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?"

1/7

14:35

Chapter 199 Taking Eloise Away?

18 min left

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

2/7

14:35

Chapter 199 Taking Eloise Away?

18 min left

a journalist, was now standing in front

someone known to snap back at reporters on live camera, this kind of caution felt

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

wanted to take Mabel to a seaside town for vacation. He had a beachfront villa there. It would give him

permission. As long as Grandma's

leaves for too long, she'll

he spoke, the more anxious he became. He didn't want Alistair to

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

Leo's face fell.

317

14:35

Taking

10 min left

course, but hearing it out loud still

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

his knees, now snapped upright. “Really? If Eloise agrees, you'll let

anything else, you'll need to run it by

problem," Leo said

internal adjustment, Alistair

Eloise with

was only natural he

Leo had shown that he understood how important

never tried to take her away or

realized

4/7

14:35

199 Taking Eloise

(+) 10 min left

it meant Eloise had one more person

head off and look for Caroline when he suddenly remembered there was still someone nearby, someone

slow, amused look, then walked

eyes practically burst

completely

had warmed

But so what?

later, the truth would come out. He'd fall from his pedestal, land in prison, and become a cautionary

now. The bigger the fall, the more devastating

was the kind of

expo continued to draw

14:35

199 Taking

Richard spotted

18 min left

posture, and approached with a

was craning her neck to look in a certain direction. 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, and then turned and walked off in the same direction Alistair

enthusiasm. The whole thing had the air of someone trying far too hard for someone who

care.