Chapter 285 This is Alaric
Lila had just finished her round of toasts and made a beeline for us.
Skylar spotted her and waved her balloon like crazy, shouting, "Godmother, check out my red balloon!"
She reached out, wanting Lila to pick her up.
Lila tucked a few stray hairs behind Skylar's ear and scooped her up. She looked at me with concern in her eyes.
"Diana, raising Skylar on your own has been so tough. You've been spreading yourself too thin between her and your career all these years," Lila said.
I patted Skylar's head and smiled. "Skylar's my only family now. Everything I do for her is worth it."
Lila's eyes softened. "But you need to take care of yourself too. Try to open your heart and let others in. It would be good to have someone close to help you with Skylar."
"Exactly, Diana," David chimed in. "You can't carry all of this on your own forever. You deserve a shot at happiness too."
I gave a small, resigned smile. "I wish I could, but just look at my life now. The Cooper Group is expanding like crazy, and I have to oversee every project personally. Plus, the Howard Group is still shaky. I'm constantly juggling between the two companies, and it's exhausting. If it weren't for Melissa helping with Skylar, I wouldn't be able to manage at all. I just don't have the energy for a relationship."
I gently took Skylar from Lila's arms, my eyes full of warmth and affection. "Besides, Skylar is the most important thing in my life. I want to be the one who cares for her and guides her. I can't let anyone else make her feel even a little neglected. I won't let her grow up to be like Anne."
Just then, Lucas walked over with a tall, well-dressed guy.
"Hey, Diana," Lucas said, smiling. "I want you to meet Alaric Kingsley, my college buddy and today's best man. He's launched his own tech company and it's doing great."
Lucas turned to Alaric and said, "This is Diana, Lila's friend and my dad's goddaughter."
Alaric, tall and sharp in his tailored suit, exuded confidence. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, and his deep eyes seemed to see right through me.
He moved closer with a smooth, effortless grace, leaning in to plant a kiss on my cheek. His warm breath lingered on my skin, stretching the moment into something almost surreal. The scent of his cologne—earthy and subtly infused with bergamot—was both soothing and invigorating. I found myself wanting to breathe it in just a little longer.
"Hello, Ms. Cooper. I've heard so much about you," Alaric said in a deep, magnetic voice.
I blushed slightly and steadied myself before responding. "Hello, Mr. Kingsley. It's a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for being the best man today."Alaric waved it off with a smile. "No problem at all. I'm really happy to see my friend so fulfilled. Just makes me wonder when I'll meet my own soulmate."
I nodded politely. "I'm sure you will."
Sensing the conversation might be getting a bit too personal, Alaric quickly switched gears. "Lucas mentioned you're quite the powerhouse in the business world, managing two companies. That's impressive."
I smiled. "Thanks, but it's just a lot of hard work. How about you? Starting a tech company must be a wild ride."
Alaric's eyes lit up with excitement. "It definitely is, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Seeing our hard work pay off makes it all worth it."
Lucas noticed how well Alaric and I were hitting it off. He glanced at Lila, and their eyes sparkled with a shared, knowing smile.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my bag. I gave Alaric an apologetic smile and picked it up, seeing "Albert from the Howard Group" on the screen. A sense of dread washed over me.
"Ms. Cooper, we have a serious issue," Albert said urgently as soon as I answered the call.
"What happened?" I asked, trying to stay calm.
"A partner suddenly announced they're terminating our contract. We've sent several people to negotiate, but they're adamant. If this project falls through, it will affect our upcoming projects, and the Howard Group might..." Albert trailed off, but the implication was clear.
I frowned, clutching my phone tightly. The Howard Group was still in its growth phase, and any setback at this point could jeopardize years of hard work.
I looked at Skylar, who was laughing and playing with Fiona in my arms, knowing that I had to confront the challenges head-on. I hung up and handed Skylar to David, apologizing as I did. "David, I'm really sorry, but there's an emergency at work. I need to leave right away. Lila and Lucas will be tied up with the guests. Could you and Fiona keep an eye on Skylar for a little while?"
Fiona's eyes reflected concern, but she patted my shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll take great care of her. It's good practice for us."
I hugged her tightly, then turned to Skylar with a gentle smile. "Sweetie, I have to go to work. Can you stay with David and Fiona for a while?"
Skylar nodded obediently, her big eyes shining. "Okay, Mommy. I'll be good, but come back soon."
Skylar's sweet and understanding nature tugged at my heart. I pressed a kiss on her soft, pink cheek, unable to help but give her tiny face a gentle squeeze. I gave Fiona a grateful look, and she nodded back at me. I then turned and hurried toward the exit.
"Ms. Cooper, wait a moment!" a steady voice called from behind.
I turned to see Alaric catching up to me, slightly out of breath. "Let me give you a ride. It's safer for you to go with me, especially since this seems urgent."
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