The inherited vow

Chapter 13 : Alina

I went upstairs to my room and closed the door behind me.

This was really happening.

One week.

I had one week until I was supposed to marry a man I barely knew.

And somehow, my little plan from last night had only made things worse.

There was another knock on my door.

“What is it about now?”

“Alina.”

My mother's voice.

“Can I come in?”

“Yes,” I called, dragging the word out.

The door opened, and my mother walked in carrying a large garment bag.

I immediately became suspicious.

“What is that?”

She smiled as she held it up.

“This is what you're wearing tonight.”

I stared at the bag.

“Why?”

“Semyon sent it for you.”

My eyes narrowed.

Of course he did.

That was exactly what I needed.

Another reason to dislike a man I'd barely even met.

My mother unzipped the garment bag slightly, revealing a beautiful dress inside.

It was elegant, expensive, and clearly chosen with care.

Which somehow made it even more annoying.

I looked away.

“I'm not wearing it.”

My mother sighed.

“Alina.”

“No.”

“I know you too well.”

She walked closer and placed the garment bag on my bed.

“Wear the dress, please, honey.”

I didn't answer.

She gave me one last look before leaving the room.

The door clicked shut.

I stared at the dress.

Absolutely not.

Who did he think he was?

I'd barely spoken to the man, and he was already sending me clothes.

I reached for my phone.

Bella.

I needed my best friend.

I called her.

The phone rang twice before she answered.

“Hi, babes.”

“Bella.”

Something in my voice must have made her sit up because her tone immediately changed.

“What happened?”

“Guess what.”

“What?”

“My wedding is this week.”

There was silence.

Then—

“What?”

“My wedding,” I repeated. “It's this week. And I'm meeting my fiancé tonight.”

“Wait. Tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Alina, breathe.”

“I am breathing.”

“No, you're talking like you're being chased.”

“I feel like I am being chased.”

“Okay. Slow down.”

I dropped onto my bed.

“I don't want this, Bella.”

“I know.”

“I have one week.”

“I know.”

“And I'm supposed to sit across from this man tonight and pretend everything is normal.”

“You don't have to pretend everything is normal.”

I frowned.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“Survive dinner.”

I stared at the ceiling.

“That doesn't sound difficult.”

“It is when you're you.”

I almost smiled.

“Thanks.”

“You're welcome.”

I closed my eyes.

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.

Then Bella spoke again.

“Tell me exactly what happened.”

So I did.

By the time we'd finished talking, I felt slightly better.

Not good.

Definitely not good.

But better.

A few hours later, I was standing in front of my closet with Bella on a video call.

Her phone was propped up against something on the kitchen counter, and from what I could see, she was busy making herself something to eat.

“Okay,” she said, glancing at her screen. “Now get ready.”

I looked at the clock.

“It's six already.”

“Exactly.”

She turned back to whatever she was doing.

“What are you wearing?”

“I'll wear anything.”

Bella looked at the screen.

“You?”

“Yes, me.”

She gave me a look before turning back to the stove.

“That is not an answer.”

I laughed.

“Fine.”

I pulled out one of my dresses and held it up to the camera.

“This.”

Bella stopped what she was doing.

“No.”

I lowered it.

“Why?”

“Too predictable.”

I put it back.

I reached for another.

“This?”

She shook her head.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because you're going to spend the entire dinner wishing you'd worn something else.”

I sighed.

“You're very helpful.”

“I know.”

She picked up a spoon and tasted whatever she was cooking.

Then her eyes widened slightly.

“Okay, this is actually good.”

I stared at her.

“Bella.”

“What?”

“I'm trying to choose what to wear to dinner with my future husband, and you're tasting food.”

“You're the one with the husband problem. I'm hungry.”

“You're unbelievable.”

“If u say so.”

She took another bite before setting the spoon down.

“Now focus.”

I turned back toward my closet.

Then my eyes landed on the garment bag.

The same damn dress.

I stared at it.

Bella noticed my expression.

“What?”

I pointed toward it.

“He sent me this.”

She leaned closer to the camera.

“The dress?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“I will not wear it.”

She frowned.

“Why?”

“Because Semyon sent it.”

Bella stared at me for a second.

Then she slowly shook her head.

“Ali.”

“What?”

“That is not a reason.”

“It is to me.”

She laughed.

I rolled my eyes.

“I'm not wearing it just because he sent it.”

“Fine. Don't.”

She picked up her phone and carried it with her as she moved toward the dining table.

“Then find something you actually like.”

“I am.”

“You're taking too long.”

“I'm being careful.”

“You're overthinking.”

“I have a right to overthink.”

“You do.”

She sat down and continued eating.

I looked through my closet again.

Then I finally found it.

A black satin gown.

Floor length.

Simple, elegant, and exactly the kind of thing I would normally choose for a formal dinner.

I held it up.

Bella stopped chewing.

“Oh.”

I smiled.

“Good oh or bad oh?”

“Very good oh .”

I laid the dress across my bed.

“I'll wear this.”

“Yes.”

I picked up my jewelry box.

“And this necklace.”

I held up a diamond necklace.

Bella nodded approvingly.

“Definitely.”

“I knew you'd agree.”

“I have taste.”

“So do I.”

“Debatable.”

I laughed.

After I ended the call for a few minutes to get dressed, I returned to the screen.

Bella was still at the table, finishing her food.

She looked up.

Her expression changed immediately.

“Okay.”

I smiled.

“What?”

“You look beautiful.”

I turned slightly toward the mirror.

The black satin fell smoothly to the floor, catching the light whenever I moved. The diamonds around my neck were subtle but impossible to miss.

My makeup was darker than usual, smoky around my eyes with a deeper shade on my lips.

My hair was parted neatly down the center and pulled into a sleek ponytail.

Elegant.

Simple.

Still me.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

“I don't look too dressed up?”

Bella nearly laughed.

“Alina, you're going to a dinner with a mafia family. You're supposed to look expensive.”

I smiled.

“Fair.”

She pointed at the screen.

“And don't let that man intimidate you.”

“I won't.”

“Good.”

I laughed.

For the first time since waking up that morning, I felt a little calmer.

Then I heard the sound of cars outside.

Bella's smile disappeared.

She looked at me through the screen.

“Was that them?”

I slowly turned toward the window.

“I think so.”

I walked closer.

Several cars had pulled into the driveway.

Bella leaned closer to her screen.

“Oh.”

I stared outside.

“They're here.”

And suddenly, I wasn't nervous anymore.

I was terrified.

I moved toward the window and looked outside.

The first two cars were already parked.

People began stepping out.

One elderly woman.

One elderly man.

Two younger women.

Two younger men.

They were followed by a flock of bodyguards, all dressed in dark suits, spreading out around the cars and the entrance with practiced precision.

I didn't know who any of them were.

Then I noticed the third car.

It was different from the others.

The back door opened.

A woman and a boy came out first.

My heart suddenly began beating faster.

I didn't know why.

Then he stepped out.

I stopped breathing.

It was him.

The man from the club.

My eyes widened.

What the hell?

I stepped back from the window.

For a moment, I simply stood there, staring at nothing.

Maybe I was seeing things.

Maybe the lighting was playing tricks on me.

Maybe—

No.

I looked toward the window again.

He was still there.

The same man.

The same face.

The same stranger I'd met only a few nights ago.

Except he wasn't a stranger anymore.

He was Semyon.

My fiancé.

I wished the ground would open wide and swallow me whole.