Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever-Chapter 51 - Double the amount

By the time Seraphine and Corvine stepped out of the private room, Nicole was still standing nearby, hovering in that uneasy way people did when they wanted to help but did not quite know how to.

The moment Seraphine appeared, Nicole moved closer, her brows pulled together with concern as she reached out gently.

"How did it go?" she asked softly, and then, before Seraphine could even answer, she added, "Sera, I’m really sorry," her voice dropping as she apologized again, guilt written all over her face.

Seraphine forced a small smile that did not reach her eyes, the kind of smile people wore when they were already exhausted from carrying too much. She shook her head lightly and replied, "It’s not your fault, Nicole. They would’ve still searched for me anyway, no matter what you did."

Her gaze drifted briefly across the room and settled on Pete, who stood stiffly near the server station, watching everything with cautious eyes, before she straightened her shoulders and announced calmly, "I’m leaving now."

Pete reacted immediately, stepping toward her with urgency written all over his face, his hands coming together in front of him like he was praying for mercy.

"Please, Miss Walker," he said carefully, choosing his words with obvious effort. "I know my boss is arrogant, and I’m really sorry about that, but can you just leave our server alone? The long-term damage could affect employment, and a lot of people depend on this to feed their families."

Seraphine frowned slightly, not in anger but in quiet irritation, because she was tired of men apologizing for other men’s behavior.

"Your boss likes sticking his nose in things that do not concern him," she replied politely, even though her eyes carried a sharp edge. "I already gave him my terms."

She took one last look around the room, committing faces and corners to memory out of habit, and then walked out beside Corvine without looking back.

Pete released a slow breath once they were gone, rubbing the back of his neck as he murmured, "I’ve met powerful women before, but there’s just something about her."

Nicole smiled knowingly, because she understood exactly what he meant.

It was Seraphine’s Luna aura, quietly asserting itself without effort. In their world, once someone was born Luna or Alpha, that essence never truly left, no matter how much they tried to reject it.

Seraphine had walked away from the position, had turned her back on the crown and the expectations that came with it, but the aura refused to release her, because power like that was not granted, it was woven into her soul from birth.

Inside the car, Corvine kept both hands on the steering wheel as sun light slid across the windshield, his jaw tight with thought.

"Are you really taking ten billion from Voren?" he asked, glancing at her briefly.

Seraphine turned toward him slowly, her brows knitting together.

"Do I look like I’m joking?" she replied, her lips pressing together with quiet determination before she continued, her voice dropping into something colder and more thoughtful.

"I want to break their friendship so I can deal with Ravyn easily, and honestly, does he think I would ever allow him to live happily when my heart is still screaming for my daughter?"

Her phone rang just then, and when she saw Humphrey’s name on the screen, her chest tightened instantly.

No matter how hard she tried to stay ruthless, her love for the wise couple she had grown to accept as her parents always made things complicated. Every harsh move against Ravyn felt heavier because of them, but she answered anyway. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Dad," she said, forcing steadiness into her voice. "Did he call you?"

Humphrey chuckled softly on the other end. "Smart as always."

Seraphine swallowed, her pulse quickening. "And you aren’t upset?"

"I am," Humphrey replied, and this time his tone was serious enough to make her stomach sink.

For a moment, Seraphine almost decided to forget the money altogether and just take down the viral video, because the weight of family mattered more than revenge, but then Humphrey continued.

"They got caught in their own trap, but don’t you think two billion is too little? He never gave you alimony, and he never paid for taking the life of our grandchild."

Her brows lifted in shock. She had not been the one to tell them about the child directly, and hearing the pain in Humphrey’s voice made her realize how deeply it had hit them too, how they had been carrying their own grief quietly while supporting her.

She leaned back against the seat, staring out the window as his words settled into her bones. He had a point, a very solid one, and beyond that, Humphrey was not just family, he was also a powerful ally.

"I think I have a plan," she said slowly. "Thanks, Dad, and I’ll make sure Voren never helps Ravyn in any way again."

A satisfied sigh came through the line. "Now that’s what I’m talking about, and I’ve also heard about all the magic you’re working on Stone Group’s stock."

Seraphine smiled faintly, surprised he even knew, but she did not bother asking how. "They’ve been a great help to me," she replied. "They deserve it."

The moment she lowered the phone, Corvine’s device rang, and he answered without hesitation, linking it straight to the dashboard.

As soon as Voren’s voice filled the car, Seraphine leaned toward Corvine and said calmly, "Double the amount."

Corvine hesitated for half a second, then relayed the message. "I’m sorry, Mr. Ashkael, but Sera changed her mind," he said evenly. "She’s taking double the amount, or you find someone else."

On the other end, Voren’s grip tightened around his phone as anger boiled through him.

"What the fuck does she mean by that?" Voren snapped.

Corvine shrugged even though Voren could not see it. "It is what it is," Corvine replied coolly, then added, "and it’s the same with Ravyn. His price triples. Honestly, I think you should’ve ended everything when you had her physically."

He ended the call before Voren could respond. Seraphine gave Corvine a thumbs-up, her lips curling into a dangerous smile, because she knew exactly how badly that would sting.

And just like that, only a few days after these men had expected her to arrive in the city begging and broken, they were the ones trapped in her palm, waiting for her mercy, while Seraphine sat back in the car, finally reclaiming control over a world that once thought it had destroyed her.

What she did not expect was another call from Voren before they reached the mansion and what he said, surprised them.