Alpha's Regret: The Seventh Time was Forever

Chapter 441: Chapter 442 – Vladimir’s surprise

Voren froze in place for a second, his eyes dropping down to the steaming bowl of soup in his hands before slowly lifting to meet his father’s gaze.

He couldn’t remember a single time Vladimir had ever cooked anything, not even once.

The rich, mouthwatering aroma rising from the bowl was enough to make anyone’s stomach rumble with hunger, but the sheer surprise of where it had come from left him standing there completely speechless for a moment.

Vladimir noticed the hesitation written all over his son’s face and let out a quiet, understanding chuckle. "It’s alright if you don’t trust me right now," he said, his voice carrying no anger at all, just patient warmth.

"But you have to remember something important." His expression softened with genuine emotion. "Everything I’m doing now is my responsibility as your father, and soon, as a grandfather to my grandchild."

Voren studied him for another long moment before finally reaching out and accepting the bowl. A small, grateful smile crept across his face. "Thank you," he said softly, his fingers tightening around the warm bowl. "I’ll let you know if she likes it."

Vladimir gave a satisfied nod. "It takes about two hours to cook properly," he explained, folding his arms as he went into detail. "Low heat the whole time, plenty of fresh vegetables, and no added water. The chicken and veggies release all their own juices. The spices can be a little tricky to get just right, though." He paused briefly. "If she enjoys it, make sure to tell me. I’ll whip up a much bigger pot before everyone heads out to the Centenary Pack tomorrow morning so she can take some with her."

Voren couldn’t hide his appreciation anymore. "Well noted, Dad. That means a lot."

Vladimir smiled warmly before quietly heading back to his own room, leaving Voren standing in the hallway with the soup.

The comforting warmth and delicious smell filled the air around him as he walked back into the bedroom.

He carefully set the bowl on the bedside table, then reached over to adjust the heater, making the whole room feel even cozier and more inviting.

Almost immediately, Seraphine’s sleepy eyes fluttered open. The incredible aroma hit her before she was even fully awake, and her eyes suddenly sparkled with pure delight, as bright and excited as a kid waking up on Christmas morning.

She slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position, breathing in deeply. Her stomach let out a loud, demanding growl that made her laugh.

A huge smile spread across her face. "Oh my gosh, I smell something absolutely amazing," she said, reaching for the spoon without another thought.

Just before it could touch the soup, Voren gently caught her wrist. "I have to taste it first, babe."

She looked up at him and smiled sweetly. "You’re being extra careful tonight."

"I have to be," he replied, his expression staying serious and protective. He scooped up a spoonful, tasted it, and blinked in genuine surprise. His eyebrows shot up. "Whoa, this is even better than I expected." A slow, pleased smile appeared on his lips. "Dad made it."

Seraphine looked genuinely shocked. Her eyebrows lifted as a rush of warmth filled her heart. "Your dad?" She glanced back at the bowl with fresh interest. "In that case, I really have to try it now."

She carefully took her first spoonful, and the rich, comforting flavor exploded across her tongue. Her eyes widened in pure bliss. Without even realizing it, she took another bite, then another, and another.

Before either of them knew it, the entire bowl of soup and tender chicken had completely disappeared.

She stared down at the empty bowl in disbelief before letting out a soft, satisfied laugh. "V," She rubbed her stomach with pure contentment, her face glowing.

"This is so incredibly good. And I suddenly feel so much better, like a huge weight just lifted off me." The heavy exhaustion that had been dragging her down all day felt noticeably lighter, and a healthy color had returned to her cheeks.

Seeing her like that made Voren smile from the bottom of his heart, warmth flooding through him. "He told me he used to make this for Mom when she was pregnant with me," he said, glancing toward the hallway. "I should ask him for the full recipe."

Just as he turned toward the door, the doorbell rang. "That must be the food delivery." He walked over, opened the door, and accepted the neatly packed meals from the restaurant staff. "Thanks," he said with a quick smile before carrying everything inside.

The second he opened the containers, the rich, mouthwatering smell of freshly prepared food flooded the entire suite, drifting into every corner. Seraphine breathed it in and smiled a little sadly.

"Oh, Goddess..." she murmured. "I remember that aroma so well." Her eyes lingered on the dishes with longing. "But I’m already half full from that delicious soup."

Voren placed the food neatly on the table. "Just eat whatever you can, sweetheart," he said gently. "You don’t have to force yourself at all." He smiled reassuringly. "I’ll go get the recipe from Dad real quick."

Seraphine nodded as he stepped outside. Curious, she picked up her fork and tasted one of her favorite dishes. The reaction was instant. Her face twisted in disgust. She quickly lowered the fork. "V!"

Voren had barely reached the door when he heard her call. He spun around and hurried back inside. "What happened? Are you okay?"

She frowned at the food, looking completely confused. "It doesn’t taste anything like it smells. It actually makes me want to throw up."

Voren picked up the same fork and tasted it himself. It was exactly how he remembered, perfectly seasoned, fresh, and delicious. He looked back at Seraphine with a helpless smile.

"I guess your pregnancy hormones are finally making their presence known in a big way." Amusement flickered across his face. "I’ll make sure there’s plenty of that chicken soup waiting for you tomorrow morning."

Seraphine nodded without hesitation. "And please add more ginger. The flavor was so calming and perfect." She looked toward the hallway with a soft expression.

"And remind me to thank your dad when I see him." Her voice grew even gentler. She couldn’t remember a single time her own father had ever cooked for her. Then again... Chuck had never truly been her father. That painful truth had become impossible to ignore anymore.

Meanwhile, Vladimir, little by little, was breaking down the walls around her heart in the most unexpected ways.

A few minutes later, Voren returned with the recipe his father had carefully written down.

The moment he stepped inside, he stopped short, his eyebrows lifting in happy surprise. The exhausted woman who had been struggling to stay awake earlier was now sitting comfortably on the bed, completely focused on her phone.

Energy seemed to radiate from her, like that single bowl of soup had brought her fully back to life.

Inside her head, Marsha suddenly burst out, buzzing with wild excitement. ’And I finally get my time with Bloodfang!’

Seraphine pressed her lips together tight, fighting back a laugh. Voren caught the weird look on her face right away. "What’s going on in that head of yours?"

She met his eyes, amusement dancing all over her expression. "Marsha’s asking when she’s finally gonna get to spend some time with Bloodfang."