The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

With a furrowed brow, he snapped, “What’s up?”

The woman was perched on the couch, her phone in hand. “Your phone’s dead?”

Rising from his bed, Nathan looked around, prompted by her question. She pointed at the coffee table, then picked up a black phone, standing to hand it over to him.

As Nathan took the phone and opened it, she pursed her lips and said, “I thought it was dead. You didn’t get a single call or text all night.”

Without a word, Nathan glanced at the phone and tossed it aside, the screen going dark. The woman asked, “So really no calls or messages last night?”

Nathan stood up, intending to find the bathroom. Upon hearing her words, he seemed particularly impatient. “What are you trying to say?”d2

There was a moment of silence before she spoke, “The stuff from the bar last night went viral. I thought your wife would’ve called to check in.”

Nathan froze, his hungover eyes darkening as he turned to her, his look menacing.

She recoiled two steps, her face stricken with fear. “Sorry.”

Nathan looked away, a sarcastic laugh escaping him after a moment’s thought. He stormed into the bathroom, and the door slammed with a resounding thud.

He emerged from a quick shower, dressed in a bathrobe, and ignored the bewildered woman on the sofa. He grabbed his phone and ordered clothes to be delivered.

While waiting for his clothes, Nathan ordered breakfast. He didn’t neglect the woman. They ate together.

She didn’t eat much, while Nathan ate like a man with a hearty appetite. She’d seen many people, men and women, treat meals like a mere formality, barely nibbling, as if that was enough to last the day. Now, she had seen what a real man’s appetite looked like.

But even this was nothing compared to Nathan’s usual intake. After a night of drinking on an empty stomach, he was uncomfortable and headachy. Eating much was out of the question.

They ate in silence. When the clothes arrived, he tossed an outfit to the woman, gesturing for her to change in the bathroom. She complied, puzzled, and when she returned, Nathan was transformed. Dressed in a crisp suit, his hair casually styled, he exuded an aristocratic charm, a rakish allure.

“Let’s go,” he said emotionlessly, opening the door.

Her heart racing, she followed him out, pausing to murmur, “We really don’t have to do this.”

He walked on without listening.

The bar was quiet in the morning compared to the previous night’s revelry. The patrons were lethargic, silently preparing to leave, their spirits downcast.

But as they saw Nathan and the woman leave together, their expressions were oddly knowing.

Nathan sensed something amiss. “What were you about to say?” he asked her, eyes fixed forward.

Startled, she whispered back, “You made headlines at the bar last night. If it was all an act, you succeeded. But I’m not sure if this morning turned out how you wanted.”

Outside the bar, they breathed in the fresh air. “What didn’t turn out as I wanted?” he pressed.

She hesitated to reply, so he turned to her, only to have her phone thrust in his face.

The headlines blared: “Harper family’s second daughter-in-law leaves with ex, both head to work.”

wife, living separate

flame rekindled, Nathan’s wife

Nathan’s face turned ashen.

wonder the woman pitied

emphasized his

bar patrons

word, off to work

Yulia, well played.

in the car, and Nathan strode in, leaving the woman behind. Embarrassed but

reined himself in. Why should he care? Why should he be the one led

to

buzzed online. Yulia and Ronald’s lunch further fanned the flames. The Harper Group building was tense, the atmosphere thick with unease. Everyone

Yulia were rejected. “Anya’s waiting for me at home. I’ll skip dinner,” said Yulia, her voice casual but with an

Anya with you

him as she unbuckled her seat belt.

really fond of

“Yeah.”

to open the car door, but as she did, her

and moths fluttered in its halo on the

squinted to get a better look, but before she could process the sight, Ronald’s hand hooked her shoulder, pulling her back with an unexpected kiss on her forehead. Yulia’s body stiffened, her eyes blinked in surprise, and before she could react, she suddenly tumbled out of the

reached out to catch her, but he was a step too late. Yulia’s knee scraped the ground as she was yanked out of the

door and got

rounded the vehicle, Nathan’s features became clear. His rugged good looks and tall, imposing stature exuded

a lion that had been stepped

moment before stepping forward, his voice steady.

fist, driven by fury,

bracing against the

by Damon when he was younger, but after all, being a boy, he also developed

from the

reeling from being abruptly pulled from the car, was stunned

his expression and tone equally

other

reminder of the previous

wasn’t like that. He hadn’t planned to lose control like this. He just knew Yulia hadn’t come home that night and found himself irrationally waiting for her here.

then Ronald kissed her. The fury

Still angry, with no

come undone in the scuffle. Every muscle in his body tensed with the impact of his punch. His clenched fists and the muscles straining against his shirt

image of Yulia being kissed flashed through his mind, puncturing his heart. He knew he shouldn’t have gone to see her this morning, and he shouldn’t have let

he had lost control. It was

you? She is my

wife to you? A doll in the house for you to mold

is our damn business. What’s it to

tension. “I

bulged, his grip on Ronald’s shirt creaking with tension. That was when Yulia finally came to her senses, reaching for Nathan’s clenched hand on Ronald’s shirt. “Nathan, what are you doing?!

hand trying to pry his away, his gaze shifting to the corner of