Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard)

Chapter 199 Taking Eloise Away?

When Richard saw Leo heading straight toward them, he naturally assumed Leo was coming for him. His heart surged with pride as he cast a smug glance at Alistair, as if to say, "See that? No matter how high you climb, some circles will always be out of reach."

Back when Leo first entered the music industry, he'd been proud and fiercely private. He hated anyone bringing up his mother Paige's powerful reputation or the fact that his uncle was none other than Gordon. Since the Ashbourne family kept a low profile, very few people outside their inner circle knew about Leo's background, even after all these years.

Richard wasn't remotely qualified to be in that circle, but he knew the truth.

In his mind, Alistair had never earned Gordon's approval. Which meant Caroline was the only person he had any real influence over. Richard assumed Leo shared Gordon's disdain for Alistair and had come over just to humiliate him.

Feeling emboldened, Richard greeted Leo with an enthusiastic, almost overly familiar tone, as if they were longtime acquaintances, even though they'd never interacted before.

Leo, dressed simply and without fanfare, gave Richard a puzzled look. His tone was clipped and unamused. "Do I know you?"

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Chapter 199 Taking Eloise Away?

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He hated being called "Mr. Reed." Did people think he didn't have a first name? Richard froze.

Leo didn't bother acknowledging him any further. He turned to Alistair instead. “I heard you guys were here, so I came over."

Alistair asked, "Something up?"

Leo scratched his nose like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Not really..."

"Oh, then I'll go back to Carol," Alistair said.

"Wait-no, no, I do have something!" Leo grabbed Alistair's arm and quickly pulled him aside.

Richard stood there, dumbfounded.

What the hell just happened?

Wasn't Leo supposed to rip into Alistair for overstepping, for being a nobody trying

to marry into a family far above his class? Weren't they on the same team?

Even if Leo didn't hate Alistair outright, this definitely wasn't how Richard expected him to act.

Leo, the musical prodigy who'd never tolerated a rude question

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Chapter 199 Taking Eloise Away?

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standing in front

back at reporters on

phone," Leo said, stammering a little. "I figured it'd be better

approaching fast, and he wanted to take Mabel to a seaside town for vacation. He had a beachfront villa there. It would give

need my permission. As long as

hesitated. "She's really close with Eloise. If she leaves for too long,

Alistair to get the wrong idea... well, to think he was trying to take Eloise away, or that he had some kind of

gaze, Alistair finally said, "Isn't Eloise's preschool still in

Leo's face fell.

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199 Taking

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but hearing

ask Carol, she'll go straight to Eloise and ask for her opinion. If she says she

face lit up. His head, which had been hanging so low it might as well have brushed his knees, now snapped upright. “Really? If Eloise

cautiously. "But before anything else, you'll need

problem,"

adjustment, Alistair

with clarity

was only natural he

that he

take her away or claim sole

looked at it, he realized it might not be such a bad thing

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199 Taking

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Eloise had one

and look for Caroline when he suddenly remembered there was still

slow, amused

eyes practically burst into

completely underestimated

Leo had warmed

But so what?

time. Sooner or later, the truth would come out.

his little victories for now. The bigger the fall, the more devastating

was the kind of ending Richard

continued to draw in more

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Taking Eloise

Richard spotted another

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and approached with a smile.

Only when the person beside her tapped her arm did she come back to the moment. She blinked at Richard, gave him a brief nod in acknowledgment,

whole thing had the air of someone

care.