hapter 51 Chapter


    51


    That night, Arnold sat in the living room, flipping through paperwork, but his mind kept drifting


    He nced at the clock on the wall. It was gettingte. Nota hadn''t returned yet.


    The house felt oddly empty without her presence.


    His thoughts churned. He had expected her toe back after dinner, especially since Alex would be waiting for her.


    But she hadn''t. He checked his phone again, but there were no messages from her.


    He sighed, a mixture of frustration and confusion filling him.


    Where could she be? His mind ran over the possibilities, but none made sense.


    He tried to push it aside, telling himself that maybe she just needed more time, but deep down, he wasn''t


    so sure.


    The next morning. Alex knocked on Nora''s door as usual, eager to go to school.


    He had grown ustomed to seeing his mother in the mornings, but today, the door didn''t open.


    After a mo


    a moment of hesitation, Alex knocked again, louder this time.


    "Mom? he called, his voice tinged with uncertainty,


    The door didn''t budge.


    Trowning, Alex turned and walked down the hallway toward Arnold''s office.


    He knocked lightly, pushing the door open to see his father hunched over his desk, working as usual.


    "Dad," Alex said quietly, his voice filled with confusion. "Mom''s not home."


    Arnold looked up from his papers, his expression unreadable


    He had been expecting this question.


    "She''s not here, son. She''s-"Arnold paused, trying to find the right words. "She''s busy with work. But don''t worry, she''ll be back soon.


    Alex didn''t


    seem convinced. He had hoped for a different answer, one that would put his mind at ease.


    Is sheing back today?" he asked, has small voice filled with concern.


    Arnold swallowed, the words he wanted to say getting stuck in his throat.


    Tm not sure. I''ll let you know when I hear from her, okay


    Alex nodded, but the uncertainty ins eyes remained.


    He hadn''t seen his mother sincest night, and the silence in the house made him feel uneasy.


    He turned and walked back to his room, but his thoughts stayed with Nora. Where could she be? For the heat


    next few days, Nora was absorbed in her work at the studio.


    She had quickly be an integral part of the now project team, and in just a few short days, she was already at


    y at the center of everything She worked tirelessly, her focus sharp, her mind constantly moving from one task to the nest


    is an escape - one she needed.


    The studio had be a familiar refuge where she could pour herself into her work, leaving theplexities of her personal life behind.


    11:5


    Chapter 51.


    Her days blended together in a rhythm of tasks, meetings, and deadlines.


    Tot even as she threw herself into the work, there were moments when her mind would drift back to Arnold, to Alex, to the life she had left behind.


    Still, she pushed the thoughts away. She couldn''t afford to think about it now.


    One evening, after a particrly long day, Nora finally checked her phone.


    There was a message from Arnold, sent earlier that afternoon.


    She had mussed it in the flurry of work, but now, she read it with a mixture of exhaustion and hesitation. Arnold: I''m going on a business trip. You''reing home tonight, right? Alex wants your cooking


    Nora''s fingers hovered over the screen for a moment. She could feel the weight of the message-the subtle expectation that she would return.


    Even though I want a divorce, I still have a responsibility to Alex, she thought


    No matter the distance between her and Arnold, her love for her son remained.


    There was no way she could leave him alone in the cottage, especially after he had asked for her specifically,


    She nced at the time. It was alreadyte, but she know she had to go


    She couldn''t ignore Alex''s request.


    With a sigh, she stood up from her desk, grabbed her things, and drove to the vi.


    When Nora stepped inside, the familiar scent of the house hit her.


    But what really caught her attention was Ale


    Alex, who came running toward her as soon as he saw her.


    "Mommy!" He eximed, his arms wrapping around her tightly. "What took you so long?"


    Nora smiled softly, though she could see the hunger in his eyes.


    She noticed the rumbling sound from his stomach as he clung to her.


    The maid, standing by the side, smiled knowingly but spoke with a hint of exasperation


    "Young master, he only y wants your cooking. He won''t eat what we make. He kept saying you would definitely be back tonight


    12:00