After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Josiah, still scrolling, dismissed it. "Come on, we need to get back to the manor."

Victor didn't argue. But the thought stuck with him.

The Manor:

By the time Josiah and Victor arrived at Lancelot Manor, the evening had settled in fully, wrapping the

grand estate in a warm glow of lantern light.

The manor was alive with murmured conversations, the clinking of crystal glasses, and the occasional

sound of distant laughter.

Elegant chandeliers cast a golden hue over the parlor, where guests moved about in hushed discussions.

Adrian was already there, seated beside Arnold in the grand sitting room, his usual composed demeanor giving nothing away.

He was sipping a glass of whiskey, his fingers slowly rotating the tumbler, his gaze thoughtful.

Arnold, his posture as strong and unyielding as ever, nodded politely at something Adrian said, but his attention flickered to the entrance as Josiah and Victor stepped in.

Victor, always bratty and dismissive of Nora, transformed in front of Arnold and Adrian. His childish arrogance vanished, replaced by carefully practiced politeness. His tone was smooth, almost rehearsed as he greeted them with a bright smile.

"Uncle Arnold, Grandpa Adrian."

Adrian barely acknowledged him, offering a curt nod. Arnold, on the other hand, merely raised an eyebrow, recognizing the boy's shifting behavior but saying nothing.

Josiah, without lingering, gestured toward the back garden. "Go play with Alex," she instructed Victor before turning back to the adults, already shifting into conversation.

Outside, under the dimming sky, the air was cooler, crisp with the promise of an approaching autumn night.

The swings creaked softly as Alex lazily pushed himself back and forth, his small hands gripping the

chains without much enthusiasm.

10.30

After I left. Alpha father and son went craz

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His gaze was unfocused, staring at the darkening horizon, lost in his own thoughts.

Victor kicked at the gravel as he settled onto the swing beside him. "I just went to the movies with my mom," he said casually, breaking the silence. "And I saw your mom there."

Alex immediately sat up straighter, his grip on the swing tightening. His heart skipped a beat.

"You saw my mom?" His voice, usually calm, was laced with a sudden intensity.

Victor nodded smugly. "At the movie theater."

Alex frowned, his small eyebrows knitting together. "That's impossible. My mom is

too busy to go to the movies. You must have been mistaken."

Victor rolled his eyes. "I'm not mistaken. It was definitely her."

Alex's jaw clenched. A strange unease curled in his stomach, twisting into something sharp.

Victor, enjoying the reaction he was getting, added nonchalantly, "And she wasn't alone. She was with another kid-about your height. Really cute."

The words hit Alex like a punch to the chest.

Another child?

His mother, who hadn't answered his calls, who had been too busy to even send

a message-she had time to go to the movies with some other kid?

His face turned red, frustration boiling over before he could stop it. Without thinking, he shot to his feet and shoved Victor. "You're lying! Say it again, and I'll

Victor, just as spoiled and temperamental, shoved him back. “I'm not lying!"

Their voices rose, sharp and angry, cutting through the quiet evening air. The wind carried their shouts through the open windows of the manor, catching the attention of the adults inside.

Arnold was the first to arrive.

His sharp eyes swept over the scene, taking in Alex's trembling fists, the tears pooling in his son's eyes, the way Victor stubbornly crossed his arms, his chin lifted in defiance.

The weight of unspoken emotions hung thick in the air.

Before Arnold could say anything, Alex, unable to contain himself any longer, turned and ran toward

Al

ther and can went craz

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him.

"Daddy!" His voice wavered, raw with emotion.

Arnold caught him effortlessly, lifting him as if he weighed nothing. "What happened?" His voice was calm, but there was an edge of concern underneath.

Alex opened his mouth, about to repeat what Victor had said. But suddenly, the words felt too heavy.

His mother. At the movies. With another child.

His throat tightened. A lump formed, too painful to swallow.

And instead of speaking, **tears spilled from his eyes.'

**

Arnold's expression shifted ever so slightly. His son rarely cried. Alex was stubborn, strong-willed-too much like him, in many ways. But now, his small hands clung to Arnold's suit jacket, fingers trembling as if he were holding on to something fragile.

By now, Josiah had pieced together what had happened from Victor's perspective. The other adults in the manor had begun murmuring among themselves, their curiosity piqued.

Nora hadn't come to the estate's gathering tonight. They had all assumed there had been an urgent reason, something important enough to keep her away.

But now, doubt lingered in the air like a thick fog.

Was it really possible?

Josiah sighed, crossing her arms, unimpressed. "I think Victor's mistaken."

Adrian, ever silent but observant, tapped his fingers against his glass. "It doesn't make sense,” he said finally. “Nora doesn't have any ildren in her family. And if she had free time, why wouldn't she come

here?"

Even Alex, despite his heartbreak, wanted to believe that Victor was wrong.

His small hands wiped at his tear-streaked cheeks as he looked up at Arnold. Determination replaced the hurt in his eyes.

"Dad," he said firmly, reaching toward Arnold's pocket. "Give me your phone."

Arnold studied him for a moment, then sighed and handed over the device.

Alex wasted no time. His small fingers punched in Nora's number, and he pressed

the call button, his heartbeat hammering in his chest.

40.00

After Left Alpha father and son went crazy with

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The room fell silent.

The dial tone rang once.

Then twice.

Then three times.noveldrama

Each second stretched unbearably long..