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 separate

Nathan’s

Nathan’s face turned ashen.

wonder the woman

wonder she emphasized his

wonder those bar patrons

left without a word, off to

Yulia, well played.

the car, and Nathan strode in, leaving the

office, but he soon reined himself in. Why should he care? Why should

to his

the atmosphere thick with unease. Everyone was on

plans with Yulia were rejected. “Anya’s waiting for me at home. I’ll skip

“Bring Anya with you this weekend,”

glanced at him as she unbuckled her seat belt.

really

“Yeah.”

Yulia turned to open the car door, but as

moths fluttered in its halo on the edge of visibility. The parking lot,

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 stiffened, her eyes blinked in surprise, and

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

his door and got out

good looks and tall, imposing stature

to his earlier silence, Nathan now resembled a lion that had been stepped on—a raw embodiment of

before stepping forward, his voice steady. “Let

driven by fury,

arm bracing against

younger, but after all, being a boy, he also developed an interest in some martial arts. Despite Damon being

the corner

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

expression and tone equally

enough fun with other women and now you’re

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

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.

her. The fury found its vent,

feel? Still angry, with

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

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

had lost control. It was

shame, do you? She is

in the house for

damn business. What’s

cold laughter cut through the tension. “I love her, does that

shirt creaking with tension. That was when Yulia finally came to her senses, reaching for Nathan’s clenched

trying to pry his away, his gaze shifting to the