Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Aria’s POV

Twenty-five thousand dollars.

The number wouldn’t leave my head.

My feet carried me home on autopilot. The bus swayed. People pushed past me. I didn’t notice any of it.

All I could see were those black-gold eyes. That arrogant smirk. That voice saying *How much do you cost?*

My cheeks burned. From anger. From shame. From something else I didn’t want to name.

I’d said no. I’d walked away. But he’d called after me.

"Think about it, little Omega. The offer stands."

Little Omega. Like I was a child. A possession. Something to be bought.

My phone felt heavy in my pocket. I pulled it out. Stared at the dark screen.

No messages from Finn. Of course not.

I opened Instagram. I don’t know why. Maybe I was torturing myself. Maybe I just needed to confirm what I already knew.

The first post made my stomach drop.

There he was. My husband. Down on one knee. Not proposing. Just... adjusting Celestia’s coat. Her golden hair caught the light. Her smile was radiant. Perfect.

The caption read: *"Having you by my side is the best medicine."*

Posted two hours ago. Seventy-three likes already. Some comments: *"You two are SO cute together!"*

I locked my phone. Shoved it back in my pocket.

The house was dark when I got home. Quiet. I used my key. Closed the door softly behind me.

"Mommy!"

The voice came from upstairs. High. Excited.

My heart clenched. I dropped my bag. Took the stairs two at a time.

Lilith’s door was cracked open. Light spilled into the hallway.

I pushed it wide.

There she was. My baby girl. My whole world. Sitting on her bed in pink pajamas. Her black hair was messy. Her silver eyes—my eyes—lit up when she saw me.

"Mommy!" She held out her arms.

I rushed forward. Scooped her up. Held her tight. Buried my face in her hair.

She smelled like baby shampoo and innocence and everything good in this terrible world.

I kissed her forehead. Her cheeks. Her little nose.

"I missed you, baby. I missed you so much."

Lilith squirmed. Pushed at my shoulders.

Then she wiped her face. Hard. Like I’d gotten something dirty on her.

"Mommy, you smell weird."

I froze. "What?"

"You smell funny." She wrinkled her nose. Leaned away from me. "Not like Celestia. Celestia smells like flowers and candy."

The words hit like a punch.

"Baby, that’s just perfume. I smell like—"

"I don’t like it." Lilith crossed her arms. "Why can’t you smell pretty like Celestia?"

My throat closed. I set her down on the bed. Tried to smile. "Mommy works hard all day. I don’t have time for fancy perfume."

"Oh." Lilith didn’t look convinced.

I took a breath. This was it. Time to ask.

"Lilith, sweetie. Can Mommy ask you something?"

"Okay."

"Do you... do you want a baby brother or sister?"

Her face lit up. "Yes! I want a brother! A baby brother!"

My hand moved to my stomach. To the life I’d just decided to end.

I thought about the hospital.About the amniotic fluid embolism that had nearly killed me five years ago.

"What if... what if Mommy is scared?"

Lilith tilted her head. Looked at me like I was being silly.

"Don’t be selfish, Mommy."

I blinked. "What?"

"You already had me." She counted on her fingers. "So you can do it again. It’s easy, right? Don’t be selfish."

The room spun. Those words. Those exact words.

"Lilith, who taught you—"

"Daddy said you’re being selfish." My daughter’s voice was matter-of-fact. Innocent. Like she was repeating a grocery list. "You won’t give Daddy a boy baby because you’re selfish. But you should. Because you already did it once."

I couldn’t breathe.

"He said that?"

"Uh-huh." Lilith hopped off the bed. Ran to her toy chest. " Celestia said so, too. Celestia knows everything. She’s so smart and pretty. I wish she was my mommy instead."

The words came out casual. Easy. Like she was talking about the weather.

My five-year-old daughter. The child I’d almost died bringing into this world.

Wished I wasn’t her mother.

"Lilith—"

"I’m calling Celestia now!" She grabbed her tablet from the nightstand. "She promised to tell me a bedtime story!"

"Baby, wait—"

But she was already FaceTiming. The call connected instantly.

"Celestia!" Lilith’s whole face transformed. Pure joy. "I missed you!"

Celestia’s melodic voice floated through the speaker. "Oh, sweetheart! I missed you too! Are you ready for your story?"

"Yes! But first—" Lilith glanced at me. Then back at the screen. "Can you tell Mommy to have a baby brother for me? She’s being selfish again."

Silence.

Then Celestia’s gentle laugh. "Oh, honey. That’s between your mommy and daddy. But I’m sure your mommy will do the right thing. She loves you, doesn’t she?"

"I guess." Lilith shrugged.

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