Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce!-Chapter 174

Aria’s POV

The morning light felt different somehow.

Sharper. Clearer. Like everything had come into focus overnight.

I stood in the kitchen, watching Lilith and Lina eat breakfast together.

Lilith was picking at her cereal. Her movements still hesitant. Unsure. Like she was waiting for someone to yell at her for doing something wrong.

Lina was chattering away. Completely unbothered. Telling Lilith about her favorite teachers and which playground equipment was the best.

"—and then there’s the big slide! It’s SO tall! But I’m not scared anymore because I’m a big girl now—"

"Lina." I set down my coffee mug. "Eat. You’ll be late for school."

"Okay, Mommy!" She shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

Lilith glanced at me. Those eyes—so much like Finn’s—watched me carefully. Waiting for something.

Criticism? Anger? I wasn’t sure.

I gave her a small smile. "You too, sweetheart. Finish up."

She nodded quickly. Took a tiny bite.

My chest tightened.

She was so different from the child I remembered. That bratty, spoiled girl who’d looked at me with disgust. Who’d called me "smelly" in front of everyone.

This Lilith was quiet. Subdued. Almost... broken.

And it was their fault.

Finn’s. Celestia’s.

My hands clenched around my mug.

They would pay. Both of them.

But first, I needed proof.

---

After dropping both girls at school—watching Lina practically drag Lilith toward the classroom while introducing her to every kid they passed—I drove to the address Lilith had given me.

The neighborhood was nothing like I expected.

No mansion. No perfectly manicured lawns. No luxury cars.

Instead, I found myself in a run-down area on the edge of the territory. The kind of place where the paint peeled off buildings. Where trash collected in corners. Where broken streetlights stayed broken for months.

The apartment complex was four stories. Concrete. Gray. Windows with bars on the ground floor.

I parked across the street. Stared at the building.

This was where Finn lived now?

First stop: Lilith’s school.

The building was nothing like the private academy I’d imagined. It was public. Overcrowded. The playground equipment looked twenty years old.

I walked into the administrative office. Put on my most professional smile.

"Hi. I’m Aria Moon. I’m here about my daughter Lilith Nightfang."

The receptionist looked up. Her expression tired. Overworked. "Is there a problem?"

"Not exactly." I kept my voice calm. Measured. "I’m gathering information for a custody case. I was hoping to speak with her teachers. Get their observations about her behavior and wellbeing."

Her eyes widened slightly. Understanding flickered across her face.

"One moment." She picked up the phone. Spoke quietly into it.

Five minutes later, I was sitting in a cramped office with Lilith’s homeroom teacher.

Mrs. Patterson was young. Maybe late twenties. Dark circles under her eyes. The look of someone who cared but was drowning under too many students and not enough resources.

"Thank you for meeting with me." I pulled out my phone. Started recording. "I just need you to answer a few questions about Lilith. About any changes you’ve noticed recently."

Mrs. Patterson’s expression turned troubled.

"She’s changed quite a bit this past year." Her voice was careful. Professional. But I could hear the concern underneath. "She used to be very outgoing. Social. A bit spoiled perhaps, but generally happy."

"And now?"

"Now she’s withdrawn. Quiet. She doesn’t participate in class discussions anymore. Doesn’t play with the other children during recess."

My jaw tightened. "Have you noticed anything else? Any physical signs?"

Mrs. Patterson hesitated. Then nodded slowly.

"She’s come to school with bruises. Multiple times. When I asked about them, she always had an excuse. ’I fell.’ ’I bumped into something.’ But..."

"But you didn’t believe her."

"No." The word was firm. "I didn’t. The bruises were in places that didn’t match her explanations. And her behavior... she flinched when I tried to comfort her once. Like she expected to be hit."

My hands clenched in my lap.

"Did you report it?"

Her face colored slightly. Shame flickering across her features.

"I tried. Multiple times. But we’re understaffed. Overworked. And the father is... he’s still got connections. Enough to make reports disappear. To make sure nothing sticks."

"Would you be willing to testify?" I asked quietly. "To provide a written statement about what you’ve observed?"

She met my eyes directly. "Yes. Absolutely yes."

---

Next stop: the neighbors.

I walked back to the apartment complex. The elevator was broken. I took the stairs.

Third floor. Apartment 3C.

Finn’s door was at the end of the hallway. Paint peeling. A crack in the doorframe like someone had kicked it.

I knocked on the door next to his. 3B.

A woman answered. Mid-forties. Worn clothes. Suspicious eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Hi. I’m Aria Moon. I’m gathering information about the family in 3C. Have you noticed anything unusual? Any loud noises? Arguments?"

Her expression shifted. From suspicious to understanding.

"You with the cops?"

"No. I’m the mother. Trying to get custody of my daughter."

She studied me for a long moment. Then nodded.

"They fight all the time." She said it matter-of-factly. "Screaming. Throwing things. I hear shit breaking through the walls. And the kid..." She paused. "Poor thing cries for hours. Nobody does nothing about it."

My stomach churned.

"Would you be willing to provide a written statement?"

She shrugged. "Sure. Why not? Not like they can afford to sue me or nothing."

The bitterness in her voice was clear.

I pulled out one of Kael’s business cards. "Call this number. We’ll set up a time for you to give your statement."

She took the card. Looked at it. Her eyebrows rose slightly.

"Blood Crown?" She let out a low whistle. "You got connections now, huh?"

"Something like that."

---

I continued down the hallway. Talked to two more neighbors. Got similar stories. Loud fights. Crying children. One woman had even called the police twice, but nothing came of it.

I was taking notes on my phone when I heard footsteps on the stairs.

High heels. Clicking against concrete.

I looked up.

Celestia appeared at the top of the stairwell. She looked... different.

The designer clothes were gone. Replaced by a cheap dress from some discount store. Her hair was still styled, but the roots were showing. Dark. Growing out.

Her makeup was heavy. Too heavy. Trying to cover the exhaustion underneath.

She saw me.

Froze.

Then her face twisted into a sneer.

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."

I straightened. Met her gaze directly.

"Celestia."

"What are YOU doing here?" She set down the carrier. Crossed her arms. "Come to gloat? Come to see how far we’ve fallen?"

"You’re a joke, Aria." She continued. Clearly enjoying herself despite the fear underneath. "A low-class WHORE who never deserved to be part of our world. And now look at you. Still nothing. Absolutely NOTHING."

I smiled.

Cold. Sharp.

The kind of smile that made her step back slightly.

"Say whatever you want, Celestia." My voice was calm. Measured. Deadly quiet. "Call me whatever names make you feel better. But I’ll tell you something."

I stepped closer. Invaded her personal space.

"Your good days?" I leaned in. Let her see the absolute certainty in my eyes. "They’re about to end."