Chapter 116

She sent the message without hesitation, then immediately turned off her phone.

The silence that followed was almost suffocating, but she forced herself to focus on her work. She had no intention of playing whatever game Arnold was trying to start.

It was nearly an hour later when she finally turned her phone back on, and the moment she did, another message popped up.

**Are you home?**

It was only three words, but to Nora, it said far more than that.

Arnold never liked being ignored. If she didn’t reply, he wouldn’t hesitate to come over himself.

Before she could decide whether or not to respond, her mindlink suddenly buzzed.

**Mommy, why aren’t you back yet?“*

Nora straightened slightly. It was Alex.

**Dad said you’d be back tomorrow for the school’s parent–child activity, but it’s already after 9:00 p.m., and you’re

still not home…“*

There was a quiet expectation in his words, a fragile hope that she could almost hear wavering.

She closed her eyes slightly, still softened, *“Mom’s not going back. Tomorrow, I’ll go straight to your school.“*

For a moment, there was no reply. Then-

*“Oh… okay.“*

She could sense the disappointment, the slight dip in his mood even through the mind–link.

*“You should get an early night,“* she reminded gently.

*“Got it.“*

The link went silent after that, leaving Nora staring at the message for a long moment before finally setting the

phone aside.

She had no regrets about her decision, but a faint pang lingered in her chest.

The next morning, Nora arrived at Alex’s school right on time. The second he spotted her, his small face lit up with unfiltered joy.

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I left. Alpha father and son went crazy with

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Chapter 116

“Mom!”

broke into a run and leaped into her arms. She caught him easily, her arms wrapping around his small frame.

of cedar on Arnold–a reminder that no matter how much she tried to distance

Nora, you’re here too!”

voice piped up beside them. Brian, one of Alex’s classmates,

with a small smile. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss

her afterglow, she saw Brian’s mother’s curious gaze glance between her

a neighbor, she knew

arrangement. But realizing that her supposed

long since stopped concerning herself with what people thought. She made no effort to explain, and the

to the stage with their children

immediately tugged Arnold forward. “Come

stayed back, watching their belongings while the

see everything–the way Arnold and Alex moved seamlessly together, the way their coordination put them ahead

observing the

their children succeeded, groaning in playful frustration when they

They looked “together.*

They looked “whole.*

crowd, smiling at Alex’s

knew what the other parents were thinking.

had a son. But the woman usually seen with him wasn’t “her.*

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Alpha father and

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Chapter 116

speculation. But now, seeing her

own conclusions.

they likely thought. “Someone responsible for recording videos and taking care of logistics.*

Nora didn’t mind.

had cared about titles, about names, she

parts of her life had already

was nothing.

was only here today because

them up, crossing her legs as she settled into her seat, her posture relaxed but her

coordination seamless, their movements mirroring each other

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