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 Chapter 38 Alone Now 2/14 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 3/14 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 . Chapter 38 Alone Now 4/14 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 . 5/14 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 . Chapter 38 Alone Now 6/14 " 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 . Chapter 38 Alone Now Back then , Alistair had been with her . 7/14 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 ? Chapter 38 Alone Now 8/14 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 . 9/14 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 . 10/14 " 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 . 11/14 " 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 . " Chapter 38 Alone Now 12/14 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 . 13/14 " 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 . " 14/14 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 . 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