Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 94

ELODIE’S POV~

But Mr. Kim looked extremely curious. "Does your husband work in tech as well?"

I hesitated.

What was I supposed to say?

Oh yes, actually you know him. He’s your boss. The man who just left with his girlfriend?

"Sort of," I said instead.

Mr. Kim had talked to me earlier about some technical issues, he knew I was competent in the field. He probably assumed my husband was in the same industry. I could see the question forming on his face, ready to ask for a name.

But something in my expression must have warned him off.

I didn’t want to talk about it. Didn’t want to explain. Didn’t want to stand here in the lobby of my husband’s company and pretend my marriage wasn’t a complete disaster.

Mr. Kim smiled politely and changed the subject.

I could feel Johnny beside me, practically vibrating with the effort of keeping quiet.

I knew what he wanted to say. The husband you’re asking about? That’s your boss. Dante Wilson. The guy who just took the elevator down with Sienna.’

He would have said that.

But he didn’t.

And I was grateful.

Because once Mr. Kim and the others knew who I really was, knew I was Dante’s wife, the one being replaced by Sienna, everything would get complicated.

They’d feel awkward. Wouldn’t know how to interact with me. And it wouldn’t be surprising if someone, trying to curry favor with Sienna, started making things difficult for me.

Better to just stay quiet and stay anonymous.

At least for now. By the way, Dante would be extremely infuriated once he got to know my identity had been revealed to people. He wanted our marriage hidden. Then so be it.

Johnny and I left Wilson Tech and went our separate ways in the parking lot.

I drove to the villa, to see Liora like I’d promised.

She was waiting for me when I arrived. The second I walked through the door, she came running.

"Mom!"

"Hey, sweetheart." I ruffled her hair, smiling despite everything.

She looked down at my feet immediately. "You’re really okay now? Your ankle?"

"I’m fine. All healed."

"Can I see?"

"There’s nothing to see—"

"Please? I want to make sure."

I sighed but kicked off my shoe anyway, pointing to the ankle I’d twisted.

Liora crouched down, inspecting it carefully. "There’s no bruise or anything..."

"It’s not swollen anymore. That’s why you can’t see anything."

"Oh." She stood back up, satisfied but still concerned. "You still shouldn’t stand too long. I already had someone prepare dinner. Let’s eat, okay?"

My chest felt warm. "Okay."

She took my hand, her small fingers curling around mine and led me toward the dining room.

There were two place settings at the table. Just two.

Dante’s usual seat was empty.

I stared at it for a second too long.

And Liora was quick to notice. "Dad said he’s busy tonight. Won’t be home for dinner. So it’s just us."

Busy? Yeah, right...

I’d seen him in that elevator with Sienna barely an hour ago. Seen the way they’d left together.

He wasn’t busy.

He was having dinner with her.

But I didn’t say that. Didn’t correct Liora’s innocent assumption that her father was working late.

What would be the point?

"Just us is good," I said instead, squeezing her hand.

Liora smiled. A very big bright and genuine smile. "Yeah. I like it when it’s just us."

We sat down. Sabina had prepared all of Liora’s favorites and a few of mine, I noticed. Sweet and sour pork. Stir-fried vegetables. Soup that smelled like ginger and something else I couldn’t quite place.

Liora started chattering about school. About her friends. About some project she was working on.

And I listened. Really listened.

Let her voice wash over me. Let myself pretend, just for this one meal, that everything was normal.

That I was just a mom having dinner with her daughter.

Dinner was nice.

Really nice, actually.

Liora continued to talk nonstop about school, about her friends, about some more science project she was excited about. And I just listened, asking questions when she paused, laughing when she told me about something funny that happened in class.

Maybe it was because I’d been giving her more space lately. Less hovering around her. Less desperate attempts to force closeness.

Whatever the reason, she seemed... lighter with me. More open... now.

Less impatient. More affectionate.

Like my little girl again.

After dinner, she grabbed my hand. "Mom, can you help me with my bath? And wash my hair?"

"Of course."

"And blow-dry it after?"

"Sure, baby."

Her smile was so bright it hurt to look at.

Bath time turned into playtime. Liora splashed around, told me more stories, let me wash her hair without complaint. And when I wrapped her in a towel afterward, she leaned against me like she used to when she was smaller.

"Mom?" she asked as I was blow-drying her hair.

"Yeah?"

"Can you take me to school tomorrow?"

I paused and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

She was watching me. Her eyes were hopeful that I wouldn’t decline her request.

"Of course I can."

"Really?"

"Really."

Her grin was worth everything.

It had been ten days since the hot spring resort. Ten days since I’d had any real quality time with her. And now here she was, asking me to stay. Wanting me around.

I wasn’t going to waste it.

"I’m staying here tonight," I told her as I finished with her hair. "Is that okay?"

"Yes!" She threw her arms around me. "Can you sleep in my room?"

My throat felt tight. "If you want me to."

"I do!"

So that’s what I did.

I took a shower in Liora’s bathroom, borrowed one of the spare nightgowns I kept in her closet, and climbed into bed beside her.

She curled up against me immediately. My little girl was small and warm and smelling like the lavender shampoo I’d just used on her hair.

"You’re comfy, Mom," she mumbled, already half-asleep.

I kissed the top of her head. "Go to sleep, sweetheart."

And... She was out within minutes.

But I stayed awake longer.

Staring at the ceiling. Listening to her breathe.

Trying not to think about the fact that I hadn’t gone back to the master bedroom. That I was sleeping in my daughter’s room instead of the room I technically still shared with Dante.

Because what was the point?

He wasn’t there anyway.

The last time Liora had slept with me like this, she’d been sick. Feverish and miserable, wanting her mom.

But tonight she wasn’t sick. She just... wanted me.

And I was greedy enough to take it. To hold onto this moment as tightly as I could.

Even if I knew it wouldn’t last. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

I finally fell asleep sometime after eleven.

Dante still hadn’t come home.

—————

The next morning, I found out Dante hadn’t come home at all.

Sabina mentioned it casually while making breakfast. "Mr. Wilson called early this morning. Said he stayed at the office working late on a project."

Right.

A project.

That’s what we were calling it now.

I didn’t respond. I just nodded and finished my coffee.

I took Liora to school like I’d promised. She chattered the whole way, pointing out things through the window, telling me about her day ahead.

And I listened. Smiled. Responded at the right moments.

But part of me was somewhere else.

Part of me was thinking about how Liora had texted Sienna last night. How careful she’d been to hide it.

How she only really needed me when Dante wasn’t around. When she was bored. When Sienna wasn’t available.

I was a backup. A substitute.

Not the first choice.

Maybe not even the second.

And I hated how much that hurt.

Hated how desperate I was for these scraps of attention from my own daughter.

But what choice did I have?

After I dropped her off, I sat in the parking lot for a moment and watched her disappear into the school building, her backpack bouncing against her shoulders.

Then I drove to work. At least, at Cole, my presence was valued. At least it was somewhere I think I was being seen and welcomed entirely.