Chapter 65 Recognized After All These Years
Alistair turned to Caroline. “I need to step out for a bit.”
19 min left
Caroline raised a brow. “You’re not about to throw punches, are
you?”
He smirked. “What, you think he could take me?”
If playing the villain meant standing up to his monstrous father, so
be it.
She chuckled. “Just don’t forget–he might bring backup.”
Alistair rose. “Let him.”
Eloise looked up, eyes wide. “Mommy, is Daddy going to fight someone? I wanna help!”
She puffed up like a little soldier, tiny fists clenched, trying her best to look fierce even as she trembled slightly. Alistair couldn’t help but chuckle. He bent down and ruffled her hair.
“Daddy’s a peaceful man, remember? I’m just going to say hi someone I used to know.”
That seemed to satisfy her. She grinned. “Okay. Come back
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Chapter 65 Recognized After All These…
19 min left
soon!”
Once he left, Caroline took Eloise–already yawning–over to one
of Chicago’s nicer hotels to nap.
She wasn’t worried about Alistair.
She’d made arrangements. Someone was watching from
the shadows, ready to intervene the moment anything went
sideways.
As they stepped outside, Alistair glanced back and gave them a bright, toothy grin.
The sun blazed overhead, and for a moment, his smile overlapped with a memory buried deep in Caroline’s past–of a boy she’d once seen, long ago.
That same warmth. That same light. Twelve years, and she finally understood why he had always felt so familiar. Why she couldn’t seem to let him go.
They had met before.
Or rather… she had seen him before. Known him, silently, from a
distance.
She blinked, her heart stuttering in her chest.
7 20:18
Chapter 65 Recognized After All These …
Don’t lose control now.
19 min left
She forced a smile back and then turned, carrying Eloise away.
Alistair crossed the street toward the wedding venue.
He was close enough now to hear Celeste’s voice, high and polished as ever.
“I swear, Alistair’s been driving me and Liam crazy. Ever since his divorce, I’ve been losing sleep over him. If you know any girls who might be a good match, please let us know.”
The groom’s mother hesitated. “You know we’re close, so I’ll be blunt. Alistair didn’t go to college, and he’s divorced. In this day and age, what kind of girl would go for that? Now, if it were Caleb, that’s a different story. He’s got the looks, the degree–studied abroad. He’d have no trouble at all.”
Caleb Harlow. Celeste’s son from before the marriage. Once she married Liam, Caleb took his last name.
Celeste beamed, proud. “Oh, Caleb’s already seeing someone no need to worry about him. As for Alistair… sure, he’s not ideal. But he’s still our child. It’s not easy, watching him struggle. I mean, realistically, he’s not going to attract top–tier women. But if it’s someone with a kid, maybe a divorcee herself–we’d consider
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Chapter 65 Recognized After All These…
that.”
19 min left
The groom’s mother seemed to think for a moment. “Actually… there’s this girl. She’s thirty, divorced, and her family’s been trying to marry her off for years. They’re even offering a million dollars for anyone willing to move in as a stay–at–home husband. Only problem is…”
She tapped her temple. “She’s not all there.”
Celeste didn’t miss a beat. “Sure, that’s not ideal. But sometimes girls like that are easier to get along with, right? Maybe you could reach out, just in case. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”
Alistair let out a low laugh.
Yep. That was his stepmother, all right.
Sugar on the surface, poison underneath. She’d just managed to trash his entire worth as a man and still make it sound like she was doing him a favor.
“Thanks for the offer,” he said, voice smooth and cold, “but I think fate might be a better match for your son.”
That shut the table up. All eyes turned to him. Confused and
staring.
20:18
Chapter 65 Recognized After All These… 18 min left
soon!”
Once he left, Caroline took Eloise–already yawning–over to one
of Chicago’s nicer hotels to nap.
She wasn’t worried about Alistair.
She’d made arrangements. Someone was watching from
the shadows, ready to intervene the moment anything went
sideways.
As they stepped outside, Alistair glanced back and gave them a bright, toothy grin.
The sun blazed overhead, and for a moment, his smile overlapped with a memory buried deep in Caroline’s past—of a boy she’d once seen, long ago.
That same warmth. That same light. Twelve years, and she finally understood why he had always felt so familiar. Why she couldn’t seem to let him go.
They had met before.
Or rather… she had seen him before. Known him, silently, from a
distance.
She blinked, her heart stuttering in her chest.
T20:20
Chapter 65 Recognized After All These…
18 min left
Don’t lose control now.
She forced a smile back and then turned, carrying Eloise away.
Alistair crossed the street toward the wedding venue.
He was close enough now to hear Celeste’s voice, high and
polished as ever.
“I swear, Alistair’s been driving me and Liam crazy. Ever since his divorce, I’ve been losing sleep over him. If you know any girls who might be a good match, please let us know.”
The groom’s mother hesitated. “You know we’re close, so I’ll be blunt. Alistair didn’t go to college, and he’s divorced. In this day and age, what kind of girl would go for that? Now, if it were Caleb, that’s a different story. He’s got the looks, the degree–studied abroad. He’d have no trouble at all.”
Caleb Harlow. Celeste’s son from before the marriage. Once she married Liam, Caleb took his last name.
Celeste beamed, proud. “Oh, Caleb’s already seeing someone- no need to worry about him. As for Alistair… sure, he’s not ideal. But he’s still our child. It’s not easy, watching him struggle. I mean, realistically, he’s not going to attract top–tier women. But if it’s someone with a kid, maybe a divorcee herself–we’d consider
Chapter 65 Recognized After All These…
that.”
&
17 min left
The groom’s mother seemed to think for a moment. “Actually… there’s this girl. She’s thirty, divorced, and her family’s been trying to marry her off for years. They’re even offering a million dollars for anyone willing to move in as a stay–at–home husband. Only problem is…”
She tapped her temple. “She’s not all there.”
Celeste didn’t miss a beat. “Sure, that’s not ideal. But sometimes girls like that are easier to get along with, right? Maybe you could reach out, just in case. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”
Alistair let out a low laugh.
Yep. That was his stepmother, all right.
Sugar on the surface, poison underneath. She’d just managed to trash his entire worth as a man and still make it sound like she was doing him a favor.
“Thanks for the offer,” he said, voice smooth and cold, “but I think fate might be a better match for your son.”
That shut the table up. All eyes turned to him. Confused and staring.
Chapter 65 Recognized After All These…
17 min left
The groom’s family hadn’t recognized him.
They hadn’t seen Alistair in years–of course they wouldn’t.
The funny part was, neither had Liam nor Celeste.
They just stood there, blinking, trying to place him.
Celeste’s brows drew together. She didn’t like the tone. “And who
are you, exactly?”
Sure, the man was attractive, but this was hardly the time for random strangers to chime in with unsolicited sarcasm.
Alistair’s smile curled into something sharper. “Aw, come on. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten the son who keeps you up at night with worry. It’s me. Alistair.”
Liam blinked like he’d just seen a ghost: “Alistair?”
It clicked–this was the brat who’d told him off, threatened to cut ties and acted like he didn’t owe him a damn thing.
Liam’s expression darkened. He hadn’t heard from Rebecca since yesterday. God only knew what this brat had pulled now to get her all worked up.
“You better show some respect–she’s your mother!” he
Chapter 65 Recognized After All These…
snapped.
Alistair’s voice was ice.
17 min left
“My mother’s dead. If she wants the title, she’s welcome to join
her.”
The room froze, along with everyone inside it.
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