The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Yulia’s lips quivered as she shook her head, her eyes widened with fear and helplessness. “What do you even want?” she stammered.

Nathan looked at her with a cold detachment. “The question is, what do you want, Yulia? You wanted this marriage, pulled every trick in the book to get it. You called the shots in the beginning, but when it ends, that’s not your call. If you’re planning on going head-to-head with me, by all means, let’s see who’s tougher.”

“So what are you saying? That I’m stuck with you until you’re bored? I can’t ever bring up divorce?”

“You can bring it up, and I might agree, as long as you leave Anya with me.”

“You know I’ll never give up Anya!”

A smirk crept onto Nathan’s face. “Who knows? Maybe Ronald and his shares are worth more to you than Anya.”d2

Yulia bit her lip so hard that white marks formed around her teeth. “Why are you doing this, Nathan? Anya’s my daughter. She’s got nothing to do with you. Why are you so obsessed with her?”

“People don’t always need reasons. I like her, and that should be enough.”

Yulia’s anger flared at Nathan’s shameless reasoning, her hand itching to slap some sense into him. “But you’ll end up hurting her. With your playboy lifestyle, you might even marry someone else. What can you offer Anya, except a life full of scandals and tabloid headlines? How can she grow up healthy in a home with a stepfather and stepmother? What are you really thinking? Is this how you like Anya? I will never agree. Over my dead body will I let you take her.”

Nathan’s lips curled into a sneer. “Suit yourself.”

Yulia felt her anger choking her, unable to vent.

Over her dead body? What would happen to Anya if she died?

How utterly cruel!

The feeling of helplessness, of being trapped, was unbearable.

Nathan watched as she fell into despair, then stepped back and headed for the door. But Yulia grabbed his shirt, pulling him back with a desperation she couldn’t hide. “What do you want from me, Nathan? What are you trying to do? What will it take for you to let me go?”

“Let you go?” Nathan’s voice was like ice. “How come you get to decide everything? When you were scheming to trap me, did you ever consider whether I’d let you go? Now you want to walk away scot-free? You think I’m just some toy you can play with until you’re done?”

Yulia looked up at him, her expression a tangled mess of emotions. “I’ve heard enough. I admit I was wrong, but we can’t drag this marriage on forever, right? Give me a concrete date. When can we truly end this?”

Nathan’s expression darkened. “Tell me, Yulia, why do you suddenly want to talk divorce?”

Caught off guard, Yulia was unsure how their conversation had circled back to this topic.

Nathan’s grip tightened on her shoulders. “What if I helped you take over the company?”

Yulia’s eyes flickered with shock.

“You wouldn’t need Ronald’s shares. Would you still bring up divorce after you got what you wanted? Or should I ask, are you divorcing me for Ronald?”

long moment, she shook her head. “No. I can’t forgive him. If it weren’t for his shares, I’d never want to see him again, even if we got divorced, I don’t love him anymore. I haven’t for

do you love

struggle evident in

caught, his face twitching involuntarily. “I mean the love between two adults?!” He bellowed at her, and Yulia flinched,

why the hell

“For the shares!”

dangling those shares over you for

felt her face numb

roared again, and Yulia’s ears

I wouldn’t need to force this issue. What position have you put us in? Did you ever think of

burst forth, stunning Nathan into silence. “You

“What good does it do? Did that stop you from playing

a wife should, would I have the chance to

laugh bitterly at his words. “Do you realize how awful you sound? Blaming your wife because you’re out

mask of tension. He stared at her for a long moment before his expression softened, and he stepped closer, towering over her. “So since it’s

mouth, but

handle it? You’re hurt and sad, so

guard by Nathan’s blunt question, Yulia

jealous?! It’s because

“Just Anya?” Nathan frowned.

“I…”

“You better think

with a mixture of defiance and

me what you really

pressed her lips together, then threw the question back

frowned. “I’m the one

if I said I like

onto her. “It’s always nice

enough for

brow, clearly not satisfied with where this was

continued, “What if it’s not just ‘like’ that I feel

hand gripping her

been for the tension between them, that feeling of everything falling apart, or Nathan’s probing questions leading her to this moment, she might never have

worst-case scenario was a divorce – a clean break. She braced herself for his reaction, but when she felt it, her heart contracted. Not from disappointment,

She knew it.

too much, mustering a nonchalant smile. “Don’t worry.

than ‘like,’ so you mean you love me?” Nathan

Yulia didn’t answer.