Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 3

He paused for a moment, and seemed to realize that his behavior was too much, so he did not fight back.

He picked Sable up, cradling her protectively, his arms wrapped around her as if she were something precious. My wolf snarled at the blatant display of favoritism.

"I told you last night, Sable can’t stand other children calling me ‘Dad,’" Tobias continued, stroking Sable’s hair as she buried her smug face into his chest.

"She was just upset, not intentionally pushing Rhea."

I stepped forward, unyielding. "Didn’t you see it? Wasn’t she doing it on purpose?"

Tobias exhaled sharply. "Hailey, let it go."

"Let it go?" I hissed, my wolf snapping her jaws in my mind. "She just called Rhea a bastard. Are you going to confirm that to her, too?"

Tobias hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face, but instead of answering, he tightened his hold on Sable.

Valeria, ever the poised Luna-wannabe, smiled gracefully and feigned an apologetic look.

"Miss Selene, I sincerely apologize. Sable grew up abroad; she has a straightforward personality. She just speaks her mind. Please don’t take it to heart."

The little girl in her arms smirked, emboldened by her mother’s defense.

"I didn’t say anything wrong! The other kids say it too—Rhea’s a bastard! She stole my dad!"

My claws ached to break free.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palm, my wolf howling with frustration inside me.

Earlier, Tobias had said he had a ‘cleanliness obsession,’ and I tolerated it.

He spent years abroad, entangled with other women, making excuses. I turned a blind eye.

But now—now, he allowed someone to openly insult our daughter?

I stepped closer, my voice sharp and unyielding.

"Tobias, I’ll ask you one last time."

"Is Rhea really a bastard?"

Tobias’s jaw tightened. His wolf recoiled, but his pride wouldn’t let him acknowledge the truth. Instead, he sneered, the coldness in his gaze cutting through me.

"You know very well how she became my daughter, don’t you?"

The words stung like a silver blade to my chest.

I sucked in a sharp breath as my wolf whimpered, feeling the rejection seep through our bond.

"Enough," Tobias muttered, his patience worn thin. "Today is Sable’s day to visit. Don’t ruin it for everyone."

Valeria’s lips curled in satisfaction as Tobias turned his attention back to Sable.

Without another glance, he walked away.

Valeria’s eyes glimmered with brief satisfaction, though she quickly masked it with a sigh.

She turned back to me, her expression delicate with false sympathy.

"I’m truly sorry. Tobias and I are innocent. He’s always been a man of deep emotions. He felt bad for me after my divorce, and Sable didn’t have a father, so he’s simply being kind. Please don’t take it personally."

Then, she added me to her contact list with a practiced smile. "I’ll compensate Rhea for the drawing."

I watched as she hurried to Tobias’s side, her voice sweet.

"Tobias, you’re unbelievable. Luna Selene said she wanted a divorce out of anger. How could you just agree to it?"

Tobias chuckled darkly. "She used every trick in the book to get this marriage. Do you really think she’ll leave me?"

"She was too harsh on Sable just now. This is just a small punishment for her. It won’t be long before she begs me to come back."

A bitter laugh slipped from my lips.

Tobias—people change.

The Hailey who once foolishly chased after love no longer existed.

Now, for my daughter, I would leave completely.