Chapter 41 Meant to Be The window rolled halfway down . Caroline leaned over , waving lightly . " Bye , honey . Try to get some rest when you get home . Ast long as you're up in time to pick up Eloise , you're fine . " Alistair felt like a kindergartner being tucked in for a nap by a doting adult . " Okay , " he said with a smirk . " I got it . " The car pulled away , taking Caroline with it . As Julian waited at the next red light , a grin tugged at his mouth until he finally let out a laugh . Caroline gave him a death glare . " What are you laughing at ? " Julian didn't even try to hide it . " I was just thinking … isn't your husband twenty - four ? " " And ? " Caroline narrowed her eves . Julian , undeterred and clearly asking for it , grinned . " Well … he acts like he's four . " Her tone dropped about ten degrees . " Are you calling him immature ? " " No , no ! " Julian quickly clarified . " He's calm , level - headed , and Chapter 41 Meant to Be observant - actually , I think he's a really solid guy . " Caroline arched a brow . " Glad you're not completely blind , then . " Julian , risking his life , continued , " It's just that you treat him like he's Eloise . " " What the hell are you talking about ? " 2/7 Julian held up a hand , unbothered . " Come on - you told him to go home and take a nap . " Caroline snapped , " That just means we have a strong relationship ! You should spend less time being jealous and more time trying to find someone who'll even think about marrying you . " Julian wisely shut up for a moment as the light turned green . He eased into the intersection and then asked , " Alright , real talk . What exactly about Alistair attracted you ? " Caroline turned her gaze to the passing scenery . She and Julian had grown up together - no blood relation , but emotionally closer than most siblings . He was three years older , and the two of them had always clicked in a way that made real honesty possible . Things she would never say to Mabel , she didn't mind sharing ter 41 Meant to Be with Julian . 3/7 She thought for a second and then said softly , " I don't know . I really don't . It's just … this feeling . Like he's the one I've been waiting for all along . Like he's meant to be . " Julian's chest twisted with envy . Seriously ? Alistair gets to be the one for someone like her ? Where the hell is my meant - to - be ? Where are you , mystery girl who falls in love with me at first sight ? I miss you , babe … Then again , he smirked . On second thought , take your time . I'm still enjoying my bachelor life . Alistair stepped into the apartment , dropped his keys , and sank cross - legged onto the carpet in the living room . Beige plush carpet covered every inch of the space , soft underfoot . He scrolled on his phone for a bit , but the more he scrolled , the more bored he got . He wanted to take Caroline's advice and nap like a good little husband . But the truth was , he wasn't tired . He'd slept well last night and felt wide awake now . So this is what boredom feels like when you're not running around all day . 4/7 Apparently , being a " kept man " had its downsides . With Rebecca , every day had been a grind . The moment he opened his eyes , he was running on fumes . Now ? He'd leapt straight from survival mode into five - star luxury . And it was … quiet , too quiet . He couldn't even clean - Caroline had made it clear that wasn't his job . Last time he'd gotten up early and cooked breakfast on a whim , both Caroline and Eloise loved it - yet by dinner , she'd sat him down and told him firmly to sleep in next time . Breakfast was handled . He didn't need to lift a finger . It wasn't about the food . It was the deal - he was there to keep Eloise company and handle public appearances when needed , nothing more . Caroline was sticking to that arrangement with unnerving precision . Even when he offered , she wouldn't let him do more . As if she was afraid he might burn himself out . He scrolled on his phone until his eyes started to sting . For a second , he thought about finding a part - time job just to pass the time . Then he dismissed it immediately . He couldn't . Chapter 41 Meant to Be 5/7 He was responsible for Eloise . What if the school called ? What if she got sick ? He'd been through this before - kids her age were stronger than they looked , but group settings meant colds , fevers , and surprise pickups . He flipped on the news and tried to start a movie . Five minutes in , he turned it off again . Nothing held his attention . He picked up his phone and started scrolling all over again . Eventually , by total accident , he clicked into a fiction app . There , under " My Account , " he spotted a button that read , " Become a Writer . " Something clicked . He didn't question it- just followed the prompt . After downloading the companion . app and without quite realizing how it happened , Alistair was officially a writer . " Good afternoon , " the app greeted him , " and welcome to Day 1 with Wattpad . " Suddenly , he wasn't bored anymore . It felt like he'd just found the game he'd been looking for . He closed his eyes , and in that instant , an entire story - messy , thrilling , soaked in drama and heartbreak - began to form . Without hesitation , he started outlining it using the app's built - in tools . By the time his alarm went off reminding him it was time to pick up Eloise , he had nearly completed the full outline of his debut novel . Alistair stretched , changed clothes , and headed out . Chapter 41 Meant to Be Eloise had adjusted better than anyone expected . She hadn't cried once during her first day . 6/7 Well at least not in public . She'd whispered to Caroline later that she did cry but wiped her tears quickly so no one would laugh at her . Caroline had nearly cried herself . She hugged Eloise for a full five minutes before letting go . Because of how well Eloise was doing , the teachers had decided to shorten her adjustment period . Starting today , she'd be dismissed with the rest of the kids . Alistair arrived early . At first , the sidewalk was mostly empty . But as time passed , the space filled with parents and guardians . " Alistair ? " He turned and saw a familiar face approaching . " It is really you ! " It was Eva Marsh , one of the maids who used to work for the Whitfields . Since the divorce , Alistair had made a point of drawing a line between himself and that part of his life . But seeing her didn't rattle him . His conscience was clean - he had nothing to fear . 7/7 Eva had always been talkative . Back when he was still Rebecca's . husband , she'd treated him well enough . " Ms. Marsh , " he greeted politely . Eva stepped closer , smiling brightly , " Wow , Alistair - you look better than ever . Have you been working out ? " He chuckled but said nothing . Eva leaned in slightly , dropping her voice . " You here for Danny ? " Alistair shook his head just as she added , " I mean , look , I know Rebecca's a handful . Always has been . She messed up , no doubt . But that's how it goes sometimes . Families fight . Kids need their parents . So … when are you coming back ? " Alistair blinked . " I never said I was coming back . " Eva gave him a knowing look . " Oh , I get it . You're still hurt . Who wouldn't be ? " No , Ms. Marsh . You don't get it at all .