Chapter 40 Personal Charm Mabel had invited Alistair over today not just to spend more time with him but - clearly - for Caroline's sake . 1/9 Before getting into that , though , she gave him a brief and sharp rundown of what had happened with Agnes . When Alban brought Agnes back , she actually assumed Mabel wanted to rehire her , thinking maybe Mabel hadn't taken to the new staff . She even hinted at a raise , bold as brass . Then she saw Mabel standing there - alive , well , and clearly not buying her act - and the whole truth came crashing down . Agnes realized Preston's plan had failed . Mabel had spent years cultivating a warm , kind image . But the steel underneath had never gone dull . Under that calm pressure , Agnes cracked . She confessed everything - her collusion with Preston , every sneaky move , every lie . And then , unbelievably , she tried to blame it all on Caroline . She said she'd always been loyal to the Ashbourne family , that it was Caroline's cold - hearted decision to fire her sister that pushed her into Preston's arms , and that none of it would've happened otherwise . 2/9 Mabel just pulled out proof showing that Agnes had already started working with Preston before her sister was ever let go . That shut her up real fast . And Mabel wasn't the kind to let someone off lightly . Especially someone who'd whispered poison into Eloise's ears . But Mabel was no tyrant . She didn't abuse her power . Instead , she found proof that Agnes had been skimming off the top for years - misusing her position to take " small advantages , " which , added up , amounted to a prosecutable offense . It wasn't petty theft and was enough to send her to jail . As for Preston ? Mabel didn't care that he came from money . His little stunt was dangerously close to attempted murder . She compiled every piece of evidence and had it sent directly to the Vaughn family , along with a message - if they didn't handle this themselves , she would . The Ashbourne name carried weight - not just in New York , but across the country . If they wanted , they could take down the Vaughns without lifting more than a finger . No one in their right mind would willingly go up against the Ashbournes , especially when they were clearly in the wrong . Chapter 40 Personal Charm 3/9 Hence , their patriarch showed up in person , pale and trembling , dragging Preston along like a sacrificial lamb . By that same night , Preston had been put on a plane and shipped out of the country . When - or if he returned would be entirely up to the Ashbournes . And that , as Mabel said , was the end of that . Alistair had always known the Ashbournes were powerful , but the Ashbournes were powerful , but today , he realized just how far that influence stretched . Did I accidentally attach myself to a juggernaut ? Then Mabel turned serious . " Alistair , has Carol ever told you about her family - aside from me ? " He shook his head . Come to think of it , Eloise hadn't said much either . Mabel fell quiet for a moment . " Her mother's been living overseas for years . Rarely comes back . " Alistair frowned slightly . Doesn't that mean her parents live apart ? So they were probably separated , maybe even divorced . Chapter 40 Personal Charm 4/9 " Her father's always working . He and Caroline barely see each other . I was the one who raised her , really . She once told me she'd never marry . Said she'd rather be alone . " Alistair didn't think it was just because of her parents ' example . No - Caroline had her own reasons . But then … who's Eloise's father ? No one had ever told him . Maybe that wasn't an accident . Maybe it was better if that name stayed buried . And frankly , it wasn't his place to ask . Mabel sighed heavily , falling back into old worries , " God , I used to lie awake at night thinking about her future . I know it sounds old - fashioned , but no amount of money or success can compare to a happy home . " Alistair thought of his own life - how he'd once planned to live alone forever . It wasn't a bad life . Peaceful . Uncomplicated . But now , suddenly , the thought of eating alone , coming home to silence , sleeping in an empty bed … felt cold . Mabel patted his hand warmly . " Thank God for you , Alistair . You've given me hope again . Caroline won't be alone anymore . " She gave his hand another squeeze , her eyes soft with affection . Mabel now really saw him as part of the family . Chapter 40 Personal Charm 5/9 It was the kind of belief that made everything else - every doubt , every fear - quiet down . " You're a good man , " Mabel said with conviction . " With you , I know Caroline is in safe hands . " Alistair met her gaze , trying not to feel guilty . He kept his voice . steady . " I won't let you down . " At least , not during the time their marriage lasted . While it existed , he'd give her and Eloise everything he had . He remembered Agnes ' words again - something about Caroline's father being strict . " I haven't met her parents yet , " he said . " Do you think they'll … approve of me ? " Mabel waved the thought away . " Don't worry about them . They don't even show up for Caroline . Who are they to judge her husband ? With me around , no one's going to give you trouble . " They were so wrapped up in conversation that they didn't notice . Caroline walk in . She cleared her throat . " Grandma , you didn't spend the whole time talking trash about me behind my back , did you ? " Alistair turned . She was fresh from the office , dressed in a pale tailored suit , Chapter 40 Personal Charm jacket slung over one arm . The weather had warmed up . Underneath , she wore a crisp white blouse that framed her clean , graceful lines . 6/9 He could picture her in a boardroom , taking control , sharp as a blade . Their eyes met , and Caroline smiled . She was clearly pleased to see how easily Alistair had connected with Mabel . Mabel clicked her tongue . " As if I'd dare say anything bad about you in front of your husband . He'd probably take your side anyway and throw me out the window . " Lunch was plentiful , and Caroline naturally took the seat beside Alistair . Mabel , beaming , kept piling food onto Alistair's plate . Before long , it was overflowing . Caroline put down her fork and rested her chin in her hand , watching them in silence . Then her gaze locked on Alistair . He blinked . " What ? " She studied him , head to toe . " Be honest . " He looked completely lost . Chapter 40 Personal Charm Be honest and ? " Are you secretly casting some kind of charm spell ? " Alistair blinked , unsure how to respond . He'd heard that question before - Julian had asked him the exact same thing . Even when Mabel pulled him aside earlier , she hadn't said it outright , but there'd been a similar undertone . And now Caroline ? Is this really all me ? Or has the system been juicing my stats behind the scenes ? 7/9 Mabel playfully scolded , " You little brat . If I'd ignored Alistair , you'd have cried about it . But now that I adore him , you're sulking ? " Caroline smiled , her eyes softening in a rare , girlish way , " I'm happy . If anyone dares touch my husband in the future , I won't have to lift a finger . Grandma will take care of it . " Mabel scoffed , " You're just jealous I like him more than you . " Alistair listened to them bicker , lips tugging into a smile . He couldn't help but silently ask the system . Be honest . Mabel's approval - is this something you engineered ? Chapter 40 Personal Charm " This system can only help the host make life choices and reward outcomes accordingly . Personal charm is all yours . " He exhaled , almost laughing . So it really is me . 8/9 It was just him - whatever it was in him that Eloise had warmed to , that had made Caroline choose him , that had earned Mabel's approval . That part had always been there . Maybe he wasn't as humble as he used to think . Maybe he'd always had this light in him - it had just taken the right people to see it . After lunch , Caroline got up to return to work . Mabel tried to keep Alistair a little longer , wanting more time with him , but Caroline was already calling out , " Let's go . " Mabel gave up with a smile . They're newlyweds . Of course she wants him all to herself . Just as Alistair was about to step into the car , Mabel pulled Caroline aside . " When are you two planning the wedding ? " Traditional as ever , Mabel had always believed that a marriage without a proper ceremony felt … incomplete . Caroline paused . " Too much of a hassle . " Chapter 40 Personal Charm Mabel sighed , " Poor Alistair . " " I'm not bothered , " Alistair said quickly . " Really . " The simpler , the better . After all , their marriage wasn't even real . 9/9 On the ride back , Alistair asked casually , " Do you usually have lunch with your grandma ? " Caroline shook her head . " Not really . " Ashbourne Manor was a bit far from her office . Going back and forth ate up over an hour - and longer in traffic . Alistair wanted to ask , then why today ? But he didn't . He didn't know that it was because of him . As usual , she dropped him off at home . Had it been up to her , she would've driven him right to the elevator doors . Two blocks away would've sufficed , but she refused . She didn't stop until she pulled up directly in front of his building .