novelxo Chapter AFTER I LEFT, ALPHA 65
Chapter 65
The old lady didn't even glance at Arnold. Instead, she turned to Alex with a bright smile, pulling him into a warm hug.
Alex, on the other hand, looked guilty when he saw Nora. His arms hesitated before he reached out to hug her as well.
But the moment he got close, Nora caught a faint scent-one she recognized all too well. Linda.
Her perfume lingered on Alex's clothes.
A small, almost imperceptible flicker crossed Nora's face. But she said nothing.
Instead, she pulled back smoothly, creating distance without making it obvious.
Alex blinked, slightly caught off guard.
There was no anger, no confrontation-just a quiet withdrawal. And somehow, that unsettled him more. Dinner passed peacefully, filled with laughter and conversation, but Nora remained quiet. She listened, nodded at the right moments, and smiled when expected, but her mind was elsewhere.
As the evening wound down, the old lady made it clear that Nora should stay the night.
More specifically, in Arnold's room.
There was no room for argument.
And so, when bedtime came, Nora found herself in the same space as Arnold.
Inside the grand bedroom, Arnold sat at his desk, busy with work. His sharp profile was illuminated by the soft glow of the desk lamp.
Nora, meanwhile, curled up on the couch, flipping through a book she wasn't really reading.
Neither spoke,
The silence between them was not tense, but it was heavy.
They were used to this kind of distance.
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Chapter 65
By the time it was late. Nora finally started to feel drowsy. She put the book down and crawled into bed,
keeping to the very edge, making sure there was plenty of space between them.
She doubted Arnold would stay.
But as sleep pulled her under, she felt surprisingly warm.
Safe.
Like she was surrounded by something familiar.
A gentle warmth stirred her from sleep.
At first, she didn't think much of it. But then-
A soft breath brushed against her ear.
Nora's body stiffened, her mind snapped awake instantly. Slowly, carefully, she opened her eyes.
And that's when she realized- She wasn't alone.
Arnold was wrapped around her. His strong arms encircled her waist, his legs loosely tangled with hers.
His steady breath fanned against her hair.
They were close. Too close.
And worst of all, it felt natural.
Nora remained still, her heart pounding.
How had this happened?
She distinctly remembered falling asleep on the far side of the bed. There had been plenty of space between them.
So why was she now in his arms?
She moved slightly, trying to slip away.
The moment she did, his hold instinctively tightened.
Her breath hitched.
Then, half asleep, he murmured, "Sleep a little longer."
His voice was low, drowsy, laced with warmth.
Chapter 65
And before she could react, a soft kiss landed on her forehead.
Nora's entire body froze. Her mind screamed at her to move, to push him away, to say something.
But her heart?
For just a moment-
It hesitated.
Nora froze.
Her breath hitched, her body stiffened, and her mind spun in turmoil.
Arnold's warmth still lingered against her skin, but his soft words-Sleep a little longer-echoed in her ears, cutting deeper than she expected.
He wasn't talking to her.
He wasn't holding "her".
In his sleep, he had mistaken her for someone else.
Linda.
A sharp pain squeezed her chest.
Her eyes burned slightly, her throat tightening as she fought the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to swallow down the lump rising in her throat. Then, without hesitation, she tore herself from Arnold's arms.
The abrupt movement jolted him awake.
His arms, still warm from sleep, instinctively tightened for a moment before releasing her.
Nora didn't look back. She threw off the covers, stepping out of bed as quickly as she could.
Arnold, now fully awake, blinked in confusion, his dark eyes following her movements.
For a brief moment, he looked at his now empty arms as if he was trying to recall something-something that didn't quite make sense.
But before he could say anything, Nora had already disappeared into the bathroom to change. 12:11
Chapter 65
By the time dinner rolled around, the atmosphere was warm and lively-at least on the surface.
Alex, always cheerful, grinned widely as he teased, "Dad, you held Mom the whole night. You two must have slept so well!"
The old lady clapped her hands together, utterly delighted. "Ah, how wonderful! It's good to see you two getting along.
Nora forced a smile. She didn't have the heart to correct Alex's misunderstanding.
Arnold, on the other hand, remained unreadable. He neither confirmed nor denied anything. His expression remained neutral, his gaze impassive.
If anyone looked closely, they might have noticed that he was paying more attention than he let on.
After dinner, the three of them returned home together.
The night air was crisp, and the sky stretched endlessly above them, dotted with stars.
Nora, however, didn't stay long.
She had already made up her mind to leave.
Alex's face fell the moment she announced it. "Mom, you're leaving already?" His voice carried a trace of disappointment. "I thought you'd stay and play with me