Please Divorce Me, Alpha! {BL}

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There are moments in life when you really have to stop and question how you ended up in a completely absurd situation.

This was definitely one of those damnpi times.

Here I was, halfway down the grand staircase of the Sinclair mansion, looking at a ridiculous amount of jewelry, cash, watches, designer items, and some heavy black cases that made me wonder if Lorenzo Castelli had totally misinterpreted what a marriage proposal was and decided to buy the whole house instead.

The men in black suits moved around the foyer with the confidence of folks who are used to handling things worth more than all my childhood memories combined.

One guy walked past me with a velvet-lined case full of watches, while another struggled with boxes piled high nearly to his chin.

Two more men were carefully maneuvering a large wooden chest through the doorway like it was a priceless painting or maybe even explosives.

Given who sent it, I wasn’t about to rule out either.

The foyer was filled with the scent of polished wood, expensive perfume, fresh flowers, and money. So much money that I could nearly taste the financial security in the air.

Just hours earlier, this place had reminded me that I was not wanted. Now it felt more like the lobby of a high-end auction house.

It’s funny how quickly people become nicer to you when someone else’s wealth is being brought through the door.

I glanced over at my father.

Richard Sinclair stood next to Lydia, looking like a man who had won the lottery without even buying a ticket. His eyes were glued to every box coming inside, almost embarrassingly excited.

”Careful with that one,” he told one of the men, who didn’t even acknowledge him.

I couldn’t help but smile.

Suddenly, another black vehicle rolled up outside. I straightened up, something about this one felt different.

The back door swung open. A group of guys in dark suits stepped out first, moving in sync like they were on a mission.

They scanned the property with an alertness that made it clear they weren’t here to admire the landscaping. And then Lorenzo appeared.

He looked incredible. I hated that...I really did. It would have been so much easier to keep my carefully crafted opinion of him if he looked like a nasty man with a bad haircut and a personality to match.

Instead, Lorenzo Castelli seemed like someone had taken every intimidating feature available and put them on one annoyingly handsome guy.

He scanned the foyer until his gaze landed on me. And stayed there.

Suddenly, I was acutely aware of everything about myself.

How I was standing, that I had on an old cream sweater and dark pants, and that I probably still had sauce on my sleeve from something I’d eaten about fifteen minutes earlier.

Fantastic, y future husband had shown up, and I looked like I had just escaped from a fucking library five minutes before closing.

Lorenzo’s mouth curved up slightly. ”Tesoro mio.”

There it was again...that ridiculous term of endearment. I hated how it made my stomach flip.

Even worse, I knew it was all just an act.

It was all performance...that’s all it was. I kept reminding myself of that as I walked down the stairs.

By the time I reached the bottom, Lorenzo was already waiting for me. He held something in one gloved hand.

Unlike the mountain of extravagant gifts around us, this was surprisingly small, a rectangular box wrapped in dark green paper.

He extended it toward me. ”For you.”

I stared at it. ”Is it another suitcase full of money, dear future husband?”

One of the bodyguards behind him looked away, likely hiding a smile.

Lorenzo’s lips twitched. ”No.”

”That’s disappointing.”

”Open it.”

I took the box, the wrapping was gorgeous...way too beautiful for me to just tear into, so I carefully loosened the ribbon instead.

Inside was a book, I lost my breath for a moment. It was an old travel book, bound in dark leather, with gold lettering along the spine. The edges were worn, but it was clear it had been well preserved.

When I opened it, I found illustrations of old European cities, maps, photographs, and handwritten notes from someone who had traveled through various countries decades ago.

I looked up at him. ”You got me this?”

”I remembered what you said.”

My fingers tightened around the cover. During dinner, I had expressed a desire to travel. I hadn’t thought he was really paying attention.

”Why?”

Lorenzo’s gaze held steady on me. ”Because you said you wanted to see the world. Perhaps this would get you closer to that dream.”

There was something so simple about his answer that caught me off guard. The jewelry downstairs didn’t matter. The cash didn’t matter, not in that moment.

Someone had actually listened to me, I swallowed. ”Thank you.”

His expression softened a bit. ”You should have something that reminds you of the life you’re going to have.”

My heart gave a little squeeze. I immediately reminded myself that he was an expert liar. Probably the best I had ever met. Which was a bit concerning, considering I had just agreed to marry him.

”That’s really sweet,” I murmured.

His eyes narrowed just slightly. ”You sound surprised.”

”I am.”

”Why?”

”Because you seem like the type who would give someone a gun rather than a book.”

His mouth twitched again. ”I could give you both.”

I stared at him. ”That’s not reassuring.”

”It wasn’t meant to be.”

Before I could respond, Lydia rushed over. ”Mr. Castelli.”

Lorenzo turned. His expression shifted instantly, it was almost impressive. The coldness vanished, his shoulders relaxed, his eyes softened.

He looked at Lydia politely, then glanced back at me with a warmth that almost made me applaud.

The guy was frighteningly good at this. If lying were a sport, Lorenzo would have all the gold medals and probably a stadium named after him.

”Shall we?” he asked.

I nodded. And that’s how I found myself led into the formal sitting room like some kind of prized livestock.

---

The sitting room had never looked more ridiculous. Open boxes of jewelry were spread out over several tables. Velvet cases displayed watches and rings.

Huge bouquets of white roses were arranged around the room, and one particularly large black case remained open near the fireplace. Cash...actual, freaking stacks of cash. I was momentarily stunned.

Then I looked at Lorenzo, who seemed way too calm about it all. ”Do you always propose like this?”

”Like what?”

”Like you’re invading a small country.”

His lips curved up. ”Only when I’m serious.”

I almost forgot to breathe. Luckily, Richard interrupted before my brain could embarrass me. ”Lorenzo, please, have a seat.”

Everyone took their places. Richard and Lydia settled on the long sofa. Blair sat across from them, looking like an innocent little princess in a pale pink dress.

I ended up beside Lorenzo, which was apparently the arrangement.

I could feel the warmth radiating from him without even touching him. Then his scent wafted toward me, cold, clean, dark.

My instincts reacted before my brain could tell them to calm down. My pulse quickened, my shoulders stiffened and heat crept up my neck.

I hated myself for it. Get it together, idiot!

This was a business arrangement, not a romance novel!

Seventy million. I repeated that number in my head like a mantra to keep me focused on what was the true prize here. Seventy million...seventy fucking million.

Lorenzo looked at me, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

He reached for my hand. I gave it to him because everyone was watching. His fingers closed around mine, warm, firm, and possessive enough to send my stomach into a spin.

”I came today,” Lorenzo said, ”because I wanted to formally ask for Alex’s hand in marriage.”

Richard looked like Christmas had come early. ”It would be an honor.”

I almost laughed. An honor? This was the same guy who called me a stain on the sheets less than a week ago. Now I was apparently an honor.

And then, Lorenzo dropped to his knee in front of me, reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box.

When he opened it, I was pretty sure that I forgot how to breathe for a solid ten seconds.

The diamond in that ring was huge as hell!

Lorenzo was only looking at me. ”Alex.”

I swallowed. ”Y...yes?”

Oh my god, this was happening!

”Will you marry me?”

The room fell into silence. I could almost hear the cogs turning in my father’s head. I glanced at Lorenzo. His face was soft, almost tender. It was a lie...one highly skilled lie.

I smiled back. ”I’d be honored to.”

Richard practically beamed.

Lydia clapped her hands together. ”Oh, how wonderful! Such a beautiful omega groom you’d be, Alex!”

I wanted to check behind me to see if another Alex was lurking around...surely she wasn’t talking about me.

Lorenzo lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. ”My Omega.”