The Platonic Trap novel Chapter 17

Celia suddenly remembered her father's description of Alistair.

*"Never lie to him, Celia."*

*"He can see right through people."*

He was a man of power, navigating high-stakes politics and cutthroat business. Celia should have known better. There were plenty of people with schemes far more sophisticated than hers trying to lie to Alistair Zucker.

Relying solely on lies and playing the victim wouldn't be enough to secure his sympathy and attention.

A chill settled over her as Celia widened her doe-like eyes, looking at Alistair with genuine surprise.

"You claimed you were going to Forrester Group to apologize. If you had actually apologized, she wouldn't have been that furious."

Alistair paused, his unreadable eyes quietly studying her. "Therefore, you didn't apologize."

Celia opened her mouth. "Do you think I should have apologized to her?"

"That's between the two of you," Alistair explained calmly. "But you told me you were going there to apologize, yet instead, you provoked her. I want to know why."

He was grounded and composed, like a flawless statue devoid of joy or anger.

Celia took a deep breath and frowned slightly, but answered in earnest. "Do you really want to know what I said that made her so angry?"

Alistair said nothing, simply staring at her.

"Did you know that Norma has feelings for you?"

The sudden confession didn't evoke a single reaction from Alistair. He didn't even bat an eyelid.

To him, this kind of thing was incredibly common.

He wasn't moved or agitated in the slightest. His gaze remained cold and detached, as if the subject of Celia's statement wasn't him, but some entirely irrelevant stranger.

He offered no opinion, just waited for her to finish.

Celia bit her lip. "I told her that you would never like her."

"I just meant that there's zero chance between you and Norma, so I wanted her to face reality and give up as soon as possible."

Alistair wasn't going to get angry over something so trivial.

Moreover, he believed she was entirely correct. He had no romantic feelings, and he certainly wouldn't entertain such thoughts about someone from a younger generation.

Alistair had noticed Norma's interest in him from the very first time he met her.

But given his position as an elder, he had chosen not to point it out. He simply maintained his distance and avoided interacting with her.

Just as Celia said, it was best for her to face reality and sever any inappropriate attachments early on.

But the girl in front of him seemed genuinely concerned that her wording had been too harsh and had offended him.

"Uncle Alistair, please don't be mad at me..."

Alistair's tone softened a fraction. "I'm not mad. You didn't do anything wrong."