Chapter 146 Her Actual Husband11 min leftLeo finished his interrogation of Alistair and then turned toCaroline, his voice deadly serious. "Carol, you know your father.He's tough. This guy might not pass muster."Ugh, it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.But Alistair couldn't bring himself to care all that much.The truth was, ever since he found out Caroline and her old manweren't exactly on speaking terms, getting the seal of approvalfrom the richest man had dropped way down on his list ofpriorities.Caroline's expression hardened. "He's my man. I don't need anyone's damn approval."Leo frowned, a crease forming between his brows, "Caroline, canyou just stop being so damn stubborn for once in your life?"They were both like older brothers to her, in a way. But Julian wasnever annoying like this. He always saw things from Caroline'sperspective, always had her back, always supportive.Leo, on the other hand... Maybe it was the blood tie that made him feel soentitled, or maybe his high-and-mighty social status had just turned him into abossy jerk, but every time he opened hisChapter 146 Her Actual Husband雞間mouth, it was like a condescending, "I know best" lecture.10 min leftDoesn't he get it? Caroline isn't some naive little girl he could just push around!Alistair wasn't about to stand by and let anyone talk down tohis wife. "My wife makes her own choices for her own life. She doesn't need anyone else telling her what to do or how to live it." For some reason, that really set Leo off. He jabbed a finger at Alistair, his face a mask of pure arrogance and contempt. "And who the hell do you think you are, calling me an outsider?" The words were barely out of his mouth before Caroline's hand flashed out and smacked him clean across the face. It happenedso fast that Alistair didn't even see it coming.Okay, so Alistair missed the action. Not like the slap landed on his face, after all.But Leo, incredibly, didn't see it coming either. He just stood there, stunned, after taking the hit full-on, completely poleaxed.And why wouldn't he be? He was a chart-topping, criticallyacclaimed singer-songwriter, used to people fawning over himwherever he went. Forget getting slapped. Most people barely dared to raise their voices in his presence.Chapter 146 Her Actual HusbandOf course, he was stunned.10 min leftCaroline, her face like ice, mimicked Leo's earlier gesture, pointing right at his nose. "You will speak to my husband with respect! And if there's a next time, I swear, you'll be eating your meals through astraw!"Her tone left no room for doubt. She wasn't bluffing.Even her own relatives weren't safe if they dared to disrespectAlistair. She'd go full scorched-earth on anyone.Alistair was floored, incredibly touched by how fiercely and unequivocally Caroline defended him.A wife like this? Seriously, what more could a guy possibly ask for?Wait a minute, though. When I'd first charged in, I'd put myself between her andthat guy. When the hell does she start playing bodyguard for me?"You actually hit me for him? I'm your actual cousin, for God's sake!" Leo looked like his whole world was crumbling.Caroline's voice was cold, ruthless. "And he's my actual husband!Now, why don't you make yourself scarce and get the hell away from me!"Chapter 146 Her Actual Husband10 min leftLeo clutched his chest dramatically, glaring daggers at Alistair. "What did you doto her? Did you put some kind of spell on her or something?"Alistair just sighed, a wave of weariness washing over him.He vaguely remembered, way back when he and Caroline first got together, Julianactually asking him if he knew some kind of black magic...Even the usually unflappable, seen-it-all Mabel hadn't been able to completely mask the searching, speculative look in her eyeswhen she first met him.All their reactions pointed to one undeniable truth. Before Alistair, Caroline had never, ever been close to another man.Besides him, the only people in her tight-knit inner circle were Eloise, Mabel, and Julian. Hér social life was so incredibly sparse that it was almost heartbreaking.But it was clear now that it was her choice. She didn't like acrowded, complicated life and had actively, deliberately kept most people at arm's length.Alistair felt an overwhelming sense of honor and privilege to have been allowed into her exclusive world, and not just allowed in, but to have been made such an incredibly important part of it.Chapter 146 Her Actual Husband10 min leftEven though Alistair honestly truly had no earthly idea whyCaroline liked him, he knew, deep down in his bones, that it wasn'tbecause of the System.The System had been crystal clear at that point. It had onlyprovided the opportunity for them to meet. Everything that had happened afterthat, their entire relationship, had all unfoldednaturally, organically, all of them. The System had nothing to dowith it.And that knowledge filled Alistair with an immense, profoundsense of relief.His current, almost ridiculously smooth-sailing life had a lot to do with the System's behind-the-scenes help, but if Caroline's feelings for him had also been some kind of System-generated perk? That would have seriously, fundamentally grossed him out.Feelings and emotions are the most sacred, special things in this world. If even those can be manipulated and messed with, then what's left to believe in, to holdonto?"Leo, what in God's name happened to your face? The concert's about to start! You can't go out there and face your fans looking like that! Who did this to you? Was it them?"Leo's assistant came rushing over, noticed Leo's bruised andChapter 146 Her Actual Husband10. min leftswollen face, and let out a shriek that could curdle milk, immediately pointing an accusing finger at Alistair and Caroline."You two have some serious nerve! Do you have any idea who this is? If this concert gets cancelled because of you, can you even begin to fathom the kind of damages you'll be on the hook for? I'm calling the cops! Right now! I'm having you both arrested!"Leo rubbed his temples, a vein throbbing with irritation. "Call the cops? Are you kidding me? You think I'm not embarrassed enough as it is? You want to plaster my messed-up face all over the goddamn tabloids?"The assistant was practically wringing his hands. "But Leo, yourface..."Leo snapped, his patience clearly gone. "What about my face? It's not like I makea living off my pretty boy looks, you know, hey! Don't you two walk away from me! I'm not finished talking yet!"The assistant, suddenly emboldened by Leo's presence, tried to block Alistair and Caroline, who were already heading for the exit, completely ignoring him. "You think you can just assault someone and then waltz off? You two are in some serious, deep trouble! You can expect a nasty letter from our lawyer, real soon!" He lunged forward a little too aggressively, looking like he was about to barrel right into Caroline. Alistair's brow furrowed, and61021:59Chapter 146 Her Actual Husband10 min leftwith a movement so quick and smooth it was almost a blur, he took the assistantdown, too!The assistant was, yet again, rendered completely speechless.noveldramaLeo, still gingerly rubbing his own bruised face, was alsomomentarily speechless.Damn, this kid actually gets some serious moves!Caroline looked up at Alistair, her eyes shining with pureadoration. "Honey, you're so amazing!"Alistair puffed out his chest a little, a smug grin playing on his lips."Well, naturally!"Leo nearly choked on his own spit.Me and my assistant... Are we seriously just becoming unwilling props in thiscouple's sickeningly sweet love-fest?No, we aren't even worthy of being called props because thesetwo psychos haven't treated us like actual threats from thegoddamn get-go! Ugh! This is humiliating!Leo's gaze followed the sleek, expensive car as it sped away, his mind racing.Chapter 146 Her Actual Husband10 min left 10Who the hell is this guy, anyway? How has he managed to turn theice-cold, unapproachable Caroline into this soft, gentle, almost simperingwoman?Leo, his expression utterly dazed, actually raised his hand andgave himself a light slap across the cheek.Ow! Okay, it hurts. So, it's definitely not a dream!His assistant, groaning and moaning, finally managed to pickhimself up off the ground and limped over to Leo, "Leo, are we justgonna let this slide? Just like that?"Leo shot him a withering glare. "What else do you suggest we do, genius? Didn'tyou just see me get my ass handed to me on a silver platter? And you still charged in like a brainless idiot!"Come to think of it, every single time I'd ever been well and truly humiliated in my entire life, Caroline has somehow been involved!Damn it, it had just been too long since we'd actually seen each other. My judgment has been way off. I'd actually thought that getting out into the real world and becoming independent and successful would have mellowed her out and smoothed some ofher rougher edges. Who knows...Actually, Caroline's temper has gotten better. Significantly better. But apparently,that improvement is reserved exclusively for thatChapter 146 Her Actual Husband10 min leftguy...Who the hell is that guy?He just waltzes in, completely out of nowhere, and somehow manages to snatchaway my one-in-a-million, totally unique Caroline! I am not having it! This is notokay!Leo was still fuming, lost in his own indignant thoughts, completely oblivious to the fact that his assistant was furtively tapping away on his phone, sending a detailed, play-by-playaccount of everything that had just happened.A moment later, the assistant's phone buzzed with a reply: [Tell that Freya chickabout all this. And drop a hint that if she ever wants a snowball's chance in hell of being his wife, she needs to prove she knows how to help her man get his dignityback when he's been wronged.]Write your comment