The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“You see, this is just how bad of a person I am. Isn’t it really awful to trample on your sincerity like that? So, do you still need to apologize to me?”

Serana bit her lip, defiance etched across her face, but tears betrayed her, streaming down her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to,” she whimpered.

“Yeah, I know. So you don’t have to beat yourself up over it,” Yasmine retorted, her voice was cold as steel, yet somehow, it sounded almost like comfort.

But how could Yasmine offer comfort? That was simply impossible.

Yasmine hooked the corner of her lip up in a smirk, stepped back, and glanced at the crushed petals on the ground, letting out a soft, mocking chuckle. “Still, you really should think about it. Sometimes, your guilt trips, they’re nothing but a hassle for everyone else.”

In response to her words, Serana, amidst the sadness and grievance, felt more perplexed than anything else.d2

Yasmine’s impatience flickered across her eyes. Talking to Serana was like talking to a brick wall.

Boyd stepped closer, “Before you go around playing the blame game, maybe you should take a good, hard look at yourself. People are scared of you, and avoid you. When something goes wrong, you’re the first suspect. Ever wondered why?”

Yasmine’s gaze lifted from the trampled remnants to Boyd’s face, her eyes twinkling with mirth but not a trace of warmth.

“Why indeed? Maybe because I fancy myself a lone wolf, too proud to see any flaws in myself,” She said, the smile on her lips growing more pronounced. “And yeah, everyone’s afraid of me, they push me away, and when trouble strikes, I’m the scapegoat. Sounds to me like it’s all my fault.”

Her words left Boyd realizing he’d misspoken. He pursed his lips, ready to try again.

“I’m just saying, it wouldn’t hurt to be aware of this stuff sooner rather than later. I’m worried if you keep this up—”

“Oh? And how long has this ‘condition’ of mine been around? If I needed a wake-up call, what were you doing before? Why wait until today, when I’ve made your darling cry to enlighten me?”

She glanced at Serana with a cold sneer inside, “So, I guess I should be thanking Miss Serana here, huh? Without her stepping into the line of fire, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of your heartfelt concern and advice.”

As Yasmine stepped toward Serana, Boyd blocked her path. Yasmine paused, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. They were the same age, but he had the height advantage.

Boyd, all defensive, said, “Yasmine, you’re too cynical. Serana’s just a kid.”

“And what, I’m old enough to be her mother?”

He took a deep breath, struggling for calm. “Can’t you stop being so aggressive? I get that you’re sharp, and you see through a lot, but Serana is not like you.”

“She’s not as cunning, you mean.” Yasmine interrupted, her laugh chilling. “Same speech, different day. As you said, I’m pretty clear on some things.”

“Yasmine.”

“Relax, with you here, what could I possibly do to your precious? You think I could take you in a fight? I know my limits.”

Boyd frowned, “I would never hit you.”

Yasmine watched him quietly for a moment, “Who knows? Maybe one day, if Serana really got hurt by me, you’d want to kill me.”

His face turned sour. But Yasmine just took a deep breath, dispassionately broke the gaze, and walked over to the table to grab her backpack.

“Anyway, rest assured, I don’t have the twisted pleasure of coming back just to torment her.”

Slinging her backpack over one shoulder, Yasmine stood next to Boyd, her eyes shifting between him and Serana. After a moment, Yasmine forced a smile.

probably won’t get the chance to kill me after all.” With those words, Yasmine headed for the dining hall

and Bryson, standing at the

back to reality and

she leaves our care and starts a new life with a family of her own. We hope she grows

one else had realized what

through the doorway

“Yasmine’s leaving?”

said. And the way

birthday, right? Was she waiting for us to finish

nice when you think about it. We wouldn’t

though. No more walking on eggshells around

more delicious

to leave because

“Uh. Not sure.”

at her backpack. “Yasmine, will I ever see

be best for both of us if we

“You’re just going to leave like that? You always said Boyd was the closest thing you had to a

one to misunderstand his kindness, and more importantly, no one to pick on his

retreating figure. From start to finish, she was in awe. She liked the inexplicable, cool, and elegant aura

Yasmine, or more precisely,

stood frozen in place for what seemed like an eternity before it finally

against the car door, watching

out, tinged with a rage—or perhaps some other emotion—that he had

seatbelt and cast

the door, but

your little darling got wronged and you want to

her, “Why are you leaving? Is it because I told Serana about your birthday, or is it about last

seat and looked at him for a moment before

paused, a self-mocking smile tugging at her lips, “You’d think after spending years in this orphanage, I wouldn’t be so full of myself. But the moment I feel

even harder. “Have you been planning to leave since last

of asking? If you’re happy, just show it. No one’s here

“You…”

about it. If not, step aside.” Yasmine’s expression turned icy, her voice devoid of warmth

I

assume he would raise a hand to her

you’ll never get the chance again.

Bryson nodded and bent down to pry Boyd’s hand

I apologized to you days ago, and you accepted

forgiving you. Mainly, I just realized how pointless it all was. I don’t know why I’ve been clinging to this place

Boyd’s eyes flickered.

of lilies in the yard is Boyd’s apology gift to me. You should

her mouth, but before she could speak, Yasmine had already looked

car door with a loud “thud.” By the time Boyd realized what happened and tried to pull the door open again, he heard the

teeth, he pounded on the

and shook his head before getting