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.

I’m just being realistic here. Isn’t it better to know if there’s any

brain-dead? She looks like me? Have you ever considered

Nathan blurted out, then took a deep breath.

Damon’s teeth grinding was all

go clean up this bloody mess?” He figured if he

him a cold stare but didn’t

Damon’s wrist and nudged it aside. “You don’t want the blood

grew desperate. “The smell, man. You don’t

abruptly let go, and Nathan seized the moment, sprinting for

on the table, watching Nathan run with his

the study. Damon also turned around, his piercing gaze meeting Anya’s wide-eyed

a need for pretense, the moment Damon stepped toward her, Anya burst

child’s sudden crying had an indescribable piercing power.

cries startled them. Realizing it was

you stay here. I’ll

advised Chloe with care, and she was already on the

though worried, didn’t heed Yulia’s advice and followed. Yulia slowed to assist her, wary of

up, Anya’s sobs

of the stairs, cradling Anya in one arm, the other

wandered through every little detail, from feeding and changing

I was just messing with Nathan. No

sniffling, clung to Damon’s neck with one

and added, “He’s

not knowing the whole story, from the way Nathan had followed Damon around, it seemed almost like he was asking for trouble.

was utterly convinced by his version of events, lost in the reassurance of his gentle

her back, Damon’s attention was stolen

by Damon and Anya’s interaction as anyone, and his question snapped her back

descended the stairs with Anya in his arms. “We

Chloe’s weight onto himself. “It’s nothing serious. Nathan just had a bloody nose, and

smile widened. “Under the

her eyes, focusing on the floor as he nonchalantly confirmed. Without prying further, Chloe comfortably leaned on him as they made their

Damon’s affection. As soon as Chloe was