Piss Off, Alpha! You Lost Me Forever-Chapter 66 A New Opportunity

SOPHIA’S POV

Zade drove us to a quiet bar across town. We sat in a corner booth away from the few other customers.

"What do you want to drink?" Zade asked as a waiter approached.

"Just water." My hands were still shaking slightly from the confrontation with Damien.

Zade ordered water for me and whiskey for himself. When the waiter left, he leaned back and studied me. "You did well back there. Standing up to him like that."

I sighed. "I didn’t have a choice. My family is suffering because of me."

"They’re suffering because Damien is a vindictive bastard who can’t handle rejection. That’s not on you." Zade’s expression was serious. "You need to stop taking responsibility for his actions."

"Easy for you to say. You’re not the one watching your family lose everything because of your decisions.”

Zade swirled his whiskey. "Men like Damien think they own everything and everyone around them. When something doesn’t go their way, they lash out. It’s about control."

I knew he was right. Logically, I understood that Damien’s behavior was his choice. But emotionally, the guilt still ate at me. These were people I loved.

We stayed at the bar for about an hour.

Zade kept the conversation light, telling me about his business ventures and some of the ridiculous situations he’d encountered.

When we finally left, Zade walked me to where his car was parked.

"Come home with me tonight," Zade said as we reached his car. "You shouldn’t be alone after everything that happened."

I stopped walking. "Zade, I can’t-"

"Not like that. I have guest rooms.." He turned to face me. "I just think you need someone around."

"I appreciate the offer but I need to go home to think things through" I touched his arm gently. "Thank you though, for everything tonight."

Zade nodded. "At least let me take you to dinner some time.”

I wanted to say no. I wanted to keep my distance from Zade because getting too close to Damien’s enemy would only make things worse but he’d helped me tonight. The least I could do was have dinner with him.

"Okay.”

He smiled. “Alright.”

He drove me home. On the way there, I noticed the large promotional screen on a building beside me. It had an advertisement.

Tiffany was on the screen, looking beautiful and confident in some designer clothes ad. Her smile was perfect. Her hair was perfect. Everything about her was perfect.

I stared at that screen, comparing her image to my reflection in the rearview mirror.

My eyes were red from crying. My makeup was smudged. My clothes were wrinkled from the long day.

I looked tired and defeated while she looked like she owned the world.

The gap between us felt huge. Tiffany was young, beautiful, successful. She had her whole life ahead of her.

While I was a soon-to-be-divorced single mother fighting just to see my own daughter. Fighting just to keep my family safe from my vindictive ex-husband.

My wolf whined inside me. She felt it too.

*

The next morning, my phone rang while I was having breakfast. The name on the screen made my heart skip. Professor Archer. My old mentor from medical school.

"Dr. Sophia. I hope I’m not calling too early." He said.

"Professor Archer. No, not at all. This is a wonderful surprise." I replied. "How are you?"

"I’m well. How are you? I heard about the separation. I’m sorry things have been difficult."

"Thank you. I’m managing."

I wondered why he was really calling. Professor Archer didn’t do social calls.

"The reason I’m reaching out is because we have an opening in our doctoral program. Advanced surgical techniques and research. I immediately thought of you." He paused. "You were one of my brightest students, Sophia. I think this program would be perfect for you."

A doctoral degree? The idea made me excited. I’d always wanted to pursue higher education but Damien had discouraged it.

"Wow." I muttered. "I’m honored you thought of me."

"The program starts in two months” he said. "I really think you could do groundbreaking work, Sophia."

After we hung up, I sat there staring at my phone. A doctoral degree. This was a chance to build something that was mine alone, something Damien couldn’t touch or control or take away.

My wolf stirred with excitement.

I called Lance. He answered on the second ring.

"Sophia? Everything okay?" He sounded worried. I’d texted him last night that I was back here but hadn’t given details.

"Everything’s fine. I have news." I took a breath. "Professor Archer called. He offered me a spot in his doctoral program - advanced surgical research."

Lance gasped. "That’s amazing! Are you going to do it?”

"I want to but won’t I be taking on too much?" I said “I have to be there for Ashley.”

"Nonsense." Lance’s voice was firm "This is your future, Sophia. Do it."

"But what about Ashley? I just made a deal with Damien to be more present in her life."

"Being present doesn’t mean giving up everything else. You can be a good mother and still have your own goals.”

My wolf agreed with him. We’d spent too long making ourselves smaller for Damien. It was time to reclaim who we were.

"You’re right. I’m going to do it. I’m going to call Professor Archer back and accept." I felt lighter just saying it. "Thank you, Lance."

"Anytime."

After hanging up with Lance, I called Professor Archer and accepted the position. He was thrilled.

We made plans to meet next week to discuss the program details and my research interests. When I ended the call, I felt something I hadn’t felt in months - hope.

That afternoon, I drove to Stone Villa to tell Damien about my decision. I needed to be upfront about my schedule so there wouldn’t be confusion later. I used my key to enter through the side door again, expecting to find Franca in the kitchen.

Instead, I walked into the living room and froze.

Damien was there on the couch with Tiffany. She was curled up beside him with her head on his shoulder. His arm was around her. They were watching something on TV.

They both looked up when they heard me. Damien’s expression didn’t change. Tiffany smiled.

"Sophia?” Damien didn’t move his arm from around Tiffany.

"I need to talk to you about my schedule with Ashley." I forced myself to look away from them.

“I’m listening.”

I explained about the doctoral program, about the evening classes and weekend research sessions. I told him I’d still come around.

Damien listened without interrupting. When I finished, he spoke. "Fine. As long as you’re here when Ashley needs you. If she has a school event or gets sick or needs her mother, you drop everything and come. Understood?"

"Understood." I hated how he made it sound like a command, like I was an employee instead of Ashley’s mother. But I swallowed my pride. "Thank you."

"Don’t thank me. I’m doing this for Ashley. So she can have a mother who’s actually present instead of one who’s too busy with her own life."

His words stung but I didn’t react. Instead, I noticed how Tiffany’s hand had moved to rest on Damien’s chest. I saw how comfortable she was touching him.

My wolf whimpered. From where I stood she could smell Tiffany’s scent on him. She could tell they’d been intimate recently. The thought made me feel sick and angry and heartbroken all at once.

"I should go." I turned toward the door. "Tell Ashley I’ll see her tomorrow morning."

I left quickly.

As I walked quickly to my car, my vision blurred with tears but I refused to let them fall.