As soon as the words were out, Alina wished them back. She had never told any living soul about her secret before. Not even her sisters. Half-sisters actually. Simply because it was not her secret to share; she played by the family rules like everyone else. Not a word to the outside world and pretend that everything was fine even if it killed you.
Even when her father doted on her smaller siblings but hated her with a fierce vehemence. That was why he had been so eager to sell her off to the highest bidder. He had played on her loyalty to bargain her off like some vulgar piece of meat. She could not blame the man, not really.
“Alina…” whispered Roman brokenly as some of her anguish must have reflected on her facial features. It was impossible to hide her pain now once the sordid truth o
