Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The sound of a door opening startled him, and he shot up, hope lighting lus face. “Mon?”

But the figure stepping through wasn’t Nora

Arnold entered, his broad shoulders casting a shadow against the hallway light.

Alex’s face fell slightly, disappointment etched in his expression

“““It’s just you,” he murmured, his tone soft but unmistakably let down.

Arnold crouched to meet his son’s eyes, his voice firm yet comforting.

Your mother is busy tonight, Alex. But she’ll pick you up from school tomorrow.”

Alex’s frown eased a little at the reassurance, though his pout lingered “She’s coming for sure?”

“For sure.” Arnold said, ruffling his son’s hair. “Now, off to bed, young man. No more waiting up.”

With a heavy sigh, Alex trudged to his room, his small footsteps echoing down the corridor.

Once the door to his room clicked shut, Arnold straightened, his calm demeanor slipping just slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

He walked to his study, the quiet house enveloping him.

Settling into the chair behind his desk, he flipped open a file of work papers but found himself unable to focus.

Nora had been gone too long.

The next morning, Alex was up earlier than usual, excitement buzzing through him,

his favorite shirt, and packed his school

he barely touched has food, craning his neck toward the front door every time he heard

“you’ll need your strength

Alex was

with a smile, his disappointment from the previous night replaced

of anticipation.

to leave, and Alex planted himself by the window,

here soon,” he murmured to himself, his

seeing his mother, of having her attention again, made his

he was content to

the villa she had called

of the structure hadn’t faded, the walls were

felt foreign

warmth, and love that

in wasn’t the villa that had

once been trapped in those walls had walked out, leaving behind an old version

Chapter 36

pushed open the heavy door and stepped

Taking a deep

already in the living room, standing near the large windows with his hack

through cast a soft glow

turned as he heard her enter, his expression

neither of them spoke.

between them was heavy, a mixture of familiarity and a distance that

before he could, the sound

Alex’s voice rang out as

to brace herself before Alex fhing his arms around her, burying his face in

mumbled, his voice muffled by her jacket.

him close and running her fingers through his

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