turned and headed toward the kitchen before she could start picking out an entire outfit.

Once inside, I opened the fridge and grabbed an apple.

I took a bite.

“I owe you one.”

Irina called after me.

“Yes, you do.”

I smiled around the apple.

“And Lucian must not know.”

I paused and looked back at her.

“Where is he, anyway?”

“Work.”

She shrugged.

“Probably doing something Dad won't want us asking questions about.”

I nodded.

That sounded about right.

I was already heading toward the stairs when I heard a voice behind me.

“Your brother is hot.”

I stopped.

Slowly, I turned around.

One of Irina's friends was looking at her with an amused smile.

Irina's expression immediately hardened.

“Don't.”

The girl laughed.

“What? I'm just saying.”

“Don't say it.”

I bit my lip, trying not to laugh.

Typical Irina.

I shook my head and continued upstairs.

At least someone was brave enough to say it.

Not that I'd ever tell Lucian.

He already had enough confidence.

By the time Bella arrived, it was already evening.

We were sitting in the garden at the back of the house, away from the noise inside. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over everything around us.

Bella leaned back in her chair.

“So,” she said. “What's this emergency?”

I looked at her.

“I have a plan.”

Her eyes narrowed immediately.

“Those words coming from you are never comforting.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Just listen.”

I told her everything.

By the time I finished, Bella was staring at me in disbelief.

“Are you crazy?”

“What?”

“Girl, what kind of plan is that?”

“What's wrong with it?”

She sat forward.

“So let me get this straight. You're going to sneak out of your sister's birthday party, get yourself seen with another guy, let your family find out, and somehow you think that's going to make the Arsenyevs call off the marriage?”

I crossed my arms.

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

“Because it is bad.”

I sighed.

“Bella, the Arsenyevs care about their reputation. They're traditional. They won't want a daughter-in-law who's already embarrassing their family before she's even married into it.”

Bella stared at me.

“You're gambling your entire future on them being embarrassed.”

“I've thought about it.”

“Clearly not enough.”

I frowned.

“There's someone inside my family's organization who's connected to them. I don't know who it is, but eventually they'll find out what happened.”

“And that's supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

“Good, because it doesn't.”

I couldn't help laughing.

Bella shook her head.

“Alina, you know I love you, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you know I'm always going to tell you when you're being stupid?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

She pointed at me.

“This is stupid.”

I sighed.

“Bella—”

“No, listen.”

Her expression softened.

“I understand why you want to do this. You feel trapped. You want to make one decision that belongs to you.”

I looked down at my hands.

“But this isn't freedom, Alina. You're just choosing a different kind of mess.”

I was quiet.

She sighed.

“Please don't do this.”

I looked at her.

“Bella…”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“I'm not helping you sneak out.”

My heart sank.

“But—”

“I'm not finished.”

She stood up and brushed off her clothes.

“I won't help you sneak out.”

She paused.

“But I'm also not going to sit at home while you go off and make questionable decisions without me.”

I blinked.

“What?”

She shrugged.

“I'm coming.”

A smile slowly spread across my face.

“You're coming?”

“Obviously.”

“But you just said—”

“I said your plan was stupid.”

“It is.”

“Very.”

I laughed.

Bella rolled her eyes.

“But you're my best friend, and apparently someone has to supervise your first experience with bad decisions.”

I stared at her.

“My first experience?”

She grinned.

“You've never been clubbing before.”

I shook my head.

“Neither have you.”

“That's not the point.”

I laughed.

She was already starting to look excited.

“Wait.”

Her eyes widened.

“Is this actually your first time going to a club?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my God.”

She grabbed my arm.

“Alina, we're going clubbing.”

I burst out laughing.

“You're way too excited.”

“I am not.”

“You are.”

“Okay, maybe a little.”

She smiled.

“But if we're doing this, we're doing it properly.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you're not showing up looking like someone's innocent little daughter on her first night out.”

I gasped.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

She looked me up and down.

“Your sister is helping you with your outfit, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

She nodded approvingly.

“Because tonight, we're having fun.”

I smiled.

“Even though you think my plan is terrible?”

“Especially because I think your plan is terrible.”

She laughed.

“But tonight isn't only about Semyon.”

I looked at her.

“For once, we're going to have a night that's actually ours.”

Something about the way she said it made me smile.

Maybe this really was a terrible idea.

Maybe Bella was right.

But at least I wouldn't be facing it alone.

And knowing Bella, she'd probably make sure I had the time of my life while doing it.