Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 44 – I love Sera

Seraphine pressed her lips together, the irritation already simmering in her chest as she shot back, her voice calm but sharp enough to cut.

"It’s not my fault Voren is acting childish."

The moment the words left her mouth, the couple across from her visibly flinched, as though she had just spoken something forbidden out loud. James stiffened first, followed closely by Mila, whose fingers curled tighter around her teacup.

"Do you even know who you’re talking about?" Mila asked, her tone low and cautious.

Seraphine lifted her chin and offered a polite smile, but it never reached her eyes, never softened the guarded edge in her gaze.

"Voren Ashkael?" she said evenly. "I think he has way too many problems on his hands right now to care about what I say about him."

James’s gaze dropped to the table, his jaw tightening as everyone present silently acknowledged the unspoken truth hanging in the air. The Ashkael Holdings challenge was no longer a rumor or distant corporate drama.

It had become a storm cloud looming over every high-level circle in the city, and everyone knew Voren was fighting battles on multiple fronts.

James exhaled slowly, clearly weighing his words before finally speaking.

"My older son has been wanting to visit the Sovereign Circle for a while now, so I already registered him under my gold invite," he said carefully. "Each member gets one gold invite annually, but there’s another way in."

Seraphine straightened instantly, while Corvine leaned forward without even realizing he had moved.

"What’s the way?" Seraphine asked, her voice quieter now, alert and focused.

his phone like he needed something solid to anchor himself

My wife has always

could go as his plus

froze almost immediately, his reaction instinctive as he blurted out, "Can’t there

his expression apologetic

leaned back in her chair, disbelief flickering across her face before she scoffed softly. "But this is the twenty-first century. You

knowing smile. "It’ll be a fake relationship, unless you somehow fall in love with him. Trust me, Leon

stomach dropped. He instantly regretted agreeing to sit at this table, regretted

at the tabletop, irritation and unease swirling together inside

already shifted gears, already calculating possibilities and outcomes. All she could see

did not matter that it was awkward. Even if it was

lifted her gaze back to James. "Aren’t you going to ask if he’s even interested

phone. "I don’t think he’d mind, but a

begged whatever higher power might be listening for Leon to refuse, or at least miss the call, anything that would give him time to pull Seraphine aside and talk

The call connected on the first ring, and a smooth, velvety voice came through the speaker

"She’s here, and you’re

pleasantly surprised.

couldn’t help smiling at his tone. There was warmth there, easy

she replied softly. "But

said. "I love Sera. So tell me, do you agree to come work for me? I’ll

and hearing it spoken aloud felt like fate reaching out and brushing against her

she said quietly, "but not right now. There are a few things I need to take care