Page 73 of Secretly Married To My Monster Alien Boss
ALISSIA
“Please tell me this is a joke,” Damian pleaded. “It’s all red and shit. What is this supposed to be? Blood?”
“Zinny, go play in the room.” Alissia placed Zinny on the floor, who didn’t need to be told twice. He flicked his tail at Damian and sauntered away, like a good boy.
Once his fluffiness was out of sight, Alissia turned to her brother, squaring her shoulders.
“It’s not blood. That’s how Deruzian pens write,” she said.
“I mean…it looks nice, but.” He raised his defeated eyes from the contract to Alissia. “Whatisthis?”
“A contract.”
“Don’t–” Damian shook his head. And then kept on shaking it, as if that would make the reality go away. “Don’t be purposefully vague. We’ve never done that to each other.”
Alissia deflated, some of the fight leaving her. Yes, they never had. They’d always trusted each other. But this wasn’t about trust–it was about Damian not feeling guilty.
“You’re right,” Alissia said, taking a deep, centering breath. “Rynar asked me if I wanted to be married to him for one month and keep that detail a secret. I said yes.”
Damian blinked too many times. “Why?” he asked cautiously.
“Because I made the decision to. And I will not be judged by anyone, even you, for my choice.”
“Listen, if you just wanted the huge payout I saw on this page for yourself, fine. But…” He worked his jaw, as if finding the courage to speak what he was about to. Alissia steeled herself. “When did you agree to this?”
This was it. This was the moment Alissia could lie to her brother’s face or tell him the truth, like they’d promised to do for each other always.
The lie wouldn’t burden him–outwardly, at least.
Because Damian wasn’t stupid.
And Alissia had made a promise. A promise made was a promise kept, that’s what Deruzians kept saying, right?
“Remember that Sunday I went for a walk during a storm?” she asked.
“Yes. It was concerning.”
“That’s when I said yes.”
Tense silence descended over them, festering and bubbling with everything they didn’t dare say.
Damian let out a mirthless laugh that sounded pained. “Right after I told you I didn’t have the money for college.”
“We, Damian.Wedidn’t have money.”
“It’s not your responsibility–”
“It is,” Alissia said, feeling taller; she must’ve grown an inch out of sheer frustration. “The moment we lost Mom and Dad is the moment I swore you wouldneverhave to sacrifice anything when it came to your education and your future.”
“I told you I could wait a year–”
“Did you want to go to college this year?”
“Yes, but–”
“No buts, ifs, however, despite, nonetheless or anything. You deserve to go to college. You’ve worked hard for it.”
“You’ve worked harder to get me there.”
