The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

with an uncontrollable twitch. His clenched fist, resting on the table, was white-knuckled, the bones pressing hard against the wood. “What did you just say?”

Nathan, too consumed by his own nerves to notice the storm brewing in Damon, repeated his question hastily: “I said, could Anya possibly be your daughter with Yulia?”

He couldn’t finish his sentence before a solid punch collided with his face. His nose felt like it was about to shatter.

“Damn it.” Nathan clutched his throbbing nose, bending over and tears streamed down his face. It wasn’t the pain that made him cry. It was totally sheer reflex.

Damon had no sympathy for him, stepping closer as Nathan stumbled back, pleading. “Hold on, hold on, man, this really sucks.”

Anya, perched on the table, blinked her wide eyes, not quite grasping the situation. She’d assumed they were just messing around.d1

As she turned to follow Nathan’s retreat, confusion clouded her gaze. When she saw the blood trickling between Nathan’s fingers, she let out a startled yelp. “Don’t be mean to Nathan.”

Anya scrambled to her feet, flailing her little arms, jumping anxiously on the table.

Nathan, noticing the blood gushing from his nose and Damon still fuming, backed away, looking for an escape. “I was just asking. Just tell me yes or no. Even if she is your daughter, I wouldn’t tell Chloe, man.”

Damon’s face went from dark to downright thunderous.

Nathan sighed desperately, nearly in tears as Damon closed in on him.

“We’re blood, man. If I keep mum and you keep mum, and Yulia keeps mum, Chloe will never have to know. We’re all family here, right? What’s yours is mine, right?”

Damon shut his eyes tight, took a step forward, and grabbed Nathan by the collar, followed by another punch to the gut.

“What’s mine is mine, and yours…” He paused, his entire body tensed, his lips pressed together.

Just the thought of Nathan associating him with Yulia sent him into a rage, itching to turn this fool into pulp.

Did Nathan not get it? How could he picture his woman with another man?

“Damon, chill out, you’ve gotta stay cool. I messed up, I really did. I shouldn’t have asked.”

It took every ounce of Damon’s willpower to suppress the fury inside. He raised his eyes, and those dark, menacing orbs sent shivers down Nathan’s spine.

really look like you? I’m just being realistic here.

looks like me? Have you ever considered

duh.” Nathan blurted out, then took a deep breath. “You’re not suggesting that

sound of Damon’s teeth grinding was all too

go clean up this bloody mess?” He figured if he stayed any longer, he

gave him a cold stare but

his courage, Nathan gently grasped Damon’s wrist and nudged it

man. You don’t want

struck a nerve. Damon abruptly let go, and Nathan seized the

Anya fretted on the table, watching Nathan run with his bloody

slowly turned to Damon. They were left alone in the study. Damon

over the brim. Without a need for pretense,

a child’s sudden crying had an indescribable piercing power. Damon felt

Chloe were chatting when Anya’s cries startled them. Realizing it was Anya, they hurried

here. I’ll check on

and she was

and followed. Yulia slowed to assist

up, Anya’s sobs

other wiping away her tears with an awkward tenderness. She realized it

be like with the little ones running around, and how Damon would interact with their children. Her mind wandered through every little detail, from feeding and changing diapers to soothing their cries, but she never could quite picture how Damon would handle it all. So, watching him now, she

messing with Nathan.

clung to Damon’s neck with one arm. “But

added, “He’s just a bit under

seemed almost like he was asking for trouble. Chloe could guess what had happened—nosebleeds from stress, probably Damon’s doing. And here

was undeniable. Within moments, Anya was utterly convinced by his version of events, lost in the reassurance of his gentle voice.

patting her back, Damon’s attention was stolen by Chloe’s laughter. “What

interaction as anyone, and

at him as he descended the stairs with Anya in his arms. “We heard Anya

took Chloe’s weight onto himself. “It’s nothing serious.

widened. “Under the

focusing on the floor as he nonchalantly confirmed. Without

room, Anya seemed eager for more of Damon’s affection. As soon as Chloe was seated, Anya dashed over and hugged Damon’s leg. “Are you