Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard)

Chapter 166 The Phantom Chain

19 min left

It would've been fine if Paige hadn't mentioned Giselle. But the moment she did, Leo felt it again-that familiar choke tightening around his throat, a phantom chain he could never quite shake. It closed in fast, like he might suffocate if he didn't get away.

Paige had adored Giselle ever since Leo was a boy. She used to joke-half- kidding, half-dead serious-that Giselle was the perfect choice for Leo's wife.

And every time, Leo pushed back, firm and unwavering. He only saw Giselle as a childhood friend. There was no spark, no tension, no romance. Never had been.

Eventually, Paige stopped bringing it up. Or so he thought.

Because even as she paraded around pretending to respect his decisions, she was quietly pulling strings behind the scenes, trying to nudge him and Giselle together.

And that was everything Leo hated. It grated against every part of him that craved freedom, that needed space to breathe without someone else's blueprint for his life.

His expression iced over. "I've got hands and feet of my own, don't I? If I want to go somewhere, I can damn well go on my own. Why should she be the one tagging along?"

Paige noticed the shift in his tone and didn't bother hiding her

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Chapter 166 The Phantom Chain

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irritation. "You two grew up together. You're close in age, you get along, and you've always made a good pair-"

Leo cut her off, sharp and clean, "Mom, I don't like her. As for those rumors in the media, I'll hold a press conference soon to clear things up."

Then he turned and walked off, not even sparing her a second glance. He headed straight into the bathroom, pulled out his phone, and dialed, only to freeze halfway through.

He didn't even have Caroline's number.

If he wanted to reach her, he'd have to go through Julian.

This has to change. I'm not doing this through someone else every damn time.

*****

Meanwhile, Caroline and Alistair had just arrived at the office.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, Julian turned around and mouthed, "It's Leo," holding up his phone.

No question what this was about. It had to be Miley.

Caroline took the phone without flinching. "I'll send you the address."

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Chapter 166 The Phantom Chain

Alistair gave her a subtle nod. It was the right move.

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the phone that Miley was gone, Leo wouldn't

he'd lash out and accuse

knew what.

and let him see it with

eyes.

had spent years trying to

But he hadn't found so much as

a genius to figure out why. Paige

along, covering every lead

way Leo must've lit up on the other

even feeling a little nervous. After all these years, who knew if Miley had moved on and married

glanced at Caroline as she handed

help himself. "Honestly, if I could, I'd rather he never found out the

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166 The Phantom

$19 min left

you're too

the whole picture. People said she was distant, hard to approach, maybe even

"I do. He's pretty damn

said. "He

He was unlucky enough to get stuck

silent until now, finally spoke up, "If no one had gotten in their way, maybe things would've played out differently. Sure, their upbringings and values were

what works. It's about what you can't have. That's always the thing people chase hardest. When Leo finds out the truth, who knows?

stayed flat. "She deserves

She meant Paige.

his

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The

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his whole face shifted-brows tight, posture

the kind of look that came from a cocktail

stared at the phone like it had

calling, it

looked helplessly at Caroline.

It was Gordon.

break stride as she leaned

hit the button

way in hell he'd keep Gordon

Gordon said on the other end, Julian instinctively turned his head

Julian exhaled like he'd just resurfaced from deep water. Then he jogged after them and delivered the message like his life depended on it. "Caroline. Mr. Ashbourne asked that

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The Phantom

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and "return" like they were

glanced over at Alistair, as if

beat around the bush. "He didn't ask for

not that I heard. Maybe

it?"