Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Chapter 166

Aria’s POV

The question hung in the air.

"Are you going to keep living here and be my daddy?"

My face went hot.

Like someone had just set it on fire.

"Lina!" The word burst out. Half laugh. Half mortification. "Baby, you can’t just—"

But Kael was already smiling.

That soft, warm smile that made my heart do stupid things.

He reached out. Ruffled Lina’s hair gently.

"That’s a big question, little monster." His voice was tender. Patient. "And it depends on a lot of things."

Lina’s face scrunched up. "Like what?"

"Like whether your mommy wants me to stay." He glanced at me. Those black-gold eyes twinkling with amusement. "What do you think, Aria? Should I stick around?"

My mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

No sound came out.

Lina didn’t wait for my answer.

"Of COURSE she wants you to stay!" She bounced on the couch. "Mommy likes you! I can TELL!"

"Can you now?" Kael’s lips twitched.

"Yes! She gets all mushy when she looks at you. And she smiles a lot. And yesterday she was humming! HUMMING! She NEVER hums!"

Oh my god.

"Lina—"

"And sometimes," she continued, completely oblivious to my distress, "I hear her talking to herself. Saying your name. Like ’Kael this’ and ’Kael that.’"

Kill me.

"That’s very observant of you." Kael was fighting laughter now. I could tell. "Anything else?"

"Well..." Lina tapped her chin. Thinking hard. "She cried a lot before. When you weren’t here. But now she’s happy! So you have to STAY and keep making her happy!"

She pointed at him. Serious. Determined.

"And you can’t make her cry anymore. That’s the rule. If you make her cry, I’ll hit you with my hammer. The REAL one this time. Not the plastic one."

Despite everything, I laughed.

Couldn’t help it.

Kael looked at her solemnly. "I promise to do my very best not to make your mommy cry."

"Good." Lina nodded. Satisfied. "Then you can be my daddy."

She said it so simply. Like it was the easiest decision in the world.

Kael’s expression softened even more. Something vulnerable flickering across his face.

"I’d be honored." His voice was thick. "If your mommy agrees, of course."

Both of them turned to look at me.

Waiting.

My throat was tight. My eyes were burning.

"I..." I swallowed hard. "Yes. Of course yes."

Lina squealed.

Then launched herself at both of us. Arms spread wide. Trying to hug us both at the same time.

We caught her together. All three of us laughing. Tangled in a messy, chaotic embrace.

This. This was everything.

---

An hour later, we were getting ready to take Lina to school.

She was a whirlwind of energy. Talking nonstop while gathering her backpack. Her lunch box. Her favorite unicorn.

"Can Kael walk me to class?" She asked for the third time. "Please? All the other kids bring their daddies sometimes!"

My throat tightened at the casual way she said "daddy."

Like it was already true. Already real.

"If he wants to." I looked at Kael.

He grinned. "I would love to."

"YES!" Lina pumped her fist in the air.

The walk to school was short. Just a few blocks.

Lina held both our hands. Swinging between us. Chattering about her class and her friends and the art project they were working on.

"—and then we’re going to make butterflies! With paper! And glitter! SO MUCH glitter!"

"That sounds messy." Kael said.

"It’s SUPPOSED to be messy!" She laughed. "That’s the fun part!"

I watched them together. The way Kael listened like everything she said was important. The way Lina looked up at him with complete trust.

This was real.

This was happening.

We reached the school. Other parents were dropping off their kids. Some waved. Some stared.

I ignored them all.

Lina turned. Looked up at us with those serious eyes.

"Be good at school, okay?" I knelt down. Adjusted her backpack straps. "Listen to your teacher. Play nice with the other kids."

"I will, Mommy." She nodded solemnly.

Then she turned to Kael.

"Bye!" She threw her arms around his legs. "See you after school!"

Kael’s expression shifted. Surprise. Then overwhelming emotion.

He crouched down. Hugged her properly.

"Bye, sweetheart." His voice was rough. "Have a great day."

---

The walk to Blood Crown Industries felt different.

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