Chapter 144 The Cousin12 min leftYves pulled up Freya's picture for him. "There she is. Freya. See? I wasn't kidding. She's gorgeous, right? She's playing that autistic teenage girl you created. The studio recommended her. She's got the right look, the right vibe for the part. She read your script, saidyou're a flat-out genius, and she's dying to meet you. So, what doyou say?"The girl in the rain moved like a dream, all fluid grace and a figure that could stop traffic, her beautiful face holding a kind ofheartbreaking, irresistible vulnerability.Alistair dug his heels in even harder. "Sorry, Mr. Robinson, but!really have to be with my wife and kid tonight. No way I can getout of it."Yves looked like he'd been poleaxed.Thirty-six and still flying solo, and damn proud of it, he just gapedat Alistair. "You're married?"Alistair just grinned and nodded.It was always the same reaction when people found out he was married, which was pure shock.Alistair was used to it. "Yep. Married."Chapter 144 The Cousin"Got a kid, too?""Yep. Daughter. She's five."11 min left"Wow. Never would have pegged you. You're the real MVP here,hiding in plain sight!""Thanks. And yeah, I kinda think I am.""Ha! Don't hold back, do you? Okay, so tonight's family night, got it. What about lunch, then? Just us guys, grab a quick drink?"Alistair looked genuinely apologetic. "Sorry, Yves, man, it's notyou. But I really gotta get home and whip up some lunch for mywife!"Yves tried to joke. "So, what, if I ever want to actually see you, I gotta book you for breakfast now?"The answer he got was that Alistair's mornings were also strictlywife-and-kid time....Yves was utterly defeated.It finally clicked. For Alistair, screenwriting was just a side hustle. His real job, hismain gig, was taking care of his family.Chapter 144 The Cousin11 min leftAlistair wasn't like them, grinding themselves into dust just to putfood on the table...Wait a second, why am I suddenly so envious I'm practically drooling?If I had the choice, who wouldn't want to spend more time with their family?Alistair's life right now? That's the damn dream I'm busting my ass trying to achieve.After leaving Stellar Films, Alistair headed straight home. The housekeeper had already done all the prep work for lunch. All he had to do was hit the stove and work his magic.With time to spare, he was glued to his phone, tapping away at something.He was nursing a secret, a big one, that nobody knew about.He'd been quietly working on something.Until the moment was perfect, he had to keep it under wraps,even from his wife.Hey, it's not like I'm being shady or anything! I've got a perfectly good reason for keeping this quiet!21:58Chapter 144 The Cousin**** 11 min leftLater, delivering the lunch, Alistair was beaming. "Honey, guess what? Mr. Robinson called me a total winner in life today. Any idea why?""Why?""Take a wild guess."noveldrama"Because he saw what a genius you are and knows you're about to conquer the world?""Well, he did say my imagination was off the charts and that mystuff was super tight, exciting, and totally gripping. But no, that'snot it.""Then what? I'm stumped...""Because he found out today that I have a wife and a kid, ha! And you know what? I think he's dead right. I totally am a winner."Julian tiptoed into the office, silently placed a file on the desk, then started to tiptoe back out, fully intending to ease the CEO'Soffice door shut behind him.Stuffed. I'm absolutely stuffed to the gills with their goddamn PDA again!T21:58Chapter 144 The Cousin11 min leftIf this file wasn't priority one, there's no way in hell I'd be barging in at lunchtime when the big boss is trying to unwind and play kissy-face with her husband!Just then, Alistair suddenly turned to Caroline. "Honey, do you know who Freya is?"Julian's hand, already hovering over the doorknob, froze mid-air. Alistair caught his reaction and grinned. “Julian, looks like you know Freya too, huh?"Seriously, am I the only person on the planet who doesn't know this Freya chick?Not that I actually give a damn about her, one way or another. Julian chose his words carefully. "I know of her, let's say. But I wouldn't say I know her."Alistair raised an eyebrow. "Her fan, are you?"Julian looked genuinely hurt. "Alistair, do you really see me as that shallow? In my book, Ms. Ashbourne is the only star truly worthy of anyone's admiration. Those types who just chase clout with cheap stunts and try to go viral? They're not real idols! Please!"His little speech managed to brown-nose Caroline, play up his21:58Chapter 144 The Cousin11 min leftown sophisticated taste, and throw some serious shade at theso-called starlet, all in one smooth move.Caroline frowned thoughtfully, "Freya... Why does that name sound so familiar?"Her gaze drifted to Julian. "Oh, that's right! You've mentioned her to me before.More than once, if I remember correctly."Julian suddenly looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him.Alistair, ever the diplomat, tried to bail him out. "Julian, come1. on. First off, Freya's a good-looking woman, and there's nothingwrong with appreciating beauty. It doesn't make you shallow.Mr. Robinson actually invited me to this dinner thing tonight, andFreya's going to be there, since she's in the movie. I passed, but if you're interested, I could...""No, no, it's cool! I appreciate it, man, but I'm honestly notinterested in that woman," Julian said, waving his hands frantically, a weird mix of laughter and exasperation on his face.His family was constantly trying to set him up on blind dates.Alistair knew all about it and was genuinely trying to help him finda way out of bachelorhood.Julian added, "Freya's always working that single and available angle image, butthe truth is, she has a boyfriend."21:58Chapter 144 The Cousin11 min leftThen, he turned his attention to Caroline. "And do you know who her boyfriendis?"Caroline, in her usual display of double standards, was way less patient with Julian than she was with her husband. "Why on earth. should I care who her boyfriend is?""Oh, trust me, it definitely concerns you," Julian said, his tone suddenly serious. "Well, okay, maybe you'll think it doesn't, her boyfriend is that crazy-talented musician who's blowing up right now, Leo Reed."Caroline's expression remained impassive. The name clearlymeant nothing to her.Amazingly, Alistair, the same guy Yves had jokingly accused of living in a cave,actually knew who Leo was.He was a major player in the music scene, a legit prodigy who'd been crankingout catchy pop anthems ever since he first hit thecharts.Lately, his phone had been inundated with ads for Leo'supcoming eight-show stint in New York.Posters of the guy were plastered all over the city.21:58Chapter 144 The Cousin11 min leftFrom the way Julian was talking, Alistair got the distinct impression that Leo and Caroline had some kind of serious connection and not a good kind of friendly connection, more like their lives were tangled up in some complicated, messyway.The thought had barely crossed his mind when Caroline said, her voice even, "Honey, Leo's my cousin."Alistair was genuinely stunned.Caroline's a business titan, and her cousin's a musical genius. What is up with the super-genes in this family?One extended family, and they've produced two people who are at the absolutepinnacle of their respective fields. Are they actively trying to make sure no one else even gets a fighting chance?Julian decided he wasn't leaving after all. He shut the door with a decisive click,then strolled back and plopped down right next to Alistair, making himself completely at home.Write your commenttr Gifts