Chapter 64 Old House
Caroline didn’t even blink. “Oh really? What a coincidence.”
Alistair gave a wry smile. He didn’t push.
They passed through a neighborhood that hadn’t aged well- rows of old, gray buildings lined up in irregular clumps. Even in spring, the place looked tired.
His childhood home had been sold off years ago, back when Liam
had decided to settle in New York.
That was when Alistair and his grandfather had begun renting
instead.
Liam had spun it well at the time. “I’ll make it big in New York. Once I’ve got enough money, I’ll bring you both over to live the good life.”
Right. Great speech. Never happened. They’d never even spent a single night in Liam’s new home.
Instead, Liam had sold Alistair, pocketed two million–and left
them behind.
Alistair let out a short, bitter laugh.
20.17
Chapter 64 Old House
zo mi
All it took was a silver tongue and some crocodile tears, and he
fooled us both.
“Daddy, is this where you grew up?” Eloise asked, eyes wide, taking in everything around her.
Alistair nodded. “Yeah.”
“That’s so cool! I know even more about you now!”
A few blocks ahead, they passed a house covered in white ribbons and floral garlands, with a big sign out front reading, “Congratulations to the newlyweds!”
Alistair recognized the groom–they had gone to the same school, a troublemaker who’d started “dating” a girl in fifth grade.
His steps slowed. His gaze darted toward Caroline.
If he remembered correctly, Liam and the groom’s father had once been sworn brothers.
Of course Liam would be back in town for the wedding.
Caroline noticed the shift in his expression and smiled. “Honey I wanted to do something for you. I didn’t ask for your permission first. I hope you’re not mad.”
Chapter 64 Old House
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Alistair forced back the knot forming in his chest and shook his
head. “Thank you.”
She raised an eyebrow, amused. “There you go again, being all
Mr. Polite.”
The wedding reception was being held at a local hotel.
When relatives who’d arrived late asked for the location, they
turned toward the venue.
Julian, usually at Caroline’s side, had the day off–rare for a man paid well above the industry standard and used to being on call.
Today, Caroline had insisted on driving herself.
Suddenly, the car jolted to a stop.
Caroline was a steady driver–smooth, calm, consistent, just like
her demeanor. Sudden braking didn’t fit her style.
The road was clear. No pedestrians. No animals darting across.
Alistair sat up straighter, scanning the area.
Then he saw it—a run–down old house.
The house directly across from it had belonged to a neighbor
CTCIU mouse
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back when he was in junior high.
The original family had sold the place and moved away years ago.
He remembered that soon after, a new family had moved in–two adults and a child. But he never once saw the kid.
Rumors swirled. People whispered the child was sick, that they’d moved here from the city for peace and quiet.
Alistair had been warned to stay away.
As if he needed the warning.
He’d never once caught a glimpse of that child. By the time he left for high school in New York, the house had become background
noise.
Eloise, too distracted by the excitement of the day, didn’t notice the sudden change in Caroline’s expression.
But Alistair did. Caroline had gone pale. Her eyes were locked on that house, as if it had reached out and grabbed her.
He frowned and leaned toward her. “What is it? What’s wr
g?”
Caroline’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.
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The building before her struck a nerve, like a hook snagging a box deep in her mind–one packed away for years.
A flash of memory tore across her thoughts, barely formed, but sharp enough to sting.
Just like Alistair had wondered earlier–why drive so far to fly a kite when New York offered so many closer options?
Truth was, Caroline hadn’t picked the location on a whim. She’d had her reasons.
First, she knew Liam would be here today, attending a friend’s
son’s wedding. She wanted Alistair to have his shot–to confront
him, face to face.
Second… she had her own suspicion. Something irrational, something buried so deep she hadn’t dared name it until now.
She’d hoped the visit would prove nothing, that her hunch was just that—a far–fetched theory.
But instead, she found a thread. A thread she couldn’t unsee.
She had to grip the wheel like a lifeline, or she might’ve p. sed out right then and there.
“Carol?”
Chapter 64 Old House
Alistair’s voice pulled her back.
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She blinked, steadying her breath. By the time she looked back at the building, the fear and pain had drained from her eyes, replaced by something cold. Not hollow–but reborn. Ruthless.
Anyone who truly knew Caroline would’ve recognized that look immediately. Someone was about to pay.
She glanced at him through the rearview mirror and smiled.
“Just low blood sugar.”
Alistair reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of candy- something he usually kept for Eloise.
Without hesitation, he peeled the wrapper and leaned forward to hold it to her lips.
She met his gaze, eyes unusually soft, and opened her mouth to take it. Her lips brushed his fingertips.
A jolt shot through Alistair like static, catching him completely off guard. He pulled his hand back too quickly, wiping it discreetly on
his pants.
What the hell was that?
Chapter 64 Old House
Caroline put the car in park and said, “Let’s get some air.”
He knew it was just an excuse.
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Alistair stepped out first and then lifted Eloise from the back seat.
The sun was sharp, already hinting at summer’s burn.
But Caroline, despite the heat, felt a chill in her bones.
Alistair pointed behind the house across the street. “That used to be my place. Right over there.”
Caroline kept her tone light. “Do you want to go see it?”
He shook his head, a little smile tugging at his lips. “No. It hasn’t been mine for a long time.”
So she said nothing else—just stood there in silence, staring at the weathered house, saying more with her stillness than words ever could.
After a while, they got back in the car and headed off to find lunch. Right across the street from the restaurant was the wedding venue.
Inside, the celebration was well underway. Caroline chose a table
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by the window, perfectly positioned. They ordered slowly, deliberately, taking their time.
Alistair barely touched his food. His eyes were too busy–darting
between the restaurant entrance and Caroline, watching her
closely.
She looked composed, but something in her was restless. He
could tell.
Eventually, the reception wrapped up.
Guests began trickling out, laughing and chatting in small groups.
Alistair waited.
And finally, there he was–beaming, slightly rounder than before, and as self–satisfied as ever.
Liam… his father.
Alistair couldn’t remember how long it had been. It felt like a
lifetime.
Standing beside him was a woman with too much makeup and tightly curled hair–Celeste Harlow, Alistair’s stepmother. Charming. Sharp–tongued. Manipulative.
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When she’d first married Liam, people had said Alistair was lucky
to get such a kind stepmother.
4
Not like those horror stories from fairy tales.
Back then, even Alistair believed it.
But now? Not a chance.
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