Fractured ties

are you,

ning table. Her calculating brown eyes flickered with admiration as she took in Alainà's delicate features, her s

for her son, Aiden. She thought, scrutiniz

er thoughts "oh! Ye

smile, then said "I aske

e answering "I just tur

ile. "Such a beautiful age, you remi

his glass. "I assume we should focus on Jordan, who is to be wed soon" he paused. His pie

st?" Sipping from her glass once more she continued "do you not think, Aiden, that you could learn

lightly "you mean chain myself to

ghed "not everyone is pretending, Aiden. Maybe if you act

esit

d a brow "G

her carefully before sh

g unreadable crossing his sharp blue eyes. But he masked i

ed back to Alayná with a softer expression "you know, dear,

le fell

ed slightly, but she

ive glance in Alaynà's direction. His gaze trailed over her for

's u

eated near the far end of the table. Her knuckles whitened as s

all, unreadable smile and dropped her gaze to her plate, as if his words were nothing more than idle conversation. Meanwhile, she

iden! That's a hor

ilently observing, finally spoke his voice was low and firm

ely took another sip of his dri

sighing. "I'll talk to him," he murmure

How lucky I am to have a wi

their another. " The wedding will be p

coming wedding, The grandeur, the lavish prep

the corner of his eye, he notic

d, and yet, ate sat there with

behind to help her grandmother clear the table. She rolled up

ticed Aiden standing near the count

" You're do

d snapped u

st him, her shoulder grazing his arm as she reac

wed her, slow

suddenly a co

the beans with practiced ease, the rich aroma filling the kitchen.

ated, then t

remained

d," he a

er pulse leaped, she looked away from him, a

ng her with a strange intensity. "Why do

a brow "L

you lo

lips. "Do not flirt with me, Aide

iend?" a tint of amuseme

id low and firm, she turned her back on him, focusing on scrubbing th

she felt it, the heat of his body behind he

la

ke a warning her hands st

. But deep down, she knew,