Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Chapter 84

Aria’s POV

Three years later.

"Yes, I have the quarterly report ready. I’ll send it over before the meeting."

I wedged my phone between my ear and shoulder, simultaneously stuffing Lina’s lunchbox into her tiny unicorn backpack. The zipper stuck. It always stuck. I yanked it with practiced efficiency while nodding along to whatever my colleague was saying.

"Uh-huh. Yes. The Morrison account? Already handled."

Lina tugged at my skirt. "Mommy, I can’t find my shoes."

I pointed toward the hallway without looking. "By the door, baby. The pink ones."

"I want the purple ones!"

"The purple ones are in the wash. Pink today."

"But—"

"Lina." I gave her The Look. The one that said ’mommy is on the phone and you have three seconds to cooperate.’

She pouted. But she went to get the pink shoes.

Victory.

"Sorry about that," I said into the phone. "What was the timeline again? Friday? That’s tight, but I can make it work. I’ll have the presentation drafted by Thursday for review."

My daughter reappeared, shoes on the wrong feet. I sighed internally. Externally, I just crouched down and fixed them while wrapping up the call.

"Perfect. See you at ten."

I hung up. Checked the time. 7:45. We were actually on schedule for once.

"Okay, monster." I zipped up her jacket. "Ready for school?"

Lina grinned up at me. Those black-gold eyes sparkled with mischief. Her dark hair was pulled into two slightly uneven pigtails—my handiwork, not perfect but passable.

She was beautiful. My beautiful girl.

Every time I looked at her, my heart did something complicated. A twist of love so fierce it almost hurt. Mixed with other things. Memories. Shadows.

But mostly love.

"Can we get donuts?" she asked hopefully.

"We had donuts yesterday."

"So?"

"So you’re going to turn into a donut if we keep this up."

"I WANT to be a donut!"

I laughed. Couldn’t help it. "Come on, little donut. Let’s go."

The drive to Lina’s preschool took fifteen minutes. She chattered the entire way. About her best friend Mia. About the painting she was going to make today. About how her teacher said she was really good at counting.

I listened to every word. Responded to every question. Made the appropriate sounds of amazement and approval.

This was my life now.

Carpools and lunchboxes. Conference calls and quarterly reports. Bedtime stories and morning chaos.

Normal.

So beautifully, wonderfully normal.

I pulled up to Sunshine Academy—one of the best preschools in the district. Mrs. Morrison had recommended it. Had pulled some strings to get Luna enrolled.

One of a thousand kindnesses that woman had shown me.

"Okay, baby." I unbuckled Lina and helped her out. "Be good today. Listen to your teachers. Be nice to your friends."

"I’m ALWAYS nice."

"Mm-hmm." I kissed her forehead. "I’ll pick you up at three, okay?"

"Okay, Mommy!" She threw her arms around my neck. Squeezed tight. "Love you to the moon!"

"Love you to the moon and back." I squeezed her right back. Breathed in her scent—baby shampoo and sugar cookies.

No moonflowers anymore. That part of me was gone.

Lina ran toward her classroom, backpack bouncing. She turned at the door to wave. I waved back. Watched until she disappeared inside.

Then I got back in my car, checked my reflection in the mirror, and transformed into Professional Aria.

Navy blazer. White blouse. Hair twisted into a sleek bun. Small gold earrings—a gift from Sophie for my last birthday.

I looked like someone who had her life together.

Funny how that worked.

I loved it. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

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