Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 137

Chapter 137: Chapter 137

Aria’s POV

I didn’t sleep.

Not a single minute.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him. Those black-gold eyes blazing red. His fist connecting with Cassius’s face. The blood. The violence. The terror on my daughter’s face.

By the time dawn crept through my window, I felt like a zombie.

I dragged myself to the bathroom. Looked in the mirror.

And immediately wished I hadn’t.

Dark circles. Puffy eyes. Skin so pale I looked like a ghost. My hair was a tangled mess from tossing and turning all night.

I splashed cold water on my face. Tried to make myself look human. Applied concealer that did absolutely nothing. Put on mascara that only made the bags under my eyes more obvious.

Gave up.

Whatever. It didn’t matter how I looked. I was going to quit anyway.

Lina was still asleep when I left. Cassius had stayed the night on the couch, too beaten to drive home. He’d promised to watch her while I handled things at the office.

"Are you sure about this?" he’d asked, his voice muffled by the ice pack pressed against his jaw.

"Yes."

He hadn’t argued after that. Just nodded. Winced from the movement.

Another thing to feel guilty about.

I pushed the thought away. Focused on the task at hand.

The Blood Crown Industries building loomed ahead.

I stood on the sidewalk. Same spot I’d stood on my very first day. Same view. Same terror clawing at my chest.

Except now the terror was a thousand times worse.

Because now I knew what waited for me inside.

Or rather, WHO might be waiting.

My heart pounded against my ribs. My palms were sweaty. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to turn around. To run. To never look back.

But I couldn’t.

I had to do this. Had to end this. Had to cut ties with this company before Kael could trap me here.

I squared my shoulders. Lifted my chin.

You can do this, Aria. Just walk in. Find Director Black. Hand over the letter. Walk out.

Fifteen minutes. Maybe twenty. That’s all it would take.

I pushed through the glass doors.

The lobby was busy. Same as always. Wolves in suits rushing past. Coffee cups in hand. Important conversations happening in hushed tones.

Nobody looked at me twice.

Good.

I made my way to the elevator. Pressed the button for the executive floor.

The numbers climbed.

Ten. Fifteen. Twenty.

My stomach dropped with each ding.

Twenty-five. Thirty.

What if he was there?

What if he was waiting in Director Black’s office right now?

What if he knew I was coming?

Thirty-two.

The doors slid open.

I held my breath.

The executive floor stretched out before me. Desks. Computers. People working.

No Kael.

I scanned the entire floor. Checked every corner. Every office. Every shadow.

Nothing.

He wasn’t here.

Oh thank God.

Relief flooded through me so fast I almost collapsed. My knees went weak. My hands stopped shaking.

He wasn’t here.

"Ms. Moon." Her tone shifted. Softer now. Almost concerned. "You’ve been doing excellent work. Your performance has exceeded every expectation. In fact..."

She paused. Leaned back in her chair.

"I was going to tell you this later, but given the circumstances... The Alpha has been particularly impressed with your work. He was considering promoting you to a senior position."

"That’s..." I swallowed hard. "That’s very kind. But my decision is final."

"Is it the workload?" Director Black pressed. "Because we can adjust your responsibilities. Reduce your hours if necessary"

"It’s not the workload."

"Is there anything we can do to help?"

"No. I just... I need to move on."

She was quiet. Processing. I could see the wheels turning behind those sharp eyes.

Director Black studied me for another long moment.

Then she sighed again.

"Very well." She reached for the envelope. "If you’re certain this is what you want"

"It is."

"Then I won’t stand in your way." Her fingers closed around the letter. "I’m sorry to lose you, Ms. Moon. You were one of the best assistants we’ve ever had."

"Thank you." My voice came out thick. "For everything."

She nodded. Started to open the envelope.

My heart was pounding. This was it. The moment of freedom. Once she signed that letter, I’d be done. Out. Free from this company. Free from Kael. Free from--

A shadow fell across the desk.

I felt him before I saw him.

That presence. That overwhelming aura that made the air itself feel heavier. That scent of black cedar and winter frost that I’d spent three years trying to forget.

No.

NO.

My whole body went rigid. Every muscle locked in place. My heart stopped dead in my chest.

A large hand slammed down on the paper.

I froze.