After I left Alpha father and son went crazy with regret

She turned to see some former colleagues from a different department grinning at her. One of them, an older woman named Laura, crossed her arms with an amused expression. "So, did you get any flowers

today?*

Before Nora could reply, one of the studio employees accompanying her beat her to it. "She did. A huge bouquet of red roses. You should've seen everyone's faces. They were so jealous."

A fresh wave of murmurs and chuckles followed, along with a few teasing remarks.

"Oh, really?" Laura raised an eyebrow. "That's quite the grand gesture. Who's the lucky guy?"

Nora sighed internally, the weight of the question pressing on her despite her lack of interest. She wasn't sure which unsettled her more... the anonymous flowers or the attention they had drawn.

"I don't know," she answered simply.

Laura's grin widened. "Mysterious. Maybe you have a secret admirer."

"Maybe," Nora replied, but her mind wasn't on admirers. Her thoughts lingered on the handwriting, the familiarity that nagged at her like an unfinished puzzle.

'Oh what a poor way to enjoy little attention... A voice came through

The moment Flora's voice cut through the conversation, its sharpness was impossible to ignore.

"Flowers? That's all?" she said with a laugh, striding forward with a briefcase in hand. Her perfectly polished heels clicked against the floor, and she exuded an air of feigned nonchalance as she flicked a glance at the bouquet resting near Nora. "That's not much of a gift to be so excited about."

The room fell into an awkward silence. People exchanged looks, unsure why Flora was making such an unnecessary comparison.

Without waiting for a response, Flora continued, her tone light yet pointed. "Linda, on the other hand, received tons of expensive gifts. And," she added dramatically,

letting her words linger, "Alpha Arnold gifted her a luxury villa*."

A few employees cast wary glances between Flora and Nora, sensing an underlying hostility. The tension was palpable.

Nora didn't react. She simply shifted her documents, scanning over the details of her upcoming meeting. Flora's words held no real weight. If Arnold had given Linda a villa, then so be it. Their relationship had nothing to do with her anymore. Chapter 162

Just then, Linda approached, her presence causing yet another ripple of murmurs. "What are you talking about?" she asked in a tone that was neither warm nor cold.

Flora immediately moved toward her, slipping her arm around Linda's in a show of closeness.

She cast a quick, sidelong glance at Nora before letting out a soft chuckle.

In a voice pitched just low enough for only Linda to hear, she murmured, "Someone was acting so proud about getting flowers. But once they heard that you not only received more gifts, but also a villa from Alpha Arnold, they suddenly fell silent."

Linda didn't respond immediately. She merely shifted her gaze toward Nora, observing her withoutnoveldrama

expression.

When Nora remained unaffected, Flora's lips curled in amusement. Lowering her voice even further, she added, "Linda, didn't you used to say that Leo treated her well? But look at today... Valentine's Day, and all he gave her was a bouquet of flowers. Nothing else. I guess Leo isn't as devoted to her as we thought."

Linda's expression subtly shifted.

Leo *only* sent Nora flowers?

That was... underwhelming.

For a long time, she had assumed that Leo valued Nora, that he genuinely cared

for her. After all, Nora's influence in STARLINE Studio was undeniable. But now that Flora had pointed it out, the imbalance was

glaring.

If Leo was truly attached to Nora, why had he never given her any real position of power? Why did she have influence without a title... without even an equity stake?

The realization made Linda's lips twitch into the faintest smirk.

At that moment, Flora straightened up and spoke in a louder voice, one meant for those around them. "You'll be our future Luna," she said sweetly. "Did our pack come to the Center building today to introduce any new rules?"

Linda gave a modest smile, her posture relaxed yet poised. "No, I'm just here for a meeting. It's better to leave professional matters to the professionals," she said smoothly. "I don't like to take power."

But as she spoke, her gaze once again flickered toward Nora.

Unlike herself, who had power but didn't feel the need to flaunt it, Nora had no real position... yet she constantly exercised authority, acting as if she ran STARLINE. It was amusing. For all the control she seemed to wield, Nora had no *actual* claim to anything.

99.6%

How ridiculous. All these thoughts suddenly poured Linda's arrogant mind.

Meanwhile, Nora remained entirely unbothered by their exchange.

She wasn't interested in their veiled jabs, nor did she have time to waste proving

herself. She had work to do, and that was her priority.

Just as she finalized a few details on her schedule, her phone vibrated.

A message.