After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

"Come in," she called.

Nora sat at her desk, her fingers lightly tapping against the surface as she studied the design proposal in front of her. Her expression was calm but

serious.

Without wasting time on pleasantries, she got right to the point.noveldrama

"The concept behind your design is promising," she began, lifting her gaze to Bran, who sat across from her. "It does enhance the brand's productivi to some extent, but it still falls short of my expectations."

Bran didn't flinch. He had expected as much.

Nora continued, her tone even but firm. "The main issue lies in the detailing... your approach leans too much into mechanical efficiency, but it sacrifices the artistic depth our brand is known for. Jewelry isn't just about practicality; it's about evoking emotion, telling a story. You need to refine the intricacies, balance function with elegance."

She turned the proposal towards him, tapping at certain sections as she elaborated on her points.

Bran listened attentively, his brows slightly furrowed.

In the few days since he had arrived at STARLINE Studio, he had realized that his initial assessment of Nora had been a severe underestimation.

On the day of his interview, he had been impressed by her skills. But now, after observing her in action, he understood that her abilities were on an entirely different level.

Her grasp of jewelry design wasn't just strong... it was exceptional.

Bran had interacted with some of the biggest names in the industry, individuals renowned for their expertise.

Yet, none had possessed the same precise, almost instinctive understanding of the craft that Nora displayed.

What startled him even more was her proficiency in multiple foreign languages.

Bran had always been proud of his ability to read and understand various design journals in different languages, but he had quickly discovered that Nora not only knew more languages than he did, but she used them with such effortless fluency that it was almost intimidating.

This woman... what kind of genius was she?

As he sat there, processing everything, something else gnawed at him.

Since his first day at the company, he had sent her a bouquet of yellow roses... an unspoken apology for his reckless behavior during their interview.

He had expected some kind of reaction, whether it be acknowledgment, disinissal, or even irritation,

But nothing.

Nora hadn't mentioned the flowers once.

It was as if she hadn't even received them

Where than that she hadn't displayed the slightest interest in tum. She treated him just as she did any other designer in the R&D department with jastesisataan, had nothing mate

Versus was solely a work. No distracts, ecessary t

Bradsted that inter

hed yet, at the same sit trueleted him.

Alt fading ber eaglanation, his glared as in the stand that he had moved, as if he

was lingering for a reason.

15.46

After I bu4 Akat

She arched an eyebrow. "Any other questions?"

Bran hesitated for a fraction of a second, then withdrew his gaze.

"No." he said simply, standing up.

Without another word, he turned and left the office, heading straight back to his workstation.

Not long after, his phone vibrated on his desk.

He glanced at the screen before answering.

The voice on the other end was teasing, almost playful.

"So, how's it going with you and Nora?" The caller's tone was light, but laced with

curiosity. "Do you think she'll choose you, or Leo?"

Bran's expression didn't change.

He knew the truth.

To Nora, he was no different from any other designer on her team.

His voice was flat as he replied, "No progress."

Without waiting for a response, he ended the call and refocused on the data analysis in front of him.

A moment later, his phone buzzed again.

Linda.

He looked at the screen, his lips pressing together slightly.

After a brief pause, he simply put the phone back down, letting it ring until it stopped.

He had no interest in these pointless conversations.

Instead, he buried himself back in his work, pushing aside all distractions.

**On the Other Side**

"Mom!"

The joyful call of a child rang through the air as Brian rushed forward, his schoolbag bouncing against his back. The moment he spotted his mother outside the school gates, he broke into a run, flinging himself into her arms. His mother laughed, catching him effortlessly and ruffling his hair. "You're getting bigger every day, aren't you?“ Brian beamed up at her, his eyes bright with happiness. “I missed you!"

She smiled warmly, hugging hun tightly. "I missed you too."

It was a simple, tender moment... one of warmth, love, and security.

Alex stood at the edge of the school gates, gripping the straps of tus backpack as

he watched the scene unfold before him.

The courtyard was filled with the cheerful shouts of children running into their parents' arms, their faces lighting up with joy as they were embraced, their hands Instinctively reaching for the confort and warmth of a parent's grasp

The sigla stired something in hus something unfamiliar yet strangely painful

His classmates were wastered around the front of the school each finding their way into the arms of their waiting mothers.

Some had their fathers there to standing with proust smiles, ruffling the kids hair, asking about their day. The sound of laughter and casual chatter filled the aur

But Alex stood alone.

He scanned the area, searching for his own driver. The sleek black car was nowhere in sight.

He exhaled sharply, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Is mom coming to pick him up today?

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