AFTER I LEFT, ALPHA 191
Flora stepped inside, her expression carrying a trace of unease.
Her usually poised demeanor was shaken, and a faint panic could be heard in her voice.
"I heard about the lawsuit," she blurted out, her gaze darting around the room, as if searching for an anchor.
"This... this is clearly just a minor issue! How could they use something so trivial to push for a contract termination? That doesn't seem right, does it?"
Her voice wavered slightly, betraying her nervousness.
But the moment her eyes skimmed the room and failed to land on Cole, her expression shifted... disappointment flashed across her face for the briefest second before she masked it.
Linda, who had been silently observing, didn't miss this detail.
A cold feeling slithered into her chest. Was Flora truly here to discuss the lawsuit? Or was this just an excuse to find Cole?
Suppressing her irritation, Linda grabbed her bag and stood up. "I'm going to find Leo. I need to talk to him more about this."
She couldn't afford to let this contract issue remain unresolved. Even though Leo had made his stance clear, she wasn't ready to give up yet.
Without sparing Flora another glance, she walked out. The air behind her remained tense, as if the tension from her thoughts had settled in the very atmosphere of the room.
The next morning, Linda arrived early at STARLINE Studios.
The crisp morning air did little to cool the frustration bubbling inside her. She stood outside the building, waiting.
When Nora arrived at the office, she immediately spotted Linda. Their eyes met.
For a moment, time seemed to slow. There was no greeting, no exchange of words... only a silent battle of
wills between them.
Linda's lips pressed into a thin line, her hands clenching at her sides.
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After I left, Alpha father and son went crazy with regret
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It was humiliating to be caught standing here, waiting like this. She had underestimated this situation, but it wouldn't happen again.
Nora, on the other hand, showed no reaction. She barely paused before turning away and stepping into the elevator, her expression as calm as ever.
To her, Linda's presence didn't matter.
The slight dismissal stung, but Linda refused to let it show.
Moments later, another figure appeared... Bran. He approached the building with his usual composed stride, though his eyes briefly flickered toward Linda before he quickly looked away.
He had heard about the ongoing issues, about the lawsuit and the tension surrounding the contract.
He had no intention of getting involved, but Linda wasn't about to let him pass so easily.
"Bran," she called out.
He stopped, turned, and looked at her with polite detachment. "Something wrong?"
Linda hesitated for a fraction of a second, then asked, "I came to talk to Leo. Will he be at the office
today?"
Bran didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced toward the entrance, as if contemplating whether to entertain this conversation at all.
"Leo's on a business trip," he finally said. "He won't be in the office for a while."
The words hit Linda like a dull blow. She had hoped to catch Leo, to speak with him in person and try to sway his decision. Now that option was gone.
She exhaled sharply, schooling her features back into neutrality. "I see," she muttered. "That's all, then."
Bran was about to leave when she suddenly added, "You've been here for a while now. Are you still
adjusting?"
Bran gave a small nod, his voice steady but distant. "I'm pretty good. If there's nothing else, I'll head、 upstairs."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his posture straight, his steps measured. He didn't look back... not even once.
Linda watched him go, her fingers tightening slightly around the strap of her bag. Her brows furrowed.
Bran was still angry with her.
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She had reached out to him several times, tried calling, even sent messages, but he never answered. She knew why.
The last time they had spoken properly, she had made the mistake of informing his family about his
whereabouts without his consent.
It had been a careless decision on her part, but she had genuinely believed she was doing the right thing.
And yet, even now, after all this time, he hadn't forgiven her.
Just as she was lost in thought, her phone buzzed in her hand. A call from an unfamiliar number.
She hesitated, then answered.
"Miss Linda," a professional-sounding male voice came through the line. "I'm a lawyer representing
STARLINE Studio. Mr. Leo has assigned me to discuss the termination of your contract."
Linda's grip on the phone tightened.
Her expression darkened, her heart sinking like a stone.
So it had come to this.
Leo had made his decision. The legal process was already in motion.
There was no room left for negotiation.
Her mind raced. This wasn't just about her. Her company had poured resources into her career... Arnold
had, too.
If she lost this contract, she wouldn't be the only one facing consequences.
She couldn't afford to fail.
If the normal way didn't work, she had no choice but to consider another route...
By the end of the day, Nora finally leaned back in her chair, stretching her tired body. The words on her screen blurred slightly as she blinked away the exhaustion.
A satisfied smile curled at the corners of her lips.
She had finished her speech manuscript.
Tomorrow was STARLINE Studio's highly anticipated new product launch, and
she had been entrusted
razy with regret
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with the responsibility of delivering a speech on stage.
It was a major event, one she had prepared for meticulously. She had rehearsed every line, refined every phrase, envisioned every moment down to the smallest detail.
She had to get it right.
She shut down her computer, grabbed her things, and finally headed home. But the moment she stepped inside, she was met with an unexpected sight.
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