Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! Chapter 28

Aria’s POV

Lilith stared at . Her silver eyes—my eyes—went wide with shock.

For one heartbeat, the garden was completely silent.

Then her face crumpled.

"You’re so AN!" she scread. The sound pierced through the air like a knife. "You’re a BAD MOMMY! A BAD, BAD MOMMY!"

Her little fists ca at . Pounding against my thighs. My stomach. Anywhere she could reach.

"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"

Each word. Each blow. They shouldn’t have hurt this much. She was five. Her punches were nothing.

But God, they destroyed .

I stood frozen. Let her hit . Let her scream.

What else could I do?

"Lilith! Oh my goodness, Lilith!"

Celestia rushed over. Her white dress floated behind her like angel wings. She scooped my daughter into her arms. Pulled her away from . Shielded her.

Like I was the threat.

"Shh, sweetie. It’s okay. I’m here." Celestia stroked Lilith’s hair. Her voice was honey-sweet. Perfectly pitched for maximum sympathy. "Don’t cry. Celestia’s here."

Then she looked up at .

Those blue eyes. So innocent. So concerned.

So fake.

"Aria." She clutched Lilith tighter. "How could you? She’s your own daughter. How could you be so cruel to her?"

The accusation hung in the air.

Around us, parents exchanged glances. Whispers started again. Louder this ti.

"Did you see that?"

"The poor child..."

"What kind of mother..."

My hands trembled at my sides. I wanted to scream. Wanted to explain. Wanted to grab everyone by the shoulders and shake them until they saw the truth.

Lilith was still crying. Still clinging to Celestia like she was the only safe thing in the world.

And everyone believed it.

"Aria!"

That voice. Sharp. Furious.

Finn pushed through the crowd. His face was twisted with rage. His amber eyes blazed as he stord toward .

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?"

I lifted my chin. t his glare head-on.

"Hello, Finn."

"Don’t ’hello’ !" He grabbed my arm. His fingers dug into my flesh. "You show up here—after everything—and the first thing you do is make your own daughter cry?"

"I didn’t—"

"I don’t want to hear it!" He released with a shove. Disgust dripped from every word. "You abandoned her. You abandoned this family. And now you co here to what? Humiliate us in front of everyone? Why is she crying?" Finn gestured at Lilith. Still sobbing in Celestia’s arms. "Why is my daughter traumatized?"

The unfairness of it all burned through my veins.

And he called the bad mother?

I took a breath. Steadied myself.

"Why is Celestia here?"

Finn blinked. "What?"

"This is a family event." I kept my voice calm. Level. "Parents and children. Why is your mistress holding my daughter?"

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Celestia’s face went pale. "Aria, I don’t think—"

"I asked Finn. Not you."

Finn’s eyes narrowed. His jaw worked. I could see him calculating. Strategizing.

"Celestia is Lilith’s nanny," he said finally. His tone was condescending. Dismissive. "She takes care of our daughter when you’re too busy running around with other n."

"Nanny?" I laughed. The sound was sharp. Bitter. "That’s what we’re calling it now?"

"What else would we call it?"

"How about mistress? Lover? The woman you’ve been sleeping with for the past three years while I waited at ho like a fool?"

Dead silence.

Every eye in the garden locked onto us. Parents. Children. Servers. Everyone.

Finn’s face darkened. "You’re making a scene."

"Am I?" I stepped closer. Lowered my voice. But not low enough. "You brought your human girlfriend to our daughter’s school event. You parade her around like she’s family. And I’m the one making a scene?"

"Aria—"

"No." I cut him off. "I’m done, Finn. I ca here for one reason. The divorce papers. You said you’d sign them if I showed up. So sign them."

He stared at . That familiar contempt burning in his eyes.

Then he smiled. Cold. Cruel.

"You think it’s that simple? I said I’d consider it." He crossed his arms. "But first, you’ll participate in this event. Properly. Like a real mother. And then you’ll go to the Nightfang estate. Apologize to my grandfather for ruining his birthday dinner."

My stomach dropped. "What?"

"You heard ." His smile widened. "Complete those tasks, and maybe—maybe—I’ll approve your divorce application."

"You are insane!"

"That’s the deal." He shrugged. "Take it or leave it. But if you leave..." His voice dropped. Threatening. "I’ll make sure those abandonnt charges follow you for the rest of your life."

The words hit like physical blows.

But I didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away.

"You’re wrong."

"Am I?"

"Everything you just said." I lifted my chin higher. "About Celestia being a nanny. About being a bad mother. All of it. Lies."

I turned to face the crowd. All those watching eyes. All those judging faces.

"This woman—" I pointed at Celestia "—is not a nanny. She’s been my husband’s mistress for years. She lived in my house. Used my things. Turned my own daughter against ."

Celestia’s hand flew to her throat. "That’s not—I would never—"

"And him—" I pointed at Finn "—filed fake abandonnt charges against . Had arrested. Threw in a cell. All because I dared to ask for a divorce."

The whispers exploded. Shocked. Scandalized.

"Is that true?"

"Arrested?"

"The poor thing..."

Finn’s face contorted with rage. "You lying—"

"I’m not lying." My voice rang clear across the garden. "I’m done lying. Done pretending. Done being your punching bag."

"Mommy’s a LIAR!"

Lilith’s voice cut through everything.

I turned. My daughter stood beside Celestia now. Her little face was red. Tear-streaked. Furious.

"Mommy always lies! She says she loves but she doesn’t! She says she’ll stay but she leaves! She’s just trying to scare us! I don’t believe you!" She stamped her foot. "Celestia told everything! You’re an and selfish and nobody wants you!"

Nobody wants you.

"If you leave Daddy," Lilith continued, her voice rising, "no one will ever want you! You’ll be alone forever! Because you’re a bad mommy and a bad person and—"

"Enough."

The word ca out quiet. But it stopped her mid-sentence.

"You’re right," I said softly. "Maybe no one wants ."

Lilith’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected agreent.

That’s when I heard it.

A roar. Deep. Powerful. The unmistakable sound of an expensive engine.

Every head turned toward the garden entrance.

A sleek black sports car pulled through the gates. The kind of car that cost more than most people made in a lifeti. The kind of car that announced its owner before they even stepped out.

My heart stopped.

The engine cut. The door opened.

Kael Blood Crown erged from the driver’s seat.

He was devastating. Dark shirt. Perfect fit. Those black-gold eyes scanning the crowd until they found . Until they locked onto with an intensity that made my knees weak.

He walked forward. Each step deliberate. Confident. Every wolf in that garden felt his presence. His power. His dominance.

Parents stepped back. Children went quiet. Even Finn—even Finn—went pale.

Kael stopped right beside . So close I could feel his heat. Sll his scent—ebony and frost and everything I’d been craving.

His hand found the small of my back. Possessive. Protective.

Then he looked at Finn. At Celestia. At everyone watching.

And he smiled.

"I think your family gathering day wouldn’t mind one more person?" His voice carried across the silent garden. Dark. Amused. Dangerous. "As the child’s mother’s new mate?"