Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 112

ELODIE’S POV~

As soon as the realization settled in, a wave of sharp bitterness rose in my throat, that was unwelcomed.

The air in the car suddenly felt thick, and suffocating. I needed fresh air, needed to breathe but my hand hovered over the window button, trembling slightly.

In the end, I didn’t press it.

Instead, I turned my head and stared out the window, watching the city blur past, trying to focus on anything other than the ache spreading through my chest.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed before the car finally slowed to a stop.

We’d arrived at Liora’s school.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out, walking around to help Liora with her backpack. Dante stayed in the car, his phone still in his hand.

Liora glanced back at him, her little face hopeful. "Dad..."

She wanted him to come with us. I could see it in her eyes.

"I’ve got something to handle," Dante said, his tone clipped.

"Oh..." Liora’s shoulders sagged, and she turned back toward the school, following her teacher inside without another word.

I stood by the car for a moment, watching her disappear through the gates. Then I turned back toward Dante, my hand resting on the roof of the car.

Despite everything, despite the awkwardness, the tension, the humiliation, I wasn’t going to make this harder than it needed to be.

"You can go ahead," I said evenly. "I’ll grab a taxi to the office."

Dante glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable. "It’s on the way."

I hesitated.

I didn’t want to get back in that car. Didn’t want to sit in the front seat alone while his phone buzzed with messages from Sienna. I didn’t want to pretend this was normal.

But he didn’t seem to care one way or the other. And if he didn’t care, why should I let it bother me?

So I said nothing.

After watching Liora until she was safely inside, I turned and got back into the car.

The silence was heavier this time. Oppressive. Dante was still on his phone, his fingers moving quickly across the screen. I pulled out my own and opened the documents Johnny had sent earlier, forcing myself to focus.

Before I knew it, the car had stopped.

"We’re here."

I looked up, startled. We were parked in front of Cole Technologies, the sleek glass building towering above us. The luxurious Bentley was already drawing curious stares from people passing by.

I grabbed my bag quickly, not wanting to linger. "Thank you."

Dante glanced at me, his expression as neutral as ever. "Mm."

Then he nodded to the driver. "Let’s go."

The car pulled away before I’d even reached the entrance.

I walked into the building, trying to shake off the lingering unease that clung to me.

---

At lunch, Johnny had arranged a business meeting with some potential partners. I went along, grateful for the distraction.

As our car pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot, I spottedDante.

He’d just gotten out of his car, his tall frame unmistakable even from a distance. And then, a second later, Sienna stepped out from the passenger side.

Of course.

Johnny parked the car and let out a low sigh, rubbing his forehead. "What a coincidence."

"Mm." I kept my voice neutral, unbothered.

Then I noticed two more figures approaching them. It was Logan and Lauren. They must have arrived earlier and were now walking toward Dante and Sienna with warm, familiar smiles.

One big happy family.

"Should we wait until they leave?" Johnny asked quietly, his eyes flicking toward me. "Or do you want to get out now?"

I didn’t hesitate. "Let’s get out."

I hadn’t done anything wrong. I wasn’t going to hide in a car like I was ashamed.

Johnny nodded and opened his door.

I took a breath, smoothed down my jacket, and stepped out into the open air.

The moment my heels hit the pavement, I felt their eyes on me.

When Dante and Sienna saw us, they both noticed immediately.

Dante’s expression remained calm, his gaze sliding over me for just a second before he turned away. Like I was part of the scenery.

Sienna, though? Her entire demeanor shifted the moment her eyes landed on me. The polite smile she’d been wearing for Logan and Lauren vanished, replaced by something colder.

My heart sank.

In the past, Sienna had been cold toward me, dismissive, even. But she’d never been openly hostile. Not like this.

I had a pretty good idea why.

Dante must have told her about the villa situation. About how I’d asked him to intervene and stop Lauren’s family from moving in across from Uncle Jason’s house.

He’d agreed to help me, and Sienna had probably gone along with it. But that didn’t mean she was happy about it.

To her, this wasn’t about the villa. It was about the fact that I’d reached out to Dante. That I’d asked him for something. That there was still some connection between us, however fragile.

And Sienna clearly didn’t want that.

Her expression grew even icier.

Logan noticed her reaction and followed her gaze, his eyes landing on me. His brow furrowed slightly, and I could see the gears turning in his head. But he said nothing. Just looked away, as if I wasn’t worth the effort.

Lauren, on the other hand, looked almost smug. She knew how much Dante valued Sienna. She knew exactly what this looked like, me standing here, irrelevant and unwanted, while Sienna stood at Dante’s side like she belonged there.

But Lauren was smart enough not to say anything. Not in front of Dante.

Sienna walked forward, but she didn’t come toward me.

She went straight to Johnny.

"Mr. Gray, what a coincidence!" she said brightly, her smile warm and genuine. "We keep running into each other, don’t we?"

Johnny’s smile was stiff, polite. "Yeah. Quite the coincidence."

"I’ve been meaning to invite you to lunch," Sienna continued, her tone light and breezy. "But things have been so hectic lately, I just haven’t had the time."

Johnny’s jaw tightened slightly. "Miss Brown, no need to be so formal. We all know how busy you are."

The sarcasm in his voice was subtle, but it was there.

After all, if she’d really wanted to meet with him, she would have made the time by now. It had been over a month since the exhibition.

Logan saw an opening and jumped in, greeting Johnny warmly and making small talk. He was clearly trying to build rapport, to establish a good relationship.

Then his gaze flicked back to me, lingering for just a moment before he turned away and followed Dante and Sienna toward the restaurant entrance.

The entire group walked past me without a second glance.

Like I wasn’t even there.

Johnny watched them go, then let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed his temples. "They really know how to pretend you don’t exist."

I shrugged, keeping my voice even. "Mm."

Then I looked at him and said, "Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep our guests waiting."

---

That evening, I ended up working late.

Around 7 p.m., my phone buzzed. Nonna’s name flashed across the screen.

I hesitated for a second, then answered. "Hello, Nonna."

"Elodiw, sweetheart, when are you coming home?" Her voice was warm, but I could hear the underlying question, the gentle prodding.

I glanced at my laptop screen, at the half-finished work still staring back at me. I knew I should go home earlier, especially with Nonna staying at the villa. But there were still so many things I hadn’t sorted through, and I hated leaving work unfinished.

After a moment of hesitation, I said, "I’m sorry, Nonna. I have to work overtime tonight, so I’ll be home later."

Nonna let out a long, weary sigh. "Dante’s busy. You’re busy. The two of you are always so caught up in work... when are you ever going to make progress?"

I froze..

She meant with our relationship. With our marriage.

I closed my eyes, my chest tightening.