Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Aria’s POV

I froze completely.

My eyes went wide as the guard’s words echoed around us. "What?" I barely managed to get out. My voice was hardly more than a breath.

The guard’s face remained blank. Professional. "You heard me—you can go. Head to that counter to collect your belongings. I’ll go release your family."

My knees turned to water as I stumbled toward the counter. I was in complete shock. What just happened?

Kael actually came through for me?

I wanted to collapse. I wanted to cry until there was nothing left. As I collected my phone and other belongings, a warmth spread through my chest that I couldn’t suppress.

My hands trembled as I signed the release form. The pen slipped twice. The officer behind the counter gave me a strange look. Word travels fast, apparently.

I clutched my phone to my chest. Stared at the cracked screen like it was a lifeline. Because it was. It literally was.

One phone call. Three minutes. And Kael Blood Crown had just erased a thirty-thousand-dollar problem like it was pocket change.

The sound of footsteps made me turn. My mother and sisters emerged from the corridor, escorted by guards. They looked around like they couldn’t believe this was real. Their eyes found mine.

"Are you sure about this?" I heard my mother ask the guard. Her tone was pure confusion.

"Orders from above." The guard shrugged. "All four of you. Free to go."

Serena’s mouth hung open. For once, she had nothing to say.

Lyra recovered first. "How is this possible...?" She stared at me. "Her? She did this?"

My mother’s gaze locked onto me. Filled with pure bewilderment and something else. Curiosity, maybe. Or suspicion. With her, it was always hard to tell.

"How did you...?" She started, then the words just... disappeared.

I stayed silent. Just collected my things and walked toward the exit.

My family followed. Their faces showed nothing but shock and confusion. No gratitude. No relief. Just that familiar look of trying to figure out what angle I was playing.

The night air hit my face the moment we stepped outside. Cool. Clean. Free.

I breathed deep. Let it fill my lungs. Let it wash away the smell of that cell—the rust and despair and hopelessness.

Serena whirled to face me immediately. "What the hell, Aria?"

I didn’t answer.

"Seriously!" She grabbed my arm. Spun me around. "Who did you call? What did you do? Since when do you have connections that can get us out of jail?"

"Does it matter?" My voice came out flat. Tired.

"Of course it matters!" Lyra pushed forward. Her eyes were wild. Calculating. "Who do you know? How much did it cost? Do they want something in return?"

"Nothing." I pulled my arm free from Serena’s grip. "It cost you nothing."

"That’s not possible." My mother’s voice was sharp. "Nobody pays that kind of money for nothing. What did you promise them, Aria? What did you sell?"

The accusation hit like a slap.

Of course. Of course that’s where her mind went. Because in her experience, a woman’s only currency was her body. Her only value was what she could trade for survival.

"I didn’t sell anything."

"Then how—"

"It doesn’t matter." I cut her off. My patience was gone. Evaporated. "You’re free. That’s all you need to know."

Serena let out a harsh laugh. "Oh, so now you’re keeping secrets? After everything we just went through because of you?" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

I stopped. Breathed. Forced the rage back down.

They wouldn’t understand. They never understood.

"Whatever." Lyra rolled her eyes dramatically. "I’m going home. This has been the worst night of my life, and I need a shower."

"The house is probably trashed," Serena muttered. "Those guards tore everything apart."

"Even better." Lyra’s voice dripped with sarcasm. "Thanks so much, Aria. Really. Your marriage has been such a gift to this family."

They started walking. Didn’t look back. Didn’t say goodbye.

My mother lingered for a moment. Studied my face with those cold, calculating eyes.

And then she was gone too. Following my sisters into the night. Leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk outside a detention center.

Family.

What a joke.

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