Chapter 151
SOPHIA’S POV
I froze at Damien’s question.
Why are you so desperate to end this marriage right now?
I turned to look at him, really look at him. I looked at the face I’d once longed for, dreamed about, loved with every fiber of my being. I took in the sharp jawline, the intense eyes, the way his hair fell slightly over his forehead when he was tired.
And I felt… nothing.
There was no pull, no longing. I had no desperate wish for him to choose me.
Inside me, there was just emptiness where love used to be.
I laughed bitterly. “What counts as a real marriage, Damien p>
He blinked, caught off guard by the question.
“What you have with Tiffany,” I continued quietly. “That’s what a real marriage looks like. Two people who actually want to be together, who choose each other, who make time for each other’s dreams.” I moved toward the door. “We never had that. We just had a mate bond and obligations p>
“Sophia p>
I kept walking.
Suddenly his hand shot out and caught my wrist, spinning me back to face him. His eyes flashed gold. I could tell his wolf was rising to the surface.
“Is there another man?” His voice was cold as he asked “Is that why you’re rushing this? Because you’ve already moved on p>
I looked straight into his eyes “And if there is p>
His grip tightened a bit “Then I deserve to know p>
“You deserve nothing.” I pulled my wrist free, “Our divorce is almost final. What I do, who I see, who I choose – none of that is your business anymore. You gave up that right when you chose her p>
“I have every right as your alpha p>
“You’re not my alpha, not anymore.” I turned and walked out of Stone Villa, ignoring his intake of breath behind me.
This time, he didn’t follow.
I got in my car and drove toward Sky Manor. As I drove, my hands shook slightly on the wheel. My wolf was agitated. She was confused by my rejection of our mate but my human side knew this was right, knew that staying would only mean more pain.
At a red light, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was just about to do my breathing exercises when something happened,
Suddenly, the passenger door flew open.
Before I could react, someone jumped in. a man entered, looking disheveled, wild-eyed and reeking of alcohol and desperation.
Marcel.
I looked at him in shock. What the-? How the hell did he get here p>
“Where is she?” he demanded, slamming the door shut. “Where’s Bianca p>
I snarled at him “Get out of my car. Now p>
“Not until you tell me where she is!” Marcel’s voice was loud, slurred. “She won’t answer my calls, won’t respond to my messages. And I know you’re hiding her p>
“I’m not hiding anyone.” I kept my voice cold “Bianca made her own choice to leave you. Now get out before I call the police p>
“You did this!” Marcel lunged across the console, getting in my face. “You convinced her to leave me! Filled her head with lies about me p>
“The only lies Bianca believed were the ones you told her.” I didn’t back down. “Every promise you made and broke. Every time you swore you’d changed and didn’t. Every woman you cheated with while she waited at home p>
“She forgave me p>
“She shouldn’t have. She wasted years on you, even sacrificed a child-” My voice cracked. “She had an abortion for you, Marcel. Because you weren’t ready to be a father. And how did you repay that sacrifice? By cheating on her again p>
Marcel’s face flushed red with rage. “She agreed to marry me! We were going to be together! And then you p>
“I what? Told her the truth? Showed her that she deserved better than a man who treats her like garbage?” I met his bloodshot eyes directly. “Look in the mirror, Marcel. Really look. You’re a shameless man who takes and takes and gives nothing back. Bianca was smart to leave you. I only wish she’d done it sooner p>
“Tell me where she is!” Marcel’s hands shot out, wrapping around my throat.
I gasped. I felt my wolf snarling as I struggled against his grip. But he was stronger. I could smell the alcohol in his breath.
“I’ll kill you,” he hissed, holding me even tighter. “If you don’t tell me where she is, I’ll fucking kill you p>
I clawed at his hands, trying to breathe, trying to fight back. But he was cutting off my air, and black spots were dancing in my vision.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t-
The passenger door was ripped open with such force it nearly came off its hinges.
I looked to see who it was.
Zade.