After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

Cole's heart pounded violently in his chest as he cradled Nora in his arms. She

was limp, her skin. unusually cool, her breathing faint but steady.

The sight of her unconscious body sent a surge of panic through him, an

unfamiliar and unbearable sensation that gripped his very soul.

He wasn't the type to panic. He had always been the one in control, the one who could keep his emotions

in check no matter the situation.

But now... Now he was drowning in fear.

Bran rushed into the kitchen and shut off the main valve. By now the soup on the stovetop had

extinguished the fire, and that's what triggered the gas leak.

The air was thick with the lingering scent of gas, a silent and deadly enemy that had almost taken her

away.

What if we had arrived a few minutes later? What if I had never come at all?

The very thought sent a sharp, gut-wrenching pain through him.

Cole tightened his grip on Nora as he rushed out of the apartment. "Move!" he barked at Bran, who was already one step ahead, flagging down the nearest car.

Every second felt like an eternity.

Every breath she took... too shallow, too weak... felt like it could be her last.

Cole had always convinced himself that he could live without attachments, that he

was fine keeping a distance from the people around him.

But now, looking at Nora's pale face, her delicate lashes resting against her cheeks, he realized he had

been a fool.

He couldn't live without her.

The very idea of losing her sent a cold, hollow ache through his chest, an unbearable tightness that wrapped around his heart like a vice.

No. You are not leaving me, Nora.

His jaw clenched, his hands shaking as he pressed her closer to his chest, as if his very presence could

with regret

99.5%

tether her to this world.

He had never been a praying man. But at this moment, he found himself mentally pleading... to fate, to the universe, to anyone who would listen.

Don't take her away from me.

By the time they reached the hospital, he was on the brink of losing himself to his emotions.

He barely heard the doctors as they wheeled her away. Barely registered Bran's hand on his shoulder, urging him to sit down, to wait.

Wait?

How could he wait?

The minutes stretched endlessly, each one a torment.

For the first time in his life, Cole felt utterly helpless.

And he hated it.

A full day passed.

Cole hadn't left the hospital.

He hadn't eaten, hadn't slept. He had barely moved from his seat outside Nora's room, watching the door like a predator guarding its wounded mate.

When the nurse finally emerged with an update, he was on his feet in an instant.

"The patient is stable now. There are no major concerns, but she should take it easy for a few days."

A breath he hadn't realized he was holding escaped him, his body sagging slightly in relief.

She was okay.

The sterile scent of the hospital filled Nora's senses before her consciousness fully returned. The dim blur of fluorescent lights swam into focus, and with it, a dull ache settled into her body.

Slowly, she blinked.

The first thing she saw was the pristine white ceiling. Then, out of the corner of her eye, two familiar figures came into view.

ear with regret

99.7%

tether her to this world.

He had never been a praying man. But at this moment, he found himself mentally pleading... to fate, to the universe, to anyone who would listen.

Don't take her away from me.

By the time they reached the hospital, he was on the brink of losing himself to his emotions.

He barely heard the doctors as they wheeled her away. Barely registered Bran's hand on his shoulder, urging him to sit down, to wait.

Wait?

How could he wait?noveldrama

The minutes stretched endlessly, each one a torment.

For the first time in his life, Cole felt utterly helpless.

And he hated it.

A full day passed.

Cole hadn't left the hospital.

He hadn't eaten, hadn't slept. He had barely moved from his seat outside Nora's room, watching the door like a predator guarding its wounded mate.

When the nurse finally emerged with an update, he was on his feet in an instant. "The patient is stable now. There are no major concerns, but she should take it easy for a few days."

A breath he hadn't realized he was holding escaped him, his body sagging slightly in relief.

She was okay.

The sterile scent of the hospital filled Nora's senses before her consciousness fully returned. The dim blur of fluorescent lights swam into focus, and with it, a dull ache settled into her body.

Slowly, she blinked.

The first thing she saw was the pristine white ceiling. Then, out of the corner of her eye, two familiar figures came into view.

99.7%

But before she could even register their presence, a cold, sharp voice cut through

the air.

"Alex."

Nora's chest tightened.

Cole's voice wasn't loud, but it held an unmistakable weight.

"Who taught you to put sleeping pills in your mother's drink?" he asked, his tone a dangerous calm. "Why

did

you do it?"

Alex stood with his back to them, his small shoulders trembling.

Tears slipped down his cheeks, but he made no effort to wipe them away.

"I... I didn't mean to," he sniffled. "There was a parent-teacher conference at

school, and I wanted Aunt

Linda to come with me instead of Mom..."

The words felt like a stab to Nora's heart.

So that was it.

Her own son... her flesh and blood... had chosen Linda over her.

She had always known Alex was close to Linda, had always felt the subtle tug of competition. But she had never imagined that the bond between them would be so strong that he would betray her like this.

A lump formed In her throat, but she swallowed it down.

She couldn't afford to break now.

From the other side of the room, Arnold stood in cold silence, his black suit slightly disheveled from travel, his usually sharp expression marred with exhaustion and anger.

He had arrived In a hurry, his mind already a storm of fury when he learned what

had happened.

Now, staring at Alex, his own son, he could barely keep his temper in check.

His voice, when he finally spoke, was low and sharp.

"Do you realize what you've done?"

Alex flinched at his father's tone but didn't dare move.

"You almost killed her," Arnold continued, stepping forward. "Do you understand

that?"