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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now standing in front

reporters on live camera,

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

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

my permission. As long as

long, she'll start to miss her. I

spoke, the more anxious he became. He didn't want Alistair to get the wrong idea... well, to think he was trying to

Leo's uneasy gaze, Alistair finally said,

Leo's face fell.

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Taking

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considered that, of course, but hearing it out loud still

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

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

"But before anything else,

problem,"

internal adjustment, Alistair could

with clarity and

It was only natural he would want

that he understood

take her away

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

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

Caroline when he suddenly remembered

amused look, then walked away

eyes practically

completely underestimated

Leo had warmed

But so what?

was a problem for more than just him. The man was living on borrowed time. Sooner or later, the truth would come out.

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

of ending Richard looked

continued to draw in

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199 Taking

enough, Richard

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posture, and approached with a smile.

person beside her tapped her arm did she come back to the moment. She blinked

was a sharp contrast to Richard's enthusiasm. The whole thing had

care.