Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard)

Chapter 202 The Father and the Daughter

To keep Mabel from worrying, Leo came up with a harmless lie. He told her he was just trying to lose a little weight.

Mabel gave him a disapproving glare. "Lose weight? What for? You were already handsome enough the way you were. How much better do you want to look? Honestly, I thought you were cutest when you were all chubby as a kid. Why would you want to turn yourself into a skeleton? I'll never understand you young people and your idea of beauty!"

When Leo only responded with a faint smile, Mabel turned to seek reinforcement. "Eloise, don't you think I'm right?"

Eloise nodded like a pecking chick, both hands raised in agreement. "Yes! You're totally right!"

Over the course of one dinner, Eloise had clearly warmed up to

Leo.

Encouraged, Leo turned his attention fully to her, hiding the raw emotion behind

his gaze.

Caroline and Alistair exchanged a glance across the table, quietly reading the unspoken understanding in each other's

eyes.

They were only human. Watching Leo act like this tugged at

1/8

14:37

Chapter 202 The Father and the Daught...

something in both of them.

17 min left

"Uncle Leo, you really shouldn't lose more weight," Eloise said carnestly. "You're already so skinny! If you lose any more, a big gust of wind might blow you away!"

Leo grinned, trying to coax more words out of her. “Really? But I think I look okay being a little thin."

Eloise furrowed her brow, completely serious. "But if you want people to think you look nice, and they all say you're too skinny, then maybe you should just eat more and listen to Great-Grandma."

Leo stared at her like she was a priceless treasure. Every word out of her mouth sounded like gospel, and he didn't want to miss a single syllable. He nodded solemnly. "You're making a lot of sense. Maybe I'll think it over again..."

He reached out almost instinctively to ruffle her hair.

But right as his hand brushed her soft curls, he paused.

Something held him back. He glanced at Alistair and Caroline, unsure of himself.

Caroline turned her head away, feigning distraction.

took a slow sip of

Eloise and met a

14:37

Father and the

filled with

17 min left

about me. My daughter... is

bloomed, and this time, he

Then she tilted her face up and asked, in her sweet, childlike

seriousness. "Yup! You were right, sweetheart. A person shouldn't be too skinny. What if a wind comes and sweeps me away? Then you won't have Uncle Leo anymore. So I've decided.

a final, reluctant pat before pulling

away.

grown-up hand on her small head for too long. He didn't want to

Eloise's first impression

the two of them quietly, a soft smile playing on her lips. She leaned toward Alistair and Caroline and whispered, "I seem to remember Leo wasn't too fond of kids. Said they were too loud

3/8

14:37

202 The Father

17 mln lef

them could respond, Mabel added, almost to herself. "But then

and Caroline

she mischievously ran her fingertip along his palm

of relief.

the conversation to

much weight do you think I should gain? I don't want to get too

Alistair and

as much meat as my daddy, that's perfect! My daddy's not too skinny, not too fat. He's just

froze for a

a modest smile, as if politely acknowledging

enjoying the exchange far more than she let

202 The Father

17 min left

absolutely right. Just

puffed up with pride. "And my daddy has muscles too! I can't even squeeze his

glanced at Alistair, barely masking

even been her dad? And

only proved Alistair had treated her

were simple. They knew who cared

nodded sincerely. "Alright then, I'll work hard to get strong like

cheered, "You

took the opening and ran with it. Grinning, he teased, "I've been really good, haven't I? Think

replied matter-of-factly, "Uncle Leo, what kind of reward do you want?" Leo pretended to think for a second and then turned to Mabel with a smile.

202 The Father and

177 min Lif

for a while?"