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

Nathan’s wife indifferent

Nathan’s face turned ashen.

the woman

emphasized his

those bar patrons looked at

to work sweetly with

Yulia, well played.

assistant pulled up in the car, and Nathan strode in, leaving

soon reined himself

to

thick with unease. Everyone was on edge, and Nathan’s office was silent all day. Despite

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

press the matter. “Bring Anya with you this weekend,” he

unbuckled her seat belt. “We’ll see,”

really fond of

“Yeah.”

turned to open the car door, but as she did, her movement halted

a bright light, and moths fluttered in its halo on the edge of visibility.

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

step too late. Yulia’s knee scraped the ground as she was yanked out of the car, her posture awkward

this, Ronald immediately opened his door and got out of

imposing stature exuded a wild, untamed air, laced with an innate aristocracy. His

his earlier silence, Nathan now resembled a lion that had been stepped

a moment before stepping forward,

by

his arm bracing

well-protected by Damon when he was younger, but after all, being a boy, he also developed an interest in some martial

the

being abruptly pulled from the car, was stunned by the sudden

on Ronald, gripping his shirt, his expression and tone equally fierce. “Who gave you the right

had enough fun with other women and now you’re looking for

were a slap to Nathan’s face—a reminder of the previous night’s escapades at the bar, a

home that night and found himself irrationally waiting for her here. There was no reason to be this impulsive, yet seeing

fury found its vent,

Still angry,

muscle in his body tensed with the impact of his punch. His clenched fists and the

heart. He knew he shouldn’t have gone to see her this morning, and he shouldn’t have let her draw

control.

do you? She is my wife

what is a wife to you? A doll in the

damn business.

cold laughter cut through the tension. “I

came to her

hand trying to pry his away, his