Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever-Chapter 77 – Please accept this gift

’I sent my driver to pick you up. If you do not step outside right now and get into the car, you already know what will happen.’

The message sat on Emery’s screen like a loaded weapon, and for a split second the world around her seemed to blur into nothing but those words.

She stopped walking, her shoulders stiffened, and the faint sound of her uneven breathing filled the quiet hallway. Tears swam in her eyes, distorting her vision as she slowly lifted her gaze from the glowing screen to where Corvine stood a few steps away, confusion and concern written all over his face.

"I’m sorry," she said, her voice breaking under the weight of something heavier than embarrassment or pride. "I can’t."

There was finality in her tone, the kind that did not invite negotiation.

Before either of them could reach her, Emery turned and walked out without looking back, as though looking back would shatter whatever fragile resolve she had left.

Corvine moved instantly, frustration and urgency flashing across his features. He opened his mouth, ready to call after her, but Seraphine caught his arm with surprising firmness.

"Do not stop her," she said, her voice low but commanding. "We follow her, but we do it quietly."

Her eyes were sharp now, calculating, every instinct she possessed rising to the surface.

Corvine hesitated only a second before nodding. He trusted her judgment, especially when danger hovered so close it felt tangible.

By the time they reached the entrance, Emery was already stepping into a black SUV that had pulled up with unsettling precision. The vehicle did not linger. The moment the door shut, it sped off as if it had been waiting for exactly that second.

Corvine’s eyes narrowed, and even in the rush of adrenaline, his mind worked fast enough to memorize the plate number before the car disappeared around the corner.

"Sera, we have to move now," he said urgently.

She was already at his side before he finished speaking.

They got into his car and pulled out smoothly, careful not to draw attention, and maintaining just enough distance to avoid suspicion while refusing to lose sight of the SUV’s taillights.

The city lights blurred past them as tension thickened the air inside the car. Seraphine’s hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her nails pressing into her skin as her thoughts raced ahead of the moment.

The SUV eventually slowed in front of a tall black gate that slid open with mechanical precision. The vehicle disappeared inside, and the gate closed immediately after, sealing whatever lay beyond it from view.

Corvine’s jaw tightened. "I’m going to knock," he said, already reaching for the door handle.

Seraphine shook her head firmly. "No. If we show our faces now, whoever is inside will know Emery talked. We help her, but we stay invisible."

Her voice carried that calm authority again, the kind that turned chaos into strategy. After all, she as born a Luna.

Corvine nodded, forcing himself to step back from impulse.

Seraphine pulled out her phone and dialed the emergency number, her tone composed as she reported suspicious activity at the address, emphasizing possible trafficking and unlawful confinement without revealing her identity.

The response was faster than either of them expected.

Within minutes, flashing lights painted the dark street in red and blue, sirens cutting through the silence as police vehicles surrounded the property. Officers stormed through the gate once it was forced open, and what followed confirmed every fear that had been tightening Seraphine’s chest.

It was not just Emery who was brought out. Several young women emerged, some shaken, some crying, others eerily silent, all escorted by officers.

Seraphine’s stomach twisted at the sight. "Let’s go home," she said quietly after a moment. "They will all be taken to the station for questioning. You can follow up tomorrow."

The most urgent thing had been getting Emery out of there alive, and that much was accomplished.

Yet as the arrested men were lined up and led away, Seraphine scanned every face carefully.

The one she was looking for was not there. Zane’s face was nowhere in sight.

Corvine’s instinct was to drive straight to the station and demand answers, but reality tugged at him. The Sovereign Circle event was happening over the weekend, and Seraphine needed to prepare. The empire they were building could not pause because of Daisy or whoever she was involved with.

When they finally arrived home, the quiet of the mansion felt heavier than before.

"Focus on the event," Corvine said firmly, turning to her as they stepped inside. "Win over as many billionaires as you can, and leave Zane and Emery to me."

Seraphine studied him for a moment before nodding. She trusted him, but trust did not erase caution.

"If you are going to see her," she added seriously, "make sure you have bodyguards nearby. They can stay hidden, but do not ever meet her alone."

A faint smile stretched Corvine’s lips, not because he found it amusing, but because he recognized the care behind her warning.

"You are right," he said softly. "I will be careful."

He handled everything else after that, allowing Seraphine the space she needed to prepare for something much larger. No matter how aggressively their problems were, Seraphine and Corvine never lost sight of the bigger goal.

They were not just fighting enemies but also building an empire. The day before the event, a parcel arrived.

Seraphine frowned slightly as she picked it up, confusion knitting her brows together. She assumed it was from Corvine at first, but the handwriting on the attached note was unfamiliar, neat but distinctly not his.

She opened the box carefully, and inside lay a dress that was nothing short of breathtaking, elegant in a way that balanced power and grace effortlessly.

Her fingers brushed over the fabric before she unfolded the note.

’Dad said the event is top notch. You need to wear something that matches the atmosphere. Please accept this gift.’

There was no signature, but Seraphine knew exactly who it was. A genuine smile stretched her lips as she reached for her phone and dialed his number.

Leon answered on the first ring, his voice carrying unmistakable anticipation. "Do you like it? Does it fit?"

"I love it, Leon," she said honestly, warmth filling her tone. "Thank you so much."

She had originally planned to wear something from her closet, something already impressive, but the dress in front of her made it clear that she had been underestimating the scale of the event.

Without wasting time, she booked an appointment for a full makeover, determined to present herself not just as a businesswoman, but as a force no one could ignore.

This time, she was punctual. Every document she needed was prepared and organized. There would be no oversight, no room for error.

When Corvine returned from the office later that evening, Seraphine was just about to leave for her appointment.

He stepped inside, loosened his tie slightly, and then looked up. The moment his eyes landed on her, his breath caught in his throat.

She stood there in the dress Leon had sent, the fabric contouring her figure flawlessly, her presence commanding without effort. There was something different about her tonight, something sharper, almost luminous.

But the words that left his mouth next did not match the admiration in his eyes, and the second he said them, Seraphine felt a quiet unease begin to spread through her chest.