Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Aria’s POV

The bar was loud.

Music pulsed through the speakers. Bodies moved on the dance floor. Laughter and conversation swirled around us in waves.

I pressed closer to Elara’s side. My fingers tugged at the hem of my altered dress. Too short. Definitely too short. What had I been thinking?

"Stop fidgeting," Elara hissed in my ear. "You look incredible. Own it."

Easy for her to say. She was born confident. I was born apologizing for taking up space.

We pushed through the crowd. Elara’s hand gripped mine, guiding me toward the bar. The lights flashed blue, then purple, then gold. The air smelled like expensive cologne and spilled champagne.

And then I realized where we were.

My feet stopped moving.

I knew this place.

The crystal chandeliers. The marble floors. The VIP section elevated above the main floor like a throne room.

This was where Kael had brought me. The night of the mating ceremony. The night everything changed.

"Aria?" Elara tugged my hand. "You okay?"

No. I was not okay.

Memories crashed over me like waves. His hand on my back. His voice in my ear. The way he’d looked at me like I was something precious.

Before he’d proven I was nothing at all.

"I’m fine," I lied. My voice sounded strange. Distant. "Just... remembered something."

Elara’s eyes softened. She probably knew. She was too smart not to know.

"Hey." She squeezed my fingers. "Tonight is about moving forward, remember?"

"Right." I forced a smile. "Moving forward."

We made it to the bar. Elara ordered something colorful and strong. I just asked for water. My stomach was too knotted for alcohol.

The bartender slid our drinks across the counter. Elara immediately took a long sip of hers.

"Okay." She set down her glass. Turned to face me with determined eyes. "Here’s the plan. We’re going to have fun. We’re going to dance. And you’re going to remember that you’re a total knockout who deserves way better than any man who’s ever made you cry."

I opened my mouth to argue.

"Don’t." She held up a finger. "No self-deprecating comments. No ’I’m not that pretty’ bullshit. Tonight, you’re a goddess. Accept it."

A surprised laugh escaped me. "You’re ridiculous."

"I’m right." She grinned. "There’s a difference."

I took a sip of water. Let my eyes wander across the crowd.

Couples dancing. Groups laughing. Everyone seemed so carefree. So unburdened by the weight of their lives.

Must be nice.

My gaze drifted toward the VIP section without my permission.

Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t—

Empty. The elevated platform was mostly empty. Just a few strangers in expensive suits.

Relief flooded through me. Followed immediately by disappointment.

What was wrong with me? I should be happy he wasn’t here. Should be grateful I wouldn’t have to see his face.

But some stupid part of me—the part that refused to learn—had hoped...

No. Stop it.

I turned back to Elara. Focused on her animated description of some drama at her apartment building. Let her words wash over me like white noise.

The minutes ticked by. My water got warmer. The music got louder.

And gradually, slowly, I started to relax.

Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe I could actually have fun for once. Maybe—

"Excuse me?"

A male voice. Close. Directed at me.

I turned.

A man stood beside me. Tall. Dark hair. Friendly smile. He looked about my age. Nice clothes. Nice face. Nice everything.

"Hi." He leaned against the bar. His body angled toward mine. "I’m sorry to bother you. But I’ve been watching you for the past ten minutes, and I had to come say something."

My cheeks flushed. "Say what?"

"That you’re the most beautiful woman in this entire bar." His smile widened. "And I’d really like to buy you a drink. If that’s okay."

I stared at him. Completely frozen.

Someone was hitting on me. An attractive stranger was actually hitting on me. This didn’t happen. This never happened.

"I..." The words stuck in my throat. "I already have a drink."

"So, Aria." His voice was low. Warm against my ear. "What’s a woman like you doing alone in a bar like this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean—" he spun me gently "—you’re gorgeous. You should have men lining up around the block."

I laughed. The sound came out more bitter than intended.

"Trust me. That’s not really my experience."

"Then the men you know are idiots."

Something flickered in my chest. Not attraction, exactly. But warmth. Appreciation for someone who was being nice to me. Someone who didn’t know my history. My baggage. My failures.

To Marcus, I was just a pretty woman at a bar. Not Shadow Moon trash. Not an Omega embarrassment. Just... Aria.

It felt good.

His hand tightened slightly on my waist.

Too tight?

No. Just... there. Present. Possessive in a way that made me slightly uncomfortable.

I shifted. Tried to create some space between us.

Marcus didn’t seem to notice. He kept talking. Leaning closer.

"You have really beautiful eyes," he murmured. "Has anyone ever told you that?"

Yes. Once. Someone else had told me that.

Someone whose black-gold eyes I couldn’t seem to forget no matter how hard I tried.

Stop thinking about him.

"Thank you," I said. The words came out stiff.

"I mean it." Marcus’s thumb traced a small circle against my hip. Through the thin fabric of my dress. "You’re stunning. Like, actually stunning. I can’t believe you were just standing there alone."

The praise felt too thick. Too much. I didn’t know how to respond to it.

We turned with the music. The dance floor spun around us.

And then I saw him.

My heart stopped.

Kael.