Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard)

Chapter 13 Like a Stranger

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After dropping Eloise off at preschool, Caroline headed to work while Alistair took a taxi to Everett Villa.

The Everetts had prepared all sorts of ingredients, with several household staff ready to help with the prep work. They handled everything from sorting and washing vegetables to chopping and mincing. Alistair only needed to do the actual cooking.

He'd never received this kind of treatment when he was with

Rebecca.

Whenever Alistair joined Rebecca for dinner with her family, he never got to sit at the table and enjoy a leisurely meal with everyone else.

The kitchen was his domain. It was perfectly normal for him to prepare 15 or 20 dishes all by himself.

By the time he finished cooking, everyone had nearly finished eating, chatting happily and playing with the kids. He would quietly sit at the edge of the table, picking at whatever leftovers remained.

This had been his life for years.

Alistair couldn't say he was used to it-he just didn't have the right to protest.

Chapter 13 Like a Stranger

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Two million dollars might be nothing more than a replaceable sports car to wealthy girls like Rebecca, but for a powerless nobody like Alistair, it was a crushing mountain, suffocating his freedom and self-respect.

Thankfully, that was all in the past now.

Alistair prepared the meal with ease, even finding time to chat with Vivienne when she popped into the kitchen to say hello.

Vivienne's eyes lit up when she saw how vibrant Alistair looked.

It was like finding a diamond in the rough-something that had been there all along, just waiting for someone to polish off the dirt and let it shine again.

What a spirited, talented young man.

It was completely unrecognizable from the quiet, withdrawn Alistair she remembered.

For a split second, the years melted away, and Vivienne could see clearly the spirited young man he'd been in high school.

Back then, even though Alistair was poor, his eyes had sparkled with dreams of the future.

When he dropped out of school to become the father of Rebecca's child, that light in his eyes disappeared.

It was such a mess.

Chapter 13 Like a Stranger

Vivienne couldn't help but sigh.

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situation was unfair to Alistair, but whatever had happened between them was their choice. It wasn't her place to interfere

was stand up for him when Rebeccal belittled him in front of everyone, even if it meant risking Rebecca's

Alistair's eyes

so much. My mother had a wonderful time today," she said, reaching for her phone. "Let

I'm glad your mother likes it. I don't need

polite, which made her anxious. "That won't work! I can't let you do all this for nothing. Is the amount too

interrupted. "I've actually

twinge of regret. "I haven't done anything special. At least let me

just smiled politely without saying

13 Like a

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what she'd expected, and she didn't feel rejected or

was attracted to Alistair, but unlike

she wasn't looking for casual thrills

rational to

Vivienne personally. In fact, he was

money, Vivienne was gentle and good-natured without a trace

her, but

social circle, and he preferred

but ever since my mom tried the chicken noodle soup Rebecca brought

eyes had

Vivienne sighed inwardly.

grown up together, so she knew Rebecca's temperament all too

Like

way. Only around Richard did Rebecca ever show her softer

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bit working for Rebecca, leaving

he might feel uncomfortable accepting it, she was relieved when he

Vivienne walked him to the door

Vivienne's phone

when she

Rebecca's name, Alistair's face went blank as he walked away. "Go for a spa day?

her eyes at whatever Rebecca said next. "I seriously can't get

hung up, Alistair had already walked

wave

a Stranger before

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in her tracks,

She couldn't help but shake her

feeling that Rebecca was going

time.

Whatever. Not my problem.

the corner, then headed back inside. It was time to finish eating. She was still

amazing cook. That silly Rebecca

let someone with those cooking skills