Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard)

Chapter 43 Family Portrait

"Alistair married someone else?"

Nathaniel had just gotten home from work when he heard the news. He froze. "Are you sure? That can't be right."

Cordelia sighed. "He told Eva himself. She said she ran into him outside the kindergarten-he was picking up a little girl. The girl even called him Daddy. And Danny mentioned today that he saw Alistair picking her up a few days ago and telling him not to call him Daddy anymore."

Nathaniel went quiet for a while, thinking back to how cold Alistair had been the last time he tried to reach him. That conversation had been so final it practically sealed any chance of reconciling with Rebecca.

Eventually, he said, "They're divorced. If he's remarried, that's his own business."

Cordelia grew anxious. "How can you say that? If he really has moved on, what about Rebecca? What about Danny?"

Nathaniel sank onto the couch with a tired sigh. "He was with Rebecca for six years, and she never really saw what was good about him. Maybe they just weren't meant to be."

Cordelia frowned. "That isn't fair. Back then, she didn't see it because she didn't have anything to compare him to-kind of

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like how I used to pick at him all the time. But now, after seeing what Richard's like, I actually think Alistair was the only one worth trusting. Can't you try to talk some sense into him?"

Nathaniel shook his head. "Is this really on us? It's between them. Us pushing for something Rebecca might not even want... it won't change anything."

Cordelia fell silent.

He had a point.

They'd been clinging to the hope that Alistair might come back- but had anyone really asked Rebecca what she wanted?

Would she really choose that other life over her own family?

Cordelia's heart sank.

As a mother, she never wanted to see her daughter caught in this

mess.

But because she was her mother, she felt compelled to help Rebecca see Alistair

for who he really was-even if it meant being the bad guy.

If Rebecca wouldn't come around, Cordelia would eventually

have to take a hard stand.

*****

kitchen, a trusted cook recommended

Family

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living room with Eloise,

of pencil on paper filled

she had a spare moment,

Eloise company. Now, however, it was Alistair by her side. The person had changed, but Eloise's smile hadn't—if anything, she seemed

a little extra

drawing a little girl with

an elegant lady with long,

Alistair was bragging, but the kid clearly had talent-each line

handsome figure and asked, "Daddy, do you know

to think hard. "Is it me? But he looks way too

Chapter 43 Family Portrait

giggled. "You got it!

dramatically gasping, "You made me look so good-I nearly didn't recognize

shook her head with a smile. "No way, Daddy.

a million times-more handsome

that!"

heart swelled, as if someone had

into it.

dad to a daughter was pretty

before dinner, Caroline came home

major, she rarely stayed late-she always made

be home for

too,

comfy clothes and walked over, carrying that soft, familiar

Eloise beamed. "Mommy, look!"

and then smiled knowingly. "Looks like a family portrait

A family portrait?

Chapter 43 Family Portrait

hit Alistair

had always craved a real family...

"What's

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arm around her daughter and casually

tensed up for a second, then quickly reminded himself-this wasn't a big deal. Just an arm. They'd held hands before, for

himself to

reserved for Eloise, "It's a picture of you, Mommy, and Daddy-all of us together. That's what a family portrait means." Eloise's eyes sparkled. "So... we're really a family now, right? Like in the picture?" Caroline gave a confident

just saying that to make the kid happy. She

maybe I'm just reading too much

Chapter 43 Family Portrait

let out a quiet

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grip. Don't let this warmth fool you. No matter