Piss Off, Alpha! You Chapter 84 Bad Marriage

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Bad Marriage

SOPHIA’S POV

Marcel’s hand was still reaching for

when I shoved him hard in the chest. He stumbled backward, but I’d put too much force into it. My heel caught on the uneven tile and I lost my balance.

Suddenly, I felt myself falling forward. I was scared, already preparing myself for the fall but strong hands caught

before I hit the ground.

I looked up and found myself staring directly into Damien’s eyes. His hands were firm on my waist, and we were so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. For a split second, I saw sothing in his dark eyes - sothing that looked almost like concern.

Then it was gone.

"Careful," he said. His voice was flat and emotionless. He set

back on my feet and imdiately dropped his hands, like touching

had burned him.

My wolf whimpered in my chest. She still responded to his nearness despite everything. I hated that she still reacted to him, still recognized him as our mate even though he’d rejected everything we were supposed to be together.

"Well, well," Simon said, stepping forward with that stupid smirk on his face. "Isn’t this cozy? First we catch you with Lance in so cheap apartnt, now you’re getting handsy with your friend’s boyfriend in a restaurant hallway. Tell , Sophia, is there anyone you won’t throw yourself at?"

I felt my cheeks get heated but it wasn’t embarrassnt. It was pure rage.

"Throw myself at?" I repeated. "Are you blind or just stupid? He was forcing himself on ."

Simon laughed. "From where I was standing, you looked pretty willing."

My hands clenched into fists at my sides. I could feel my wolf stirring, wanting to co out, wanting to show this arrogant bastard exactly what happened to people who disrespected us. But I pushed her down. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

"You saw what you wanted to see," I said coldly. "Just like you always do."

"Sophia, please," Marcel cut in "Don’t make this worse than it is. I was just trying to have a friendly conversation—"

"Friendly?" I turned on him. "You were hitting on another woman while your girlfriend sat twenty feet away, then you tried to corner . That’s not friendly. That’s predatory."

Marcel’s eyes went dark. His wolf must have been close to the surface too, because I caught a flash of gold in his irises before he blinked it away.

"You’re imagining things," he said smoothly. "Maybe you’ve been under too much stress lately. I hear bad marriages can do that to a person."

His words hit deep inside . The insult hit its mark, but I didn’t let him see it.

I looked at Damien, waiting for him to say sothing, to back

up, to at least acknowledge that Marcel had been harassing , but he was staring at his phone. His fingers moved like he was texting soone.

He was texting while I stood there defending myself against accusations that I’d sohow asked for Marcel’s attention.

My heart cracked a little more.

"Are you seriously texting right now?" I asked.

Damien’s eyes looked up to

for barely a second. "Tiffany’s waiting for us at the hotel. I’m letting her know we’ll be late."

Of course. Tiffany. It was always Tiffany.

"Forget it," I said. "I don’t have ti for this."

I walked back toward the dining area. My whole body shook with anger and hurt and sothing else I didn’t want to na. Behind , I heard Simon say sothing to Damien, but I couldn’t make out the words. I didn’t care. I just wanted to get Bianca and leave this nightmare of an evening.

But when I reached the table, it was empty. Bianca’s purse was gone and her jacket was missing from the back of the chair.

My stomach sank.

"Sophia!"

I turned and saw Bianca hurrying across the restaurant toward . Her face was flushed and her eyes were bright with tears.

"What the hell was that?" she demanded. "What did you say to Marcel?"

I looked at her in confusion "Bianca-"

"He told

you ca onto him in the hallway! He said you tried to kiss him and when he turned you down, you got angry!"

My heart dropped to my stomach. That little –

"That’s not what happened."

"Then why is he so upset? Why are his friends all looking at

like I should apologize for bringing you here?"

I grabbed her hand. "Listen to . Marcel was flirting with another woman. I saw him exchange numbers with her. Then when I confronted him, he tried to-" I stopped, seeing the disbelief already forming on her face. "He tried to touch , Bianca. He made inappropriate comnts and he-"

"Stop." Bianca pulled her hand away. "Just stop. I know Marcel isn’t perfect, but he wouldn’t do that. He loves ."

"He’s manipulating you," I said. "He’s been doing it for months. The bruises, the gaslighting, the cheating-"

"You’re jealous," Bianca said, and there were tears rolling down her face now. "You’re jealous because your own marriage is falling apart and you can’t stand to see

happy!"

The accusation hurt worse than anything Simon had said. I could take those words from anyone....anyone!....but not Bianca, not my best friend, not the person I cared for the most.

"I’m trying to protect you," I said quietly.

"I don’t need protection from the man I love. I need protection from friends who stab

in the back."

She turned and walked away, back toward where Marcel was standing with Simon and Damien. Marcel imdiately put his arm around her, pulling her close, whispering sothing in her ear that made her nod and lean into him.

I watched my friend choose her abuser over , and there was nothing I could do about it.

The restaurant suddenly felt too small, too hot, too suffocating. I needed air. I needed to get out.

I grabbed my purse and headed for the exit. My hands were shaking. My whole body was shaking.

"Sophia?"

I turned around and there was Lance, walking up the street with a dical textbook tucked under his arm. He took one look at my face and imdiately moved closer.

"What happened?" he asked gently.

I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak without crying. I was surprised to see him but I couldn’t be bothered about that now.

"Co on," he said, "There’s a late-night noodle place around the corner. Let’s get you so food and you can tell

about it."

I nodded. I was grateful for his kindness, for having at least one person who didn’t look at

like I was crazy or dramatic or attention-seeking.

We walked in silence to the small restaurant. It was the kind of place that stayed open until three in the morning.

Lance ordered for both of us while I tried to pull myself together. When the food ca, I told him everything - about Marcel and the woman, about his attempt to corner , about Bianca defending him, about Simon’s accusations and Damien’s complete indifference.

"I’m so tired," I said finally, staring at my untouched noodles. "I’m tired of fighting. I’m tired of being treated like I’m the problem. I’m tired of people I care about choosing everyone else over ."

Lance reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "You’re not the problem, Sophia. You’re surrounded by people who don’t deserve you."

I looked up at him, and sothing warm spread in my chest. Gratitude, maybe, or just relief at being believed.

The door opened and I looked over. When I saw the people coming in, my entire body went rigid.

Damien walked in, followed by Simon and Nate. And..... Tiffany, her arm linked through Damien’s, laughing at sothing he’d just said.