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

Nathan’s

Nathan’s face turned ashen.

the woman pitied

wonder she emphasized his silent

those bar patrons looked

to work sweetly with her ex, ignoring the

Yulia, well played.

strode in, leaving the woman behind. Embarrassed but relieved,

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

rerouted to his

the flames. The Harper Group building was tense, the atmosphere thick with unease. Everyone was on edge, and Nathan’s office was silent all day. Despite

for me at home. I’ll skip dinner,” said Yulia, her voice

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

glanced at him as she unbuckled her seat belt. “We’ll

I’m really

“Yeah.”

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

bright 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,

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

immediately opened his door

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

a lion that had been stepped

a moment before stepping forward, his voice

fist, driven by fury, landed on

staggered, his arm bracing against the car’s

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

from the corner of

abruptly pulled from the car, was stunned

and tone equally fierce. “Who gave you the right to

had enough fun with other women and now

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

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. There was

her. The fury found its vent, erupting

angry, with no relief

the impact of his punch. His clenched fists and the muscles straining against his shirt seemed

shouldn’t have gone to see her this morning, and he shouldn’t

lost control.

shame, do you? She is

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

damn business. What’s it

the tension. “I love her, does

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?!

his away, his gaze shifting