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. Isn’t it better to know if there’s

She looks like me? Have you

then took a deep breath. “You’re not suggesting

of Damon’s teeth grinding was

bloody mess?” He figured if he stayed

gave him a cold stare but

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

man. You don’t want Chloe to catch a

Damon abruptly let go, and Nathan seized

on the table, watching Nathan run with his

Damon. They were left alone in the study. Damon also turned around, his piercing gaze

Without a need for pretense, the moment Damon stepped toward

had an indescribable piercing power. Damon

Yulia and Chloe were chatting when Anya’s cries startled them. Realizing it was Anya,

here.

Chloe with care, and she was already on the move,

advice and followed. Yulia slowed to assist her,

Anya’s sobs reached

the top of the stairs, cradling Anya in one arm, the other wiping away her tears with an awkward tenderness. She realized it might be the first time she’d seen Damon holding

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

I was just messing with Nathan.

neck with one arm. “But

soft “Mhm,” and added, “He’s just a bit

way Nathan had followed Damon around, it seemed almost like he was asking for trouble. Chloe could guess what had happened—nosebleeds from stress, probably Damon’s doing. And here he was, trying to convince the child it was just a

by his version

stolen by Chloe’s laughter. “What brings you

as surprised by Damon and Anya’s interaction as anyone,

he descended the stairs with Anya in his arms. “We heard Anya crying and

onto himself. “It’s nothing serious. Nathan just had

widened.

the floor as he nonchalantly confirmed. Without prying further,

the living room, Anya seemed eager for more of Damon’s affection. As soon as Chloe was seated, Anya dashed over