Chapter 337: Chapter 337 – I still can’t believe you’re marrying him
Leon stayed seated in his office long after Voren had left. The door had clicked shut, and the hallway outside had returned to its usual busy hum, but he couldn’t stop staring at the empty chair across from him, still trying to wrap his head around everything he’d just heard.
Seraphine was getting married in a week. The realization still felt completely unreal.
Over the years, Leon had met countless women—beautiful, successful, and intelligent ones, but Seraphine had always stood apart.
She wasn’t just talented; she was extraordinary. Strong enough to carry impossible burdens without letting anyone see the weight, compassionate enough to lose sleep helping strangers, and driven enough to become one of the best surgeons he’d ever worked with.
For a long time, he had convinced himself she simply needed time to heal, to trust, and to move on from whatever haunted her past. Now she was marrying someone else.
Not just anyone, but a man far more powerful than Leon could ever hope to be. A billionaire, and someone who clearly loved her with everything he had.
Leon leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. At this point, there wasn’t much left for him to do. Still, a small smile tugged at his lips.
"I’d still like to hear her side of the story," he muttered, glancing toward the door. He doubted Voren’s version had covered even half of it. That relationship sounded way too complicated for one conversation.
Just as he was about to dive back into his paperwork, the office door opened again. Leon blinked in surprise. Voren had returned.
"Forgot something?" Leon asked.
Voren stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Without wasting time, he reached into the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out a small, sealed plastic package.
"I almost forgot," he said, his expression turning serious as he placed it on the desk. "I need you to test these."
Leon’s curiosity spiked immediately. He picked up the package and examined it carefully, his brow furrowing. "A DNA sample?" Voren nodded, and the gravity in his eyes made it clear this wasn’t a casual request. "What exactly am I looking for?"
Instead of answering directly, Voren asked a question of his own. "Do you think Sera was foolish when she went against Santiago?"
The sudden drift from the topic confused Leon. "What?" Voren folded his arms. "Most people would’ve walked away." Leon nodded slowly. That much was true. Going up against Santiago had taken a dangerous amount of courage.
Voren continued. "The reason she fought so hard wasn’t just because she cared." His gaze dropped briefly. "Sera lost her daughter years ago."
Leon’s eyes widened instantly. The information hit him hard. "What?"
"She’s been searching ever since." A heavy silence filled the office. Suddenly, so many things started making sense. The quiet sadness he sometimes caught in her eyes, the way she looked at children, and the loneliness she carried when she thought no one was watching.
Voren kept going, his expression thoughtful. "And strangely enough... my daughter appears to have the same birthmark." Leon’s sharp mind connected the dots right away. A crescent moon.
The memory came rushing back from months ago when he’d taken Seraphine to visit his orphanage. She had become unusually focused on a child wearing a crescent moon sticker. At the time, he hadn’t understood why. Now it all clicked.
"No wonder," Leon murmured before he could stop himself. His respect for Seraphine grew even deeper.
The woman had been carrying unimaginable pain, searching for her missing child, running a company, saving lives, and helping everyone around her while still maintaining excellence in every part of her life.
Most people would’ve fallen apart, but Seraphine just kept moving forward.
Leon shook his head. "She’s unbelievable." A small smile appeared on Voren’s face. That description felt exactly right.
Leon carefully set the samples back on the desk. "I’ll personally oversee the testing. No assistants, no technicians, nobody else."
Voren nodded approvingly. "Good." Leon picked up the package. "I’ll send the results directly to you."
"Thank you." For the first time since he’d returned, genuine gratitude showed on Voren’s face.
The Alpha stood up again, clearly ready to leave this time. As he reached the door, another smile crossed his face, the kind that immediately made Leon suspicious. "Tonight, I’m taking her on our first vacation together."
Leon groaned. Of course. That wasn’t just casual information; it was a polite warning. Seraphine wouldn’t be showing up for work. The doctor rubbed his forehead. "You’re impossible."
Voren’s grin widened. Leon pointed at him. "Fine. I’ll survive without her for a few days." Then his expression softened. "But I’m still calling her. I hope you’re not planning to ruin my friendship with her."
The question hung in the air. Voren considered answering for a second, but instead he simply walked out. The silence was answer enough. Leon laughed quietly to himself. The man really was impossible.
A few moments later, he picked up his phone. If he couldn’t get the full story from Voren, he’d get it from Seraphine. The call connected after only two rings.
"Sera." Concern flooded her voice right away. His tone turned dramatically serious. "How is this even possible?"
Several seconds passed. The confusion on Seraphine’s end was obvious. "What are you talking about?" Leon couldn’t help laughing. "Mr. Ashkael just left my office."
There was silence. Then a deep inhale. That reaction told him everything. "It’s complicated, isn’t it?" A groan escaped her. "Very complicated."
The amusement in Leon’s eyes deepened. "I figured." For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then he smiled. "You are one strange woman, Sera." Seraphine laughed softly. That much was probably true.
Leon leaned back comfortably in his chair. "But I’m glad you’re not completely abandoning the hospital. That would’ve been a disaster."
The warmth in his voice clearly touched her. "As soon as you get back from your pre-honeymoon vacation, let me know where I can fit you into the schedule."
The word "honeymoon" instantly made Seraphine blush. Thankfully, Leon couldn’t see her face, or he never would’ve let her live it down.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t tell him the truth—she was heading into werewolf territory, getting her memories restored, dealing with Blood Moon Festivals, and meeting mysterious shamans.
Leon belonged to the human world, and those explanations would only lead to more questions.
"Thanks, Leon," she said softly. "I appreciate it." He smiled. "Just don’t disappear completely."
"I won’t." Then another thought occurred to her. "I hope you’ll make it to the wedding."
Leon laughed, a genuine one this time. "Miss it? Not a chance. I wouldn’t miss that wedding for the world." The disbelief still lingered in his voice. "Honestly, I still can’t believe you’re marrying him." Seraphine laughed again. Neither could she sometimes. "I’m coming to see it with my own eyes," he added warmly. "I’ll be looking forward to seeing you."
After a few more minutes, they ended the call. The conversation left Seraphine feeling lighter and happier. Voren handled it better than she expected.
Maybe, it wasn’t bad to have people taking care of her after all. The afternoon passed quickly after that, meetings came and went, documents were reviewed, and emails were answered. Lunch finally arrived, giving her the first real chance to breathe all day.
She had barely taken a bite of her food when her phone rang again. The screen lit up with a familiar name, someone she respected deeply and whose opinion mattered a lot to her. Curious, she answered right away. "Hello?"
The voice on the other end carried genuine warmth and excitement. "Sera, congratulations."
Her eyes widened instantly. The fork slipped from her fingers and clattered loudly against the plate.
