Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 215

Harry had just hung up the phone when Daisy came running toward him, her little rabbit lantern bouncing in her hand.

"Uncle! I want to video call Liora!"

Harry blinked, a little caught off guard. "Okay."

He pulled up Liora’s contact and hit the call button.

It rang twice before she picked up.

The moment Liora’s face appeared on the screen, Daisy practically shoved the lantern toward the camera.

"Liora, look! A little lantern!"

But the video quality wasn’t great up close, so Daisy turned to Harry.

"Uncle, hold the phone!"

Harry sighed but did as he was told, holding the phone steady while Daisy ran a few steps back into the garden. She held the lantern up high, letting it glow brightly against the dark evening sky.

They were in a small garden area behind the Becker estate. The lighting was dim, which made the warm orange glow of the lantern stand out even more.

Liora stared at the screen, her eyes widening slightly.

Before she could say anything, Daisy ran back over, breathless and grinning.

"This is my aunt’s New Year gift to me! Isn’t it beautiful? So cute?"

Liora blinked.

A lot of things from two or three years ago had become blurry in her memory. But seeing Daisy holding that lantern sparked something, faint images, half-forgotten moments.

She nodded slowly. "Yes. It’s very beautiful. Very cute."

Then, after a pause, she added quietly, "I think I used to play with little lanterns too."

Daisy’s eyes lit up. "Really? You don’t have one now?"

Liora shook her head. "No."

But watching Daisy run around the garden at night with that glowing lantern looked really fun.

Before she could stop herself, Liora said, "I’m going to ask my dad to buy me one! Don’t hang up yet, let’s talk again in a bit!"

Before Daisy could even respond, Liora had already bolted off-screen, phone still in hand.

---

It was New Year’s Eve, and a small group of extended family and business associates had been invited to celebrate at the Wilson estate.

At the moment, Dante was in the main hall, making conversation with some of the guests.

When he saw Liora come running over, he excused himself smoothly, then crouched down and picked her up, carrying her a few steps away from the crowd.

"What’s wrong?"

"That aunt gave Daisy a little lantern, and I want one too."

Dante raised an eyebrow. "A little lantern?"

"Not the red ones that hang on the walls at home," Liora clarified quickly.

She held up her phone and turned it toward him.

"Daisy, show my dad the lantern!"

"Okay..."

On the screen, Daisy stepped back again, holding up the glowing rabbit lantern so Dante could see it clearly.

Dante looked at it for a moment, then nodded.

"Got it. Thank you, Daisy."

Daisy beamed. "You’re welcome!"

Then Dante’s gaze shifted to Harry, who was still holding the phone on the other end.

"Do you have any plans later?" Dante asked casually.

Harry paused, then answered, "I might go out to celebrate the New Year. What about you?"

"I’ll be going out later too."

Harry figured it was probably to see Sienna. After all, it was New Year’s Eve. Dante couldn’t exactly avoid spending time with her tonight.

He didn’t ask where Dante was going. Instead, he changed the subject.

"Were you still busy earlier?"

"Mm. There are still guests at the house."

Harry nodded. He knew how things worked at the Wilson estate. Ever since Dante had taken over as head of the family, his New Year’s Eve had stopped being about rest or celebration. It was just another night of work.

Another night of keeping up appearances.

Harry glanced at the screen one more time, then said, "Alright. I’ll let you get back to it."

Dante nodded. "Alright."

Before handing the phone back to Liora, he paused for a moment, glancing at Harry on the screen with a faint smile.

"Happy New Year."

Harry’s expression softened slightly. "Happy New Year."

Dante handed the phone back to Liora and ruffled her hair. "You can keep chatting with Daisy. I’ll have someone get you a lantern."

Liora’s face lit up. "Okay!"

Dante walked away, already pulling out his own phone to send a quick message to one of his assistants.

Meanwhile, Harry handed his phone back to Daisy so she could continue talking to Liora.

Earlier, when they’d asked each other about their evening plans, Harry hadn’t asked where Dante was going. And Dante hadn’t invited him to join.

It was clear enough. Dante didn’t want company tonight.

Harry didn’t take it personally. He knew how these things worked.

---

After setting off fireworks in the garden, Elodie and Xavier said their goodbyes to Old Lady Miller and Helen, then headed out.

They were going to the broadcasting and TV tower in the capital city.

It was one of the best spots in the city to see the full nightscape, glittering lights stretching out in every direction, the skyline sharp against the dark sky.

On New Year’s Eve, the tower also hosted light shows and performances. It was always packed.

By the time they arrived, the area was already crowded with people. Families. Couples. Groups of friends. The air buzzed with laughter and excitement.

The light show hadn’t started yet.

Hugo had made plans to meet up with some of his classmates at the tower to ring in the New Year together.

As soon as they arrived, Hugo spotted his friends and jogged over to join them.

When a few of his classmates noticed Elodie and Xavier standing nearby, they politely called out, "Hello, sisters!"

But their eyes lingered on Elodie.

One of them leaned toward Hugo and whispered, "Your sister is so beautiful. Like, seriously beautiful."

Hugo grinned proudly. "I know, right?"

The group of teenagers quickly descended into chaos, taking photos, recording videos, laughing loudly, completely absorbed in their own world.

Elodie and Xavier didn’t interrupt. They just stood off to the side, watching with amusement.

That’s when Elodie’s phone buzzed.

She pulled it out.

A message from Harry.

[Are you going to the broadcasting tower to watch the light show tonight?]

Elodie blinked, a little confused about why he was asking. Still, she replied.

[I’ve already arrived. Why?]

Harry’s response came almost immediately.

[Daisy and I are also on our way.]

Elodie stared at the screen for a second, genuinely surprised.

[Oh...]

What a coincidence.

Harry didn’t reply after that.

Elodie slipped her phone back into her pocket and glanced around the crowded plaza, wondering if she’d run into them.

A little while later, the light show began.

The tower lit up in brilliant, sweeping colors- blues and purples and golds, shifting and swirling against the dark sky. Music played through the speakers, perfectly timed with the lights.

Elodie smiled as she watched, mesmerized by the display.

Then she heard it.

"Aunt Elodie!"

She turned around, and sure enough, there they were—Harry and Daisy, weaving through the crowd toward her.

Daisy’s face was glowing with excitement. The moment she saw Elodie, she stretched out her little arms eagerly.

Elodie squeezed through the crowd with Xavier and made her way over. She bent down and scooped Daisy up into her arms.

Daisy immediately wrapped her arms around Elodie’s neck, her eyes glued to the lights above.

"Auntie, look!" she squealed, pointing at the tower.

Elodie laughed. "I see it, sweetheart."

Daisy kept chattering nonstop, giggling and gasping at every color change, completely enthralled.

There were so many people around, families, couples, kids running around with sparklers. The festive energy was infectious. Elodie’s smile stayed soft.

Harry watched her. Watched the way her expression had lightened. The way she laughed at Daisy’s excitement. The way she seemed, for just a moment, unburdened.

After a while, he reached over gently. "Let me take her. Your arms are probably getting tired."

Elodie handed Daisy over without protest.

Harry adjusted Daisy on his hip, then glanced around. "Where’s Hugo? Didn’t he come with you?"

"He’s over there with his classmates," Elodie said, pointing toward a cluster of teenagers taking selfies and laughing loudly.

She started to look away, but then something or rather, someone caught her eye.

Her smile disappeared.

Three familiar faces stood not far away.

Logan. Janice. Landon.

Logan was ruffling Landon’s hair affectionately, smiling down at him. Janice stood beside them, her expression warm and content. The three of them looked happy. Close. Like a perfect little family.

Elodie’s face went cold.

Harry noticed immediately.

He followed her gaze and saw them too.

Before he could say anything, Landon spotted them.

His face lit up. In the middle of all the noise and celebration, he raised his hand and waved enthusiastically.

"Harry!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

At the sound of his voice, Logan and Janice both turned.

When they saw Harry, they smiled.

But when they saw Elodie standing next to him, their smiles faltered.

Especially Janice.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the sight of Elodie and Harry standing together. Her brows knitted, and her expression hardened.

It was clear she didn’t like what she was seeing.

Since they’d already been spotted, it would be awkward not to acknowledge them.

Harry hesitated for a moment, then turned to Elodie.

"I’ll go say hello."

Elodie’s voice was calm. Detached. "Do whatever you want."

Harry studied her face for a second longer, then nodded and walked over with Daisy still in his arms.

---

Xavier had been standing quietly beside Elodie the whole time.

He’d noticed the sudden shift in her expression. The way her face had gone still and cold.

He didn’t have many memories of his former uncle. But seeing the way his aunt had reacted, he could guess who those people were.

His chest tightened.

He reached over and squeezed Elodie’s hand gently.

"Aunt, should we leave?"

Elodie didn’t want to ruin his night. Or Hugo’s. They’d been so excited to come here.

She shook her head. "I’m fine."

But she wasn’t.

The sudden shift in her mood wasn’t because she still had feelings for Logan, didn’t care about him anymore as her father.

It was because seeing him, seeing Janice standing beside him, smiling like she belonged there, made her think of her mother.

Of everything her mother had lost.

Of everything she had lost.