Flash Marriage to a Stunning CEO (Alistair and Richard) novel Chapter 173

Chapter 173 Time Will Tell

**) 11 min loft

Paige gave Giselle’s hands a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry. You’re the only one I’ll accept as Leo’s wife.”

After years of pining for Leo, Giselle had long outgrown the blushing schoolgirl routine.

Now her voice carried a note of melancholy. “But what if he never feels the same way?”

“Please. With me in your corner, who else could he possibly marry?”

Giselle threw her arms around Paige. “You’re the best! I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Paige stroked her cheek affectionately. “Sweetie, we’re going to be family. This is what family does.”

“But what about Carol?” Giselle’s voice dropped with worry. “She’s your niece, Leo’s cousin. What if we never get along? I still don’t understand why she pushed me into that pool.”

The truth was, Giselle knew exactly what she’d done–she just didn’t know the whole story.

At her birthday party, she’d made several snide remarks about Caroline’s poor taste in men.

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Chapter 173 Time Will Tell

5) 11 min lex

She’d assumed they were all adults who understood consequences–that Caroline might be upset but would never actually do anything about it.

How wrong she’d been.

Besides, Giselle didn’t know Caroline had lost her memory. She’d assumed their childhood grudges were water under the bridge, not realizing they’d become fresh wounds in Caroline’s mind–making her dunking inevitable.

“Giselle,” Paige said firmly, “you’re going to be Leo’s wife. I won’t have you suffering in silence. You understand me?”

Their eyes met, and Giselle felt a surge of determination.

In her mind, Caroline only dared to attack her because she was the Ashbourne Group’s heiress, untouchable and above

consequences.

After that birthday party, Giselle had become the laughingstock of their social circle.

She’d never been so humiliated in her entire life.

And now, with the Reeves family dragged through the mud alongside her, this was no longer just personal. This was war.

*****

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Chapter 173 Time Will Tell

11 min

“Mr. Harlow! Is it true you have a personal vendetta against Rebecca Whitfield?”

“Mr. Nathaniel Whitfield and his wife died in that car crash just days ago. The police are calling you their prime suspect. Any comment?”

“Why choose If There’s a Next Second when Stellar Films dropped it? When they crush you at the box office, won’t you be dragging down Yves Robinson and everyone else involved?”

“Sources say you didn’t even write the script yourself. Care to confirm?”

“Are you only this confident because you’ve got the Ashbourne Group backing you?”

The questions hammered at Alistair from all directions, cameras flashing like strobe lights.

So this is what they mean by “fame has its price.”

He’d spent the afternoon with Mabel at Ashbourne Manor until 3 pm, when exhaustion finally sent her to her room.

Worried about what she wasn’t telling him, he’d decided to track down her attending physician from the hospital.

Instead, his car had been ambushed halfway there by this media

circus.

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Chapter 173 Time Will Tell

Alistair held up a hand to his bodyguards–stay back–then raised both hands to quiet the crowd.

11 min left

When the shouting finally died down, he leaned toward the cluster of microphones with an easy smile. “Time will tell,” he said simply. “That’s all I have to say.”

Then he slipped back into the car and drove away.

Back at Vireon Technologies, Caroline watched the footage of Alistair’s video, frowning. “What the hell is wrong with these people? They’re harassing my husband!”

Before Julian could respond, she added, “God, he looks good, though.”

Julian mentally rolled his eyes.

Great. I’m here to watch her moon over her husband.

One of the employees had been slacking off, saw the footage of Alistair being chased by reporters, and immediately reported it to Julian.

Everyone at the company understood that Alistair was Caroline’s world.

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Chapter 173 Time Will Tell

The staff genuinely admired Caroline.

11 min left

Brilliant didn’t begin to cover it–she had razor–sharp instincts and an almost supernatural business sense. Five companies, all thriving under her leadership.

Sure, she was aloof. Arrogant, even. She didn’t schmooze or play politics, didn’t seem to know or care about winning people over.

Yet somehow, every single employee respected the hell out of her.

At first, a few old–timers had grumbled about taking orders from someone so young. One by one, she’d won them over with sheer competence.

Her employees weren’t just loyal–they were devoted. Other companies had tried poaching her top people with obscene salary offers, but nobody budged.

They trusted her completely and wore their association with her companies like a badge of honor.

So naturally, they protected who mattered to their boss.

While the internet painted Alistair as some kind of villain, Caroline’s employees knew better. They’d flood comment sections defending him, taking on every troll who dared suggest he was guilty of anything.

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