Chapter 49 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-

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Chapter 49 Family Portrait

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

a

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Chapter 49 Family Portrait

5 min leff

the living

filled the room with a

had a spare moment, she'd grab

however, it was Alistair by her side.

a little extra

drawing a little

she drew an elegant lady with long, flowing hair.

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

if a bit childish.

figure and asked,

me? But he

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Chapter 49 Family Portrait

got it! You're

5 min left

along, dramatically gasping, "You made me look

with a smile. "No

million times-more handsome than

heart swelled, as if someone had poured

into it.

dad to a

before dinner, Caroline came home

something major,

sure to be home for

for her too, there

she'd be working overtime.

into comfy clothes and walked

scent. "What are

Eloise beamed. "Mommy, look!"

examined the picture for a moment and then

a

A family portrait?

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Chapter 49 Family Portrait

words hit Alistair harder

** 5 min left

craved a real family... yeah, that

landed deep.

"What's

arm around her daughter and

other across Alistair's shoulder.

tensed up for a second, then quickly reminded himself- this wasn't

They'd held

crying out loud.

forced himself to

warm voice

picture of you, Mommy,

what a family

"So... we're really

in the picture?"

gave a confident nod. "That's

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