Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 66 - You surprised me today

Joyce barely heard her, Seraphine’s vision narrowed until everything around them blurred into sound without shape, the chatter of parents, the shuffle of chairs, Leon’s distant laughter with another child. None of it felt real anymore.

She knew that mark. It was the same as the birthmark on her stomach, hidden at a place where no one could see it, but Joyce had it on her arm.

Her knees weakened, but she forced herself to kneel slowly, carefully, afraid that any sudden movement might shatter whatever fragile reality this was.

"Joyce," she repeated, her voice barely steady, the name catching in her throat like it had weight. Her fingers hovered just short of touching the girl’s arm, as though she feared that contact would either confirm everything or destroy her completely. "That’s... that’s a beautiful name."

Her pulse roared in her ears, and she studied the child’s face now with terrifying intensity, searching for pieces of herself, for fragments of memory in the curve of her nose, the shape of her lips, the faint arch of her brows.

The girl’s eyes were bright, curious, unaware of the earthquake happening inside the woman kneeling in front of her.

"I can write my J properly now," Joyce said, pointing proudly at the first letter on the page. "It used to look funny."

Seraphine swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill without permission. Her hand finally moved, brushing lightly against the edge of the brace as if by accident, just enough to see the birthmark clearly, just enough to confirm that her memory had not betrayed her.

It was identical. Same curve. Same shade. Same placement. Her chest tightened painfully. Could this be coincidence? How many crescent-shaped marks existed in the world? Was she projecting desperation onto a child simply because she wanted something, anything, to be hers again?

"Where are your parents, Joyce?" she asked again as she looked around, before returning her gaze to her, forcing her voice into something calm, something professional, even though her insides felt like they were unraveling thread by thread.

pointed toward a woman across the other groups, seated slightly apart on a bench from the others, engaged on her phone. "Mama’s

followed the direction of her finger, her heart still racing wildly, her thoughts spiraling between hope and terror. If this was her child, then everything would change faster than she expected it. If it was not, then she would have to gather herself and survive

Leon’s presence draw closer, unaware of

Seraphine’s gaze on Joyce’s arm, he chuckled.

whisper as Leon squatted beside her and peeled

asked, "do you want me to get you one? They come in different shapes, sizes and

forced a smile, rising to her feet, and genuinely disappointed. "That’s beautiful progress, Joyce," she said, studying the effort behind each stroke

who had now joined them and suggested small finger-strengthening games, playful activities that could build dexterity without

and observant despite the oxygen tube resting gently against

softly, explaining to his parents how gradual breathing exercises could help increase his endurance without overwhelming him. "Small improvements matter," she assured them. "Consistency will build strength more safely than

child to child, offering encouragement, practical advice, and warmth, something inside her loosened. Tears pricked unexpectedly at the corners of her eyes, not from sadness alone

but her time with the kids relieved her of the pain of her lost child. Hope lived here. She had not expected to feel so alive in

her with his arms folded loosely across his chest. The usual playboy confidence had quieted, replaced by

closer. "Do you mind if we

little amazed by how down-to-earth he truly

gradually with parents and children, trays balanced carefully, chairs adjusted

asking another about