Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 43 – The blacklisted one.

Orders were placed, drinks were brought over, and while Corvine skimmed through his phone with that distant, guarded calm he always carried like armor, Seraphine used the moment to properly get acquainted with the family sitting across from them.

The woman straightened in her seat, smoothing imaginary creases from her blouse before offering a warm, practiced smile.

"I’m Mila Hawthorne," she said, and Seraphine immediately noticed how different she looked compared to the other day.

She looked brighter now, lighter somehow, like a weight had finally been lifted from her shoulders, and Seraphine realized it had nothing to do with the absence of sunglasses and everything to do with the improvement in her son’s condition.

Hope had a way of changing people’s faces, and even their mood and demeanors. "That’s my son, Tyler Hawthorne," Mila continued, gently pulling the little boy closer to her side, her fingers automatically brushing through his hair, protective even in relief. "And my husband is on his way."

Seraphine smiled warmly, leaning forward just a little so she wouldn’t seem distant or intimidating.

"I’m Seraphine Walker," she said easily, then gestured toward Corvine. "And that’s Corvine Stone."

She didn’t notice the way Mila stiffened at first, didn’t catch the slight delay in her blinking, didn’t see the way the woman’s smile faltered for just a fraction of a second, before being carefully rebuilt.

It wasn’t until Mila repeated the name that Seraphine realized something was off. "Seraphine... Walker?"

Her tone had shifted, subtle but unmistakable. Seraphine tilted her head, suspicious gracing her words. "Have you heard the name somewhere?" She asked casually, not suspecting anything serious, but Mila forced another smile, this one tighter around the edges.

Sovereign Circle," Mila replied after a pause. "My husband is a member, and he mentioned your name when he received a call

could stop

knot tightening in her chest, that uncomfortable

an excuse

tall and elegantly dressed, walked toward them with an air

his hand. "I’m James Hawthorne. My wife told me what you did

to shake his hand, returning the gesture with genuine

she replied softly. "I’m

across his face before his attention

gaze lingered there, assessing, measuring. "Are you," he

quiet chuckle, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, but Seraphine answered before

left her mouth, something dimmed inside Corvine’s eyes, not dramatically or obviously, but just enough that Seraphine

family. That was what she meant to him in front of strangers. In clear terms, a brother from another mother kind

beside Seraphine. "My first son is the director of Saint Peter’s Hospital, and he’d like to make you an

Sainte Peter’s Hospital was the largest private hospital in that part of the city and one of the places she’d want to

excited now. "When Tyler’s pediatrician shared your diagnosis with him, he was absolutely mesmerized. He doesn’t usually

he

talking too fast, stacking expectations on top of gratitude, and

my focus is on building other important businesses before I go back

across James’s face, and something in her softened. "If I’m ready later

stared at her for a solid five seconds, studying her