Chapter 3

Lila

“What are you doing here?” I hissed, my voice sharp with fury, though I could feel the tremble beneath it.

Sheldon pushed himself up from my bed with a lazy, predatory smirk. “Came to see my little omega humbled, finally realizing she can’t escape me or this engagement.”

“I already have,” I shot back, my tone biting as I folded my arms across my chest. “You forfeited any claim the moment you cheated on me.”

My words were steel, but inside, my heart thudded unevenly. I couldn’t afford to let him see the cracks—the pain he’d caused me would only fuel his sick power play.

Sheldon chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. His eyes raked over me with a disgusting sense of ownership.

“You’re so naive,” he sneered, stepping closer. His Alpha aura pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. “You think you can break the engagement? You think you have that kind of power?”

I stayed silent, my fists clenching at my sides as he loomed over me.

“Didn’t your father teach you anything?” His voice dripped with venom. “Like how to apologize when you’ve made a mistake?”

The words stung, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

Suddenly, his hand snaked around my waist, and before I could push him away, he shoved me onto the bed. His weight pinned me, his hot breath grazing my ear as he hissed, “What did you think? That you could disrespect me, humiliate me, and get away with it? You’re just an omega.”

My stomach twisted with disgust, but I wouldn’t let it consume me. “Get off me!” I snarled, my voice raw as I thrashed beneath him.

“Did you forget your place? I was doing you a favor by agreeing to marry you,” he snapped, his hand striking my cheek with a sharp slap.

Pain bloomed across my face, but I bit down on the inside of my cheek, refusing to cry out.

“I thought omegas were taught to be submissive,” he sneered. “Obedient. But you, you dared to rebel.” His eyes darkened as they fell to my neck, landing on the faint mark left behind from last night. A low, guttural growl rumbled through his chest.

“You think you can disgrace me?” he seethed, his fury uncontained. “I own you, Lila. I bought you from your father. How dare you let someone else—”

Before he could finish, he forced his lips onto mine, the vile act sending bile rising in my throat.

Adrenaline surged through my veins, and instinct took over. I brought my knee up with all my strength, driving it into his groin.

Sheldon let out a strangled groan, his grip loosening as he staggered back, clutching himself.

“You little bitch,” he spat, his face twisting in a mix of rage and pain.

I didn’t waste a second. Grabbing the nearest object—a heavy vase from the nightstand—I swung it with all my might, the impact cracking against the back of his head.

The sound was sickening, but I didn’t hesitate. Blood trickled down his scalp as his body crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Panting, I crouched beside him, my hands trembling as I checked for a pulse. Relief washed over me when I felt the faint, steady rhythm beneath my fingertips.

Thank Goddess he wasn’t dead.

But the relief was fleeting. Cold, stark reality set in as I stared at his body. Sheldon wasn’t going to let this slide when he woke up. And my father? He wouldn’t take a stand for me, he had made it clear earlier.

I was utterly alone.

I searched frantically for my phone, only to find out that it was dead and I didn’t have enough time to put it on charge. My options dwindled to nothing, and desperation clawed at my chest.

Elena’s words echoed in my mind, her voice from last night clear as if she were standing beside me. “Live life on your own terms, Lila.”

She was right. I had to run away from this hellhole.

One Month Later

The dizzy spell hit me again as I swayed on my feet, rocking little John to sleep in my arms. Exhaustion clung to me like a second skin, so I eased down onto the couch, patting his back gently. His eyelids fluttered closed, his soft breathing finally evening out.

His parents would be home soon. Then, I could clock out and head to the club, where I worked nights as a waitress. Babysitting during the day and hustling through chaotic club shifts at night—it wasn’t easy, but it kept food on my plate and a roof over my head.

Sheldon and my father had launched a massive search for me. Their influence stretched farther than I could’ve imagined, forcing me to stay in the shadows, always looking over my shoulder. 

I liked kids but taking care of them wasn’t as easy as I’d assumed. John was sweet, but the constant juggling between work and sleep was grinding me down. Most nights, I barely managed a few hours of rest. Weekends were the only time I could exhale, but even then, it never felt like enough.

The front door creaked open, and Emily stepped in, her cold expression slicing through the dim light of the living room. She strode toward me, taking John from my arms with the same detached air she always carried.

“We’re home,” she said curtly. “And you don’t need to come from tomorrow.”

Her words hit like a slap. “What? Why?”

Emily didn’t even blink, her tone clipped and final. “Do you think I owe you an explanation?”

My mouth opened, but no words came out. I just nodded stiffly, grabbed my worn-out bag, and left.

The cool night air stung my cheeks as I stepped outside. My shift at the club wasn’t for a few hours, and without the babysitting gig, I had extra time. A part of me wanted to collapse into bed and sleep for days, but I didn’t have that luxury.

With no money for a cab, I started the twenty-minute walk back to the tiny dorm room I’d managed to rent. The streets were quiet, lit by dim streetlights casting long, eerie shadows.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling my attention. I fished it out, and my heart skipped a beat at the name flashing on the screen. 

Sophia.

It had been so long since I’d heard from her. My fingers trembled as I opened the message, excitement and relief flooding me all at once. For a moment, it felt like I could breathe again. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her until now.

I was so lost in the euphoria that I didn’t hear the sound of tires screeching behind me until it was too late.

The impact came like a freight train, the world spinning wildly before everything faded into black.