Chapter 4: Marry Me

Caroline knew her proposal was bold, maybe even shocking. Anyone would think she was pulling some absurd prank. But she couldn’t help herself; the urge to ask him was overwhelming. Oddly enough, she wasn’t usually this impulsive.

From the moment she laid eyes on this man, a strange sense of familiarity washed over her. It was as if she’d met him before, somewhere, somehow. She racked her brain, sifting through memories, but found no trace of him. That inexplicable feeling sparked a curious trust. Her gut told her he was someone she could rely on. And Caroline? She was a woman who trusted her instincts.

Her hand, resting on the table, clenched briefly before she spoke, her voice steady but earnest. “My daughter grew up in a single-parent home. She’s incredibly well-behaved and sweet. I can give her the best life, shower her with all my love, but I can’t fill the emotional void she feels.”

Alistair, partly because he’d hit it off with Eloise, listened patiently. As her words sank in, a realization dawned on him: Caroline was looking for a father for her little girl.

It made a certain kind of sense, but the more he thought about it, the more bizarre it seemed. He felt that if Caroline truly wanted a dad for her daughter, she could pick from a lineup of accomplished men in her circle. He believed, with her looks and status, there’d be no shortage of suitors eager to step into that role. He couldn’t fathom why she’d zero in on a stranger she’d just met.

Sensing his confusion, Caroline tilted her head and asked, “When you were with Eloise earlier, did you think she was easy to talk to? Easy to be around?”

Alistair nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely. She’s adorable. Anyone would fall for her.” He thought of her soft little voice, her warm giggle, and the way she was always considerate of others. It warmed his heart. Compared to someone like Daniel, who only cared about himself, Eloise was a little angel.

Caroline’s voice softened as she said candidly, “Before the nanny found Eloise, I was already here…”

Alistair froze. Had she been there the whole time? Watching from a distance instead of rushing over?

“I’m sorry,” Caroline said, exhaling softly. “Before I got there, I was imagining all sorts of scenarios in my head. I thought she’d be crying her eyes out. She’s shy, so reserved. She doesn’t warm up to anyone but me…”

Alistair frowned. That didn’t match the Eloise he had just spent time with at all. Noticing his puzzled expression, Caroline gave a small smile. “You’re surprised, aren’t you? The Eloise you met isn’t quite the one I described.”

Alistair nodded, still processing.

“When I saw her snuggled in your arms, laughing so happily, I was stunned,” Caroline admitted, her gaze steady on him. Alistair was about her age, lean, with pale skin and a certain fragility in his features that made her want to know his story. His clothes were cheap, but his entire presence gave the impression of someone who had recently crawled out of a dark place and was starting anew.

“Besides me, Eloise has never been that comfortable with anyone,” Caroline said softly. “She likes you.”

Alistair shrugged, deflecting. “Maybe I just happened to be there when she was feeling scared and alone.”

Caroline shook her head. “No, it’s more than that. You might not see it, but you have this… warmth about you.”

He chuckled, a little embarrassed. Maybe she wasn’t wrong.

“Is that why you want to marry me?” he asked, his tone skeptical. “I get that you want to give your daughter a complete family, but marriage isn’t a game. Isn’t this a bit reckless… for you, for me?” He wasn’t about to jump at what sounded like a wild opportunity without thinking it through. It was too surreal. And honestly? He wasn’t even sure it was that opportunity.

Caroline paused, her expression thoughtful. “I can tell you with absolute certainty that this isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision for me.”

Alistair raised an eyebrow, incredulous. It isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision? It’s laughable that someone would make a lifelong decision in that time and dare to say it wasn’t impulsive.

“I’m asking for your opinion,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “Setting aside the fact that I have a five-year-old daughter, can you honestly say you’d find someone better in every way?”

Her question caught him off guard. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Truthfully… he couldn’t think of anyone. Even with a kid in the picture, being with someone like Caroline would be a leap into a world he could only dream of.

“But relationships aren’t just about checking boxes,” he said, his voice quieter now. “We don’t know each other. Our values, our personalities… they might not even mesh.” Memories of his disastrous marriage to Rebecca flickered through his mind, cooling any spark of excitement. He was done with love. All he wanted now was a simple, quiet life.

Caroline propped her chin on her hand, her eyes glinting with a soft warmth. “Alright then, tell me, what’s your ideal partner like?”

“Uh, well…” Alistair faltered, words escaping him.

“So, you don’t have a clear picture?” she pressed, her tone gentle but persistent. “Then why not give me a chance?” She wasn’t aggressive, but Alistair felt cornered all the same.

He hesitated, then said softly, “We’re from different worlds, Caroline. And you might not know this, but I’m not exactly a catch. I don’t have a girlfriend, but I am divorced. As of today, actually.”

In fact, he didn’t need to tell her. She already knew. The moment she saw how easily Eloise took to him, Caroline had her people dig into his background. With her resources, it didn’t take long to get the basics: [Alistair Harlow, twenty-four, high school dropout, freshly divorced, and left with nothing.] Before seeing his file, she hadn’t pegged him as someone with a failed marriage at his age. But it didn’t deter her.

Alistair gave a wry smile. “I’m a divorced guy with no prospects. You’re really okay with that?” With Caroline’s charm and success, even as a single mom, she’d have men lining up. Meanwhile, he came with nothing but disadvantages. He expected her to back off, but instead, she leaned forward, unfazed. “I’ve got a daughter. You’re divorced. Sounds like neither of us has room to judge.”

He had to admit that Eloise was lucky. After all, her mom was so devoted to giving her a full family that she’d consider marrying a total stranger. Admirable, sure. But it was also the craziest thing he’d ever heard.

Caroline’s voice softened, patient. “Don’t say no just yet. Take some time to think it over. I promise, aside from asking you to spend time with Eloise, I won’t meddle in your life or your freedom.” She paused, her eyes sincere. “And if you fall in love with someone else, I’ll let you go and wish you nothing but happiness.”

Alistair cut in, skeptical. “If that’s the deal, why not just hire me as a nanny for Eloise? Why insist on marriage?”

Caroline’s smile turned bittersweet. Even a decisive, powerful woman like her faced obstacles she couldn’t sidestep. She needed a husband, not just for Eloise, but to shield herself from the gossip and scrutiny that hounded her.

“Marry me, and I’ll give you a million dollars a month for spending money,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. “And if you find your true love later, I’ll hand you a fifty-million-dollar parting gift. How’s that sound?”

Alistair blinked, stunned. A million a month? Fifty million to walk away? Was she serious? It sounded too good to be true. If she weren’t sitting right there, he’d pinch himself to check if he was dreaming. Because if this was a dream, he desperately needed to wake up. He couldn’t afford to let a fantasy like this chip away at his last bit of reason.