Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard)

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The sky was clear, the clouds sparse, and the water shimmered under the midday

sun.

By the lake, the open lawn buzzed with life. Children flew kites, dogs tugged at leashes, and couples strolled lazily along the winding paths.

Willow branches drooped over the shore, tipped with new spring leaves, and trees Alistair couldn't name burst with white and blush-pink blossoms. The air smelled fresh and sweet- grass, petals, sunlight.

Eloise bounced along the rustic wooden bridge, holding Mabel's hand and giggling with each step.

Alistair followed Caroline at a measured pace, his expression relaxed, but every muscle in his body coiled tight. His senses. were sharpened to a point-ears tuned for disruption, eyes flicking over every shadow.

It might've been spring, but the lake water was still freezing.

If someone as sturdy as him fell in, he'd likely get sick. Mabel, elderly and fragile, would fare far worse.

Preston, that smug little opportunist, he'd really risk her life just to play hero? Chapter 37 Drone Crisis

There were people scattered along the lake's edge-fishing, walking, chatting-but Alistair was certain Preston was somewhere nearby. If he wanted to swoop in at the perfect moment and save the day, he couldn't be far.

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Alistair's gaze swept the scene. A man in a fisherman's hat sat nearby, watching his line.

Another young couple laughed and flirted beneath a blossoming tree. None of them screamed "Preston Vaughn," but that didn't matter. He'd never seen the man. Neither had Caroline-at least not well enough to recognize him.

If I can't pick him out, I'll just keep watch. He won't get the chance.

What Alistair couldn't figure out was how Preston planned. to pull it off. How could he push Mabel into the lake without

raising suspicion?

It had to be subtle, deniable, a freak accident...

An out-of-control dog? A runaway kite? A sudden shove disguised as chaos?

Beside him, Caroline caught his constant scanning and tilted her head. "Are you bored?"

He shook his head. "No. The view's actually... really beautiful."

She hesitated, clearly wanting to say more, and then let it go. Chapter 37 Drone Crisis

If he wasn't ready to open up, she wasn't going to pry.

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Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was weighing on him.

It's going to take time. I knew that from the start.

Then Alistair caught movement. The man in the fisherman's

hat stood and began walking-straight toward them. Slowly and casually.

That's him. It has to be. The timing's too perfect.

Alistair's instincts flared.

The area was calm. No loose dogs. No kites. Mabel was still within his line of sight, and aside from standing too close to the edge, she wasn't in any obvious danger. Yet.

Then a girl-small, waifish-started weaving her way toward the bridge, her gait loose and a bit odd.

At this point, anyone or anything-approaching the area was at potential threat in Alistair's eyes.

would fall because of some accident or distraction? What if it's not about a dog or a kite at all? What if it's a person-someone

of the water and earning himself a debt of

Chapter 37 Drone Crisis

girl... was

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the air-faint at first, and then rising fast, from

and it hit

It dropped from the sky in a sharp, sudden

it. That's

to pull her out-earning himself a permanent seat at the Ashbourne table. The drone was nearly on her now. Mabel flinched, already

yanked both Mabel and Eloise back just as the drone smacked into the lake, sending up a geyser of water.

Crisis averted.

then, right on schedule, a man came tearing across

Chapter 37 Drone Crisis

the Olympics.

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instincts were right, he was Preston, the same man

a mess of panic and frustration. He didn't even have time to hide. it. Alistair had beaten him to the punch-and he knew

"Granny! Are you okay?"

but her first

sweetheart," Mabel whispered, brushing back

them, pulling her daughter into

stealing a glance at the lake. "Thanks to Alistair. Otherwise, I'd be out here giving the fish a bath-and at my age, I'm not sure I'd've made it back to

If Mabel still had the

you alright, Madam

man-Preston, presumably-approaching now, his voice

the moment she

he Crisis

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had ruined everything. Eloise was shaken, and none of them wanted

than she looked. Alistair stepped forward,

"Let me take her."

when upset.

looked at Alistair and

nestled her chin

Mabel blinked in surprise.

I'll be damned. Maybe it

Preston watched the scene,

time trying to

knew the way to Caroline's heart was through

Eloise would flinch, duck, or flat-out ignore him. He'd convinced himself it was just her personality-shy, Chapter 37 Drone

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to a few trusted people. That had

Caroline had one non-negotiable when it came to choosing

like anyone, then no one has

he had time.

brought

himself with the idea

her distance no matter who it was. But this man-this complete nobody-had somehow made it past

clawed at him. The

forward. "Madam

Mabel stopped and turned.

darting away from Caroline's.

need. Just don't show up again." Her face was unreadable, but

Preston's face went pale.

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but finality in her words. The sentence wasn't just

was scaled.