Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard) novel Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Marry Me

Caroline knew her proposal was bold, maybe even shocking. Anyone would think she was pulling some absurd prank.

But she couldn’t help herself. The urge to ask him was overwhelming.

Oddly enough, she wasn’t usually this impulsive.

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From the moment she laid eyes on this man, a strange sense of familiarity washed over her. It was as if she’d met him before, somewhere, somehow.

She racked her brain, sifting through memories, but found no trace of him.

That inexplicable feeling sparked a curious trust in him.

Her gut told her he was someone she could rely on.

And Caroline? She was a woman who trusted her instincts.

Her hand, resting on the table, clenched briefly before she spoke, her voice steady but earnest, “My daughter grew up in a single–parent home. She’s incredibly well–behaved and sweet to the bone. I can give her the best life, shower her with all my love, but I can’t fill the emotional void she feels.”

Alistair, partly because he’d hit it off with Eloise, listened

Chapter 4 Marry Me

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patiently. As her words sank in, a realization dawned on him. He understood Caroline was looking for a father for her little girl.

It made a certain kind of sense, but the more he thought about it, the more bizarre it seemed.

He felt if Caroline truly wanted a dad for her daughter, she could pick from a lineup of accomplished men in her circle.

He believed with her looks and her status, there’d be no shortage of suitors eager to step into that role.

He couldn’t fathom why she’d zero in on a stranger she’d just

met.

Sensing his confusion, Caroline tilted her head and asked, “When you were with Eloise earlier, did you think she was easy to talk to? Easy to be around?”

Alistair nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely. She’s adorable. Anyone would fall for her.”

He thought of her soft little voice, her warm giggle and the way she was always considerate of others. It warmed his heart. Compared to someone like Daniel, who only cared about himself, Eloise was a little angel.

Caroline’s voice softened as she said candidly, “Before the nanny found Eloise, I was already here…”

Alistair froze.

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Chapter 4 Marry Me

She’s been there the whole time? Watching us from a distance instead of rushing over?

“I’m sorry,” Caroline said, exhaling softly. “Before I got there, I was imagining all sorts of scenarios in my head. I thought she’d be crying her eyes out. She’s S

shy, so reserved. She doesn’t

warm up to anyone but me…”

Alistair frowned. That didn’t match the Eloise he had just spent time with at all.

Noticing his puzzled expression, Caroline gave a small smile. “You’re surprised, aren’t you? The Eloise you met isn’t quite the one I described.”

Alistair nodded, still processing.

“When I saw her snuggled in your arms, laughing so happily, I was stunned,” Caroline admitted, her gaze steady on him.

Alistair was about her age, lean, with pale skin and a certain fragility in his features that made her want to know his story.

His clothes were cheap, but his entire presence gave the impression of someone who had recently crawled out of a dark place and was starting anew.

“Besides me, Eloise has never been that comfortable with anyone,” Caroline said softly. “She likes you.”

Alistair shrugged, deflecting. “Maybe I just happened to be there when she was feeling scared and alone.”

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Caroline shook her head. “No, it’s more than that. You might not see it, but you have this… warmth about you.”

He chuckled, a little embarrassed.

Maybe she wasn’t wrong.

“Is that why you want to marry me?” he asked, his tone skeptical. “I get that you want to give your daughter a complete family, but marriage isn’t a game. Isn’t this a bit reckless… for you, for me?”

He wasn’t about to jump at what sounded like a wild opportunity without thinking it through. It was too surreal. And honestly? He wasn’t even sure it was that opportunity.

Caroline paused, her expression thoughtful. “I can tell you with absolute certainty that this isn’t a spur–of–the–moment decision for me.”

Alistair raised an eyebrow, incredulous.

It isn’t a spur–of–the–moment decision?

It’s laughable that someone would make a lifelong decision in that time and dare to say it wasn’t impulsive.

“I’m asking for your opinion,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “Setting aside the fact that I have a five–year–old daughter, can you honestly say you’d find someone better in every way?”

In fact, he didn’t need to tell her. She already knew.