After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

"I.... uh.... hope there were no misunderstandings, sir," the manager stammered, wringing his hands. "We.... of course, we value all our guests. It was never our intention...."

Cody didn't respond. He simply gave the manager a cold glance before continuing further into the

establishment.

That evening, back at home, Nora settled into her chair, her fingers gliding over the keyboard as she

reviewed the files Colton had sent.

The glow of the screen illuminated her face, casting sharp shadows across her features. She read through the documents methodically, her mind absorbing each line with unwavering focus.

The familiar rhythm of work brought her a sense of stability.

She had long since learned that emotions were unreliable companions; logic, strategy, and persistence were what truly mattered.

Just as she was making notes on an important section, the distant sound of an approaching car broke her

concentration.

Nora's hand hesitated over the keyboard. A moment later, she heard a door slam outside. Then, a child's voice pierced the quiet evening.

"Mom!"noveldrama

Her expression shifted immediately. She pushed back her chair and walked to the window, parting the curtains slightly.

Below, she saw Alex jumping out of a car, his small frame illuminated by the dim streetlights. His

excitement was evident.... his arms outstretched, his face beaming.

Nora's brow furrowed. Her gaze flickered toward the car, and a sense of unease settled in her chest.

She turned away and reached for her phone, noticing several missed calls. All from Arnold. A bad feeling

crept into her stomach.

Tapping on the screen, she saw a single unread text message:

**"I'm going away for the weekend, so take care of Alex."**

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Nora exhaled slowly, her grip tightening around the phone.

Arnold hadn't even bothered to ask if she was available. He had simply assumed she would take responsibility. Again.

With a measured breath, she stepped away from her desk.

The door to Nora's room burst open with a sudden force, and before she could

react, a small figure had already lunged at her.

Mommy!" Alex's voice was filled with unrestrained joy, his arms outstretched as he expected her to catch him the way she always did.

But this time, Nora instinctively leaned back, a barely perceptible hesitation passing through her.

The scent clinging to Alex's clothes was unmistakable.... Linda's floral perfume, sweet and overpowering.

It was the kind of scent that lingered, the kind that told stories of proximity and closeness.

Alex noticed immediately. His little arms, which had been reaching for her so eagerly, faltered slightly.

A flicker of confusion passed over his face. His mother had always caught him before.... firmly, without

hesitation. But now, she had dodged him.

His small hands clenched briefly before he covered up his disappointment with renewed excitement. He quickly rummaged through his book bag, pulling out a small, intricately crafted pistol charm. His eyes shone as he held it up.

"Look, Mommy! Daddy bought this for me! Isn't it cool?"

Nora's gaze lingered on the charm, her thoughts momentarily drifting. Arnold had taken Alex out, bought him gifts, and spent time with him. She swallowed the faint ache that crept up, pushing it aside as she met Alex's expectant gaze.

"You like it a lot?" she asked, keeping her voice even.

"Yeah! Super like it!" Alex nodded eagerly, his excitement palpable. Then, as if remembering something even more thrilling, he fished out another identical charm from his bag. "Daddy bought me two! This one is for you, Mommy. Will you play with me?"

There was an innocent hopefulness in his voice, a longing for shared joy.

Nora hesitated for a fraction of a second before offering a polite smile. "You play with it," she said gently.

"I'll watch."

For the first time that evening, Alex's excitement dimmed. The sparkle in his eyes faded slightly, like a

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candle flickering against the wind.

"Oh." His fingers curled around the charm, his enthusiasm momentarily dampened,

Still, he had missed his mother. He hadn't seen her in a month, and that alone was enough for him to shake off the mild disappointment.

Alex tucked the charm away and changed the subject. “Mom, you know my friend Abby? She has this really pretty knitted snowflake charm. Almost as nice as the one you made for me before! When are you going to make another one for me?" Nora raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't like those? You always said they were cheap."

Alex hesitated for a second before wrapping his arms around her neck, pressing his small cheek against her shoulder. His voice was softer this time. “I like them now," he murmured. "I like everything you give

me, Mommy."

Something in Nora's chest tightened.

She lifted a hand and brushed a strand of hair away from Alex's forehead, her fingers lingering against

his skin.

He was growing. His face was subtly changing, losing its baby... like roundness. There was a slight sharpness forming in his features, a faint resemblance to Arnold becoming more apparent.

For a brief moment, she wondered if Alex would grow up to look just like his father.

Before she could dwell on the thought, Alex suddenly pulled away and scrambled off the bed.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" He dug through his book bag once again, determination in his small movements. "Mom, I got you a present when I was abroad!"