Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Chapter 172

Aria’s POV

I stood frozen in the doorway.

Lilith was clinging to me. Sobbing. Her whole body shaking like a leaf in a storm.

And I couldn’t move.

Couldn’t think.

Couldn’t breathe.

My mind was racing through a thousand questions all at once.

How did she find me?

Why was she here?

Where was Finn? Where was Celestia?

Why was she alone in the middle of the night?

"Lilith." My voice came out strangled. Barely audible. "Lilith, I need you to calm down for a second. I need you to tell me what’s happening."

She just sobbed harder. Her fingers digging into my shirt like I might disappear if she let go.

I looked around the hallway. Scanned the shadows. Checked every corner.

Empty.

No one else was here. No Finn lurking nearby. No Celestia waiting to ambush me. No bodyguards or drivers or anyone else who should have been accompanying a child.

My heart clenched despite everything.

"Are you by yourself?" The question came out sharper than I intended. "Did someone bring you here? Where’s your father?"

"J-just me." Her voice was muffled against my stomach. "Only m-me."

Only her.

"Lilith, look at me." I gripped her shoulders. Gently but firmly. "How did you find this place? How did you know where I live?"

She pulled back slightly. Her face was blotchy and red. Tears streaming down her cheeks. Her nose running. She looked absolutely miserable.

"I h-heard them talking." She hiccupped. Tried to wipe her face with her wet sleeve. "Daddy and C-Celestia. They were f-fighting again. And Daddy said your address. So I... I remembered it. And I c-came."

"What do you mean ’again’?" I asked carefully. "How often do they fight?"

"All the time!" The words burst from her. Fresh tears spilling over. "Every day! Sometimes twice a day! They yell so loud! And throw things! And... and..."

She dissolved into sobs again.

I pulled her inside. Shut the door. Locked it.

My hands were shaking.

"Lilith." I crouched down to her level. Made her look at me. "Why did you come here? What happened?"

"They h-hate me!" She wailed. "Daddy and Celestia! They hate me! They only l-love the baby! They give him everything! And I get nothing! Not even f-food sometimes!"

My blood turned cold.

"What?"

"They say I’m expensive!" Her voice pitched higher. Hysterical now. "They say they d-don’t have money for me anymore! That I eat too much! That I’m t-too much trouble!"

She was shaking so hard her teeth were chattering.

"And when they fight... when they get really m-mad... they..." She trailed off. Her eyes dropping to the floor.

Dread settled in my stomach like lead.

"They what, Lilith?"

She didn’t answer. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

My eyes burned.

"They lied." She continued. Voice breaking. "They lied about everything! And now they don’t w-want me anymore! "

I held her. Let her cry. Let her get it all out.

"It’s okay." I whispered into her hair. "You’re safe now. I’ve got you."

"D-don’t send me back!" She pulled away. Grabbed my face with both hands. "Please, Mommy! Please! I’ll be good! I promise! I’ll do whatever you want! Just don’t make me go back there!"

I stood. Scooped her up. She was heavier than I remembered. Taller. Growing up.

"Let’s get you cleaned up." I carried her toward the bathroom. "You’re freezing. We need to get you warm and dry."

"Okay." She sniffled against my shoulder.

I set her down in the bathroom. Started running warm water in the tub.

"Take off those wet clothes." I grabbed a towel. "Get in the bath. Warm up. I’ll find you something dry to wear."

She nodded. Started peeling off her soaked shirt.

I turned to leave. Give her privacy.

A small sound made me look up.

Lina stood at the end of the hallway.

Wearing her unicorn pajamas. Clutching her favorite stuffed animal. Her dark hair messy from sleep.

Those black-gold eyes—so much like her father’s—were wide. Confused.

She walked toward me slowly. Stopped right in front of me.

Her small hand reached out. Tugged gently at my sleeve.

"Mommy?" Her voice was tiny. Uncertain. "Who’s the girl over there?"