Chapter 43 Family Portrait " Alistair married someone else ? " Nathaniel had just gotten home from work when he heard the news . He froze . " Are you sure ? That can't be right . " Cordelia sighed . " He told Eva himself . She said she ran into him outside the kindergarten - he was picking up a little girl . The girl even called him Daddy . And Danny mentioned today that he saw Alistair picking her up a few days ago and telling him not to call him Daddy anymore . " Nathaniel went quiet for a while , thinking back to how cold Alistair had been the last time he tried to reach him . That conversation had been so final it practically sealed any chance of reconciling with Rebecca . Eventually , he said , " They're divorced . If he's remarried , that's his own business . " Cordelia grew anxious . " How can you say that ? If he really has moved on , what about Rebecca ? What about Danny ? " Nathaniel sank onto the couch with a tired sigh . " He was with Rebecca for six years , and she never really saw what was good about him . Maybe they just weren't meant to be . " Cordelia frowned . " That isn't fair . Back then , she didn't see it because she didn't have anything to compare him to - kind of Chapter 43 Family Portrait 2/7 like how I used to pick at him all the time . But now , after seeing what Richard's like , I actually think Alistair was the only one worth trusting . Can't you try to talk some sense into him ? " Nathaniel shook his head . " Is this really on us ? It's between them . Us pushing for something Rebecca might not even want … it won't change anything . " Cordelia fell silent . He had a point . They'd been clinging to the hope that Alistair might come back- but had anyone really asked Rebecca what she wanted ? Would she really choose that other life over her own family ? Cordelia's heart sank . As a mother , she never wanted to see her daughter caught in this mess . But because she was her mother , she felt compelled to help Rebecca see Alistair for who he really was - even if it meant being the bad guy . If Rebecca wouldn't come around , Cordelia would eventually have to take a hard stand . ***** In the kitchen , a trusted cook recommended by Mabel was busy Chapter 43 Family Portrait preparing dinner . 3/7 Meanwhile , Alistair was in the living room with Eloise , drawing together . The soft scratch of pencil on paper filled the room with a soothing , steady sound . Eloise loved drawing . Whenever she had a spare moment , she'd grab her pencils and start sketching . Caroline used to work so much that Mabel would keep Eloise company . Now , however , it was Alistair by her side . The person had changed , but Eloise's smile hadn't - if anything , she seemed even happier now . Because now there was a little extra love around . Eloise started by drawing a little girl with pigtails . " That's me . " Then she drew an elegant lady with long , flowing hair . " That's Mommy . " Finally , she drew a tall , handsome man . Not that Alistair was bragging , but the kid clearly had talent - each line full of life , even if a bit childish . Eloise pointed at the handsome figure and asked , " Daddy , do you know who that is ? " Alistair pretended to think hard . " Is it me ? But he looks way too handsome to be me … " Chapter 43 Family Portrait Eloise giggled . " You got it ! You're so smart ! " Alistair played along , dramatically gasping , " You made me look so good - I nearly didn't recognize myself ! " Eloise shook her head with a smile . " No way , Daddy . You're a thousand times - no , a million times - more handsome than that ! " Alistair's heart swelled, as if someone had poured honey straight . into it . Being a dad to a daughter was pretty incredible . Not long before dinner , Caroline came home from work . Unless there was something major , she rarely stayed late - she always made sure to be home for her daughter . And now , with someone else waiting for her too , there was no way she'd be working overtime . She changed into comfy clothes and walked over , carrying that soft , familiar scent . " What are you two drawing ? " Eloise beamed . " Mommy , look ! " Caroline examined the picture for a moment and then smiled knowingly . " Looks like a family portrait to me . " A family portrait ? Chapter 43 Family Portrait The words hit Alistair harder than he expected . Someone who had always craved a real family … yeah , that phrase landed deep . Eloise blinked . " What's a family portrait ? " 5/7 Caroline put one arm around her daughter and casually rested the other across Alistair's shoulder . He tensed up for a second , then quickly reminded himself - this wasn't a big deal . Just an arm . They'd held hands before , for crying out loud . He forced himself to relax . Caroline spoke in that soft , warm voice she reserved for Eloise , " It's a picture of you , Mommy , and Daddy - all of us together . That's what a family portrait means . " Eloise's eyes sparkled . " So … we're really a family now , right ? Like in the picture ? " Caroline gave a confident nod . " That's right . The three of us , always . " For a split second , Alistair got the feeling Caroline wasn't just saying that to make the kid happy . She meant it . Or maybe I'm just reading too much into things . Chapter 43 Family Portrait He let out a quiet breath . 6/7 Don't lose your grip . Don't let this warmth fool you . No matter how good it feels , it doesn't belong to you . Still , he owed her something . Because for once in my life , I wasn't just watching from the sidelines . I was part of it - even if it might only be for now . That's enough . Caroline had the picture laminated and framed . She then placed it right in the center of the living room . Every time Alistair passed by , his heart grew a little warmer , as if he was truly part of this family . That night , Eloise went through her bedtime routine . She wrapped her arms around Caroline , giving her a kiss on the cheek . " Good night , Mommy . " Eloise was always such a sweet , well - behaved child . After saying good night to Caroline , she turned to Alistair , who was already crouching by her side , waiting , and planted a kiss on his cheek too . " Good night , Daddy . " Alistair smiled softly . " Good night , sweetheart . " Wrapped in the love from her parents , Eloise clutched her little . brown teddy bear and drifted off to sleep , peaceful and content . As Caroline headed toward the bedroom , she called back , " Good Chapter 43 Family Portrait night , honey . " Alistair smiled . " Good night . " But she didn't move . After a brief pause , he added , " Good night … sweetheart . " And just like that , it didn't seem as awkward as he had feared . It was only a word , after all . Caroline smiled , satisfied , and then walked into the bedroom . Alistair chuckled quietly to himself . 7/7 The longer they spent time together , the more he realized something surprising - Caroline , for all her CEO composure , had just a tiny streak of playfulness . His eyelids grew heavy as he set his phone down on the nightstand and let sleep take him over . Just before the realm of dreams swallowed him , one last thought drifted through his mind . Eloise is asleep now . Is Caroline asleep too ?