Chapter 3 The Opportunity

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Inside the supermarket, a small indoor playground buzzed with the chatter of children.

A little girl nestled in Alistair's arms, her tiny frame soft and warm, carrying the faint, sweet scent. She was engrossed in stacking colorful blocks, her focus unwavering.

Alistair sat patiently by her side, waiting for her mother to arrive.

For once, he wasn't being dragged around by that little tyrant, nor was he stuck wearing an apron while juggling dinner prep. For the first time in years, he had all the time in the world.

"Look! Check out my castle!" the girl chirped, her mood shifting as quickly as only a child's can. Moments ago, she'd been sobbing, and now, her face lit up with a radiant smile.

Maybe it was knowing her mom was on the way, or maybe it was the comfort of this kind stranger's presence, but her fear had melted away. She beamed, her joy infectious.

Alistair didn't hold back his praise. "Wow, that's incredible! Look at my castle, it's nowhere near as good as yours."

Pointing proudly at her creation, the girl declared, "This is my castle. I'm the princess, my mommy's the queen, and we rule it together!"

Chapter 3 The Opportunity

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She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with innocence. "Wanna live with us? I can invite you to stay in our castle!"

Before Alistair could respond, a middle-aged woman stormed over, muttering under her breath, "You little troublemaker, running off like that! I've been looking everywhere!" She reached for the girl, her grip rough and impatient.

Alistair's reflexes kicked in. He gently shielded the girl, pulling her out of reach.

He knew that kind of tug would hurt her.

The woman glared at him, barking, "Who are you?" Then she turned to the girl, impatiently waving her over. "Come on! I've still got dinner to make. Stop messing around here!"

The girl clung tighter to Alistair, clearly frightened.

The woman's voice sharpened. "Who the hell are you? Hand her over right now, or I'll call the cops and tell them you kidnapped her!"

Alistair stood his ground, his tone calm but firm. "You've got some nerve. You're the one who lost her, and now you're blaming others?"

If this had happened with Daniel, Rebecca wouldn't have let him off the hook, and he wouldn't have forgiven himself either.

"Mommy!"

Chapter 3 The Opportunity

The girl suddenly wriggled free and bolted toward a young woman, throwing herself into her arms with a gleeful squeal.

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breathtaking. The kind of beautiful that made time stop

looked better than any celebrity

seen.

to shift the blame. "Ms. Ashbourne, this man snatched

the girl interrupted,

and then you disappeared into that big crowd. I

face was a mask

She knew she was in the wrong, but still tried to argue. "Fine, but you owe

into someone kind. If anything had happened to

Defeated, the woman slunk

away.

matter

Chapter 3 The Opportunity

lowered her gaze, tapped out a quick

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nanny from every

blacklist the careless

was time to

the "go" meant anymore.

had nowhere

check

now, his priority was waiting for

Caroline Ashbourne, this little

The

front of him, her eyes locking onto his with

gazes met,

she looked at him felt oddly familiar, like a memory

were slender, her skin smooth, and her nails neatly trimmed and clean. Alistair's mind

Chapter 3 The Opportunity

now, he found this natural

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shook her hand briefly. Her fingers were cool to the touch,

of man to be

beautiful, too, but he'd spent years keeping

inner character trumped appearances

Even the

she was stunning in a way

first, he'd pegged her for a celebrity, but he quickly realized her allure surpassed that. She carried an aura of authority, a quiet power that commanded

discreetly. Beside her, Eloise Ashbourne nibbled happily on a small cake, occasionally glancing up at Alistair with

child reach

arrived was, for most people, a small act

Chapter 3 The Opportunity

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