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.

is a member, and he mentioned your name when he received a

she could stop

her chest, that uncomfortable sensation

already considering making an excuse to leave

them with an air of authority that came from years

"I’m James Hawthorne. My wife told me what you did for our son, and

her seat to shake his hand, returning the gesture with

replied softly. "I’m glad he’s doing

written plainly across his face before his attention shifted

assessing, measuring. "Are you," he hesitated slightly, "her

of his neck awkwardly,

mouth, something dimmed inside Corvine’s eyes, not dramatically or obviously, but

she meant to him in front of strangers.

hear," James said, oblivious to the subtle shift in energy beside Seraphine. "My first son is the director of Saint Peter’s Hospital, and he’d like

part of the city and one of the places she’d want to work when she

usually get impressed easily, but he said your assessment was

in her seat as he asked with expectation. "Would you consider

he was talking too fast, stacking expectations

"I love medicine, but right now my focus is on building other important businesses before I go back into

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

seconds, studying her like she was a puzzle