After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Alex froze, his small fingers twisting the hem of his shirt, his breath uneven as fresh tears slipped down his cheeks. His father's question hung heavy in the air, pressing on his tiny shoulders like an unbearable weight.

Nora's gaze remained on him, though her eyes felt distant, as if she were seeing something beyond the room, beyond the moment. Her hands trembled as she gripped the hospital sheets tighter, her knuckles turning white.

It wasn't just the betrayal that hurt... it was the realization of how little she mattered in Alex's eyes.

A mother who had given everything, and yet, when it came down to it, she was nothing more than an obstacle to be removed.

She swallowed hard, forcing down the sting of unshed tears.

Alex's lips quivered as he hesitated. "I... I..." His voice cracked, and he sniffled, looking down at the floor.

Arnold's sharp gaze narrowed. "Answer me, Alex. Did you come up with this idea alone?"

The weight of his father's voice made Alex's small frame tremble. He squeezed his eyes shut, as if that could make the crushing pressure go away.

The harshness of his words made Alex hiccup on a sob.

"I... I just wanted Aunt Linda to come," he whispered. "I didn't think it would be that bad..."

Nora exhaled shakily, her fingers digging into the sheets.

Arnold's expression turned unreadable, but the quiet fury in his eyes was unmistakable.

A flash of panic flickered in Alex's wide eyes, and his breath hitched.

His small hands clenched into trembling fists, but he didn't dare to say another word.

Tears welled up, slipping down his flushed cheeks as he choked on his sobs. His whole body shrank as if trying to make himself invisible.

Arnold's sharp features set in a hard line. His usually calm, indifferent eyes flickered with something fleeting... an instinctive reaction when he saw Nora stir awake.

His body moved halfway toward her, but then he stopped himself, his posture stiffening as if forcing himself to remain distant.

His gaze shifted to Alex. Cold, detached. A stark contrast to the usual patience he showed his son. For the first time, his voice carried no warmth.

"Alex, I'm disappointed in what you've done," Arnold said, each word like ice cutting through the air. "Think about it. If this happens again... I don't want a cold- blooded, heartless son like that."

Alex's chest tightened at his father's words. He had always been the center of attention, pampered and sheltered, never scolded too harshly.

The sudden disapproval, the disappointment in Arnold's voice... it sent a wave of distress crashing over him. His lips quivered, and his small frame trembled.

His tear-filled eyes darted toward Nora. She was awake. The relief was instant, overwhelming. He forgot everything else.

"Oooh, Mom, you finally woke up! I was so scared..."

He stumbled toward her hospital bed, arms outstretched, seeking comfort, needing reassurance.

But the moment his fingers brushed against her, Nora's hand came up, pushing him away.

Alex froze. His breath hitched as the

rejection cut through him like a knife. His mother... his always gentle, loving mother... was looking at him with an expression he had never seen before. Cold. Distant. Her pate lips pressed into a thin line, and her dark eyes held none of the warmth he so desperately sought.

"Mom...?" His voice wavered, thick with emotion. "I didn't mean it... I... I didn't want you to get hurt!"

But Nora's face remained unreadable.

The betrayal, the exhaustion... It all lay beneath the surface, but she refused to let it show.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke, her voice quiet but firm.

"Alex, I'll give you one last chance." Her gaze bore into him, searching for anynoveldrama

sign of honesty. "Tell me the truth. The sleeping pills... was that your idea alone?"

Alex's mind went blank. His body

tensed, and his throat felt as if it had closed up. His gaze darted to the floor, then back to his mother. He wanted to speak but at the same time it seemed he didn't want to disclose anything else..

The hesitation was all Nora needed.

Disappointment flashed in her eyes before she exhaled sharply.

"Leave," she said, her voice void of emotion.

Alex's legs wobbled. "Mom, please...'

"Go, Alex."

Her tone left no room for argument.

The boy's face crumpled, his tears falling freely, but he knew there was no usein pleading. With one last glance at Nora, he turned and walked out, his small frame shaking as he sniffled.

A heavy silence settled in the room after Alex's departure.

Arnold stepped forward, his tall frame casting a shadow over the hospital bed. His

sharp eyes swept over Nora's pale face, his lips pressing together as if

suppressing a sigh.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice quieter than before.