The Billionaire Ever After

Chapter 26 - Allison

I stand up "oh my God mom! I couldn't believe it... why didn't you tell me? So it wasn't that Zac dumped me. He broke up with me really because he was trying to protect me from Eleanor?"

Mom and aunt Adriana stand up too "Alli I'm sorry" mom says.

"Mom, you out of all people should know that I'm stronger than that" I say.

"I know.. I know you are strong. But we just want to protect you."

"But you lied to me all this time. You and the whole people in Saariselkä... that was why everyone was so happy when they saw Zac and I were together at aunt Adriana's wedding. Because they knew back then Zac did nothing wrong to me." I said.

"Al.. please listen to mom" aunt Adriana caresses my arm.

"I'm sorry mom, aunt Adriana. I think I want to take a rest" I look at the floor and run to my room.

I close the door and lean at it. Trying to control my breathing. I look at my study table. The picture of Zac and me. I walk to it and take it. Even when I hate him I couldn't throw this picture away. It was our first anniversary. We won the hockey match and Zac got MVP. The school newspaper team took our picture and sent me the copy.

Even when I was dating another man, I still couldn't throw this picture away. Our face was too happy in this picture... and later... I gave Zac my virginity. Promised him that he will be the only one for me.

Knock knock

"Come in" I wiped my tears. The door doesn't have a lock, since we moved here when we were kids.

I look back. It's aunt Adriana. She smiles softly at me "hey Al... can I talk with you for a minute?" She says to me with her friendly tone.

I nod and sit on my bed. Gesturing her to sit too. My room isn't small but is not as big as the Goldreich's room with their own living room in their bedroom.

Zac's mom smiles at me and sit "thank you"

I just stare at her.

"Alli.. I know you are mad at us because we lied to you. I'm so sorry Alli.." she says sincerely. "Trust me. Your mom and I... we were trying our best for you and Zac. And I'm sorry we couldn't come with a better result. "

And now I feel bad. "Aunt Adriana that's not what I mean"

She smiles "then don't be mad with your mom. She tried her best Alli. You and Zac had a broken heart, but trust me we didn't feel any better than you two. Not just you parents and I... but also Fred and Lys. Everyone loves you and Zac. We were so helpless and powerless. It wasn't a nice feeling, Al"

Powerless... Zac kept saying that when I asked him about the past at his apartment after he came back from Swiss... so... this is what he meant.

I hug Adriana "I'm sorry aunt Adriana. I feel... betrayed because all of you lied to me. But I also feel guilty because of me all of you had to face this 10 years ago" I say honestly.

She hugs me tight. "No one blamed you, Alli. We just want you to have a happy life..."

"I'm happy now, aunt Adriana. You don't have to worry about me" I whisper.

"Then you should reply on your boyfriend's text"

"Z?" I pull back.

She chuckles. "He just texted me asking why you haven't replied to any of his messages in an hour. That boy.." she shakes her head.

I chuckle too and wipe my tears.

"I told him you were happily chatting with us. I expect you want to talk face to face with Zac about this"