Piss Off, Alpha! You Lost Me Forever-Chapter 109 Do Not Be Stubborn

SOPHIA’S POV

I stood at the checkout counter staring at the pile of clothes I’d carefully selected for Ashley.

I kept doing mental math to make sure I had enough to cover everything plus groceries for the week.

"Ma’am?" The saleswoman was waiting patiently. "Are you ready?"

"Actually-" I started to say I needed to put some things back, when a familiar voice cut through my thoughts.

"Sophia? What’s going on?"

I turned to find Samantha walking back into the store. She must have been looking for me.

"Nothing," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just finishing up some shopping."

But Samantha’s eyes had already caught the way I was tensed.

"What happened?" she asked, moving closer. "You look upset."

The saleswoman cleared her throat "The first card was declined”

Samantha’s eyes went wide. "The card Damien gave you?"

I nodded. I felt the humiliation burning through me again.

"That bastard," Samantha said, loud enough that several other shoppers turned to look. "He puts spending limits on your card while he’s out there buying flowers and booking spa appointments for his mistress? While his own daughter needs clothes?"

"Sam, please-" I tried to quiet her, but she was on a roll.

"No! This is ridiculous, Sophia! He’s your husband! You have every right to that money, more right than that homewrecker”

My wolf was whimpering. She felt embarrassed and hurt. Other customers were staring now. I just wanted to pay and leave.

"It’s fine," I said quietly

"It shouldn’t have to be fine! He-” 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Is there a problem here?" a voice asked.

The deep, familiar voice made my heart sink. I turned and there was Zade. He looked like he’d come out of thin air. He was dressed casually in dark jeans and a leather jacket, but he still carried that aura of wealth and power.

I was surprised to see him.

"Zade," I said weakly. "What are you doing here?"

His eyes took in the scene - me with my debit card, Samantha looking furious, the pile of children’s clothes on the counter.

"Shopping, apparently. Same as you." He walked closer. His wolf’s presence made the air feel charged. "Though it looks like you’re having some difficulties."

"I’m fine," I said quickly.

Samantha snorted. "Her husband put a spending limit on her credit card. She can’t even buy clothes for her daughter without-"

"Sam!" I shot her a warning look.

But the damage was done. Zade’s eyes had gone cold.

"He did what?" His voice was quiet, which somehow made it more intimidating.

"I’m handling it." I said.

Zade pulled out his wallet and brought out a sleek black card. He held it out to the saleswoman.

"Pack everything she selected," he said. "And add another thousand in gift cards to the total."

My eyes went wide with shock.

"No!" I stepped between him and the counter. "Absolutely not. I don’t need your help."

"Consider it a gift for Ashley," Zade said, looking at me

"I said no." I turned to the saleswoman. "Please don’t take his card."

The poor woman looked between us, clearly uncomfortable with being in the middle of this.

"Sophia, don’t be stubborn," Zade said. "Let me help."

"I don’t want your help!" My voice came out louder than I intended. Several shoppers had stopped to watch us now. "I can take care of my own daughter."

I knew he was trying to help but taking money from Zade felt wrong.

Zade glared at me “Sophia-”

"This is none of your business,"

"You made it my business when you came to me for help with Lance," Zade countered. "When you let me buy you that bracelet at the auction. When you-"

"I returned everything you gave me!" I grabbed Samantha’s hand. "Come on, Sam. We’re leaving."

I pulled her toward the exit, leaving the pile of clothes on the counter.

"Sophia, wait-" Zade called after me.

But I didn’t stop. I just kept walking, pulling Samantha with me. My vision blurred with tears I refused to let fall.

We made it to the parking lot before Samantha pulled her hand free and stopped me.

"Okay, what the hell was that?" she demanded.

"What was what?"

"That man just offered to buy your daughter clothes and you ran away like he’d insulted you."

"He was trying to control me," I said, though even as the words left my mouth, I knew they weren’t quite true. "He was trying to - I don’t know.”

"Or he was trying to help." Samantha crossed her arms. "Sophia, I don’t know who that man is, but he clearly cares about you”

"His name is Zade Morrison. He’s Damien’s business rival. And he’s been... persistent."

"Persistent how?"

"with gifts, offers to help, showing up at random times." I rubbed my temples. "He says he’s interested in me, but I’m married. And even if I wasn’t. He’s an Alpha and I’m just-"

"Just what? A brilliant doctor? A devoted mother? A woman who deserves better than what she’s getting?"

I looked at my friend, at the loyalty in her eyes, and felt something crack in my chest.

"I’m a mess, Sam. My marriage is falling apart. My daughter hates me. I can barely afford to buy her clothes. What could someone like Zade possibly want with someone like me?"

"Maybe he sees what I see," Samantha said gently. "A strong woman who’s been beaten down but isn’t broken, someone worth fighting for."

"I don’t want to be fought for. I just want..." I trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence.

"What do you want, Sophia?"

What did I want?

"I want to finish my degree," I said finally. "I want to become the doctor I was supposed to be before I got pregnant and married and lost myself in trying to be what everyone else needed. I want to focus on my postgraduate entrance exams and build a career that’s mine. I want to be someone my daughter can be proud of”

Samantha nodded "Then do that”

"That’s what I’m trying to do," I said. "But everyone keeps getting in the way. Damien wants me to quit work and stay home. Zade wants to solve all my problems with money. Ashley wants Tiffany instead of me. And I just want to be left alone to figure out who I am without all of them."

Samantha took my hand again, gentler this time. "Set boundaries. You have that right, Sophia. You’ve always had that right."

"I know." I squeezed her hand back. "I’m just starting to actually believe it."

We stood there in the parking lot and for the first time in months, I felt like maybe I could do this. Maybe I could stand on my own. Maybe I could choose myself for once.

"What about Ashley’s clothes?" Samantha asked after a moment.

I sighed. "I’ll go back in and buy what I can afford. Maybe three or four outfits instead of ten. She doesn’t need a whole new wardrobe anyway."

"And if Zade’s still in there?"

"Then I’ll politely but firmly tell him to leave me alone." I managed a weak smile.

Samantha hugged me tight. "I’m proud of you. Everything is going to be okay."

"I hope you’re right," I said into her shoulder.

"I’m always right. It’s my most annoying quality." She teased.

I laughed.

We walked back into the mall together, and I felt lighter somehow. Not happy. I was too exhausted and heartbroken for happy.

But lighter, like I’d finally started letting go of weights I’d been carrying for too long.