Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Kael’s POV

I finally looked up from my phone.

My expression was probably the definition of bored. Like I’d been scrolling through nothing. Like the whole scene that just unfolded hadn’t registered at all.

But it had.

Every single second of it.

The crack of Rebecca’s palm against Aria’s cheek. The way Aria’s head snapped to the side. The tears streaming down her face. The way she’d looked at me with those silver eyes—searching for something. Anything.

And I’d given her nothing.

Because that’s who I was. That’s who I had to be.

"What was the point of that?" I asked. My voice came out flat. Emotionless. Dead.

Rebecca whipped around to face me. Her mouth fell open in genuine shock.

"What?"

I gestured lazily toward the direction Aria had fled. Toward the back door she’d disappeared through. Toward the broken girl I’d just watched shatter into a thousand pieces.

"That," I said. "Why did you have to humiliate her like that?"

Rebecca stared at me like I’d grown a second head.

"She needed to know her place," she snapped. Her arms crossed over her chest. Defensive. "That little Omega thought she could play in our world? She needed a reality check."

"Know her place?" I raised an eyebrow. "We’re the ones who screwed her over, Rebecca."

The words hung in the air between us.

Rebecca’s perfectly sculpted face twisted with confusion. Then disbelief. Then something that looked dangerously close to suspicion.

"When did you start caring about people like her?"

People like her.

Shadow Moon trash.

Omega garbage.

All the labels I’d thrown at Aria since the moment I met her. All the walls I’d built to keep her out. All the lies I’d told myself to pretend she didn’t matter.

"I don’t care," I said. My voice remained completely cold. "It’s just pointless. That’s all."

Rebecca tilted her head. Studied me with those calculating green eyes. I could practically see the gears turning in her head.

"Pointless?" She let out a sharp laugh. "I thought it was quite satisfying, actually. Did you see her face? The look in her eyes when I—"

"I saw it."

The words came out harder than I intended.

Rebecca paused. Her smile faltered for just a second.

"You saw it," she repeated slowly. "And?"

"And nothing." I shrugged. Forced myself to look bored. Disinterested. Like we were discussing the weather instead of a woman whose heart I’d personally ripped out of her chest.

"I just think the whole thing was meaningless. She got the message this morning. Tonight was overkill."

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed. "The message?"

"That it was a game. That she meant nothing." I met her gaze steadily. "She understood. Making her come to our table, forcing her to sit there while you gloated—that was unnecessary."

"Unnecessary?" Rebecca’s voice rose. Her composure cracked around the edges. "She looked at you, Kael. Did you see that? She looked at you like you were supposed to save her. Like you actually meant something to her."

My jaw tightened.

Yeah. I’d seen it.

That look in Aria’s eyes. That desperate, pathetic hope. Like maybe I’d stand up. Like maybe I’d defend her. Like maybe—just maybe—some part of what we’d shared had been real.

And I’d crushed it.

Deliberately.

Completely.

"So what?" I said. "She’s delusional. That’s not my problem."

Rebecca leaned back in her seat. Her arms were still crossed. Her expression was still suspicious. But something else flickered there too.

Insecurity.

"I’m the only one celebrating tonight," she said. Her voice had an edge to it. Sharp. Accusing. "You’ve been boring all evening."

I said nothing.

"Seriously, Kael." She gestured around the VIP section. At the expensive champagne. At the empty seat across from us where Aria had been forced to sit. "This was supposed to be fun. We won. The game is over. Why aren’t you happy?"

Happy.

What a stupid word.

"I’m fine," I said flatly.

"You don’t look fine." Rebecca’s pout deepened. "You look like someone just ran over your dog. Which is ridiculous, because nothing happened. We did exactly what we planned."

I exhaled slowly. Let the air leave my lungs in a controlled stream.

A week ago, I would have taken her up on it. Hell, a day ago I probably would have.

But now?

The thought of touching Rebecca made my skin crawl.

"Not tonight."

Rebecca pulled back like I’d slapped her. Hurt flashed across her face before she masked it with anger.

"Not tonight?" she repeated. Her voice dripped with disbelief. "We haven’t been together in weeks, Kael. Weeks. And you’re telling me ’not tonight’?"

"That’s what I said."

"Because you’re too busy moping over some Shadow Moon trash?"

The words hit like a punch.

I forced myself not to react. Not to flinch. Not to show any sign that her accusation had struck a nerve.

"I’m not moping over anyone."

"Then what is this?" Rebecca threw her hands in the air. "You’ve been distant all evening. You barely looked at me during dinner. You didn’t even smile when I put that Omega in her place. What’s going on, Kael?"

I stared at her.

At this woman I’d known my entire life. This woman everyone expected me to mate. This woman who was beautiful and powerful and everything an Alpha heir should want.

And I felt nothing.

Less than nothing.

"See you tomorrow, Rebecca."

"Tomorrow?" Her voice cracked. "That’s it? You’re just leaving?"

"That’s it."

I turned away. Started walking again.

"Kael!"

Her voice followed me. Desperate now. Almost pleading.

I pulled out my keys. Found my car. Got behind the wheel.

My hands gripped the steering wheel. Tight. Knuckles white.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

Fenrir was restless in my mind.