Alpha's Regret: Losing His True Mate-Chapter 193

Dante didn’t answer right away. Instead, he asked, "Do you want to have lunch with me, or with your mom and the others?"

Liora looked confused. "Huh? Aren’t we all eating together?"

"We were going to," Dante said. "But something came up."

Elodie and the boys overheard but didn’t say anything.

Dante ruffled Liora’s hair. "Don’t worry about it yet. Let’s ski first. We’ll figure out lunch later."

"Okay!"

The three kids ran off, chattering excitedly.

Elodie pulled on her ski goggles and glanced at Dante. "The divorce still isn’t finalized?"

Dante shook his head. "Not yet."

He paused, then added, "If you need money, I can transfer some to your account."

Elodie was about to respond when Liora’s voice carried across the snow.

"Mom! Hurry up!"

Before she could say anything else, her phone rang.

She frowned when she saw it was Uncle Jason.

“Hello, Uncle Jason?”

"Someone from Wilson Corp just reached out," he said. "They want to discuss a potential collaboration."

Jason had been around long enough to know that Dante didn’t do favors without a reason. He was calling to ask what was going on, whether this project had strings attached, and whether he should even consider it.

Elodie didn’t answer right away. After hanging up, she looked over at Dante.

"My uncle said someone from Wilson contacted him. About a project."

Dante started to say something, but she cut him off.

"I know you’re probably trying to repay me and Grandma for helping with Nonna. But we didn’t go to the hospital because of you. And we don’t need the project."

She knew exactly what would happen if they did business with Wilson. The Brown and Green families would make it hell. They’d find ways to sabotage it, twist it, use it against them.

And even if Dante really was trying to thank her, she also knew who he loved.

And it was Sienna.

If Dante changed his mind one day and used this favor to manipulate her, to guilt her into something, it would become a weapon. And the Miller family would pay the price.

She didn’t want his project. And she didn’t trust his reasons for offering it.

Her voice went cold. "You don’t need to worry. After the divorce, we’ll go our separate ways. I won’t cling to you."

In her mind, this was just another way for him to draw a line. He was afraid she’d hold on. But she’d already let go.

Dante looked at her for a long moment.

Then, quietly, he said, "Okay."

Elodie didn’t respond. She pulled out her phone and called Jason back, telling him to turn down the offer.

After she hung up, she went to join the kids.

The rest of the day went smoothly. No drama occurred nor did any surprises.

Most of the time, Elodie was talking to Xavier, Hugo, and Liora. She and Dante barely spoke unless it was absolutely necessary. And he didn’t try to start any conversations either.

Around noon, Dante walked over. "I need to head out for a bit."

Elodie glanced up. "Okay."

He turned to Liora. "Do you want to—"

"I’m going to a movie with Mom and the others!" Liora cut him off, grinning.

It wasn’t something Elodie had promised. Hugo and Xavier had brought it up, and the three kids had made the plan on their own before telling her.

Dante nodded. "Alright."

He gave Elodie a brief nod, then turned and left.

About ten minutes later, Elodie’s phone rang.

Paul. Her divorce lawyer.

"I just got off the phone with Dante," he said. "He’s drafting a new divorce agreement today. Different from the last one. He’s giving you two or three more properties. Each one’s worth over a hundred million."

Elodie’s face stayed blank.

So that’s what this was. He didn’t believe her when she said she wouldn’t cling to him. He thought she’d keep circling back, making things difficult.

The extra properties were his way of buying peace of mind. A clean break.

But she didn’t want his money. Didn’t want anything from him.

"Okay. I understand. No objections. Handle the rest however you need to."

She hung up.

---

Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Dante walked into a private dining room.

Sienna was already there. So were the Green and Brown families, along with a few others.

The second Dante and Sienna stepped in, the room erupted in smiles and greetings.

Sienna sat down next to her aunt, Tracy.

Dante took a seat and started chatting with a couple of CEOs and some of the other guests.

Tracy leaned in close to Sienna, voice low and urgent.

"I just heard from your uncle that Dante’s giving a project from Wilson Corp to the Miller family!"

Sienna stayed calm. "I already know."

Tracy’s eyes went wide. "I also heard that over the past few days, Dante and Elodie have been getting awfully close. Someone even saw him having lunch with Old Madam Miller yesterday. What if they’re getting back together?"

"They were never together to begin with," Sienna said coolly. "There’s nothing to get back."

She didn’t like the way Tracy phrased it. Made it sound like Dante had ever actually loved Elodie.

Seeing Tracy still looking anxious, Sienna explained.

"Nonna and the Miller family have a good relationship. Dante needs to stay on good terms with Elodie and Old Madam Miller so they don’t pressure Nonna into forcing him to break up with me. That’s all this is."

Tracy blinked, caught off guard.

Nonna’s fall had already gotten the Brown and Green families kicked off the Wilson Corp project. For days now, both families had been on edge, worried that Nonna would use her injury as leverage... pressuring Dante to break up with Sienna or else.

But now it turned out Dante hadn’t caved to any threats. He’d just... handled it. By making nice with the Miller family.

Tracy felt a wave of relief. "So the project is Dante’s way of thanking them?"

"Exactly," Sienna said. "It’s a thank you. And a way to draw a clear line."

Tracy nodded, impressed. "Dante really thinks of everything. No wonder he’s so successful."

She should’ve felt satisfied. But then another worry crept in.

"But... the Miller family already has a project with Cole. They’re starting to bounce back. If they also take a project from Dante, won’t they actually recover completely?"

The second she finished, Sienna’s expression went cold.

"They didn’t take it."

"They didn’t?" Tracy’s eyes went wide.

Before Sienna could answer, Tracy seemed to connect the dots on her own.

"Oh, I see. They’re playing the long game. Trying to make Dante feel like he owes them so Elodie can keep clinging to him. Smart. Manipulative, but smart."

Tracy’s jaw set. She was not about to let the Miller family get the upper hand. Not when Dante and Elodie were this close to being officially done.

"We can’t let them pull this off," she said firmly.

Sienna stayed calm. "Relax. Dante will handle it."

Tracy thought about that for a second. Dante had never let them down before. If he was offering the project, he must’ve already anticipated the Miller family’s move and had a plan to counter it.

She exhaled, finally relaxing. "You’re right."

Then she switched gears. "By the way, have you been to see Nonna lately?"

"No," Sienna said.

Tracy looked a little disappointed, but Sienna continued smoothly.

"Nonna needs to recover without distractions."

Right now, there was no reason to visit. Dante had managed to smooth things over with the Miller family and get Nonna through surgery. But recovery would take time. And during that time, Nonna would still need the Millers’ support.

Sienna could afford to wait.

---

After lunch, Elodie bought movie tickets for herself and the kids. They ate, watched the movie, then wandered around the mall for a bit.

While Xavier was trying on clothes and Hugo was off buying action figures, Elodie sat down with Liora.

"I’ll take you home later," she said.

"Home?" Liora looked confused. "I’m not going home. I’m staying at Grandma’s tonight. I’ll go back tomorrow."