Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Aria’s POV

"Someone like you."

The words echoed in my skull long after Kael’s car disappeared around the corner.

Someone like you.

I stood alone in the empty parking lot. The envelope felt heavy in my hands. Heavier than it should be. Like it was filled with stones instead of cash.

He’d paid me, again.

Like I was a service he’d used.

Like I was nothing but a transaction.

My fingers trembled. My vision blurred. The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over, hot and bitter against my cold cheeks.

I wanted to throw the money away. Rip it up. Burn it. Anything to erase the humiliation burning through my veins.

But I couldn’t.

Finn’s text flashed through my mind. Two hundred thousand dollars. Prison. Child support.

I couldn’t afford pride right now. Pride was a luxury for people who had options.

I had nothing.

So I stood there. Crying in an empty parking lot. Clutching blood money against my chest like it was the only thing keeping me upright.

Because it was.

---

The walk home took forever.

I didn’t remember most of it. Just the cold. The dark. The weight in my chest that made every breath feel like drowning.

My feet moved on autopilot. Left. Right. Left. Right. Don’t think. Don’t feel. Just move.

When I finally reached my building, I couldn’t even find my keys. My hands were shaking too badly. I dropped them twice. Had to lean against the wall just to stay standing.

"Aria?"

I jumped. Spun around.

Elara stood a few feet away. Her eyes went wide when she saw my face.

"Oh my god." She rushed toward me. "What happened? Are you okay?"

I opened my mouth. Tried to speak.

A sob came out instead.

Elara caught me before my knees gave out. Wrapped her arms around me. Held me tight while I fell apart on the sidewalk outside my apartment.

"Shh." Her voice was soft. Soothing. "I’ve got you. It’s okay. You’re okay."

But I wasn’t okay. I was the furthest thing from okay.

She helped me up the stairs. Into my apartment. Onto my bed. She found tissues. Brought water. Sat beside me while I cried until I had nothing left.

"This isn’t your fault," she said firmly. "You hear me? None of this is your fault."

I shook my head. "I was so stupid. I actually believed—"

Fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.

"Stop it." Elara grabbed my shoulders. Forced me to look at her. "Stop talking about yourself like that. "

"Then why do I feel so broken?"

Elara’s face softened. She pulled me into another hug.

We sat like that for a long time. Until my tears dried up. Until my breathing evened out. Until the raw edges of my pain dulled into something almost manageable.

Finally, Elara pulled back. She looked at me with determined eyes.

"You know what you need?"

I shook my head.

"To get out. Have some fun. Drink until you forget everything."

The suggestion made me want to crawl under my blankets and never emerge.

"I can’t." My voice came out flat. Dead. "I just want to sleep."

"Aria—"

"Please." I looked away. "Not tonight. I can’t."

Elara’s face fell. But she didn’t push. Didn’t argue.

"Okay," she said softly. "I get it. But promise me something?"

I waited.

"Don’t shut everyone out." She squeezed my hand. "I know you want to. I know it feels easier. But isolation isn’t healing. It’s just... hiding."

I didn’t respond. Couldn’t.

Elara stood up. Grabbed her bag. Paused at the door.

"Call me," she said. "Anytime. Day or night. If you need to talk. If you need to cry. If you just need someone to sit with you in silence. I’m here, okay? I’m not going anywhere."

I nodded. Still couldn’t speak.

She hesitated. Like she wanted to say more. Then she sighed softly and walked out.

The door clicked shut behind her.

And I was alone.

---

Days blurred together.

I stopped counting them after a while. What was the point?

I called in sick to work. Twice. Then three times. My manager’s voice grew more irritated with each call, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

Let them fire me. Let everything fall apart. What difference did it make?

I stayed in bed. Stared at the ceiling. Slept when my body forced me to. Forgot to eat until my stomach cramped so badly I couldn’t ignore it.

The envelope of money sat on my nightstand. Untouched. I couldn’t stand to look at it, but I couldn’t throw it away either.

Pathetic.

That’s what I was. Pathetic.

My phone buzzed occasionally. Elara checking in. I read her messages. Never responded. Couldn’t find the words.

"Hope you’re okay."

"Thinking about you."

"No pressure to reply. Just wanted you to know I’m here."

Each text made my chest ache. She was so patient. So kind. And I was shutting her out exactly like she’d asked me not to.

But I didn’t know how to do anything else.

On the fifth day, I woke up and something was different.

The sun was streaming through my window. Dust motes floated in the golden light. Birds were singing outside. The world was moving on without me.

And suddenly, I was angry.

Not at Kael. Not at Finn. Not at anyone else.

But buried in the back, I found it.

That dress.

The black one I’d worn to the mating ceremony. Before Kael bought me the navy silk. Before everything went to hell.

It was faded. Worn. The hem was crooked and the neckline sat wrong.

But as I held it up, an idea sparked.

I used to alter clothes all the time. Back when I couldn’t afford anything new. I’d learned to take in seams. Adjust hemlines. Transform thrift store disasters into something almost presentable.

Could I do that now?

I grabbed my sewing kit. The one I hadn’t touched in months.

And I got to work.

---

Two and a half hours later, I stepped back and looked at my reflection.

The dress was transformed.

I’d taken in the waist so it actually fit my body. Raised the hem to show off my legs. Adjusted the neckline into something more flattering. It wasn’t designer. It wasn’t expensive. But it hugged my curves in all the right places.

I looked... good?

No. Better than good.

I looked like someone who hadn’t been crying herself to sleep for a week.

My hair was down for once. Clean and brushed until it gleamed. I’d applied makeup—not much, just enough to hide the evidence of my breakdown. Some lipstick. Some mascara. A hint of blush.

The woman in the mirror didn’t look like Aria the Shadow Moon. Didn’t look like Aria the Omega trash.

She looked like someone who might actually be worth something.

A knock at the door made me jump.

"Coming!" I grabbed my bag. Took one last look in the mirror. Took a deep breath.

Here we go.

I opened the door.

Elara stood on the other side. Her mouth was already open, probably ready to launch into some enthusiastic greeting.

The words died in her throat.

Her jaw dropped.

Her eyes went wide.

She just... stared.

"Aria?" Her voice came out strangled. Disbelieving. "Holy shit. Is that actually you?"

Heat crept up my cheeks. "Is it too much? I can change—"

"Too much?" Elara grabbed my shoulders. Spun me around. Examined me from every angle like I was a museum exhibit. "Girl, are you insane? You look absolutely stunning!"

"I just altered an old dress—"

"You altered—" She cut herself off. Shook her head in amazement. "You did THIS yourself? In one night?"

I nodded. Suddenly feeling shy.

"Aria." Elara’s voice dropped. Serious now. "I’m going to need you to understand something very clearly."

I waited.

"Every single person at that bar is going to lose their damn minds when they see you." She grinned. Wide and delighted. "And I cannot WAIT to watch it happen."