Chapter 16

Alexander

The door clicked shut behind her, and my pulse thundered in my ears. Lauren. She was here. Standing in front of me, as defiant and maddening as ever. Rising from my desk, I met her gaze.

“These matters don’t concern you,” she snapped, her voice sharp and dismissive. “The agreement is signed. I’m leaving.”

I approached her, her eyes widening as I stopped in front of her. “Move,” she nearly snarled, attempting to sidestep me. I blocked her again, my body a wall between her and the door. Her frustration only fueled the storm inside me.

“I’m not done with you yet,” I said, my voice low, taut with restraint. “You’ll answer me.”

She crossed her arms, her defiance cutting through the tension. “Since you’ve already met my fiancé,” she said coldly, “who do you think the child belongs to?”

The word “fiancé” clawed at me. I couldn’t stop myself. "Did you fake your death on purpose?" My voice was low, raw with anger. “Was that the plan? Lose the baby, run to Liam, and have his child while pretending it was mine?”

Her jaw tightened, but for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker—hurt, maybe—but she quickly hid it behind her mask. Before she could respond, the door creaked open.

Beta Miles entered awkwardly, Owen’s small hand clasped in his. “Sir,” he began, his voice trailing off under my glare. “Owen heard Lauren was here and wanted to see her…”

Owen broke free, running to her. “Morning, miss!” His voice was unusually bright.

Lauren crouched, her expression softening in a way that twisted something deep inside me. That look—it wasn’t for me. “Sorry, kiddo. I’m busy today,” she said gently, smoothing his hair. “But I’ll see you at the hospital next time, okay?”

Her warmth for him only tightened the coil of bitterness in my chest. “Even though Liam is the Alpha King’s favorite son, he’s still just the child of a mistress,” I kept going, even though I knew this discussion was finished—for now.. “He’ll never inherit the throne, and nothing you gain from him will give you a better life.”

Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing with a sharpness that made me almost regret it. Almost. “Worry about your fiancée and Owen,” she said icily. “Move on.”

My brow twitched, lowering. Before I could respond, Owen’s small voice cut through. “Daddy, bad man,” he said, quiet but sure. “Made Mommy mad.”

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Mommy? “Don't say that, Owen,” I snapped, sharper than I intended.

Lauren’s hand trembled as she gently peeled Owen’s fingers from her sleeve. The small, sad smile she gave him was like a dagger to my chest, stirring something I didn’t dare examine too closely.

She turned and walked away, her back straight, her resolve unshaken. And this time, I let her go. But as the door clicked shut behind her, the emptiness crept in, heavy and suffocating.

She’d signed the papers—technically, I’d won.

So why didn’t it feel like it?

Abigail

The amusement park was so loud. There was music everywhere, and people were laughing, and the smell of popcorn and fried stuff made my stomach rumble.

Owen’s hand was holding mine so tight, and I could feel the buzz of excitement in my chest. We were walking through the crowd, but my brain wasn’t really on the rides or the fun stuff. It was on one thing: bad daddy.

I already knew something was wrong when Mommy had walked in the door. She didn’t look like herself. Her smile was gone, and her eyes were all shiny, like she was about to cry. I didn’t need to ask what happened. I could tell. I ran to my room as fast as I could and grabbed my phone. It was hidden under my pillow, just like I always keep it.

I quickly sent a message to Owen. “Bad uncle made Mom mad again today! I don’t want a daddy who makes Mommy mad!”

He messaged me back right away.

“He’s moody today. It’s Sophia’s fault. She’s the bad mom,” Owen said. I could tell he was upset, too. But then he said something that made me stop. “Maybe if you met my dad, you’d think he’s not so bad. Maybe it would help him stop being mean to Doctor Ava. She likes him, I know it. You would too.”

I made a face. Meet up with bad daddy? The one who made Mommy cry? No way. But Owen kept texting me, saying maybe I’d change my mind if I saw him in person.

Maybe I could help. I didn’t want to meet him. I didn’t even want to think about him. But Owen wouldn’t stop, and after begging Daphne a whole bunch, I finally got her to say yes to me going out with a “good friend.” I didn’t tell her who, though. That was between me and Owen.

Turns out, Owen’s dad, Alexander, was happy to hear that Owen made a new friend. He said it was good for Owen to meet people, and he agreed to take us both to the amusement park for Owen’s birthday. I didn’t want to meet bad daddy. But if I had to, I’d do it for Mommy. Maybe, just maybe, I’d figure out a way to make him stop being bad.

“Come on, Owen!” I tugged his hand, pointing at a spinning ride. “Let’s go on that one!”

“Too high,” he muttered, shaking his head.

I pouted. “Your daddy’s here. He won’t let anything bad happen!”

But even as I said it, my stomach twisted. Not that he protected Mommy.

A tall shadow loomed over us—Alexander. He smiled, his dark eyes crinkling in a way that almost made me forget I was supposed to hate him.

“Having fun?” he asked, his voice deep but gentle.

Owen shrugged, but I bounced. “More cotton candy!”

Alexander crouched, his smile softening. “How about a break from sugar? Anything else you’d like to try, Abigail?”

I hesitated, unsure if I should yell or stay quiet. Owen answered for me.

“She wants to go on the spinning ride.”

“Yeah, but someone’s a big baby,” I teased.

“I am not!” Owen crossed his arms.

Alexander chuckled. “How about this: I’ll go with you, and Beta Miles can stay with Owen. If it’s scary, you can hold my hand.”

“I don’t need your hand!” I shot back.

His grin widened. “No hand-holding, then. Just me sitting next to you. Deal?”

Reluctantly, I nodded. “Fine.”

The ride was a blast. I screamed and laughed so much I could barely breathe. When it ended, I realized I was holding Alexander’s hand. His warm grip made me feel… safe. I hated that.

“You’ve got quite the lungs,” he said, grinning as we stepped off. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone laugh that loud.”

My cheeks burned, but before I could respond, a voice called out.

“Alexander!”

A woman with perfect red hair and too much perfume strode toward us, linking her arm with his like she owned him. Her smile didn’t feel real—nothing like Mommy’s.

“And who’s this?” she asked, eyeing me with syrupy sweetness I didn’t like.

“This is Abigail,” Alexander said carefully. “She’s Owen’s friend from class.”

Her smile tightened. “How sweet.”

I stared at her, fists balling. This was the woman who made Owen’s dad mean? Who hurt Mommy? My chest tightened. How could anyone choose her over Mommy?

“She’s the bad mom,” Owen whispered.

I nodded, my heart pounding. It didn’t make sense. Why her? Why not Mommy?