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

rekindled, Nathan’s wife indifferent

Nathan’s face turned ashen.

the woman pitied

emphasized

patrons looked

a word, off to work sweetly with

Yulia, well played.

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

first impulse had been to storm into Yulia’s office, but he soon reined himself in. Why should he care?

to his

thick with unease. Everyone was on edge, and Nathan’s office was silent all day. Despite his work, no personal calls came

“Anya’s waiting for me at home. I’ll skip dinner,” said

matter. “Bring Anya with you this weekend,”

glanced at him as she unbuckled her

really fond of

“Yeah.”

open the car door, but as she did,

light, and moths fluttered in its halo on the edge

of a car, arms crossed, seemingly watching their direction. Yulia felt a tightness in her chest as she 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

too late. Yulia’s knee scraped the ground

his door and got out of the

Nathan’s features became clear. His rugged good looks and tall, imposing stature exuded a wild, untamed air, laced with an innate aristocracy. His masculine

resembled a lion that had been stepped on—a raw embodiment of

paused for only a moment before stepping forward, his voice steady. “Let

fist, driven by fury, landed on Ronald’s

arm bracing

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

from the

still reeling from being abruptly pulled from the car,

tone equally fierce. “Who gave

other women and now you’re

of the previous night’s escapades at the

lose control like this. He just knew Yulia hadn’t come home that night and found himself irrationally waiting for her here. There was no reason to be this impulsive, yet seeing Ronald driving her home ignited a

fury found its vent, erupting

feel? Still angry, with no relief in

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

control. It

shame, do you? She is

in the

is our damn business. What’s it

tension. “I love her, does

forehead veins 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?! Let him

his gaze shifting to the