Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever-Chapter 97 - I have no breath to waste on someone like you

Ravyn felt the trap closing around him almost the moment the question left Seraphine’s mouth, because the danger hidden inside that seemingly simple challenge became painfully obvious the instant he began considering what would happen if he answered it the wrong way.

He understood very clearly that repeating the threat he had made earlier about cutting off business ties would not intimidate anyone sitting in this room the way he had once believed it might, because the investors gathered inside the private club possessed enough power and influence to retaliate in ways that could destroy Walker Global Enterprise before he even had time to react.

If those powerful figures chose to withdraw their investments together, the consequences would crash into the company’s stock value with ruthless speed, sending prices spiraling downward while Ravyn stood there forced to watch years of careful expansion and relentless ambition crumble in front of a room filled with witnesses.

A thin, controlled smile slowly appeared on Ravyn’s face as he leaned back in his chair, forcing an appearance of calm confidence that did not match the storm building inside his mind, because his pride refused to allow the slightest hint of vulnerability to appear even while the ground beneath his authority felt dangerously unstable.

"You know what," Ravyn said after a moment of tense silence while keeping that rigid smile in place, "I think I just changed my mind, so let’s see how this stupid game of yours actually works."

A quiet breath escaped Voren the instant he heard those words, because at least Ravyn had enough intelligence to step back from the cliff he had nearly thrown himself over before the situation reached a point where recovery would become impossible.

Before Seraphine could respond to Ravyn’s reluctant acceptance, a voice rose from across the room with sudden clarity that sliced through the low murmur of the gathered crowd.

"Thirty billion."

The amount hung in the air like a gauntlet thrown across the floor, and Seraphine released a soft chuckle the instant she recognized the man behind the offer.

She did not even turn her head toward him as she dismissed the proposal with calm certainty.

"Gray, it’s already too late," she said in a steady voice that carried across the room with unmistakable firmness. "I told you earlier that even if you begged me, I would never accept your money."

She meant every word she said, and there was not the slightest possibility that she would step back from that position, because Gray had made his choices long ago and now he would have to face the consequences of those decisions without expecting mercy from her.

Laughter followed immediately from the other side of the room, warm and confident in a way that made it sound as though Gray found the entire situation entertaining.

"We’ll see about that," Gray replied with casual amusement coloring his voice. "Before we walk out of this room today, you’re going to be the one begging instead."

His confidence came from the fact that he had no intention of playing fairly, because unlike Ravyn, Gray had already decided that winning mattered more than reputation.

Seraphine straightened her posture and answered him without hesitation, her tone cool enough to cut through the smug confidence behind his words.

"I have no breath to waste on someone like you."

Alpha Gray leaned toward one of the men seated beside him and murmured a few quiet words that no one else in the room could hear, and the man responded immediately by rising from his chair with eager confidence that drew curious glances from several nearby investors.

"Forty billion," the man announced loudly.

Seraphine paused the moment she saw who had spoken, because the man now standing near Gray’s side was Riven Thorne.

Although Riven had never behaved with the same openly crude arrogance that Michael displayed during previous encounters, his conduct toward women had never been particularly respectful either, and the only real difference between the two men rested in the fact that Riven disguised his arrogance behind polished manners and carefully chosen words.

Unfortunately for him, Seraphine remembered every interaction clearly.

Her gaze lingered on him with visible discomfort, partly because he happened to be one of Ravyn and Gray’s closest associates, which made his sudden interest feel less like a genuine investment opportunity and more like another move inside the quiet power struggle unfolding around her.

"I’m afraid that won’t be possible," Seraphine said after a brief pause, her voice polite but unwavering. "All of my investment slots have already been filled."

Even if they had not been completely filled, she would rather close the remaining positions herself than allow someone like Riven to become part of the company’s future.

"Liar," Riven snapped, his temper cracking through the polished civility he normally maintained. "Are you seriously telling me that you would refuse Mr. Ashkael if he decided to invest right now?"

Seraphine did not flinch beneath the accusation, because her intentions ran deeper than the conversation happening on the surface. Her true objective rested on drawing Voren into the deal in a way that would quietly strike at his friendship with Ravyn.

Voren had been the one standing behind Ravyn’s decisions for years, protecting him from the consequences of his own arrogance. If Voren chose to support her instead, even financially, that alliance could fracture the foundation of Ravyn’s confidence.

"In his case, I already gave him until the close of this event to make a decision," she replied evenly. "As for you, Mr. Thorne, you carry the same disrespect toward women as Michael does, except you hide it far better than he ever could."

Riven released a loud scoff, clearly offended by the blunt accusation.

"Fine," he muttered with a cold smile that did little to hide his irritation. "We’ll see how long that attitude lasts."

He leaned toward Gray and exchanged several quiet words with him, and the two men shared a dark smile that made their intentions painfully obvious to anyone paying attention.

Seraphine ignored them completely once the exchange ended and returned her attention to the one man whose decision still held real weight.

"Mr. Ashkael," she said calmly while fixing her gaze on Voren shortly, "this is my final call. Every other investor has already signed their contracts."

Even while she spoke to Voren, her eyes roamed, finally settling on Ravyn, and the silent challenge burning in her expression made it clear that she was daring him to stand there and watch Voren choose a side in front of everyone gathered in the room.