Adam looked at Alistair as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard."Ally, please, how...?""See what you've done to our daughter?" Cathy asked, raising her index finger toward Alistair. "That ignorant idiot!"What people there didn’t notice was how Edward said nothing—he just stared at Alistair with surprise and, Alistair noticed, fear. Of course he was afraid—afraid of being exposed, of having his lies laid out on the table."They’re going under. On the verge of ruin. Why would I invest in that?" Alistair asked, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets."That’s a lie! The Hunter company is very powerful and they’re launching a new brand. How dare you spread lies like that? This boy... I don’t recognize him as part of this family!"Cathy’s face was completely red, seething with rage. She believed the Hunters were a wealthy, influential, and prominent family. How could they possibly be going bankrupt? All it took was one look at the wealth surrounding them to know that Alistai

Alistair shifted his mouth from side to side, his gaze piercing through Maria. She squirmed uncomfortably in her seat."I just wanted to understand. I swear I don’t have any ulterior motives," Maria said quietly, feeling the weight of Alistair’s eyes on her. "I don’t think you’re a fraud. Or a loser."She didn’t look at him as she spoke, and Alistair felt the urge to lift her chin with his finger so she’d face him—but he didn’t."You should go. Lisa’s going to start wondering where you are, and even if she’s glued to that liar, this won’t end well for you."Maria knew he was right: Lisa might not like Alistair, but he was still her husband. And to the Anderson daughter, this would be a serious betrayal. Considering the Hunters’ support, Maria would be ruined if labeled as a mistress."I know. And… thank you again." Maria opened the car door and stepped out. Alistair drove off immediately, leaving her standing there.She returned to the Andersons’ house with her head down, arms wrapped

Alistair was quick, catching himself on the back of the couch. So even though his body wasn’t pressed against Louisa’s, his face was very close. She, who had always scoffed at him and only wanted to test whether the man truly didn’t want her as he claimed, suddenly found the tables turned—because it was her heart that began racing.No, she wasn’t in love with Alistair Woods, but come on, he was handsome! No—more than handsome! And... everything about him radiated masculinity, in a way she hated to admit, but was thoroughly enjoying. Louisa had never liked bowing her head to any man, yet here was the first male specimen who made her think otherwise. For a moment, she almost convinced herself that if Alistair wanted to dominate her, she’d let him.He, in turn, wasn’t made of stone. Louisa was unfriendly and difficult to deal with. But she was a woman—and a beautiful one. The intensity in her gaze gave way to uncertainty, something... fragile. Alistair was not the type to be drawn to dam

Edward Hunter. Alistair wasn’t really surprised that man could be involved in something shady—but human trafficking?“I want all the information, Harriet. Thank you for telling me.”Harriet had a feeling Alistair knew something, but she wouldn’t pressure him. She trusted the judgment and abilities of the man who, to her, was the only one worthy of her heart.As soon as he hung up the phone, Alistair searched through his contacts and was about to call Lisa. But what good would that do? That family would likely say he was just jealous of Edward and humiliate him again.‘Sometimes, people need to learn through pain!’, Alistair told himself. Then, a face appeared in his mind. Maria.That young woman seemed decent, despite hanging around Lisa. In fact, he couldn’t even understand why she was friends with that shallow girl who now had his last name on a marriage certificate.According to the rules, he couldn’t file for divorce without a solid reason. There had been a promise, and he had ful

Rosemary hadn’t expected to be yanked like that and ended up falling after twisting her ankle.“Lisa!” she complained and swallowed hard, the words caught in her throat when she saw Lisa’s murderous glare aimed at her. “I just… You said it wasn’t him!”Lisa stepped beside Alistair and ran her hands down his arm.“Well, I was wrong! And you saw him up close—you knew very well it was him!” Lisa snapped. “How dare you invite him to have fun with you? Don’t you have any shame?”Rosemary looked at Alistair, who wore an unreadable expression. She stood up, wincing at the pain in her ankle.“Mr. Woods…,” she said, pouting her lips. Sure, Lisa was his wife, but come on, she was involved with Edward Hunter! So what if Rosemary made a move? Wouldn’t she be doing him a favor? Especially if it helped Alistair escape that marriage! “Could you help me?”Alistair exhaled and almost stepped forward, but Lisa stopped him. He looked at her, and her eyes were locked on his, as if to say: if you dare, I