Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! Chapter 21

Aria’s POV

I froze completely.

My eyes went wide as the guard’s words echoed around us. "What?" I barely managed to get out. My voice was hardly more than a breath.

The guard’s face remained blank. Professional. "You heard —you can go. Head to that counter to collect your belongings. I’ll go release your family."

My knees turned to water as I stumbled toward the counter. I was in complete shock. What just happened?

Kael actually ca through for ?

I wanted to collapse. I wanted to cry until there was nothing left. As I collected my phone and other belongings, a warmth spread through my chest that I couldn’t suppress.

My hands trembled as I signed the release form. The pen slipped twice. The officer behind the counter gave a strange look. Word travels fast, apparently.

I clutched my phone to my chest. Stared at the cracked screen like it was a lifeline. Because it was. It literally was.

One phone call. Three minutes. And Kael Blood Crown had just erased a thirty-thousand-dollar problem like it was pocket change.

The sound of footsteps made turn. My mother and sisters erged from the corridor, escorted by guards. They looked around like they couldn’t believe this was real. Their eyes found mine.

"Are you sure about this?" I heard my mother ask the guard. Her tone was pure confusion.

"Orders from above." The guard shrugged. "All four of you. Free to go."

Serena’s mouth hung open. For once, she had nothing to say.

Lyra recovered first. "How is this possible...?" She stared at . "Her? She did this?"

My mother’s gaze locked onto . Filled with pure bewildernt and sothing else. Curiosity, maybe. Or suspicion. With her, it was always hard to tell.

"How did you...?" She started, then the words just... disappeared.

I stayed silent. Just collected my things and walked toward the exit.

My family followed. Their faces showed nothing but shock and confusion. No gratitude. No relief. Just that familiar look of trying to figure out what angle I was playing.

The night air hit my face the mont we stepped outside. Cool. Clean. Free.

I breathed deep. Let it fill my lungs. Let it wash away the sll of that cell—the rust and despair and hopelessness.

Serena whirled to face imdiately. "What the hell, Aria?"

I didn’t answer.

"Seriously!" She grabbed my arm. Spun around. "Who did you call? What did you do? Since when do you have connections that can get us out of jail?"

"Does it matter?" My voice ca out flat. Tired.

"Of course it matters!" Lyra pushed forward. Her eyes were wild. Calculating. "Who do you know? How much did it cost? Do they want sothing in return?"

"Nothing." I pulled my arm free from Serena’s grip. "It cost you nothing."

"That’s not possible." My mother’s voice was sharp. "Nobody pays that kind of money for nothing. What did you promise them, Aria? What did you sell?"

The accusation hit like a slap.

Of course. Of course that’s where her mind went. Because in her experience, a woman’s only currency was her body. Her only value was what she could trade for survival.

"I didn’t sell anything."

"Then how—"

"It doesn’t matter." I cut her off. My patience was gone. Evaporated. "You’re free. That’s all you need to know."

Serena let out a harsh laugh. "Oh, so now you’re keeping secrets? After everything we just went through because of you?"

I stopped. Breathed. Forced the rage back down.

They wouldn’t understand. They never understood.

"Whatever." Lyra rolled her eyes dramatically. "I’m going ho. This has been the worst night of my life, and I need a shower."

"The house is probably trashed," Serena muttered. "Those guards tore everything apart."

"Even better." Lyra’s voice dripped with sarcasm. "Thanks so much, Aria. Really. Your marriage has been such a gift to this family."

They started walking. Didn’t look back. Didn’t say goodbye.

My mother lingered for a mont. Studied my face with those cold, calculating eyes.

And then she was gone too. Following my sisters into the night. Leaving standing alone on the sidewalk outside a detention center.

Family.

What a joke.

I stood there for a long mont. Just breathing. Just existing. The streetlights buzzed overhead. Cars passed in the distance. The world kept moving like nothing had happened.

Like my entire life hadn’t just imploded and rebuilt itself in the span of a few hours.

My feet started moving on their own. Away from the detention center. Away from the direction my family had gone. Toward... sowhere. Anywhere.

I found a park. Small. Quiet. Empty at this hour.

A secluded bench sat beneath an old oak tree. I made my way toward it on legs that still felt like jelly. Collapsed onto the wooden slats.

And finally—finally—let myself feel.

The tears ca hot and fast. Silent. Unstoppable.

Everything crashed over at once. The terror of those n breaking down my door. The humiliation of being dragged through my neighborhood. The despair of that cold cell. My family’s accusations. Serena’s hatred. Lyra’s bla. My mother’s suspicion.

And through it all—Kael and Finn.

I pressed my palms against my eyes. Tried to stop the tears. Failed.

What was I supposed to do with this?

My phone buzzed.

I jumped. Almost dropped it.

The screen lit up with an incoming call. The number made my heart stop completely.

Him.

I stared at the phone. Watched it ring. Once. Twice.

My pulse skyrocketed to impossible speeds. My hands shook so badly I could barely hold the device.

I took a trembling breath. Answered.

"Hello?" My voice ca out as barely a whisper.

"Where are you? I’m on my way to find you." Kael’s deep voice traveled through the line. Sent shivers down my spine.

My heart did a complete flip.

I never expected him to actually co. Never imagined he would leave whatever important thing he was doing to find . To see .

"I’m in... the park behind the detention center," I managed. My voice trembled despite my best efforts.

"I’ll be right there," Kael promised.

The call ended.

I lowered the phone. Stared at it like it might explode.

My reflection stared back from the dark screen. Red-rimd eyes. Tear-stained cheeks. Hair a complete disaster. I looked like exactly what I was—a woman who’d just spent hours in a jail cell.

Gorgeous. Really stunning work, Aria.

I scrubbed at my face with my sleeves. Tried to make myself presentable. It was useless. I was a ss. A complete and total ss.

I sat back against the bench. Let the night air cool my flushed skin. Tried to breathe. Tried to think.

What was Finn trying to do? He was the one who rejected . He was the one who brought his mistress into our ho. He was the one whose precious daughter wished I was dead.

And now—abandonnt charges?

It made no sense. Unless...

Unless he just wanted to punish . For daring to leave. For daring to reject him back. For humiliating him in front of everyone at the mating ceremony.

Finn Nightfang didn’t like losing. Didn’t like being challenged. Didn’t like anyone taking sothing he considered his—even if he didn’t want it anymore.

I was property to him. Always had been. And property didn’t get to walk away.

Would he try again? Would he find another way to hurt ? Another angle to attack from?

The thought made my stomach turn.

A sound interrupted my thoughts.

Footsteps. Deliberate. Getting closer.

My heart leaped. Kael. It had to be—

"Heh... you’re quite capable, aren’t you?"

The voice ca from nearby. Low. Mocking. Definitely not Kael.

I froze.