Chapter 38 Alone Now
“Thanks for today, honey.”
The word honey rolled off Caroline’s tongue more and more. naturally these days. Alistair, who used to flinch every time she said it, had grown used to it too–maybe even fond of it.
He gave her a thoughtful look. “Do you realize you have a major flaw?”
Caroline froze. “What flaw?” she asked quickly, a little too quickly. If there was something wrong with her, she wanted to fix it–immediately.
“You’re a total hypocrite.”
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You’re the one who told me married couples don’t need to keep apologizing or thanking each other. So why are you thanking me right now? Isn’t that kind of… I don’t know, a double standard?”
Caroline lowered her head without a word.
Alistair’s heart skipped.
Shit. That was too much, wasn’t it?
Was he letting success get to his head? Just because he pulled off
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one heroic save, did that give him the right to call out his boss?
And not just any boss–Caroline.
God, I’m turning into Preston. I need to shut up.
He opened his mouth to backtrack, maybe even apologize.
But then Caroline looked up. Her almond–shaped eyes shimmered with amusement, glassy and bright. She nodded solemnly. “You’re right. I guess I was being a little hypocritical. Won’t happen again.”
Alistair blinked.
Well… that was easy.
At least she took it well.
But then her expression shifted–less teasing, more serious. She hesitated before speaking again.
“If something like that ever happens again… would you mind telling me sooner?”
She meant the thing with Eloise–those cruel words.
“If Eloise asks you not to tell me, I’ll respect that. I promise I won’t take it out on you. I just… want to know what’s going on. You don’t have to betray her trust–I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
Alistair was quiet. She didn’t have to be so reasonable. She was
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her daughter’s mother. She had every right to demand he report every detail, no questions asked.
And yet, she didn’t.
How lucky did I get, ending up with a boss like this?
“Can I ask you something?” he said finally.
Caroline looked up. “Sure.”
“Do you… have a lot of people who’ve tried to date you?”
The question caught her off guard. Her lashes fluttered as she stared at him.
Wait… is he jealous? Is that what this is about?
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “What made you ask that?”
“It’s just… what happened today got me thinking,” Alistair said. “Are there more people like that Preston guy? I mean–unstable, obsessive types. I’m just wondering if I should be… concerned.”
Caroline raised a brow. “You’re worried about your safety? I can get you a bodyguard or two.”
Oh. So it’s not jealousy.
There was a flicker of disappointment in her chest.
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But no–Alistair wasn’t jealous either. He was just genuinely concerned someone might pull another stunt like Preston’s… and mess with the comfortable life he was finally starting to
enjoy.
Caroline didn’t say anything. She simply pulled out her phone and typed a message to Julian.
Caroline: [Find two reliable guys. I want my husband protected.]
If bodyguards were necessary, then bodyguards he’d get. End of
story.
*****
“Rebecca, don’t tell me you’re ditching me for your boyfriend again! You seriously can’t get away for just one afternoon? Richard’s at work all day–he doesn’t need you glued to his
side!”
Anne’s voice whined through the phone, drenched in passive–aggressive frustration.
At the mention of Richard’s name, a shadow passed over
Rebecca’s face.
In the mirror, her reflection looked polished, almost untouched. Her skin had regained its glow.
Even after giving birth, she was still only twenty–four–naturally beautiful and generous when it came to skincare. Her face was
Chapter 38 Alone Now
smooth and radiant, collagen–rich and youthful.
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But the room around her was drained of light. Like her, it carried a lifeless, heavy stillness. The kind that clung to grief.
Richard had stormed out after their last fight. He hadn’t come back.
Their son, Daniel, was still with her parents.
She’d spent that entire night curled up on the couch, crying, herself hoarse.
She could still hear her father’s voice echoing in her head.
“I won’t stop you from marrying Richard, but don’t think you’ll get a penny from this family. You made your choice–you live. with the consequences.”
Her mother had wept softly beside him.
“We’re your parents, Rebecca. We’d never hurt you. Even when we didn’t approve of Alistair, we gave him a chance. But with Richard… we couldn’t. Doesn’t that tell you something?”
And Daniel’s words–those hurt the most.
“I don’t want Daddy. He hit me. He hit me hard!”
She remembered Richard’s red–rimmed eyes, his voice sharp with emotion.
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“I did it for you, Rebecca. Can’t you see that? Are you even your parents‘ daughter anymore? They disown you the second you get married–what kind of people are they? How can they just cut ties like that?”
Rebecca clutched her head, trying to block it all out.
But Anne’s voice was still there, chirping away in her ear.
“Seriously, stop playing the perfect housewife. Do you know what my mom said to me today? She went off about how Vivienne’s so much better than me at everything. Again! So I snapped and told her, ‘If Vivienne’s so great, maybe stop flirting with her husband then?‘ Ha! Anyway, has Alistair reached out lately? I mean-”
Rebecca hung up and flung the phone aside.
But the silence didn’t bring peace.
She could hear her heartbeat, pounding too loud.
That faint, high–pitched buzz in her skull wouldn’t go away.
She slid from the chair, sinking to the cold floor, limp and
drained.
She was alone now. Truly, unmistakably alone.
Even six years ago–when she thought things were at their worst
-she hadn’t felt like this.
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Back then, Alistair had been with her.
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Where is Alistair now? Who’s he with? Some stunning woman?
Is he cooking for her? Folding her laundry? Bending over backward to make her smile?
The door opened.
Someone stepped inside, took in the disarray, and sighed.
The kind of sigh laced with reluctant affection.
Hands slipped under her arms, trying to lift her.
Rebecca went limp, resisting in silence.
Richard crouched down and simply scooped her up.
His strength easily overpowered her half–hearted struggle. She let it happen, eyes glazed and distant. “You never answered me,” she said softly.
Richard stiffened.
Again with this. Why can’t she let it go?
So he’d missed the bruising on her face. Or maybe he’d seen it and just didn’t care–too busy trying to decipher Nathaniel’s motives. But he had apologized.
What more did she want?
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Would she die if she didn’t get an answer she liked? What good does dragging this out even do?
He put on a gentler voice, coaxing her, “Okay, okay, it’s all my fault, alright? Want to whip me? I’ll get the belt; you can go wild -just don’t stay mad, baby.”
That voice–so fake, so carefully rehearsed–reminded Rebecca of something her mother once said.
“Your new boyfriend came to us, all noble and self–sacrificing. Told your father, ‘Punish me all you want, just please support our marriage.‘ But the second your dad took him up on it and gave him one tiny lashing, he changed. You should’ve seen his face–cold as death. Like Nathaniel had just murdered his family or something.
“Rebecca, I wanted to give him a chance. But he’s not a good man. He’s slick. Puts on a show. And if you insist on jumping. into the fire, then fine. Just don’t expect me to watch and clap,” Cordelia sighed, tired and resigned.
“We used to think Alistair wasn’t good enough. But next to Richard? Alistair looks like a goddamn saint.”
Normally, if anyone had dared praise Alistair in front of her–let alone slam Richard–Rebecca would’ve gone ballistic. Even if it was her own mother.
She’d once loved Richard blindly.
She had run toward him even while her parents pleaded with
Chapter 38 Alone Now
her to stop.
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Now? Now he was carrying her like she was something delicate. Placing her gently on the bed, tucking her in like he’d done it a hundred times.
She didn’t resist.
Richard thought he’d won. That she was back to normal–calm and tame.
He had no idea.
He’d never had to win Rebecca over.
She was always the one apologizing and chasing, the one who refused to give up.
If Alistair had once been her loyal little lapdog, then she’d spent years being Richard’s.
If it weren’t for Cordelia and Nathaniel, he would’ve just pulled the same old stunt again–walk out, wait for her to break, and then waltz back in like a hero.
Rebecca looked at him, her expression blank.
Richard crouched beside her now, reaching for her hand and pressing it to his cheek.
“Rebecca, please don’t be mad anymore, alright?”
Chapter 38 Alone Now
She stared at him, empty–eyed.
He climbed onto the bed beside her and pulled her close.
She didn’t fight it.
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“Let’s go pick up Danny today, yeah?” he whispered, kissing her forehead.
Her voice came out slow, distant. “Rick… will you marry me?”
“Of course,” he said easily. “Why do you think I came back? To marry you.”
“Then let’s get our license tomorrow,” she murmured.
He smiled, indulgent and warm, “Sure. Whatever you want.”
As far as he was concerned, her parents were already handled.
Their posturing meant nothing.
His mother was right–Cordelia and Nathaniel didn’t matter.
Once he had her completely under his thumb, the girl wouldn’t hesitate to sing his praises to his parents. She would manage to win them over in no time, and that was that.
Just like his mother had done with his father. One move, and she became the mistress of the Morgan family.
Always go for the heart of the house. The rest falls in line.
Chapter 38 Alone Now.
Rebecca was their only child. There was no way her parents would truly cut her off.
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“Before we do,” she added, “I want to sign a prenup. Like my
father asked.”
The air went silent.
She looked up at him. Her face was unreadable. “You don’t want.
to?”
Richard gave a thin smile. “Of course I do. I’m marrying you, not
your money.”
She said nothing for a while before saying.. “Let’s not go to my parents‘ today,” she added after a moment. “They don’t want to see us right now.”
“Alright.”
The next morning, instead of heading to the city hall, Rebecca. drove Richard to the notary office. His jaw tensed. “Rebecca. Can we not do this right now? It’s our big day.”
She turned to him calmly.
She’d memorized every inch of his face over the years.
But at that moment, he looked like a stranger.
She yanked her hand out of his. “We agreed. Prenup first.”
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His expression hardened. “Maybe you should be asking why your parents are pushing so hard for that prenup. Ever think they might have another kid on the way? A boy, maybe?”
Richard’s own father had three daughters with his ex–wife.
All of them were now estranged–long gone after their mother died under suspicious circumstances.
His mother–the one who “won“-had done so by being young, ruthless… and giving his father a son.
Richard had inherited that mindset. Favoring sons wast practically in his DNA.
Rebecca’s blood ran cold. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m just saying,” he snapped. “Why else would they be so scared of you getting your share? It adds up, doesn’t it?”
“You’re disgusting. You don’t want to marry me. You’re just after my family’s money, aren’t you?” Rebecca whispered.
Six years ago, she might’ve fallen for his sweet talk.
But now? She’d spent enough time being an adult–she’d picked up some instincts and earned a bit of clarity. How could she not see through something this obvious?
Yes, she was a romantic. But she wasn’t an idiot.
“So now I’m the villain?” he snapped. “I’m trying to protect you.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
Their voices rose, sharp and bitter.
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“Mr. Harlow-”
“Just Alistair,” he said with a polite smile. “Mr. Harlow sounds too stiff.”
“Well, Alistair,” Alban chuckled, “once we finish the deed transfer, Madam Ashbourne wanted to know if you’d like to join her for lunch at Ashbourne Manor.”
“Of course,” Alistair replied.
Last Saturday, Mabel had gifted him a villa. She’d meant to have the paperwork done that same afternoon–until she realized it was the weekend and the office was closed.
So, the first thing Monday morning, she sent Alban to bring him in, bright and early.
As they stepped out of the car together, Alban offered a knowing smile. “It’s clear Madam Ashbourne has taken quite a liking to you.”
Alistair returned the smile. “It’s an honor.”
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The real estate office and the notary office were housed in the same building.
Just as Alistair stepped out, a voice cut through the air.
“You’re unbelievable, Rebecca! If you keep acting like this, don’t blame me when I never come back!”
Rebecca came running toward the parking lot–and froze the moment she saw Alistair. And he saw her.
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