Alpha's Regret: Claiming My Stolen Twins novel Chapter 71

71 Chapter 71 What Roxanne Possessed

I swallowed hard, fighting to reclaim some dignity. “Because,” I replied, offering the weakest of explanations, “I’ve never encountered someone quite so lovely. The beauty just overwhelms me.” I prayed my words, along with the unspoken truth beneath them, would suffice. 1

“Who might this be,” I forced myself to ask, my voice hoarse as I desperately tried to redirect attention from my emotional collapse, “this beautiful little one?” Children, however, possess an uncanny ability to see through any facade.

The charade became unbearable. “I’m finished,” I announced, pushing away my barely touched plate. The time had come to abandon this excruciating performance, to flee from the harsh reality of everything I had forfeited and everything Roxanne now possessed.

“Niece?” the child echoed, her expression filling with amazement.

Following our brief, tension-filled introduction, little Elena became insistent. With her grandparents already present, she begged her father to include me in their dinner plans. I offered multiple excuses, but her determination proved unstoppable. Eventually, I surrendered.

“Exactly,” Julian confirmed. “Meet your Aunt Seraphina. Your mother’s sister.” His declaration confused me entirely. I knew with absolute certainty that Roxanne would despise any connection between us. But this innocent child radiated nothing but delight.

I attempted to craft a genuine smile, to mirror her pure happiness, but the expression felt paper-thin. It lasted mere seconds before crumbling completely. Against my will, tears began streaming down my cheeks, distorting my vision.

“What’s wrong,” Julian questioned, worry threading through his voice. His concern typically unsettled me because his emotions shifted like weather, warm one moment and frigid the next. But this time, his reaction made perfect sense. I had always been unbreakable, impenetrable. Showing weakness was foreign territory for me, especially around him. Yet here I stood, completely exposed.

“She’s emotional because she’s finally meeting her niece,” Julian stepped in smoothly, his words creating a protective barrier around my inability to form coherent thoughts. I remained too shaken to construct anything meaningful.

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71 Chapter 71 What Roxanne Possessed

“But pretty things shouldn’t make people sad,” she declared with the devastating logic only children possess. Meanwhile, my inner wolf thrashed in absolute torment. I concentrated on her presence, on maintaining my composure for both our sakes.

Nothing mattered anymore because tomorrow I would finally leave this place behind.

“Everyone should focus on their meal,” Julian declared firmly, slicing through the mounting hostility.

“I never knew I had an aunt,” she burst out, her entire face illuminating.

The most troubling aspect was that despite blocking our mental connection, I sensed something significant weighing on him, though I couldn’t identify what exactly.

When he scooped her into his embrace, her bright, innocent eyes discovered mine. She studied me with an openness I couldn’t possibly match or return.

The human heart has limits, doesn’t it? There must be a breaking point where it simply surrenders. Standing there in that moment, I desperately wanted mine to reach that threshold.

From the moment we crossed the threshold, my parents’ hostile stares felt like physical blows. Their disappointment saturated the atmosphere. They clearly resented my presence. To maximize my discomfort, Roxanne spoke loud enough for everyone to absorb her words: “Where exactly have you been hiding for six years?”

I attempted to dismiss these concerns and concentrate on eating. But I couldn’t ignore the image they presented together, both so devoted to their daughter throughout the meal. They embodied domestic perfection, an ideal family portrait. The sight made my stomach revolt with jealousy. I felt like an unwelcome visitor from another planet.

Seraphina’s POV

I convinced myself it was impossible, yet I consistently underestimate my capacity for self-inflicted emotional damage. I walked through those familiar doors and settled at that table, deliberately avoiding any meaningful glances around the room, hoping to outrun the flood of memories.

How could I possibly enter that house where I’d invested three years believing I’d found my permanent home, knowing another woman had claimed that space as hers? Learning about his child had been a distant wound. Glimpsing them from afar had created a hollow throb in my chest. But this, watching their bond unfold directly in

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21 Chapter 21 What Roxanne Possesseri

front of me, delivered a crushing blow that left me gasping for breath.

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