(Alina)
After dinner, I started gathering the plates, but Mom gently touched my hand.
“Alina,” she said, “can we talk? Just us.”
I glanced at her, then at Dad, who nodded.
“Sure,” I said. “Let’s go to the sitting room.”
We left Damian and Luca behind at the table and walked to the smaller lounge by the hallway. The moment we sat down, Mom didn’t waste time.
“Why did you break off the engagement, sweetheart? You left so fast that day… I never got a chance to ask.”
I looked down at my hands. “Because Jason cheated on me.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“He cheated with Chelsea,” I said, my voice firm. “They were planning to kill me for insurance money.”
Mom gasped. Dad sat back like I’d punched him in the chest.
“Chelsea?” he asked. “But she was your best friend.”
“Yeah,” I said quiet
