Chapter 40 Personal Charm


    Mabel had invited Alistair over today not just to spend more time with him but- clearly for Caroline''s sake.


    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 n 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 me 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.


    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.


    Shepiled 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.


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    Hence, their patriarch showed up in person, pale and trembling, dragging Preston along like a sacrificialmb. By that same night, Preston had been put on a ne 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 identally 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. Rarelyes back."


    Alistair frowned slightly.


    Doesn''t that mean her parents live apart?


    So they were probably separated, maybe even divorced.


    Chapter 40 Personal Charm


    "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 ident. Maybe it was better if that name stayed buried.


    And frankly, it wasn''t his ce 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 sess canpare to a happy home."


    Alistair thought of his own life-how he''d once nned to live


    alone forever.


    It wasn''t a bad life. Peaceful. Uplicated.


    But now, suddenly, the thought of eating alone,ing 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.


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    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 marriagested. 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.


    He could picture her in a boardroom, taking control, sharp as a de.


    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 te.


    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 lookedpletely 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 simr undertone.


    And now Caroline?


    Is this really all me? Or has the system been juicing my stats behind the scenes?


    Mabel yfully 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 lifta 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?


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    "This system can only help the host make life choices and reward oues


    ordingly. Personal charm is all yours."


    He exhaled, almostughing.


    So it really is me.


    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 nning the wedding?"


    Traditional as ever, Mabel had always believed that a marriage without a proper ceremony felt... iplete.


    Caroline paused. "Too much of a hassle."


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    Mabel sighed, "Poor Alistair."


    "I''m not bothered," Alistair said quickly. "Really."


    The simpler, the better. After all, their marriage wasn''t even real.


    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.