Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him
Before adopting Eloise, Caroline had been a staunch believer in staying single for life.
Even after bringing Eloise into her world, she naively thought her love alone would be enough to give this little girl, who''d lost her mother at birth and faced a rocky start, a happy, fulfilling life.
But somewhere along the way, things gotplicated. The first time Eloise, with her big, cautious eyes, asked why she didn''t have a daddy, Caroline''s heart sank. Raising a child, she realized, wasn''t just about love. Making a child truly happy was far more intricate than she''d imagined.
That was when her irond no-marriage rule began to waver.
She started entertaining the idea of marriage. At first, she figured she''d pick someone tolerable from her pool of suitors. to find someone who was kind, patient, and attentive. But every time she mentally sifted through the candidates, ready to take the next step, an invisible force seemed to hold her back, keeping her rooted in ce.
Strangely, though, when she met Alistair and pictured him as her future partner, she felt absolutely no resistance.
Alistair was handsome, his features aligning perfectly with her tastes. But looks weren''t what sealed the deal. It was his eyes.
Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him
Sometimes they held a flicker of uncertainty, but they were always clear, almost luminous with a quiet sincerity.
He was unlike any man she''d ever met.
He had the unspoiled purity of a young boy, yet carried a steadiness rare for his age.
It was as if he''d endured countless hardships but emerged with his kindness and warmth intact. It was a quality no one could fake.
Caroline wasn''t impulsive by nature. Sure, she could be bold, even a little wild at times, but never reckless.
She wasn''t sure if it was Eloise''s instant connection with this man or the uncanny sense of familiarity he sparked in her from the moment they met.
Whatever it was, she''d made up her mind. Alistair was the one she wanted, and she wasn''t letting him slip away.
Eloise bounced back, freshly cleaned, her face glowing.
She mbered into Caroline''sp for a quick cuddle, then shyly sidled over to Alistair, resting against his leg and fidgeting with her fingers.
Alistair reached down, gently ruffling her hair with a warm smile.
He genuinely liked this little girl.
Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him
Her bright, sugary smile was like a balm, soothing the wounds left by years of dealing with Daniel''s tantrums and chaos.
For a fleeting moment, he even found himself thinking how wonderful it would be if he could have such a lovely daughter.
Eloise tilted her head up, her eyes wide and hopeful. “Alistair, will we see you again?"
Seeing her expectant expression, Alistair hesitated, then gave a vague but gentle reply. "If fate wants us to, I''m sure we will."
A voice chimed in his mind. "New life opportunity detected. Host, please make your choice.
"Option one: This mother and daughter are strangers with unknown intentions. Fresh out of a disastrous marriage, you''re wary of diving into something that seems even more absurd. You crave a simple, quiet life.
"Option two: Life calls for boldness. A stunning, enigmatic CEO as your wife, an adorable daughter, and a million dors a month in spending money... You''re ready to take the leap!
"Choose option one for 10 system credits. Choose option two for 200 system credits. Host, make your decision!"
Alistair let out a wry chuckle.
The system was practically handing him the answer on a silver tter. If he couldn''t figure this out, he didn''t deserve the Life
as for 1 nimes
Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him
Choice System.
Now, he was certain that this mother-daughter duo was his opportunity.
It was almostical.
His so-called golden opportunity seemed to be one where he got to live off a
woman.
But if he could do it with dignity, he wasn''t opposed.
The moment he''d agreed to Reba''s deal to save his father from prison, he''d stopped being the idealistic, proud young man
he once was.
Alistair lifted his gaze to meet Caroline''s.
She sat across from him, poised and patient, waiting for his
answer.
When he finally said, "Okay," the tension in Caroline''s shoulders eased, her heart settling back into ce.
Only then did she realize her hands, clenched tightly in herp, were slick with sweat.
She''d negotiated billion-dor contracts without breaking a sweat, but this? This had her nerves in knots.
Thank goodness he said yes.
Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him
If he hasn''t, I wouldn''t have hesitated to pull out all the stops to keep him.
Caroline knew she''d have gone to any lengths, especially since her precious daughter genuinely adored him.
And, if she was honest, Eloise wasn''t the only one smitten.
A cheerful ping of 200 system credits deposited into his ount brought a wave
of unexpected joy to Alistair.
"So, when do we..." he started.
"No time like the present," Caroline cut in, her tone decisive.
Alistair blinked, a puzzled smile tugging at his lips. “Sorry, I think you
misunderstood. I was asking when we''d head to City Hall."
Caroline took a sip of her coffee, unfazed. “I didn''t misunderstand. I meant today."
Alistair was momentarily speechless.
If he didn''t trust the system to have his back, her eagerness would''ve set off every rm bell in his head.
Seeing his hesitation, Caroline arched a brow. "What''s the problem? Not okay with that?"
"No, it''s not that," Alistair said, choosing his words carefully. "It''s just... City Hall''s probably closed by now."
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Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him
Only then did Caroline realize she''d been a little too hasty. She''d been so caught
up in the moment that she''d overlooked the obvious.
A flush of embarrassment crept up her neck. She worried her urgency might''ve spooked him.
"Sorry," she said, her usual icyposure faltering. "It''s my first time getting married. I''m not exactly familiar with the process."
The poised CEO used the excuse to mask her momentarypse, a rare crack in her polished exterior.
At a high-end luxury boutique, Reba slid her card across the counter without a second thought, snapping up a 580-thousand-dor limited-edition handbag.
Her father was a well-known entrepreneur in New York, and as his only child, Reba lived a life of leisure without ever working a day.
As long as she didn''t gopletely overboard, her parents'' wealth could sustain her, and her son, for generations.
Exhausted from shopping, she sank into a plush chair in the store''s VIP lounge, sipping coffee with her two best friends.
Her friend Anne Thorne grinned, raising her cup. "Congrats,
Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him
Reba! All those years of waiting finally paid off. When''s the big day? I''m getting you the best wedding gift ever."
Reba tossed her freshly styled, sultry curls with a yful smile. "Whatever you
get, it better be good. Don''t worry, when your turnes, I''ll return the favor with something just as fabulous."
Her other friend, Vivienne Everett, leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "What about Alistair?"
Anne jumped in before Reba could answer. "Yeah, that guy''s a walking headache!"
Reba''s tone was cool and dismissive. "A headache? Please. I kicked him to the curb, and that was that."
Vivienne''s eyes widened. "You just kicked him out? Just like that?"
"Yup," Reba said, her voice brimming with confidence. "He was just a pawn to mess with Rick. Now that Rick''s back, why would I keep him around?"
As Reba''s closest confidantes, Anne and Vivienne had known from the start
the secret her parents still didn''t. They knew Alistair had been a tool in her game with Richard.
Vivienne shook her head, her voice soft but firm. "Reba, don''t be so harsh. We''ve all seen how he treated you and Danny these past six years. Honestly, sometimes I thought if you''d just opened your eyes to how good he was, you
could''ve had a great
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Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him life with him. Guys that thoughtful are rare."
Reba scoffed, her lips curling, "What, you''ve got a thing for him now?"
Vivienne smirked, half-serious. "Maybe I do. You knew I always thought he was a catch. If he hadn''t been your husband in name, I''d have made a move ages ago."
"Well, he''s all yours now," Reba said with a shrug. "We finalized the divorce today."
Anne let out a sly chuckle, her expression calcting. "Vivienne, you''re so naive. You really think Alistair was good to Reba and her kid out of the kindness of his heart? He just wanted to stay close to Reba and live a high life. Talk about daydreaming. Reba would never fall for a broke guy like that."
Vivienne didn''t argue. She had her own read on Alistair and didn''t buy Anne''s
take.
Anne, eager for gossip, turned back to Reba. "So, when you told him to get lost, I bet he begged you to stay, right? I mean, I get it. Without you, he''s got no shot at living in a fancy house or having that kind of lifestyle ever again,"
Reba''s mind shed to the moment she''d told him to leave. His face had been
so calm, so devoid of emotion. He hadn''t begged at all. He hadn''t even looked
back.
Her thoughts drifted to their final encounter outside the
Chapter 5 Determined to Have Him
courthouse, his indifferent expression haunting her. A flicker of irritation tightened
her jaw.
She kept her voice icy, masking the unease. "I told him to leave, and he left. Whether he begs or not, it''s useless."