Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 176 – If you don’t marry me, I’ll take his life

Santiago couldn’t take his eyes off her, not even for a second, like looking away might somehow break whatever hold she had over him, because the sight of her sitting there across the table, composed and radiant under the chandelier’s glow, was starting to get under his skin in a way he wasn’t used to.

Her dark hair spilled down her back in thick, smooth waves, like polished obsidian, and every time she moved even slightly, it drew his attention right back to her again, while her lips, soft, flushed, almost inviting without trying, kept pulling his focus, and making his thoughts blur at the edges.

It wasn’t just attraction anymore.

He wanted all of her, every inch, every reaction, every breath, and more than that, he wanted control over the choice before she could even think of refusing him again.

Across from him, Seraphine could feel it. That intensity, pressure, and she knew exactly what it meant.

This was her moment. "I haven’t had this much wine in a long time," she said, her tone light, almost playful, though her mind was already moving three steps ahead. "Can I use your washroom?"

Santiago didn’t hesitate, his smile returning as he gestured toward a door at the far end of the room. "Right there," he said, then added, his voice dropping just enough to carry a quiet edge, "but when you come back, you’re going to tell me about Corvine."

A pause followed, just long enough to tighten something in her chest.

"If you don’t marry me," he continued, as if he were discussing something trivial, "I’ll take his life."

Seraphine let out a laugh as she stood, smooth and effortless, but the sound lacked warmth, her eyes already cooling even as her lips curved.

"You really do crack expensive jokes," she said casually, turning away from him as though his words hadn’t landed exactly the way he intended.

But she knew better. He wasn’t joking.

As she walked toward the door, she could feel his gaze on her back, heavy, lingering, the kind that made her skin tighten under the open design of her dress, and she didn’t need to look back to know exactly what expression he was wearing.

The moment the door closed behind her, the atmosphere changed.

The washroom was overwhelming in its own way, every surface gleaming with gold, from the sink to the fixtures to the fine detailing etched into the mirrors, all of it reflecting light so brightly it almost felt unreal, like stepping into a space built purely to show off excess rather than serve any real purpose.

For a brief second, Seraphine just stood there, taking it in. Then she exhaled.

No time.

pulled out her phone,

networks, will go down in exactly five minutes. We have one fifty minutes to get everyone out before the place blows up. Contact Leon. Tell

came

What about the evidence?

didn’t change as she

Already moved.

and letting the water run for a moment before flushing the toilet for effect, creating just enough noise to sell the illusion

the

The food was gone.

its place sat more bottles, more glasses,

was waiting. "Drink," he said, pouring her another glass without asking, his eyes fixed on her like he was studying something he had already decided

glass, lifting it to her lips, but the moment the rim touched them,

pulling back just enough to draw

pulled

to look convincing. "Cramps," she said, her voice

irritation flashing across his face at the

the most natural thing in the world. "Let

leaving no

moment, leaning in close to whisper something into Santiago’s ear, and Seraphine didn’t miss the way his expression hardened, nor the low reply he gave that caused the color to drain from the guard’s

Santiago looked back at her,

donner," he said, like nothing

back there," Seraphine replied, gesturing casually toward

briefly pulled elsewhere, and around them, the guards had started moving with more urgency, quiet but noticeable, like something behind

Good.

meant it

once she was out of his direct line of sight, slipping through another door exactly where she knew it would

the main hall giving

steps slowing as his eyes swept

hand against her stomach again, her expression tightening just enough. "Cramps," she said, her voice strained. "I think I missed the washroom... where

eyes that made her

he said

turned and hurried

waste