Chapter 28: The Resentful CEO

1/7

Thanks to Rebecca, Alistair—at the young age of twenty-four, in the prime of his life—had no desire for sweet romance, let alone marriage and children. He lived as ascetically as a monk, resolved to spend the rest of his days alone. At least, that was his current mindset. Yet, contradictorily, he still yearned for the warmth of family. Caroline saw straight through him, reading the desolation in his gaze. This is perfect. Since he has no interest in women, being this close gives me an advantage. It’s only the beginning—there’s still a long way to go. Caroline silently vowed to succeed in breaking into Alistair’s heart. For now, she decided not to overanalyze why she was so inexplicably drawn to him.

2/7

I’ll figure it out eventually. For now, I’ll follow my instincts—I want to indulge myself just this once. Though Alistair had no romantic desires, he was still a young man in his prime. The deep night, the quiet space filled with a faint, intoxicating fragrance, and the presence of a soft, alluring beauty—even as a gentleman with no untoward impulses, he couldn’t help but feel slightly unsettled. For the first time, he wished Eloise hadn’t gone to bed so early. With her around, he’d feel much more at ease in Caroline’s presence. That marriage certificate hadn’t changed his status as an employee. No matter how awkward he felt, he had to endure his boss’s questioning. The problem was that he wasn’t much of a talker. After discussing Eloise, he had no idea what else to say. Caroline sipped her water, lost in thought, while Alistair sat stiffly across from her, barely daring to move.

“It’s getting late. Let’s call it a night.” Caroline finished her water and stood first. Alistair exhaled in relief. As she passed him, Caroline suddenly stopped. Alistair nearly bumped into her.

3/7

His gaze accidentally slipped past her collar, catching a glimpse of smooth skin and delicate collarbones. Lower, the fabric of her sleepwear obscured the view, but the soft, perfect curves beneath were still faintly outlined. Alistair quickly averted his eyes. Even though he hadn’t seen anything explicit, he still felt guilty.

“Oh, right. Every Saturday, I take Eloise to visit my grandmother. You should come with us tomorrow.” Caroline remained oblivious to his discomfort. Alistair nodded. “Of course.” She turned to face him fully, her tone playful. “Then, Mr. Harlow, I’ll be counting on your cooperation tomorrow.”

“No problem.”

“Good. Well then, goodnight. Sweet dreams.” Caroline pushed open her bedroom door and stepped inside—only to reappear two seconds later. She fixed Alistair with a stare so full of quiet resentment that he nearly took a step back. His hand already on his own doorknob, Alistair asked, “Is there something else?”

4/7

“Yes,” Caroline huffed. “I said goodnight to you. Shouldn’t you return the courtesy?” Alistair flushed. “Sorry, I forgot.”

“It’s fine. I forgive you.” He couldn’t help but smile. Ms. CEO is surprisingly easygoing. Caroline continued staring at him expectantly. After a brief moment of confusion, Alistair caught on.

“Goodnight. Sweet dreams.”

Caroline muttered, “That’s more like it,” before finally retreating into her room. Alistair entered his own bedroom, closed the door behind him, and stood there for a long moment before suddenly laughing to himself. The icy CEO can actually be kind of cute in private. He washed up, changed into soft pajamas, and flopped onto the plush bed, closing his eyes. Two seconds later, they snapped open again. Caroline invited me to her grandmother’s place. Does that mean…

5/7

Richard received a call from Rebecca, instructing him to pick up Daniel and head straight to Whitfield Manor. He’d been irritated by her earlier reluctance to make their relationship public, but this call lifted his spirits. I knew Rebecca wouldn’t keep me hidden forever. His plan was simple—charm Rebecca’s parents, marry her, and take over as heir to Whitfield Group. They only have one daughter. Eventually, everything the Whitfields own will be mine. His good mood peaked when he saw Alistair. He’d assumed Alistair had been struggling since being kicked out. He must be here to beg for scraps from Rebecca. But Richard hadn’t expected that after the peak, there would be a nosedive. First, Alistair’s composed demeanor irritated him. What right does a penniless loser have to act so aloof around me?

6/7

Then, his own son still called Alistair “Dad.” Richard gritted his teeth. It’s understandable—Alistair raised Danny for five years. Of course, the boy would feel attached. I’ll just make sure they don’t see each other again. Kids forget quickly. But the final straw was realizing Alistair wasn’t here to beg—he’d arrived in a luxury car to pick up another girl. Custom-tailored clothes, a high-end vehicle—far from destitute, Alistair looked like he was thriving. Daniel’s lingering attachment to Alistair sent Richard’s temper skyrocketing. He roughly hauled the boy into the car and unleashed a torrent of scolding. The once-unruly little demon had become his punching bag.

“If you keep crying, I’ll tape your mouth shut.” Daniel, frightened by his dark expression, choked back his sobs. Richard saw this as the perfect opportunity to make Daniel forget Alistair.

“Are you stupid? He’s not your dad. Did you see it? He has a daughter now—he doesn’t want you anymore.”

7/7

Daniel’s lips trembled, but one look at Richard’s glare silenced him. “If you don’t behave, your mom and I will abandon you too. We’ll throw you out on the streets to beg.” Terrified, Daniel’s chubby face turned red, but he didn’t dare make a sound. Only after promising new video games and a trip to the amusement park did Richard finally calm him down. When they arrived at Whitfield Manor, Rebecca was nowhere in sight. Her parents sat on the sofa, their expressions unreadable. A nanny whisked Daniel away, leaving Richard alone with Rebecca’s parents in the parlor.