Piss Off, Alpha! You Chapter 68 The Invitation

Chapter 68: Chapter 68 The Invitation

SOPHIA’S POV

I stood at the stove trying to focus on the soup, but my mind kept replaying what had just happened.

Damien’s hands on my back, zipping up my dress. His arms around

when he pulled

away from the pot. I could still feel the warmth of his body against mine. I rembered the way my wolf had responded to his touch like we were still mated, still together, still in love.

My hand shook as I reached for the ladle. I wasn’t paying attention. I was too lost in thoughts of him. I wasn’t paying attention. I was so absent minded that I touched the edge of the hot pot and pain shot through .

"Ah!" I jerked my hand back. The burned finger already turned red.

Franca appeared imdiately. "Mrs. Sophia! Are you alright?"

"I’m fine. Just careless." I ran my finger under cold water from the sink.

The burn wasn’t terrible but it hurt.

"Let

see." Franca gently took my hand and examined the burn. "Oh no. This needs ointnt. Wait here."

She disappeared and I heard her voice in the hallway, speaking to soone. A mont later, Damien appeared in the kitchen doorway. His eyes went to my hand under the water.

"How bad is it?" His voice was flat.

"It’s nothing. Just a small burn."

He didn’t respond. He just turned to Franca who’d co back with a first aid kit. "Take care of it properly. Make sure she doesn’t get an infection." Then he walked away without another word to .

I stared after him, confused. He’d sounded so cold just now, so indifferent, but he’d sent Franca to help . He made sure I was being taken care of. The contradiction made my head spin. One mont he was touching

gently, the next he was acting like I didn’t exist.

What was I supposed to make of that?

Franca cleaned the burn and applied ointnt, then wrapped my finger in a light bandage. "There. All better. But please be more careful,."

"I will. Thank you, Franca."

I finished making the soup, being extra careful this ti. As I worked, I heard voices from the living room.

It was Damien and Tiffany. They were talking and laughing about sothing. I could hear the sound of their from the kitchen.

My wolf whined at the sound. That used to be us. Damien and I used to laugh together like that, before everything went wrong, before the distance and the affairs and the coldness that had slowly killed our marriage.

I rembered early days when Damien would co find

in the kitchen just to talk and when he’d wrap his arms around

from behind while I cooked.

Now that comfort, belonged to Tiffany. She got the version of Damien that smiled and laughed. I got the cold, distant version who only spoke to give orders or make demands. The loss of it hit

hard. It felt like a physical ache in my chest.

My marriage had failed so completely that my husband had beco a stranger. He was even worse than a stranger. He was an enemy to

now.

I was lost in these painful thoughts when Damien’s phone rang. I heard his voice change. His tone got all businesslike. A minute later he appeared in the kitchen, already putting on his jacket.

"I have to go. There’s an ergency at the office." He looked at . "You’ll need to take Ashley to school. Make sure she eats breakfast first. Her backpack is already packed."

I nodded "Of course. I can handle it."

He paused like he wanted to say sothing else. He looked at my bandaged finger for a mont, then he just nodded and left. I heard the front door close, then his car starting up and driving away.

Tiffany appeared in the kitchen a mont later. She looked disappointed that Damien had left but I saw the satisfaction in her eyes.

I pouted "I guess it’s just us now."

"I need to get Ashley ready for school." I turned back to the stove, not wanting to talk to her. I didn’t have ti for her stupid gas.

"Of course. I’ll just get going then." But she didn’t move. "You know, Sophia, Damien seems so much happier lately. He’s more relaxed. It’s nice to see him like that."

The words were supposed to hurt

and they did but I didn’t let her see it. "I’m glad he’s happy. Ashley deserves to see her father in a good mood."

Tiffany left after that. I heard the door close behind her too. Then it was just

in the big house.

I went upstairs to wake Ashley. She was still sleeping, curled up with her favorite stuffed bear. My heart ached looking at her. This was what mattered, not Damien’s confusing behavior or Tiffany’s hurtful words.

What mattered was just this little girl who needed her mother.

"Ashley, sweetheart. Ti to wake up." I sat on the edge of her bed and gently stroked her hair.

She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw . "Mommy! You’re still here!"

"Of course I am. I promised I’d take you to school today, rember?"

I helped her get dressed and brushed her hair.

We went downstairs together and I made her favorite breakfast while she chattered about school and her friends.

These monts made everything worth it - The deal with Damien. Coming back to the villa. Facing Tiffany.

All of it was bearable because I got to be here with Ashley.

After I dropped Ashley at school, I drove to a coffee shop to get sothing to calm . My phone rang just as I was ordering. Zade’s na appeared on the screen.

I was confused. Why was he calling ? Well, I did promise him dinner.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Sophia. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important."

"Just getting coffee. What’s up?"

"There’s an auction this weekend. It’s high-end art and jewelry. Very exclusive." He paused. "I’d like you to co with

as my guest."

My first instinct was to say no. Going to a public event with Zade would fuel more gossip. It would give Damien more ammunition against

but then I thought about Damien laughing with Tiffany. I thought about how he was building a new life while expecting

to just fade into the background.

I deserved to go out to do things that made

happy too, right?

"Okay. I’ll go."

"Excellent. I’ll send a stylist to your place soon. She’ll bring dress options and handle your hair and makeup. All you have to do is show up and look beautiful. Which won’t be hard."

"Zade, that’s too much-"

"It’s not too much. It’s what anyone accompanying

to these events gets. Consider it part of the package. Just say thank you and let

handle the details."

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"See you soon. I’ll pick you up at seven."

After we hung up, I sat there with my coffee wondering what I’d just agreed to.

An auction with Zade Harrington in public, where people would see us together and draw conclusions. Damien would definitely hear about it.

My wolf was uncertain. She was torn between wanting to move forward with our life and feeling like we were betraying our mate. But Damien had made his choice. He had Tiffany.

I deserved to have my own life too, even if that life included accepting invitations from handso, powerful n who made my ex-husband furious.

Maybe especially because of that.