Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 35 – I’m not strong like you

Nicole, Seraphine, and Corvine squeezed into a high-end restaurant just a short walk away from the Ashkael Towers. The place smelled of warm bread, wine, and quiet money, the kind of restaurant where conversations stayed low and emotions were expected to behave.

Once their orders were placed and water glasses filled, Seraphine leaned back in her chair and fixed Nicole with a calm, assessing look. "Now," she said evenly, "tell me exactly what happened."

Nicole let out a sad, brittle smile and lifted her glass, draining half of it as if courage sat at the bottom.

"I had an argument with Daisy when she demanded the formula for the Bryan’s cure, and my position was suddenly the reward for whoever was able to come up with it." She paused, her throat working. "So I resigned. I didn’t want to live in the pack anymore."

She paused, her look far away. "I planned to stay with my boyfriend until I found a new job." Her lips curved bitterly. "But guess what?"

Seraphine barely blinked, already knowing the rest of the story from her bitter expression. "He cheated."

Nicole nodded, but a scoff slipped from Seraphine’s lips, sharp and unbothered. "And that’s why you’re like this?" she asked bluntly. "Hasn’t it occurred to you that a cheating man isn’t worth the stress, let alone your sanity?"

Nicole stared at her, something close to awe swimming in her eyes. It hadn’t even been a month since Seraphine’s divorce, yet she looked radiant, composed, elegant, untouched by the kind of ruin Nicole felt clawing at her chest.

"I’m not strong like you," Nicole murmured. Courtesy prevented her from ordering something strong because that was exactly what she needed. A strong drink to numb the pain and besides, this was a restaurant and not a bar.

"It’s all in the head." Her gaze softened, but only slightly. "Do you know how long I cried, wishing Ravyn would love

off guard. It didn’t align with the Seraphine she knew, the woman who walked

to

remained casual just as the waiter arrived with their food. She waited until he left

and if he doesn’t love you..." her voice dropped, firm and final. "Nothing you do will change that, not even

in her chest. "You’re right. When the girl he cheated on me with showed up,

one who was betrayed." She exhaled. "I get it now.

they had to make and live through

started searching," Nicole admitted, Seraphine smiled. "You should. Your talent is needed, and there are

soft clink of cutlery filling the pauses between them. Corvine, who had been unusually quiet, glanced

Ever since the breakup, she

ex’s best friend, but nothing like him. They argued because of me, and Pete offered

nothing. The fact that Pete worked for Voren alone was enough to

should get going," Seraphine said shortly after, her tone soft but decisive. "There are important

the table without comment, and Nicole’s face fell. "Where do

thing I want to dive into right now. It’s too time-consuming. I’m focusing on ventures I can delegate to skilled professionals before I return to medicine