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

Chapter 43 Family Portrait

2/7

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.

*****

a trusted cook

Family

3/7

living room with Eloise, drawing

on paper filled

Whenever she had a spare

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

a little

little

she drew an elegant lady with long, flowing hair. "That's

tall, handsome man. Not that Alistair was bragging, but the kid clearly had talent-each line full of

asked, "Daddy, do you

hard. "Is it me? But

Chapter 43 Family Portrait

giggled. "You got it! You're so

me look so good-I nearly didn't recognize

head with a smile.

a million

that!"

swelled, as if someone had poured honey

into it.

a dad to a daughter was pretty

long before dinner, Caroline came home

something major, she rarely stayed late-she always

home for

waiting for her too, there was no way she'd be working

walked over, carrying that soft, familiar scent. "What are you two

Eloise beamed. "Mommy, look!"

examined the picture for a moment and then smiled

A family portrait?

Chapter 43 Family Portrait

Alistair

real family... yeah,

blinked. "What's a family

5/7

arm around her daughter and casually rested the

then quickly reminded himself-this wasn't a big deal. Just

forced himself

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 nod. "That's right. The three of

second, Alistair got the feeling Caroline wasn't just

just reading

Chapter 43 Family Portrait

let out a

6/7

warmth fool you. No matter