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.

In

bought them all

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

Was this his way of

she could think further, small arms wrapped around her

his blue eyes full

something to

faltered. “You’re

go of her and turned away, but his small shoulders

12:11

Chapter 78

tugged at her.

dropping Alex off at school, Nora drove straight to Starline Studio, her thoughts still

impatiently, pedestrians weaving through traffic,

glass buildings, momentarily blinding her as she pulled into the studio’s underground parking lot.

to focus on

lobby was as lively

mingling with

in quiet discussions, others rushing to

ringing phones and the occasional burst of laughter echoed through the space, creating a familiar,

secretary, was scrolling through her phone. The moment she noticed Nora approaching, she perked

Lady,” Julia greeted, slipping her

replied, adjusting her bag. “Busy morning?”

smirked. “Oh, you have no idea.”

like just another

and Mr Leo asked me to call you

an eyebrow. “Oh sure

said. “He’s

Chapter 78

“Arnold, I-

time for this.” His voice was cold, clipped.

screen in disbelief. The rejection wasn’t surprising, but it still hurt.

man has no conscience! He’s rolling in money, yet he won’t spare a cent to help you?”

the

once… going

of the gavel hitting the podium echoed

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

away money just to compete with you–how

she exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the bitterness welling inside her. She hadn’t

wasn’t done.

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.

“Oh? Not bidding anymore? That’s a

so much fun.”

gaze evenly. “Glad to

her upset. Instead, she simply smiled, as if none of it mattered. But as the auction ended,

arrived at Arnold’s villa to pick up Alex for school.

ahead, its

Chapter 78

hedges, and the early morning sun cast golden streaks across the marble façade of the

beauty, the place always felt cold to her–silent, imposing,

her heels clicking against the polished

lingered in the air. Just as she was about to call

me to give this to you,” the maid said, her tone respectful yet