The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“Yulia!”

“Yulia, honey.”

Elizabeth and Alyssa were startled by her sudden dash. With Alyssa’s mobility limited, Elizabeth quickly passed little Anya into Royce’s arms, who was sitting nearby.

Elizabeth got up and hurried around the couch to check on Yulia, only to see a figure flash past her. Nathan was already hot on Yulia’s heels. Elizabeth paused, then followed suit.b2

Alyssa watched anxiously toward the bathroom, “What in the world happened all of a sudden?”

Chloe furrowed her brow slightly, replaying the day’s events since she had seen Yulia. Her gaze finally settled on the fruit bowl. She picked up a slice of mango and popped it into her mouth.

Mangoes can be quite the divisive fruit. Some adore them, while others can hardly stomach the flavor. But since Yulia had chosen to eat one, it meant she wasn’t averse to mangoes. Yet, the reaction it provoked was suspicious.

The sweetness of the mango clung to her taste buds, exceptionally fragrant. As she swallowed, Chloe turned to look at Damon, whose brow was deeply furrowed, his face clouded with a particularly nasty scowl.

Raising an eyebrow, a childish and ludicrous thought flashed through her mind. He couldn’t possibly be bothered by this, could he? Considering how he had gloated over Nathan earlier, it wouldn’t be surprising if his petty competitive streak was flaring up again.

With each person lost in their thoughts, Royce, suddenly left holding the child, sat back on the couch, cradling Anya in one arm, his gaze emotionless as he examined her. Upon closer inspection, one could see a mix of surprise and scrutiny in his eyes.

Anya hadn’t spent much time around him, and now sat quietly on his lap, looking up with wide, innocent eyes that shimmered as she stared at Royce.

Royce’s impassivity and aloofness didn’t scare her. After a long stare-off, Anya’s mouth suddenly split into a grin, revealing rows of tiny, bright teeth.

She propped herself against Royce’s belly, climbed up, and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Grandpa is so handsome.”

Caught off guard, a range of emotions flickered across Royce’s usually stoic face.

Grandpa?

His brow twitched. Although factual, why did he feel as if the title aged him by decades?

This little one truly was charming though, her ability to endear herself seemingly boundless.

She wasn’t like her father, who was either asking for a smack or a scolding every other day.

Grandpa it was, then. That day would come eventually.

With a slight tug at the corner of his mouth, Royce watched as Anya, after kissing him, settled down cross-legged on his lap, facing him with a broad smile. He stretched out a hand, indulgingly pinching her rosy cheek. “If you don’t want to smile, then don’t.”

Anya’s smile drooped slightly, her face the very picture of a well-behaved, pitiable child. “Handsome Grandpa. Is Yulipop okay?”

Royce chuckled softly, “She’s fine.”

Anya blinked, “Really?”

“Mhm.”

Anya trusted Royce completely and beamed in relief. She gazed at Royce for a few seconds before exclaiming happily, “Daddy, Uncle, and Grandpa, all so handsome.”

In his lifetime, Royce had only two sons and had never encountered such sweet flattery from a little girl. Her few words had the power to bewilder even the usually composed Royce.

Handsome Grandpa, successfully charmed.

Chloe looked at Anya with a mixture of love and urgency. She truly wished for a sweet, warm, and cuddly daughter of her own, just like Anya.

—

Yulia spent a while in the bathroom, getting rid of the little she had eaten for dinner.

Nathan came after her, supporting her back with his hands knotted in concern. He felt her neck for any sign of fever but found none.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell anywhere specific?”

Yulia leaned against the wall, feeling weak after vomiting. She covered her mouth and slowly stood up. “Please, step out.” She didn’t want Nathan to be offended by the smell.

But Nathan didn’t heed her request. Seeing that she wasn’t going to be sick again, he helped her over to the sink and turned on the tap.

Yulia bent over to rinse her mouth with water. Nathan kept soothing her, watching her every move, his brow furrowed, his expression grave.

Elizabeth asked with concern, “You looked off during dinner too, and you barely ate. Is it that the food didn’t agree with you? Or is there something you can’t eat?”

Yulia shook her head, “No, I’m not picky and I don’t have any food aversions. Maybe I just got car sick on the way here.”

Elizabeth nodded, “Car sickness can be awful. Why don’t you go upstairs and rest a bit? I’ll have the kitchen keep some broth warm for you. You can have it whenever you feel up to eating.”

Elizabeth’s care and attention touched Yulia deeply. “Thank you.”

Elizabeth sighed softly, “What’s there to thank me for? I’ve spent my life raising two sons who give me nothing but worry. I’m just hoping they’ll make something of themselves and bring home a couple of daughters-in-law. Having finally gained two daughters, it’s only natural for me to care and dote on them, isn’t it?”

Elizabeth’s words made it awkward for Yulia to keep thanking her.

As they left the bathroom, a servant had already prepared some warm water. Elizabeth handed Yulia the cup and said gently, “Drink this and then head upstairs to rest.”

“I’ll take her to the hospital to have her checked out.” Nathan’s voice was unusually solemn and firm, leaving no room for argument.

Yulia turned to look at him, “I’m fine.”

Alyssa, with her sharp eyes, considered the situation and nodded, “Nathan’s right. It’s best to have a checkup at the hospital.”

“But Yulia just got car sick, didn’t she? The back and forth could be more trouble. Why don’t we have Jane take a look first? She lives right next door.” Chloe spoke in a subdued tone, a trace of an elusive smile playing across her lips, leaving the others somewhat baffled.

Alyssa glanced at her, nodding in understanding, “Oh, that reminds me, I completely forgot about Dr. Jane. Quick, someone fetch Dr. Jane to check on Yulia.”

A servant nearby responded promptly and dashed off.

Nathan, this time, stayed silent, wrapping an arm around Yulia as they settled onto the couch. His expression and aura were such a stark contrast to his usual pushover demeanor that no one would have guessed his true nature.

Chloe arched an eyebrow, shifting her position to lean against Damon.

“No wonder Yulia always acts so demure around Nathan. It seems your little brother has quite the commanding presence behind closed doors, huh?”

Damon’s complexion remained on the sour side. Hearing her words, he shot her a glance, but his mood didn’t seem to lift.

Chloe, exasperated yet amused, nestled closer in his arms and teased in a low voice, “Looks like Yulia’s got her three sons all mapped out.”

Damon’s lips tightened into a straight line.

Suppressing her laughter, Chloe continued, “I bet Nathan’s going to tire of being called ‘Dad’.”

Damon frowned and turned to give her a frosty look. “Even if she has three sons, they might not all be his. And it’s not even certain yet.”

“You and your negative thoughts; he’s your own brother. Can’t you hope for the best? Deep down, you don’t really think that way, do you? Just comforting yourself with denial?”

“Keep it up, and we might as well go up to bed,” Damon said gravely.

Chloe chuckled softly, “If it bothers you that much, we could always have a few more ourselves. They have four, we could go for five, maybe?”

Damon narrowed his eyes, looking at her, “At least four hundred times?”

Chloe blinked, confused, “What?”

“Based on the lowest probability of conception, to have the remaining four kids, wouldn’t we need to have sex for at least four hundred times?”

Despite knowing his occasional crude humor, she was still taken aback by his words, wishing she could just disappear.

“Four hundred times, are you planning an early demise? Besides, why calculate using the lowest probability? We didn’t need that for the first two.”

Damon glanced at her round belly, expressionless, and said coldly, “The twins were an accident.”

Chloe was flabbergasted.

Damon: “I never considered children. If I had, I would have made sure you didn’t get pregnant so easily.”

Chloe frowned at him, “Since it was an accident, maybe they shouldn’t call you Dad. You seem to dislike the hassle.”

slightly, and he felt a

He’d made his wife

shifted slightly closer to Chloe and cleared his throat, whispering,

like them, what’s

pinched her slightly swollen leg, “It’s too hard

to

leaned in to touch his forehead to hers, “Let’s talk about more kids later, okay? Let’s focus

exchange in the midst of everyone’s

and their blatant display of affection was infuriating to

arrived

by the family, holding a cup

glanced at her, then looked at Chloe, who was being clung to

way, so Jane squatted down,

pursed her lips, “Give

Yulia handed it over.

checked her pulse, casually asking, “How long have you been

“Just now.”

“About a week.”

was Elizabeth,

was Nathan’s

Elizabeth paused, “What?”

continued, “She’s not been eating well these past few days, but this is the first time

other. When did this kid become so attentive? Even noticing someone

Impressive!

on the head. “You knew and said

appeared on Jane’s mouth as

mix of anxiety and expectation in their

make sure she’s well taken care

silent for a

head shot up,

“Yes, congratulations, you’re pregnant.”

“Oh my gosh!”

“Good heavens!”

Granny clasped hands, nearly jumping for joy and

who was holding Anya, looked up with

of stunned silence, looked at Yulia and planted a firm kiss on her face, laughing heartily as he stood up and fixed his gaze

an eyebrow and turned her head

we go. That goofball was at

face darkened in an instant, as he realized that the fool was

bro, I’ve got a little one on the way that’s been calling me ‘daddy’ from the womb—hahaha. Isn’t my wife just amazing? She’s always making

another nephew on the way. And, my two big nephews are about to become a big

that guy, can’t he just chill out for once? What was there

he just be happy about having a child?! Wasn’t having another child awesome

such a happy occasion into a reason for everyone

truly a character, turning a celebration into something that made people want to hit

Chloe’s. Just as they were basking in the joy of welcoming another child, Nathan had to ruin the moment,

tugged at his

Yulia’s plea. Elizabeth, on the other hand,

the world more annoying than you? You actually have the talent to

words with two more punches on his shoulder. “Yulia… being

every pause, Elizabeth’s fist landed

and

couldn’t help but feel amused. At such a moment, he still had the mood to think

with wide eyes, looked

Yulipop being pregnant mean she’s

Anya, you’re going to have a little brother or

with happiness. She clasped her little hands together,

Royce couldn’t help but smile and

her hands joyfully, but soon her

brothers and sisters, huh? From Aunt’s twins and

turned to Yulia, “How many

the conversation, as all the adults turned

out to be twins or even triplets, would that

rubbing her forehead, “We should probably get a proper check-up at

of disappointment, but Alyssa nodded in agreement, “Right. No matter what, a thorough check-up at the hospital is necessary. Yulia, are you feeling any better? Anything

of water, shaking her head slightly, “I don’t really

anytime. Whenever you’re hungry, just have Nathan whip something up for you. Same

Chloe smiled, “Will do.”

busy, busy—hahaha! My daughters-in-law getting pregnant

home daughters-in-law and give her chubby grandchildren to dote on. Her wish was finally coming true, one after

joy. “Me, too. My great-grandsons. I now have four generations under

laughter, except for Damon, who sat with a cold expression,

was delighted by the news but noticed Damon’s mood and nudged him with her elbow, “I want some green

a grape, and brought it

remained stern, but the fruit

—

Yulia and Nathan off to

waiting for them. Nate stood

hands in his pockets, glanced at the car blocking the entrance and raised an eyebrow, “This early?

chuckled, “Mr. Damon asked me to take you guys

got my own ride, and my driving

accompany you throughout the

carrying at the very

tongue, and they

Nate was with them every step of the way. If it weren’t for the fact of privacy, he probably would have followed them into the ultrasound

check-ups were done and they emerged, Nate was right there waiting. “Well? How many?

his brother’s motives be any more

“Just one,

Once he got the answer he

was already a head

wrapped up his

Yulia close. “One’s perfect. Mom’s right,

She hadn’t thought

—

were confirmed, Damon’s brooding expression lifted like

felt heavy, barely finding rest in her sleep and woke up

call, his voice low, but Chloe

that

lips quirked up. “You’re

shifted, and Damon helped her sit up

headboard, she asked, “Is

“The Harper legacy is something

at his grandiose

I’ll go make

“Mhm.”

Damon left, Chloe scanned the latest news on her

was over the moon. “Is pregnancy contagious

ecstatic. He’s been strutting like a peacock in front of his brother. Oh, and last

“That guy sure isn’t quick on the uptake, is he? To only realize under his own

he came over, suspecting Anya was Damon’s, then claimed

every detail of last night’s drama to Rose, unable to

incessant. “Could he be any more

deep breath, her smile fading, “Maybe he’s just

nodded, “True. Suddenly having a daughter out of the blue. Oh gosh, Chloe, I’m getting nervous. My due date is in

“Morrison will be there for

with me in the delivery room, but it’s not him giving

the hospital, she grew more sensitive

the room. Approaching her, he said, “If I could, I’d take your

look. “Easy for you to say when it’s impossible. Men and

his kiss brazen and

call in a hurry, caught off guard. They kissed passionately, their embrace