Watch Me Win, Alpha

Chapter 21

Olivia’s POV

By six in the morning, I slipped out of my parents’ house as quietly as I could. Dad usually went out early for patrol runs in the woods, and Mom would be in the kitchen making breakfast. But not today. Neither of them had stirred. They’d stayed up past 2 a.m. waiting for me to come home-something they weren’t used to.

I left a handwritten note on the fridge door. “Went to see a friend. Will call later.”

I wore a hoodie, pulled the strings tight, and added a mask and cap before stepping out.

Then, I hailed a cab and found Ava.

She opened the door with messy hair and bloodshot eyes.

“Those bitches,” she muttered the second she saw me. “I swear to god, I’m gonna kill Chole and Amelia both.”

I stepped inside, brushing past her. “Do you have eggs or anything in the fridge?”

Ava blinked. “What?”

“I want to make breakfast.”

She stared at me like I’d just offered to host a tea party in a war zone. “You wanna cook right now?”

I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “Yeah. We need food before we deal with scumbags.”

Ava followed me, fuming. “You’re seriously worrying about breakfast?”

I grabbed a pan and shrugged. “What, you want to go to war on an empty stomach?”

Her eyes narrowed. She was about to argue again but stopped when she caught sight of my wrists. Deep red marks wrapped around the skin like cruel reminders of the night before.

Her face twisted. “Why would he do this to you if he didn’t love you anymore?” Her voice cracked slightly. “Why not just break up like a damn adult?”

I didn’t respond. I flipped the burner on and cracked some eggs.

“It’s been eight years, Liv.” Ava’s voice got louder. “Eight freaking years. You’ve been with him longer than we’ve been out of school. And this-” She gestured wildly. “This Chole chick? What’s it been, six months? And suddenly he’s doingthisto you?”

I stayed silent, whisking eggs in a bowl. My hands didn’t shake.

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13:30

“He’s getting engaged to her tonight,” I said quietly.

“What?” Ava was shocked.

I nodded once. “That’s what Chole said last night. The big announcement is tonight.”

“Wait-” Ava leaned forward, bracing herself against the counter. “Does he know you filed the divorce papers? That you made him sign?”

pursed my lips. “Maybe. He might’ve found

floor. “So you think he was planning this from the start? That you’d file for divorce, and then -bam-he’d hit you with this mess

Mean- while, Chole’s poking you, pushing your buttons. You file the papers, they get their clean break-and if you fight back, they’ve got the video to destroy you.

me. She was just as

thought back to last night. Ethan hadn’t said a word. Chole had done all the talking. She knew details Ethan couldn’t have known unless he was in on

call,” I murmured, thinking aloud. “She said he didn’t want to talk to me. But… something

off.”

me, eyes still blazing. “What

breath. “Ava, I

Chole’s POV

the grand ballroom of Moonlight Hotel. The chandeliers above gleamed like a sky full of

the city were here, including my

Ethan’s shoulder when needed, laughed politely at the

Why weren’t they answering?

my phone again. Nothing. No messages. No calls.

them everything-inject her, violate her, film the whole thing. Send the video.

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13:30

:

the hell

Did they fail?

alone. I even told Amelia to lure her

Maybe…

crawled down my spine. Could they have

annoyed at the thought. Ugh. That would be boring. No payoff. No scandal. No video. Just a lifeless little body and a bunch of

dead, that

She smiled at the guests, then leared close

through mine and led me away,

you get

C

hesitated for just a second too long. “Yes,” I said, then smiled brightly. “I’ll bring

girl,” Amelia said, squeezing my arm.

the room, but

Olivia. She must

Ethan’s POV

night air. The ballroom buzzed be- hind me-clinking glasses, soft music, voices layered over voices. I felt like I needed

lit a cigarette, dragged in the smoke, and tapped Fin’s

Olivia?” I asked without

her parents’ place,” Fin

I grunted. “Alright.”

up, and headed

was waving a glossy auction catalog at me the moment I walked back

Mrs. Donald or the blue diamond necklace from Mrs. Janet? I can’t

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13:30

eyes had landed on

The blue diamond necklace.