After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Arnold’s voice came through, casual but with an undertone of something unspoken. “Are you free today? Alex wants to hang out with Abby.”

Cole leaned against the wall, glancing toward Nora, who had gone back to reading but seemed slightly aware of his presence. He replied evenly, “I’m taking Abby out today. Maybe another time.”

Arnold let out a short chuckle. “You’ve been going out more lately.”

Cole smirked faintly, though there was an edge of something else in his expression. “Abby’s been opening up more.

She’s not as reserved as before.”

They exchanged a few more words before ending the call, but as Cole slipped his phone back into his pocket, something lingered in his mind.

Arnold knew all of this knowledge–probably even more than Cole did–but he had never been willing to teach

Nora.

His eyes darkened slightly at the thought.

The marriage between Arnold and Nora had always been surrounded by rumors.

Many people say that it was Nora’s underhanded tactics that forced Arnold to have to marry her in the first place.

Cole had believed it too, once. But after spending time with her, after seeing how she carried herself with quiet dignity, it was getting harder to reconcile that image with reality.

And then there was Linda–the woman who had somehow inserted herself between them.

underhanded,

resented the very idea of ‘mates‘–that he had resisted his connection to Nora not out of hatred, but

against something he couldn’t control.

wasn’t even aware of what

quickly, their conversation stretching longer than either

literature, even the nature of ambition. Cole found himself surprised at how easy it was to

she had a sharp, analytical mind, the kind that dissected ideas layer by layer, always probing

much time had slipped away, the sun was

99.1%

the large windows,

in warmth, making

her fingers resting

small, satisfied expression flickered across her face, “Thanks for today,” she said, her voice carrying an

in his chair, a relaxed smile forming, “You can ask me anything, anytime. I

caught off guard by his gentleness. She had expected professionalism, maybe some casual politeness, but

side of the room, Elisa had

laughter had been a constant background melody

preparing to leave, a strange but comfortable atmosphere had settled

found himself speaking without

slightly, her expression unreadable, but there was something

on her own, the silence of the car giving her

were simply

wasted no time in sharing her observations with Alexander. She leaned against the doorframe of his office, arms crossed, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “I think I’m getting a new cousin–in–law.”

up at her with a raised