Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard) novel Chapter 38

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

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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.

Would she die if she didn’t get an answer she liked? What good does dragging this out even do?

“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.”

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Richard crouched beside her now, reaching for her hand and pressing it to his cheek.

Her voice came out slow, distant. “Rick… will you marry me?”

Always go for the heart of the house. The rest falls in line.