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.

me after all.” With

Bryson, standing at the entrance,

back to reality and hastily

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

teachers, no one else had realized what happened. The

her slim figure passing through the doorway with Bryson following,

“Yasmine’s leaving?”

just said. And the way she’s acting, it looks

her birthday, right? Was she waiting for

you think about it. We

though. No more

more

to leave because she’s upset, or was

“Uh. Not sure.”

clutching at her backpack.

will be best for both of us

going to leave like that? You always said Boyd was the closest thing you had to a friend here.

one to misunderstand

heart filled with admiration for Yasmine as she watched her retreating figure. From start to finish, she was in awe. She liked the inexplicable, cool, and elegant aura that Yasmine

she admired everything about Yasmine, or more precisely, she

for what seemed like an eternity before it finally

car door,

rang out, tinged with a rage—or perhaps some other emotion—that he had never

buckled her seatbelt and cast him a

door, but Boyd grabbed

to him, “What’s wrong? Feeling all riled up because your little darling got wronged and you want to settle scores with

are you leaving? Is it because I told Serana about your birthday, or is it about last time when

for a

wouldn’t be so full of myself. But the moment I feel slighted, the indignity floods in and I can’t shake it

door tightened, then clenched even harder. “Have you been planning

of asking? If you’re happy, just show it. No one’s here to bully your precious Serana and play dirty tricks in front of you anymore. Isn’t

“You…”

something about it. If not, step aside.” Yasmine’s expression

told you, I won’t

always assume he would raise a

get

her command, Bryson nodded and bent down to pry Boyd’s hand away,

I apologized to you days ago,

stopped caring. I couldn’t see any benefit in not forgiving you. Mainly, I just realized how pointless it all was. I don’t

Boyd’s eyes flickered.

her head again, her gaze landing on Serana who stood behind Boyd, “That pot of lilies in the yard is Boyd’s apology gift

opened her mouth, but before she could speak,

in pain, she quickly shut the car door with a loud “thud.” By the time Boyd realized what happened and tried to pull the

teeth, he pounded on

shook his head before getting