Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 207

Sienna smiled and reached over to lightly pat Landon’s head, the way an older sister would when her little brother said something cute.

"Dante has an important meeting he couldn’t get out of," she said gently. "But he knows you’re coming to the capital, so he canceled another event and booked a private room just for you. How’s that? Satisfied?"

Landon huffed, tilting his head like he was considering it.

"Well... I guess that’ll do."

Then he puffed out his chest a little, looking ridiculously proud.

"My sister is so beautiful and outstanding," he declared, loud enough for people nearby to hear. "He should do *whatever it takes* to marry her!"

Sienna’s cheeks flushed just slightly, but she was smiling. So were Janice and Logan. Even Sophia looked amused.

It was the kind of moment that looked perfect from the outside. Warm. Happy. Like a family that had everything figured out.

Meanwhile, Elodie had just finished wrapping up her conversation with Mr. Taylor.

She kept her tone polite, professional, her smile carefully in place. But inside, she just wanted to get out of there.

They headed toward the cars.

As Elodie reached for the door handle, she heard voices nearby.

"Wow, what a stunning family. Are they celebrities or something?"

"I don’t know, but they look so happy together. I’m so jealous."

Elodie’s jaw tightened.

She climbed into the car and shut the door, cutting off the noise.

---

She and Mr. Taylor talked for almost an hour during the drive. By the time they finally pulled up in front of the restaurant, it was nearly noon.

Elodie stepped out of the car, Mr. Taylor following close behind.

That’s when she saw Logan. Janice. Sienna. Landon. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

They’d just arrived too.

Logan’s eyes landed on her immediately. His expression shifted, just slightly, into a frown.

Of course. He hadn’t expected her to be here.

Sienna, on the other hand, didn’t even flinch. She just smiled calmly and gave Logan a small, reassuring look. Like she was saying, Don’t worry. I’ve got this.

Before Dante had officially filed for divorce, he’d hosted her family once. And back then, Sienna had been careful. Extremely careful. She didn’t want to do anything that might upset him or make things awkward.

Now that the divorce was almost finalized?

She was even more careful.

Logan seemed to understand. He relaxed a little, nodding subtly.

He didn’t want anything to ruin their happy day. Not today.

Elodie didn’t look at them.

She turned her attention back to Mr. Taylor, keeping her expression neutral.

Then she heard another car pull up behind her.

Johnny climbed out, adjusting his jacket, and immediately spotted Logan and his family. His eyes lingered on Landon for a moment, taking in the kid’s excited energy, the way he was chattering nonstop to Sienna.

But Logan and the others had already turned around and were heading inside. They didn’t even notice Johnny standing there.

Johnny let out a quiet breath and walked over to Elodie and Mr. Taylor.

"Mr. Taylor," he said warmly, extending a hand. "Good to see you again."

Mr. Taylor grinned and shook his hand. "Likewise, Mr. Gray. Shall we head up?"

They were just about to walk inside when another black, sleek and expensive car pulled up.

Elodie didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Dante stepped out of the car, calm and composed as always, his tailored suit fitting him perfectly. He looked like he’d just walked off the cover of a business magazine.

Mr. Taylor’s face lit up the moment he saw him.

"Mr. Wilson!"

Dante’s eyes flicked briefly to Elodie and Johnny. His expression didn’t change. Not even a little.

He walked over with that same easy confidence, a faint smile on his lips as he shook Mr. Taylor’s hand.

"Mr. Taylor. When did you arrive in the capital?"

"Just now, just now," Mr. Taylor said, still grinning. "Last time we met, you mentioned getting together when you had time. How about this evening? Are you free?"

Dante shook his head politely. "I have a full schedule today. Maybe in a couple of days?"

"Of course, of course. A couple of days works perfectly."

As Dante and Mr. Taylor continued chatting like old friends, Johnny stood off to the side, arms crossed, his jaw tight.

He leaned slightly toward Elodie and muttered under his breath, "We got a whole two weeks of peace. And now we run into them again."

Elodie didn’t respond.

She just kept her eyes forward, her expression blank, her hands clasped loosely in front of her.

But now that she thought about it, it really had been half a month since she’d last seen Dante. Even when she’d gone to the hospital last weekend to visit Nonna, he hadn’t been there.

Over the past ten days, Liora had called her a few times. Especially in the last two or three days.

Maybe it was because of the winter break. Maybe Dante and Sienna were too busy to keep her entertained. Whatever the reason, Liora had been calling more often, clearly bored and looking for something or someone to fill the time.

Elodie hadn’t answered any of the calls.

Still, Dante had kept his word. She wasn’t sure what he’d told Liora, but even though Elodie never picked up, Liora hadn’t shown up at the Miller house unannounced.

It saved her some trouble.

At this point, Dante and Mr. Taylor had wrapped up their conversation.

The group stepped into the elevator together.

Mr. Taylor, chatty as ever, glanced between Elodie, Johnny, and Dante. He seemed to notice the lack of warmth, the stiff silence, the way none of them were really looking at each other.

His smile faltered slightly, turning a bit awkward.

Elodie could feel Dante’s gaze on her.

She kept her eyes forward, jaw tight, refusing to acknowledge it.

But then he spoke.

"When will you be free next?"

Elodie’s eyes flicked up, meeting his.

His expression was calm. Unbothered. Like this was just a casual question.

She looked away immediately, her voice flat and cold.

"I’m never free."

She didn’t need to guess what this was about. She could tell with her eyes closed.

It was about Liora.

It had only been a little over half a month since she’d last seen her daughter. There were still more than ten days left before the month was up.

She’d been busy. Too busy to take Liora out. Too busy to play pretend happy family.

Dante’s faint smile didn’t waver. He didn’t seem fazed by her tone at all.

"The New Year is coming soon," he said simply.

Elodie froze.

Oh.

That’s what he meant.

If she didn’t make time to see Liora soon, then the New Year would come and go, and she’d have missed her window entirely.

She’d been so buried in work that she’d completely forgotten.

Still, she wasn’t about to let him guilt her into anything.

"I don’t mind not taking her for a month," she said coolly.

After all, she’d spent plenty of time with Liora last month. What difference did one month make?

Dante raised an eyebrow at that.

But he didn’t say anything else.

Mr. Taylor, who had been listening to this exchange with growing confusion, looked between them like he was trying to solve a puzzle.

He had no idea what they were talking about, but the tension was impossible to miss.

Before he could ask, the elevator chimed.

Ding.

The doors slid open.

Dante nodded politely at Mr. Taylor. "Enjoy your meal."

Then he stepped out without another word.

The doors closed behind him.

Mr. Taylor turned to Elodie, his expression curious and just a little bit suspicious.

"Miss Miller," he said slowly, "are you and Mr. Bellini... not a couple?"

Elodie’s face remained perfectly neutral. "No."

Mr. Taylor didn’t look convinced. He studied her for a moment, clearly thinking she was just upset and denying it out of pride.

He opened his mouth, probably to say something about how well-suited they seemed, when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and his attention shifted immediately.

The topic was dropped.

---

After lunch, Elodie, Johnny, and Mr. Taylor headed back downstairs.

They were walking through the parking lot, discussing the next steps for the partnership, when Elodie saw them.

Dante And the Brown family. Logan. Janice. Sienna. Landon.

They were standing near a sleek black car, clearly wrapping up their own meal. Landon was laughing loudly about something, his voice carrying across the lot. Sienna stood close to Dante, her hand resting lightly on his arm as she smiled up at him.

Elodie stopped walking.

Johnny noticed immediately. He followed her gaze and let out a quiet sigh.

"Of course," he muttered under his breath.

Mr. Taylor, oblivious, kept talking.