Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 191 – I really thought I had a chance with you

Seraphine took a slow, steady breath, trying to calm the storm building inside her as her mind raced for a way out of the situation without making everything worse. Then something clicked.

Instead of reaching for the ring, she leaned forward and took the bouquet from Leon’s hands, holding it carefully as if that had been the intention all along. "They’re really beautiful," she said softly, giving him a small, controlled smile before gently helping him back to his feet.

"Leon... I think we should talk about this somewhere private," she added under her breath, leaning in just enough so only he could hear her.

Leon blinked, clearly thrown off, confusion flashing across his face as he tried to process her response.

But before he could say anything, the crowd made it impossible to think.

"Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!"

The chant started out scattered, then grew louder as more people joined in, patients, staff, even random onlookers who had no idea what was really going on but were completely invested in the moment.

The noise pressed in on her from every side, making it harder to breathe, harder to think straight.

For a second, Seraphine felt completely stuck.

And Corvine... just stood there. Not because he didn’t care, but because even he didn’t seem to know how to step in without making things worse.

unexpectedly, someone else

Voren.

that immediately cut through the chaos. Stanley, on the other hand, looked like he had been thrown into the situation without warning, stumbling over his

time," he started, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, "but this is urgent, and we

in slightly, lowering his voice. "The

pressed her fingers against her temple, frustration mixing with relief. "Right... I’m sorry. I’ll need a

the car," Corvine cut in

we’ll talk about this, okay?" she said, her tone gentle but firm enough

that, the mood

drained from the crowd, replaced with visible disappointment as cameras slowly lowered and murmurs

quickly transferred the files onto a hard drive, her movements precise despite everything still running through her head, then handed it over to Stanley. "Here. I completely forgot

I," Stanley admitted, glancing sideways at Voren with a knowing look.

for some reason, the only thing she felt in that moment was gratitude. He had stepped in at exactly the right time, pulling her out before things went too far, before

hadn’t, she might have said yes

didn’t look like you were about to accept, though," Stanley

a word out, Voren grabbed Stanley by the arm and pulled him

caught something unexpected. The faintest hint of a smile at the corner

her pause, her brows pulling together slightly as she tried to make

Corvine let out a breath he had clearly been holding, then moved to open the passenger door for her. "For a second there, I really thought you were going to accept," he admitted, his tone careful, almost probing. "He

she said, her voice colder than before,

the door slowly, her words settling heavily in his chest. Part of him felt relieved hearing that, knowing it meant no one else