Chapter 51 Selling The Act

Chapter 51 Selling The Act
Alina’s POV

Regina rushed over the second the Harringtons started moving toward the door. She dropped to her knees right beside me, arms wrapping around my shoulders so tightly I could feel the tremor in her body. She pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head, voice low and steady against my hair.

“It’s okay, baby. You’re safe. I’ve got you. Nothing is going to hurt you now.”

I couldn’t stop the tears from falling at this point. They came hot and fast, spilling down my cheeks and soaking into the blanket Ryder had thrown around me. 

It felt like for the past couple of weeks crying had become my daily routine, and I hated every bit of it. Hated the way my chest kept tightening, hated the way my eyes burned, hated that I couldn’t seem to hold anything in anymore.

Blake paused at the doorway. For a second something that looked almost like remorse flashed across his features. He turned back, voice quieter than I’d ever heard it.

“Alina… I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I was just… I was scared of losing you to him. You seemed to be slipping right through my hands and I didn’t know what to do. I panicked. It won’t happen again, I promise.”     

It won't happen again? Like I'm going to give him a chance to even try it.

Regina’s arms tightened around me. Her voice cut through the room, sharp and cold. “That is not an excuse to treat my daughter the way you just did. It only shows the kind of person you are and the kind of husband you would be to her in the future. Get out of this room.”

In the middle of it all, a small, quiet part of me found the whole scene mildly perfect. 

With this, Father would finally turn against the marriage. The chain around my neck might actually loosen. This was for the best. 

I held onto that thought, then subtly pinched the soft skin on the inside of my arm hard enough to make fresh tears spring up. 

I hugged myself tighter, rocking a little like a traumatized victim, and whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear, “Please… just get him away from me. I'm…I'm scared.”

My father’s face hardened in anger. He straightened to his full height, voice low and final. “Leave. For now. My daughter needs time to herself. There is no excuse for what just happened here. I want all of you out of my home immediately.”

Ryder stepped forward and motioned toward the door with a curt nod. Blake’s face twisted as he jerked away from any attempt to guide him.

“Don’t fucking touch me. I know the way out.”

The shock had already eased down…but I have to use this opportunity to destroy any chance that might make this marriage happen.

I stayed locked in Regina’s arms the entire time, breathing shallow and fast, pretending I was on the edge of a panic attack. 

Inside, something brighter was sparking. Father was finally seeing Blake for what he was. The excitement of it almost drowned out the leftover fear still trembling through my limbs.

The moment the Harringtons’ footsteps faded down the stairs and the front door closed with a heavy thud, I finally exhaled. Still, I didn’t let my guard drop completely. 

I lifted my head slowly and looked up at my father through tear-streaked eyes. Summoning every ounce of confidence I had left to keep the drama going, I pushed myself up, ran the short distance across the carpet, and threw my arms around him. My head rested against his chest, the expensive fabric of his shirt soft under my cheek.

“I was so scared, Dad. I thought… I thought—”

The words broke off as real tears came again. This time they weren’t entirely fake. The memory of Blake’s hand on my throat, the tearing fabric, the helplessness…it all crashed back at once and I started crying harder, shoulders shaking.

I felt my father take a sharp breath. Then his hand settled gently on the back of my head, fingers stroking through my hair the way he used to when I was little.

“It’s okay, Alina,” he murmured, voice rough. “It’s okay. I won’t let anything happen to you. Daddy is here.”

And for a long time…I believed it. That daddy is here.

I held on tighter, letting him feel the shivers still coursing through me in waves. Regina stayed close, one hand rubbing my back in slow circles. The three of us remained like that for a long time…my father standing solid and quiet, Regina kneeling beside us, me clinging to the only safety I had left in that moment.

Eventually they guided me to the bed. Regina helped me under the covers while my father pulled a chair closer. They stayed. I kept my eyes closed, breathing evenly, pretending to sleep so they would finally leave. 

Somewhere between the quiet conversations they had over my head and the soft click of the door closing, I must have actually drifted off.

When I opened my eyes again, soft morning light was filtering through the curtains. It was the next day.

I stretched slowly, arms above my head, and let out a long, contented breath. A small smile tugged at my lips as the events of last night replayed in my mind. 

At least that chapter was closed. I would not have to marry Blake Harrington. The thought felt like the first real breath of freedom I’d had in weeks.

My phone sat on the nightstand, screen lighting up with several unread messages…all from Blake. I didn’t open a single one. I just smiled and set the phone face-down again. He was old news now.

I padded into the bathroom, washed the dried tears and leftover makeup from my face, brushed my teeth, and changed into soft lounge clothes. 

Today is Sunday. I planned to spend it at the hospital with Kai. The second the thought formed, worry knotted in my stomach. Speaking of Kai… I still had no idea how he was doing after last night. Did the surgery go well? Is he still unconscious? I needed to see him for myself.

I paced the length of my room after freshening up, trying to figure out how to tell my father I wanted to go to the hospital without setting off another argument. 

First I would go downstairs for breakfast. Maybe if I brought it up carefully, Regina would back me up.

I exhaled once, squared my shoulders, and left my room. The hallway was quiet but still, my bare feet made almost no sound on the runner as I walked toward the staircase and started down. 

Voices drifted up from the dining area…low, serious and hearing them made me curious too. I kept walking forward, trying to see what was going on.

The moment I stepped into view of the dining room doorway, my breath caught hard in my throat.

Why?

How is he here?