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.”

his wife, living

flame rekindled, Nathan’s

Nathan’s face turned ashen.

the woman

she emphasized his

bar patrons looked at him so

without a word, off to work sweetly with her ex, ignoring

Yulia, well played.

in the car, and Nathan strode in, leaving

storm into Yulia’s office, but he soon reined himself

rerouted to

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

waiting for me at home. I’ll skip dinner,” said Yulia, her voice casual but with an undercurrent

“Bring Anya with

at him as she unbuckled her seat belt. “We’ll see,”

really

“Yeah.”

to open the car door, but

the apartment complex cast a bright light, and moths fluttered in its halo

but before she could process the sight, Ronald’s hand hooked her shoulder, pulling

late. Yulia’s knee scraped the ground as

opened his door and got

imposing stature exuded a wild,

Nathan now resembled a lion that

only a moment before stepping forward, his voice steady.

by fury,

staggered, his arm bracing

boy, he also developed

from the

from the

his shirt, his expression and tone equally fierce.

with other women

slap to Nathan’s face—a reminder of the previous

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

The fury

angry, with no relief in

impact of his punch. His clenched fists and the muscles straining against his shirt seemed ready to burst. Every inch of

kissed flashed through his mind, puncturing his heart. He knew he shouldn’t have gone to see her this morning,

lost control. It was

you? She is my wife

what is a wife to you? A doll in

business. What’s it to

the tension. “I

That was when Yulia finally came to her senses, reaching for

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