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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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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in front of Alistair... timid

back at reporters on live camera, this kind of caution felt

the phone," Leo said, stammering a little. "I figured it'd be better to explain in person, you

point. Summer was approaching fast, and he wanted to take Mabel to a seaside town for vacation. He had a beachfront villa there. It would give him a change of scenery, a chance to heal

permission. As long as Grandma's willing to go, that's her

long, she'll start to miss her.

Alistair to get the wrong idea... well, to think he was trying to take

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

Leo's face fell.

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Taking Eloise

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but hearing it out loud still

decisions for Eloise," Alistair added. "Even if you ask Carol, she'll go straight to Eloise and ask for her opinion. If she says she

well have brushed his knees, now snapped upright. “Really? If Eloise agrees, you'll let me take her? I mean-not take her, just-take her

"But before anything else, you'll need to

No problem,"

of internal adjustment,

Eloise with

It was only natural he would want to be close to

he understood how important Eloise

never tried to take her

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

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199 Taking

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the very least, it meant Eloise had one more person in

look for Caroline when he suddenly remembered there was still someone

a slow, amused look,

eyes practically

completely underestimated

had warmed to

But so what?

problem for more than just him. The man was living on borrowed time. Sooner or later, the truth would come out. He'd fall from his

little victories for now. The bigger the fall,

kind of ending Richard

continued to draw in more

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199 Taking Eloise

soon enough, Richard spotted

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a breath, straightened his posture, and approached with a smile. "Long time

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,

had the air of someone trying far too hard

care.