Watch Me Win, Alpha

Chapter 76

As Mom diced garlic with practiced ease, Grandma hummed a tune I recognized from my childhood. It was the same lullaby she used to sing when I scraped my knee after falling off my

bike.

I squeezed my chest. “Remember when I insisted I could ride

without training wheels?”

Grandma chuckled. “And promptly crashed into that hydrangea

bush.”

Mom laughed–first genuine laughter I’d heard in days. “You

came inside, shrub in hand.”

We set the pot on the burner, the spicy aroma filling the

kitchen. The chemistry between us felt different–like we’d all

stepped back into a version of home I hadn’t realized I missed.

Over the simmering sauce, I took a steadying breath. “So… I need

to tell you both something.”

Grandma glanced at me, eyebrows knitting. Mom stopped

stirring pasta water.

“I’ve decided to finalize the divorce,” I said firmly, though my

heart fluttered. “I want it. I’m done with the Hawthrone drama.”

Mom set down her spoon, reaching out to grasp my hand. “You’re doing what’s best for you, Liv.”

Grandma, stirring sauce, murmured, “Best for your head and

heart.”

spoonful of sauce to

for New York in

arm around me. “We’ll

sweetheart. But you’re strong.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

and emotional. We shared

stories about my

half–remembered college adventures

first dreamt of motherhood. My worry

anecdote.

Mom sipped water

Liv?”

to me now. I’ve lost

but I’m not losing

“The world may shake,

you stand steady.”

streamed through

my phone one last time–news

were polarizing, but lines

drawn. And now, the other party had more

phone buzzed. It was Lily–my former

something in Lily’s tone

whispered, voice loaded.

“What’s that?”

loan–Eclipse Bank just froze the

phase. All funds blocked.”

heart sank.

it. He said

the project. Told Windsor he loved

refused to marry Chole.”

closed my eyes. So even he… My

arguing with Windsor now?”

is unraveling. They’re

pressure, accusations.

a dispute between the Windsor

family, Mr. Windsor learned that the loan had