Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Finn’s POV

The board meeting dragged on.

Numbers. Charts. Projections. My CFO droned about quarterly earnings while I mentally counted the minutes until I could leave.

Then my phone buzzed.

My first instinct was to ignore it. Probably Aria. Ha. Finally crawling back to beg for forgiveness? Let her wait. Let her suffer. She’d learn her lesson soon enough.

But the caller ID made my blood run cold.

Lilith’s Kindergarten.

I stood up immediately. "We’re taking a break."

The executives exchanged confused glances. I didn’t care. I was already walking toward the hallway.

"Is this Lilith Nightfang’s guardian?" A woman’s voice. Professional. Clipped.

"Speaking."

"Sir, the Family Fun Day started thirty minutes ago. We’ve been waiting for you." A pause. Judgment dripping from every word. "I understand busy parents might not prioritize these events, but your daughter is currently the only child sitting alone in the corner."

My chest tightened.

I’d sent Aria that message. Told her exactly where to be and when. I assumed she’d handle it. She always handled everything involving Lilith.

The possibility that she simply... wouldn’t show up?

That had never crossed my mind.

"I’m on my way." I hung up. Turned to my assistant. "Cancel everything else today."

---

The drive to the kindergarten took twenty minutes. Twenty agonizing minutes of imagining Lilith sitting alone while every other child had their parents beside them.

When I arrived, the scene was exactly as I’d feared.

Children everywhere. Running. Laughing. Playing games with their mothers and fathers. Bright decorations. Cheerful music.

And there—in the far corner—was Lilith.

My daughter sat on a tiny plastic chair. Alone. Her little legs dangled off the edge, feet barely touching the ground. Her eyes were fixed on the floor.

Something sharp twisted in my gut.

I walked over. Crouched down in front of her.

"Lilith."

She looked up. Those silver eyes—totally Aria’s eyes—were red-rimmed. Like she’d been crying but stopped because no one came to comfort her.

"Daddy." Her voice was small. Hollow.

"I’m here now." I pulled her into my arms. "Daddy’s here."

She didn’t hug back. Just sat there, limp. Defeated.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur. I participated in every activity. Made balloon animals. Painted terrible pictures. Pretended to enjoy terrible snacks. I smiled and laughed and played the role of devoted father.

But Lilith remained quiet. Distant. Like something inside her had broken.

---

By four-thirty, the event ended.

I held her hand as we walked to the parking lot. Helped her into the backseat. Slid in beside her instead of sitting up front.

Her small face was downcast. Troubled.

"How are you feeling, baby?" I asked gently.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Where was Mommy?" Her voice cracked. "I told her to come early. Everyone had their mommy with them. Only I just had Daddy."

She wiped her eyes with her tiny fists.

"If Miss Celestia wasn’t performing, I wouldn’t even want Mommy to come." She sniffled. "But she didn’t come anyway."

I squeezed her hand. "This was Daddy’s fault. It won’t happen again."

But Lilith’s mood didn’t improve. She just stared at her shoes. Silent. Hurting.

I was about to say something else when my phone rang.

Mother.

I answered. "What is it?"

"Your grandfather’s birthday is tomorrow." Irene’s voice was crisp. Direct. As always. "We’re hosting dinner for the elders and family friends tonight at the estate. Bring Lilith. I’ll meet you there."

I paused. Right. Grandfather Brain’s birthday. How had I forgotten?

"Understood." I hung up.

Turning back to Lilith, I brushed hair from her face. Her expression was still troubled. Still confused.

"Baby," I said softly. "Great-grandfather’s birthday is tomorrow. Mommy didn’t come today because she’s been at the Nightfang estate preparing everything. You know how she always cooks those big feasts for occasions like this."

Lilith considered this. Her brow furrowed as she processed.

Then her expression cleared slightly. She lifted her chin.

"Hmm. That makes sense."

I couldn’t help but chuckle. "Next time there’s an event like this, I’ll bring Miss Celestia to come with you."

The transformation was instant.

Lilith’s entire face changed. Pure joy flooded her features. All the disappointment from earlier vanished like smoke.

"Really?" She bounced in her seat. "Promise?"

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