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17kNovel > Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard) > CEO by 179

CEO by 179

    Chapter 179 Extortion


    At that moment, it all clicked for Alistair.


    19 min left


    The woman had produced a stack of documents—evidence tying Alistair to the


    Whitfield case.


    And not just any evidence. The kind that, if made public, could utterly destroy him.


    She had somehow gotten hold of Caroline''s contact information and arranged to


    meet her in person.


    And Caroline hade.


    A storm of emotion stirred inside Alistair.


    So her odd behavior today… was because of him.


    Of course, Alistair knew the so-called “evidence” was fabricated. None of it could


    actually incriminate him.


    But Caroline showed up anyway. Was it because she didn’t fully believe he was


    innocent?


    He studied her face through the mental projection, searching for even a flicker of


    hesitation. She gave him nothing.


    The woman was still smiling, her expression a mix of ttery and threat.


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    Chapter 179 Extortion


    19 min left


    And really, what else could Caroline do? No matter how powerful she seemed,


    she was still just in her twenties. Driven by love, maybe she’d made a rash


    decision.


    But as the woman kept grinning, Caroline’s gaze stayed steady and unreadable.


    Gradually, that smug smile began to falter.


    Caroline tilted her head slightly, amusementcing her tone. “What’s wrong?”


    The woman sneered, “Guess you don’t love your husband that much after all.


    Can’t even cough up five million dors.”


    “Are you done?” Caroline asked calmly.


    The woman pouted, annoyed.


    Just then, footsteps echoed from the hallway—several pairs, hurried and heavy.


    Still hidden in the shadows, Alistair saw a group of uniformed officers heading


    straight for the door.


    Caroline opened it and pointed at the now-panicked woman. “Officer, this is the


    one. She tried to extort five million dors from me.”


    The woman panicked and immediately denied it. “She’s lying! I


    never—”


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    Chapter 179 Extortion


    Her denial was weak. Caroline had clearlye prepared.


    19 min left


    Alistair watched as she calmly followed the officers out of the building. Was she


    really going to be back at the office within two hours like she promised?


    With the story already spinning out of control, the facts muddled and opportunists


    circling like vultures, Caroline had every excuse to look the other way, but she


    didn’t.


    Not only had she shown up, but she had barely let the woman finish her demand


    before secretly reporting her to the police.


    It was like she came for one reason only—to personally bring a criminal to justice.


    But Alistair knew better. It wasn’t that simple.


    When the officers searched the woman and found a hidden camera, and after


    hearing Caroline’s statement, everything became clear.


    Caroline wasn’t about to take chances when it came to him.


    If she hadn’te, she might’ve missed the opportunity to trace the person


    behind it all.


    But bying in person, she also risked something. No matter what answer she


    gave that woman, her presence alone could be


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    Chapter 179 Extortion


    19 min left


    used as leverage. After all, if she had nothing to hide, why would a CEO with a


    packed schedule show up herself?


    So instead, she flipped the script. She came, and then she had the woman


    arrested. Loud and clear, she sent a message that she would stand by Alistair—


    publicly, unequivocally.


    Alistair watched through the windshield as Caroline exited the station alone, calm


    andposed.


    He had to fight the urge to jump out and hold her.


    Momentster, his phone lit up with a call.


    “Hey, babe,” she said, “I’m heading back now.”


    Exactly on time, within the two-hour window.


    “Okay.”


    “You still out?”


    “Yeah.”


    “Come find me. I miss you.”


    Just six simple words, yet theynded with… the weight of a spell that tugged at his


    entire soul.


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    Chapter 179 Extortion


    19 min left


    Two new trending topics had exploded online with hashtags: “Billionaire family


    snubs Alistair—so much for that gold digger dream” and “Alistair trying so hard—the


    Ashbournes could not care less”.


    Both, of course, were about Alistair.


    He had somehow be America’s most talked-about man. The chatter around


    him was so loud it drowned out the usual buzz from even the most publicity-


    hungry influencers.


    And strangely, those trending posts weren’t disappearing. With Ashbourne


    Group’s influence, removing a couple of hot topics would’ve been effortless.


    So why were they still up?


    The message couldn’t be clearer. Ashbourne Group was ready to cut ties with


    Alistair.


    Online haters who’d been convinced of Alistair’s guilt celebrated.


    Without thepany shielding him, they felt like justice was finally on its way. The


    truth, they believed, was about to shine through.


    No matter how messy the headlines got, production on If There’s a Next Second


    continued smoothly.


    22:37


    Chapter 179 Extortion


    (*) 19 min left


    Of course, the drama brought attention. Each member of the cast gained


    significant public exposure.


    It was trending long before it hit the screen, but not for the right reasons. Most


    people were skeptical of its sess.


    XXXXX


    In a sun-drenched sitting room that smelled faintly of flowers, Caroline popped


    thest grape into Alistair’s mouth. “Gordon came to talk about Grandma,” she


    said softly.


    She didn’t mention the woman she had sent to jail, and Alistair pretended not to


    know.


    But in the quiet hours of the night, as he held her close in bed, he often wanted to


    wake her up with a long, hard kiss.


    Caroline nced cautiously at Eloise, who was focused on building blocks a few


    feet away. She lowered her voice. “He wants to take her on a trip.”


    Alistair’s heart sank.


    Just as I feared.


    “She seems happy here in New York,” he said. “Is this trip really necessary?”


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    Chapter 179 Extortion


    18 min left


    “He says she’s too old to be stuck in one ce all the time. That she should get


    out more, see the world while she still can.”


    “And what does Grandma think?” He had a sinking feeling he already knew.


    Caroline gave Eloise another quick nce before whispering, “She’s the one who


    brought it up.”


    “You’re worried Eloise won’t want to let her go?”


    Caroline shook her head slightly. “It’s not just Eloise. I don’t want her to go either.”


    Though Mabel wasn’t Caroline’s only family, she was the one who truly felt like


    home.


    She had a home now—a husband, a daughter—but maybe she was being selfish.


    Maybe she wanted to keep being loved like a child, too.


    Apart from that one year, she’d never really been away from Mabel for long.


    But she also knew Mabel had already given her everything. Raised her with love


    and patience, she had no obligation to spend her whole life orbiting around


    Caroline.


    And even though Caroline felt she could probably convince her to stay, she didn’t


    want to be that selfish.


    22:37


    Chapter 179 Extortion


    1. C) 18 min left


    A quiet sadness settled over her. She rested her head on Alistair’s shoulder and


    said nothing.


    “She’s just going on a trip,” he murmured, wrapping an arm around her. “It’s not


    like she’s moving away. She’ll be back soon.”


    Alistair nced at his phone.


    Since giving Jaxon his contact information, he hadn’t heard from him once.


    So the pressure didn’t work.


    Maybe Gordon already found out what he needed to know about Mabel. Maybe


    Jaxon felt safe backing off.


    Caroline hesitated and then gave in.


    “Babe, I don’t know why, but I’ve got a bad feeling. It’s probably just me being


    paranoid, but… I keep thinking maybe once she leaves this time, she won’te


    back.”


    Alistair took her hand gently. “Don’t go there. Don’t even think


    like that.”


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