Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Chapter 160

Aria’s POV

The rain started when I was halfway home.

Just a few drops at first. Then more. Then a downpour that soaked through my coat in seconds.

I didn’t care.

Barely noticed.

My mind was still stuck in that assembly ground. Replaying everything that had happened. Over and over like a broken record.

Rebecca.

The confession.

The exile.

I pressed my hand against my chest. Felt my heart racing beneath my palm.

Rebecca had tried to kill me.

She’d been the one who followed me that night. Who drugged me. Who stole Artemis.

My throat tightened.

The taxi pulled up to my building. I paid. Got out. Stood in the rain for a moment.

Just breathing.

In. Out. In. Out.

The water ran down my face. Through my hair. Soaking everything.

I didn’t move.

Couldn’t move.

My legs felt like lead. My whole body felt heavy. Like I was carrying the weight of those three years all at once.

Finally, I forced myself to walk.

Up the steps. Through the door. Down the hallway to my apartment.

My hands were shaking as I fumbled with the keys.

Inside, everything was warm. Bright. Normal.

Lina’s face lit up when she saw me.

"MOMMY!"

She launched herself off the couch. Ran straight at me.

I caught her. Held her tight. Buried my face in her hair.

"Hey, baby." My voice came out rough. Thick. "I missed you."

"I missed you TOO!" She pulled back. Her face scrunched up. "Mommy, you’re all wet! Why are you all wet?"

"It’s raining outside."

"You should have used an umbrella!"

"I know. I forgot."

The next hour passed in a blur.

Dinner. Bath time. Bedtime routine.

I went through the motions automatically. Smiled when I was supposed to. Laughed when Lina said something funny. Read her favorite story about the princess and the dragon.

But my mind was somewhere else.

Stuck in that moment when Rebecca had looked at me. When she’d screamed about how everything was my fault. How I’d ruined her life.

Like I was the villain in her story.

"Mommy?"

I blinked. Focused on Lina’s face.

She was tucked into bed. Her unicorn clutched against her chest. Those black-gold eyes watching me with concern.

"Yes, baby?"

"Are you sad?"

My heart clenched.

"Why do you think I’m sad?"

"Because you have your sad face on." She reached up. Touched my cheek with her tiny hand. "The one you make when you think I’m not looking."

I caught her hand. Pressed it against my face.

"I’m okay, sweetheart. Just tired."

"Is it because of work?"

"Something like that."

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