Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173: Chapter 173

Aria’s POV

My hands were still shaking slightly. From the shock. From the rage simmering just beneath my skin. From the sight of those bruises on Lilith’s arm.

I forced myself to breathe. To focus on what needed to be done right now.

Lilith first. Everything else could wait.

I grabbed the first aid kit from under the sink. Found clean clothes in Lina’s drawer—a soft pink t-shirt and cotton pants that would be too small for Lilith but better than nothing.

When I returned to the bathroom, Lilith was sitting in the tub. The water had turned slightly gray from the dirt on her skin. Her hair hung in wet tangles around her face.

She looked so small.

So fragile.

Nothing like the spoiled, bratty child I remembered.

"Come on." I held up a towel. "Let’s get you dried off."

She stood slowly. Stepped out of the tub. Let me wrap the towel around her without protest.

So different from before. When she would have screamed if I tried to touch her. Would have called for Celestia instead.

I dried her off gently. Careful around the bruises. There were more than I’d initially seen. Dark marks on her upper arms. A yellowish one on her shoulder. A fresh red mark on her ribs.

My jaw clenched.

"Here." I handed her the clean clothes. "Put these on. They might be a little small but—"

"They’re perfect." Lilith’s voice was small. Grateful. "Thank you, Mommy."

The word still felt strange. Foreign. Like it belonged to someone else.

But I pushed that feeling down. Buried it deep.

She needed me right now. That was all that mattered.

Lina appeared in the doorway. Still clutching her unicorn. Her dark hair messy from being woken up. Those black-gold eyes—Kael’s eyes—watching everything with quiet curiosity.

"Is she okay?" Lina whispered.

"She will be." I smoothed Lilith’s damp hair. "Come on. Let’s go to the living room. I need to put medicine on those bruises."

We settled on the couch. Lilith in the middle. Me on one side with the first aid kit. Lina on the other side, watching with wide eyes.

I opened the kit. Found the arnica cream. The stuff that helped with bruising.

"This might be cold." I warned Lilith. "But it’ll help."

She nodded. Held out her arm.

I applied the cream gently. Carefully. My hands steady even though my insides were churning with rage.

Lina leaned closer. Peered at the bruises with concern.

"Does it hurt?" Her voice was soft. Kind.

Lilith looked at her. Really looked at her for the first time.

I could see her taking in the details. The dark hair. The delicate features. The similarity in their ages—though Lilith was older.

Something flickered across Lilith’s face. Confusion. Hurt. Something else I couldn’t quite name.

"Mommy."

The word made me freeze.

"Yes?"

Lilith’s voice was small. Fragile. "Is this... is this also your child?"

My throat tightened.

I kept my eyes on her arm. On the careful application of cream. Didn’t look up.

"Yes." The word came out steady. Calm. "Lina is also my daughter."

Silence.

Heavy. Suffocating.

Then: "Is that why you left?"

The question hit like a physical blow.

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