Chapter 39 Master The tension cracked the moment Richard came storming out after Rebecca . 1/11 He spotted Alistair and immediately scoffed , his lips curling into a sneer , " Well , what do we have here ? " No one answered . Rebecca's eyes were already red , but the second she saw Alistair , her expression wavered , and they brimmed with deeper hurt . She looked devastated . When their eyes briefly met and Alistair turned away without a word , she looked even more heartbroken . Richard hated being ignored - by anyone . Whether it was Rebecca or Alistair , it bruised his ego all the same . " Alistair , let's be clear here . You're divorced . You've got no reason to be here , so stop hanging around like a stray dog . " Alistair glanced at him - once , lazily , with the kind of contempt . that said more than any insult could . His eyes all but spelled out . the word - pathetic . Richard reached for Rebecca's wrist . " Don't bother with him . Let's go . " Chapter 39 Master 2/11 She yanked her hand back with a glare he didn't recognize . " Get away from me . " Alistair , who'd already turned to leave , paused mid - step . Wait . What ? Weren't they supposed to be the kind of couple who couldn't keep their hands off each other , the type who fed each other dessert in public and called it romance ? If they argued at all , it should be over Richard glancing too long . at a waitress - Rebecca would lose it , accuse him of betrayal , and then make him beg for forgiveness . But this ? This looked like a breakup . Like she wanted him gone for good . Did I get this all wrong ? Then again , it didn't concern him . " Let's go , Alban , " he said quietly . " Yes , sir . This way . " Alistair didn't miss the sharp shift in atmosphere behind him . He smiled . Alban had done that on purpose . Chapter 39 Master That one word - sir - had effectively shut down the argument behind them . Richard blinked . " Wait - sir ? " Rebecca said nothing . Her lips were pressed tight , her eyes . 3/11 locked on Alistair's retreating back . His figure was tall and elegant , his stride steady , his whole presence … unfamiliar in the worst way . How did I never see it before ? The words Cordelia had whispered to her came rushing back . " No parent wants to see their child suffer . Rebecca , if you ever come to your senses - if you want to reconcile with Alistair - we won't stand in your way . He's proven himself . He passed every test your father and I could throw at him . Compared to the people we've met in our lifetime , Alistair stands out . If you're with him , we'll finally be able to stop worrying . " As Alistair disappeared from view , something hollow cracked open inside her . Like someone had scooped out her chest and left it echoing . Richard snorted , " What now ? Still hung up on your ex ? You always had a thing for him , didn't you ? " Rebecca didn't answer . Her lashes fluttered down like a curtain falling on a scene she didn't want to watch . He stepped closer , tone sharp . " I'll ask one last time - are we Ster getting married today or not ? " 4/11 She lifted her chin slowly and met his gaze head - on . " No , we're not . " Maybe it was true what they said - people only wanted what they couldn't have . Because whatever love she once felt for Richard was gone , buried beneath disappointment and something sourer . She looked at the face she once adored , and all she could feel now was disgust . " Fine , " Richard snapped , yanking open the car door . " You'd better not come crying back to me when you regret this . " As he turned to get in , his eyes caught the sleek black Bentley parked next to him . If he wasn't mistaken , it was Alistair's . And hadn't Alistair been chauffeured around in a Maybach the other day outside Daniel's school ? Custom suits . High - end rides . And now - being called sir ? Wait . Is Alistair some kind of secret heir ? No. That didn't track . Back in school , he was dirt poor . If he'd been old money , why grovel for years just to scrape together two million dollars ? Chapter 39 Master Unless … Richard's mind raced . 5/11 What if he was a lost son of some rich family , only found after the divorce ? The jealousy twisted in his gut . Why does he get so lucky ? But then came a new theory . One that comforted him just enough to smirk again . No. No , I get it now . Alistair's being kept . He's got a sugar mama . One of those rich , wrinkled , perfume - drenched women who giggle like hyenas . That's it . That's the only explanation . " Your ex really hit the jackpot , " he muttered , dripping sarcasm . " Guess that pretty face finally paid off . " Rebecca opened her mouth . He cut her off , smirking . " Changed your mind ? Too bad . I'm not in the mood anymore . We'll talk about the whole getting . registered thing some other day . " He turned to leave . But then- " That's my car . " She didn't raise her voice , didn't scream , and 6/11 just stated it , calm and sharp . Richard froze . He let out a bitter laugh , slammed the door shut , and tossed the keys at her feet . Then he walked away . Rebecca crouched to pick them up . This time , she knew - he was actually mad . Richard , with all his arrogance , probably wouldn't come back . And somehow , she didn't care . Not even a little . Once they were out of sight , Alban dropped the formal tone entirely . " So … you knew them ? " Alistair gave a small nod . " My ex - wife and … " He wasn't even sure if that was true . Technically , Rebecca and Richard should've been married by now . That had been her dream - marry Richard and live happily ever after . So he finished his sentence . " And her … husband . Probably . " Alban , who had seen far worse , simply nodded . Chapter 39 Master The paperwork went through without a hitch . 7/11 Outside , Alban rushed ahead and pulled open the car door for him . Alistair thanked him with a small nod and ducked inside . What he didn't see - couldn't see - was the woman sitting motionless in the driver's seat of a nearby car . Rebecca watched as the Bentley pulled away , taillights flaring briefly before vanishing around the corner . Her world had stopped . How did he go from being the man who bent over backward for me , to the one other people call sir ? She refused to believe Richard's theory about a sugar mama . That was just … filthy . Alistair wasn't some nobody paying off his father's debt . He wasn't a servant . He should be an heir , a real one . That was the only thing that made sense . But then … Why would someone like that waste six years waiting on me ? Cooking , cleaning , raising my son like his own ? Taking care of me like I was his whole world ? Her breath caught . Because he loved me . Chapter 39 Master 8/11 Because Alistair had loved her enough to accept her terms . To endure her indifference . To care for her and Daniel with quiet , loyal devotion . He must've waited every day for her to turn around and finally see him . And she hadn't . Her body broke into a cold sweat . No. I was wrong . That woman at the school - she wasn't his girlfriend . She was an actress . Someone he hired to make me jealous . That has to be it ! The more she convinced herself , the more certain she became . Regret swelled like a tidal wave . She leaned back against the seat , eyes fluttering shut , and the memories flooded in . " Rebecca , dinner's ready . Want me to wake you up now ? " I ironed your clothes . They're hanging in the closet . " I already sent gifts to your parents . " Danny's not feeling great . I'm taking him to the hospital . " Simple , ordinary moments she'd once ignored - maybe even found annoying - now shimmered in her mind like the purest , rarest kind of love . " Last night was a mistake . I was drunk . It didn't mean anything . Chapter 39 Master " Forget me . Forget everything between us . 9/11 " I love you . I miss you so much it's killing me . Let's go home and get married . " Are you really that blind , Rebecca ? Your parents don't even treat you like their daughter anymore . Can't you see it ? " I'm giving you one last chance . If you keep acting like this , I'm gone . For good . " Richard's voice crashed into the memories , ruining everything . She clenched her fists , trying to shake him from her mind - but he stuck like glue . She looked around . The scent in the car was his cologne . The seat was adjusted to his height . The mini fridge was stocked with his drinks . His tie and blazer were thrown casually in the back . Even the playlist was his . She used to crave his presence so much that she'd cover her bedroom with his photos , sleeping with his shirts just to feel close to him . Now , it all made her nauseous . The air felt heavy and suffocating . Without thinking , she rolled down the window and started tossing everything out - his tie , his jacket , even the car's air freshener . Chapter 39 Master 10/11 Then she remembered - he'd been driving this car for days . The driver's seat was his . She reached for the seat cover , about to rip it off- A knock on the window startled her . A security guard held up the discarded items , frowning , " Miss , please don't litter . " Rebecca froze . At Ashbourne Manor , Alistair's second visit felt more like coming home . " Alistair , there you are . " Mabel beamed . " Come in , sit down ! Lila made fresh pastries - they're still warm ! " She spoke to him as if he'd grown up at her side like Caroline . Alistair sat down obediently , taking a bite . Soft , chewy , and just sweet enough . Mabel's s eyes t twinkled . " Is it good ? " He nodded . " Delicious . " " I'll have Lila make more this afternoon . Bring some back for Caroline and Eloise . " She chuckled and then added , " Caroline's picky . Doesn't really care for sweets . Thankfully , Eloise doesn't take after her . That little girl loves them . " Chapter 39 Master 11/11 Alistair raised an eyebrow . Caroline's picky ? Really ? That's news to me . She told me she wasn't picky about food at all …