After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Chapter 78 "Arnold,

I-

"I don't have time for this." His voice was cold, clipped. A second later, the line went dead.

Nora stared at the screen in disbelief. The rejection wasn't surprising, but it still hurt. The last glimmer of hope she had shattered in an instant.

Clara, sitting beside her, scoffed in frustration. "That man has no conscience! He's rolling in money, yet he won't spare a cent to help you?"

Before Nora could respond, the auctioneer's voice rang out.

"Fifty-five million! Going once... going twice... sold!"

The sound of the gavel hitting the podium echoed through the room. Linda had won.

Nora forced herself to remain calm, but deep inside, a storm raged. She knew exactly why Linda had done this-not because she cared about the item, but because she wanted to prove a point. Arnold, who used to buy her gifts without hesitation, was now doing the same for Linda.

Clara huffed, crossing her arms. "Throwing away money just to compete with you-how pathetic."

Nora didn't reply. Instead, she exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the bitterness welling inside her. She hadn't cared about Arnold's wealth before, and she wouldn't start now.

But Linda wasn't done.

Every time Nora bid on an item, Linda would immediately raise the price. It became clear that continuing would be pointless. After the third attempt, Nora simply placed her paddle down.

Linda's laughter was light but mocking. "Oh? Not bidding anymore? That's a shame, Nora. I was having so much fun."

Nora met her gaze evenly. "Glad to hear it."

She refused to give Linda the satisfaction of seeing her upset. Instead, she simply smiled, as if none of it mattered. But as the auction ended, she was already thinking of other ways to find a gift for her grandmother.

The next morning, Nora arrived at Arnold's villa to pick up Alex for school.

The grand estate loomed ahead, its towering iron gates nartin -- Chapter 78

The long driveway was lined with neatly trimmed hedges, and the early morning sun cast golden streaks across the marble façade of the house.

Despite its beauty, the place always felt cold to her-silent, imposing, too perfect to be real.

She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished floors.

The faint scent of cedar and expensive cologne lingered in the air. Just as she was about to call for Alex,

the housekeeper appeared, carrying a small, delicate gift box in her gloved hands.

"The Alpha asked me to give this to you," the maid said, her tone respectful yet unreadable.

Nora hesitated before reaching out, her fingers brushing against the fine wrapping paper. The weight of it

felt heavier than it should have. A strange unease settled in her stomach.

She swallowed, carefully untying the ribbon and lifting the lid.

Inside, resting against soft velvet lining, was the werewolf wood carving. The very same one from the auction. The one she had wanted so badly for her grandmother.

Her breath hitched.

Her grip on the box tightened as her gaze swept lower. Beneath the carving lay another item-one of the lots she had been forced to abandon when Linda kept raising the bid.

Both were here. In her hands.

Arnold had bought them all along.

For a long moment, Nora simply stared at them, her thoughts a tangled mess. If she was right, then Arnold had purchased these as a birthday gift for her grandmother. Not just from him-but from them, as husband and wife.

Hrr stomach churned. Was this his way of making a statement?

Before she could think further, small arms wrapped around her waist.

"Mommy!" Alex beamed up at her, his blue eyes full of excitement. "Can we play after school today?"

Nora hesitated. "I have something to do today, Alex."

His smile faltered. "You're always busy."

There was no tantrum, no complaints, just quiet disappointment. He let go of her and turned away, but his small shoulders drooped.

12:11

Chapter 78

Nora sighed. Guilt tugged at her.

After dropping Alex off at school, Nora drove straight to Starline Studio, her thoughts still tangled in the unexpected gift from Arnold.

The city was alive with its usual morning rush-cars honking impatiently, pedestrians weaving through traffic, and the hum of hurried conversations filling the streets.

Sunlight glinted off glass buildings, momentarily blinding her as she pulled into the studio's underground parking lot.

She exhaled slowly, gripping the steering wheel for a moment before stepping out. Work. She needed to focus on that. Anything to keep her mind from dwelling on the confusion Arnold had stirred.

The studio lobby was as lively as ever.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the air, mingling with the faint traces of printer ink and perfume.

Employees bustled about-some engaged in quiet discussions, others rushing to meet deadlines.

The sound of ringing phones and the occasional burst of laughter echoed through the space, creating a familiar, chaotic rhythm..

At the front desk, Julia, the ever-observant secretary, was scrolling through her phone. The moment she noticed Nora approaching, she perked up with a knowing smile.

"Morning, My Lady," Julia greeted, slipping her phone out of sight.

"Morning. Julia," Nora replied, adjusting her bag. "Busy morning?"

Julia smirked. "Oh, you have no idea."

Nora chuckled. "Sounds like just another Tuesday."

Julia leaned in slightly. "Oh, and Mr Leo asked me to call you to his office"

Nora raised an eyebrow. "Oh sure

Julia said. "He's waiting for you."

Chapter 78

"Arnold, l-

"I don't have time for this." His voice was cold, clipped. A second later, the line went dead.

Nora stared at the screen in disbelief. The rejection wasn't surprising, but it still hurt. The last glimmer of hope she had shattered in an instant.

Clara, sitting beside her, scoffed in frustration. "That man has no conscience! He's rolling in money, yet he won't spare a cent to help you?"

Before Nora could respond, the auctioneer's voice rang out.

"Fifty-five million! Going once... going twice... sold!"

The sound of the gavel hitting the podium echoed through the room. Linda had won.

Nora forced herself to remain calm, but deep inside, a storm raged. She knew exactly why Linda had

done this-not because she cared about the item, but because she wanted to prove a point. Arnold, who used to buy her gifts without hesitation, was now doing the same for Linda.

Clara huffed, crossing her arms. "Throwing away money just to compete with you-how pathetic." Nora didn't reply. Instead, she exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the bitterness welling inside her. She hadn't cared about Arnold's wealth before, and she wouldn't start now.

But Linda wasn't done.

Every time Nora bid on an item, Linda would immediately raise the price. It became clear that continuing would be pointless. After the third attempt, Nora simply placed her paddle down.

Linda's laughter was light but mocking. "Oh? Not bidding anymore? That's a shame, Nora. I was having so much fun."

Nora met her gaze evenly. "Glad to hear it."

She refused to give Linda the satisfaction of seeing her upset. Instead, she simply smiled, as if none of it mattered. But as the auction ended, she was already thinking of other ways to find a gift for her grandmother.

The next morning, Nora arrived at Arnold's villa to pick up Alex for school.

The grand estate loomed ahead, its towering iron gates nartin --

Chapter 78

The long driveway was lined with neatly trimmed hedges, and the early morning sun cast golden streaks across the marble façade of the house.

Despite its beauty, the place always felt cold to her-silent, imposing, too perfect to be real.

She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished floors.

The faint scent of cedar and expensive cologne lingered in the air. Just as she was about to call for Alex,

the housekeeper appeared, carrying a small, delicate gift box in her gloved hands.

"The Alpha asked me to give this to you," the maid said, her tone respectful yet unreadable.

Nora hesitated before reaching out, her fingers brushing against the fine wrapping paper. The weight of it

felt heavier than it should have. A strange unease settled in her stomach.

She swallowed, carefully untying the ribbon and lifting the lid.

Inside, resting against soft velvet lining, was the werewolf wood carving. The very same one from the auction. The one she had wanted so badly for her grandmother.

Her breath hitched.

Her grip on the box tightened as her gaze swept lower. Beneath the carving lay another item-one of the lots she had been forced to abandon when Linda kept raising the bid.

Both were here. In her hands.

Arnold had bought them all along.

For a long moment, Nora simply stared at them, her thoughts a tangled mess. If she was right, then Arnold had purchased these as a birthday gift for her grandmother. Not just from him-but from them, as husband and wife.

Hrr stomach churned. Was this his way of making a statement?

Before she could think further, small arms wrapped around her waist.

"Mommy!" Alex beamed up at her, his blue eyes full of excitement. "Can we play after school today?"

Nora hesitated. "I have something to do today, Alex."

His smile faltered. "You're always busy."

There was no tantrum, no complaints, just quiet disappointment. He let go of her and turned away, but his small shoulders drooped.

12:11

Chapter 78

Nora sighed. Guilt tugged at her.

After dropping Alex off at school, Nora drove straight to Starline Studio, her thoughts still tangled in the unexpected gift from Arnold.

The city was alive with its usual morning rush-cars honking impatiently, pedestrians weaving through traffic, and the hum of hurried conversations filling the streets.

Sunlight glinted off glass buildings, momentarily blinding her as she pulled into the studio's underground parking lot.

She exhaled slowly, gripping the steering wheel for a moment before stepping out. Work. She needed to focus on that. Anything to keep her mind from dwelling on the confusion Arnold had stirred.

The studio lobby was as lively as ever.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the air, mingling with the faint traces of printer ink and perfume.

Employees bustled about-some engaged in quiet discussions, others rushing to meet deadlines.

The sound of ringing phones and the occasional burst of laughter echoed through the space, creating a familiar, chaotic rhythm..

At the front desk, Julia, the ever-observant secretary, was scrolling through her phone. The moment she noticed Nora approaching, she perked up with a knowing smile.

"Morning, My Lady," Julia greeted, slipping her phone out of sight.

"Morning. Julia," Nora replied, adjusting her bag. "Busy morning?"

Julia smirked. "Oh, you have no idea."

Nora chuckled. "Sounds like just another Tuesday."

Julia leaned in slightly. "Oh, and Mr Leo asked me to call you to his office"

Nora raised an eyebrow. "Oh sure

Julia said. "He's waiting for you."