Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Chapter 135

Aria’s POV

The door clicked shut behind us.

I stood in the entryway. Shaking. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling no matter how hard I tried to steady them.

Cassius leaned against the wall. His breathing was ragged. Blood dripped from his split lip onto the floor.

My baby was still crying. Silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Her little body pressed against my legs like she was trying to disappear.

"Mommy..." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Mommy, I’m scared..."

My heart shattered into a million pieces.

I dropped to my knees. Pulled her into my arms. Held her so tight I could feel her tiny heart racing against my chest.

"It’s okay, baby." The words came out rough. Wrong. "It’s okay. We’re safe now. The scary man is gone."

She sobbed harder.

"Why was he hurting Uncle Cassius?" Her voice cracked. "Why was he so angry? Did we do something bad?"

"No, baby. No." I pulled back. Cupped her face in my hands. Made her look at me. "You didn’t do anything wrong. None of this is your fault."

"Then why..."

"Sometimes grown-ups do bad things." I wiped her tears with my thumbs. "Things that don’t make sense. Things that are scary. But Mommy will always protect you. Always."

She hiccupped. Sniffled.

I kissed her forehead. Held her close for another moment.

Then I made myself let go.

"Lina, baby. Mommy needs to help Uncle Cassius, okay? He got hurt. I need to make him feel better."

Her eyes went wide. She looked over at Cassius. At the blood on his face. At the way he was hunched against the wall.

"Is he going to be okay?"

"He’s going to be fine." I forced a smile. "But I need you to be a big girl for me. Can you go to your room? Play with your toys? Just for a little while?"

She hesitated. Her little fingers twisted in the fabric of my shirt.

"Will you come check on me?"

"Of course. As soon as I’m done helping Uncle Cassius."

Finally, reluctantly, she nodded.

"Okay, Mommy."

She shuffled toward her room. Paused at the door. Looked back at us one more time.

Then disappeared inside.

I watched her go. Watched until the door closed behind her.

Then I turned to Cassius.

"Oh God." The words came out strangled. "Oh God, Cassius, I’m so sorry."

He tried to smile. Winced instead.

"I’ve had worse."

"No, you haven’t." I was already moving toward the bathroom. "Sit down. I’ll get the first aid kit."

"Aria—"

"Sit. Down."

He sat.

I found the first aid kit under the sink. My hands were still shaking as I grabbed it. Still trembling as I carried it back to the living room.

Cassius had made it to the couch. He was slumped against the cushions. Eyes closed. Face pale beneath the bruises.

He looked terrible.

Because of me.

All of this was because of ME.

"Hey." His voice was soft. "Stop thinking whatever you’re thinking."

"How do you know what I’m thinking?"

"Because I know you." He opened his eyes. Those gray eyes that always seemed to see right through me. "You’re blaming yourself. Don’t."

I knelt in front of him. Opened the first aid kit.

I turned.

Lina was standing in her doorway. Her unicorn stuffed animal clutched against her chest. Her eyes red from crying.

"I couldn’t sleep." Her voice wobbled. "Can I sit with you?"

"Of course, baby." I held out my arms. "Come here."

She crossed the room in a flash. Climbed onto the couch between us. Curled into my side like a kitten.

"Is Uncle Cassius okay?"

"I’m fine, little monster." Cassius smiled. Or tried to. "Just a few bumps and bruises."

Lina studied his face. Those black-gold eyes so serious.

"You look like a painting," she announced.

Cassius blinked. "What?"

"A painting." She nodded solemnly. "The kind with lots of colors. Purple and blue and red."

Despite everything, I almost laughed.

Exhaustion washed over me. Heavy and absolute. Like I’d been carrying a boulder for miles and had finally been allowed to set it down.

"Aria."

I turned my head. Looked at him.

"So what are you going to do tomorrow?"

The million-dollar question.

What WAS I going to do?

Kael had found me. Knew where I lived. Knew where I worked. Knew about Lina.

There was no hiding anymore. No pretending I could just disappear again.

But I couldn’t face him either. Couldn’t walk into that company tomorrow and act like nothing had happened.

The answer came to me clearly. Simply. The only option that made any sense.

"I’m going to submit my resignation tomorrow." The words felt heavy. Final. "I won’t continue at the company."