Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 173 - How did you even know her size?

Corvine looked like he had already given up trying to understand any of it.

"He also brought you a dress," he added, sounding tired already. "And judging from the look on his face, I don’t think he plans on leaving until you let him in."

Seraphine’s jaw dropped completely but it didn’t take long for her to pull herself together, the initial shock fading fast as her mind snapped back into focus, her instincts kicking in the way they always did when things started slipping out of her control.

"Wait a second," she said, lifting a hand slightly as if she could pause everything around her. "I’m already dressed. Just tell him that."

Her tone carried confidence, a quiet finality, like the decision had already been made.

But before Corvine could even respond, another voice cut in, firm, controlled, leaving no room for argument. "I’ll handle it."

Seraphine turned immediately, her body reacted before her thoughts could catch up, tension creeping into her shoulders the moment her eyes landed on him.

"Voren," she said, her voice tightening just a little, "you can’t just walk into my room like this."

But he didn’t respond right away.

He studied her a piece of art, his gaze moving over her outfit, her posture, every detail, like he was silently picking it apart piece by piece.

That alone made something uneasy settle in her chest. "Wrong outfit," he said after a moment, his tone flat, analytical. "Wrong accessories."

Then, as if she wasn’t enough to critique, his attention wandered.

His eyes moved across the room, taking in the massive monitors, the layered tech setup, the cables, the glowing interfaces, everything that turned the space into something closer to a command center than a bedroom.

he muttered, almost to

the side, clearly entertained. "She works here most

nod, like that

didn’t fit into any simple

easy to define, and for a brief second, something thoughtful passed through his expression, like he was recalibrating whatever image

Then he moved.

brought, pulling them out one by one, and Seraphine found herself watching him despite her irritation,

different from the last time she

that fit him well enough to make the whole look feel intentional without

"You’re wearing this," he

it on instinct, her fingers tightening around the fabric as she glanced down at it, quickly taking in

at him and tossed it right back. "Not happening," she said flatly. "I like what I’m wearing. It’s

smoothly, finishing her

about elegance," he continued, his voice steady but firm. "You’re not going in

what, exactly?" she asked, her voice sharpening despite her effort

you to play the part that works," he replied without flinching. "If

before he added, more quietly but

landed harder than anything else he had said. "Sexy is the assignment," he went on, his tone leaving no space for negotiation.

pressed together, tension building in her chest as frustration flared, sharp

There it was again.

That presence.

need to be loud to be felt, pressing against her instincts, pushing her

a second, she wanted to argue, to push back. To

settled in. She asked for his help. "I’ll go change," she said finally, the words tight but

grabbed the dress and turned, walking toward the washroom without another glance, the door closing behind her with a soft click that felt louder than it