The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

The moment the branch snapped, Yasmine’s heart skipped a beat as if she

were plummeting down a cliffside. But in that brief instant, she felt an odd sense

of relief.

At last, she could shake off Boyd and Serana, those two thorns in her side. Now,

she could breathe easy, no longer needing to trouble her mind over their drama.

It had been quite the headache dealing with them both.

Boyd would be pleased. Serana, the apple of his eye, was safe and Yasmine,

the heartless one, wouldn’t be a sore sight for him anymore.

She wasn’t a fool though. She wouldn’t gamble with her life just to play

matchmaker for them. In this moment, she was determined to survive at all

Enter title…

costs.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a sheer cliff she was dealing with.

However, the fall from the tree to the mountain’s side was significant, and when

she landed, the impact sent a jolt through her body as if every organ had been

shattered. The pain was so intense, she couldn’t pinpoint where it hurt the

most.d2

As she slid down the mountain, the thick underbrush and brambles tore at her

clothes, now muddy and ripped. Instinctively, she reached for anything to steady

herself.

At first, her descent was too rapid, and each grasp at stability only led to more

sliding. After several attempts, she managed to slow down.

Finally, gripping a protruding rock, she steadied herself, but the rain had

loosened the stones, and before she could catch her breath, the rock split,

sending her sliding down once again.

Rain washed soil down the mountainside, forming streams of mud that

cascaded over her. Twigs snapped and pebbles pelted her from above. Thorns

scratched her face, and her clothes were a mess, revealing legs and arms

littered with cuts of all sizes.

Initially, she had the strength to struggle, to fight for her life, but as the cold rain

numbed her pain, her strength waned. Though her speed had lessened, even

grasping for a handhold became too much effort.

Yasmine sighed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips in the midst of the downpour.

The irony wasn’t lost on her. Risking her life to save the very person she

despised, it sounded like a heroic tale of self-sacrifice.

But when had she ever been the saintly type?

Yasmine mused ruefully. Well, if this was to be her end, at least she’d leave

behind a noble reputation.

enveloped her, punctuated only by occasional flashes of

felt her body

more.

embrace, but it was only a moment before she hit

her body wracked with the same excruciating pain as

organs aching.

time, a metallic

surroundings, revealing she

stretch of land—likely the base of the mountain. Exhausted and in

a while, moving her limbs feebly before finally

lightning’s flash, she surveyed the area.

could barely

her hand to shield them, lying silently in the downpour,

ever walk or use her

was drained, hurting,

her. Nor would

case. The question was whether

like an eternity, a light suddenly swept

voice she recognized. “Yasmine?!”

weakly moved her

voice was faint, but the person heard her. Yasmine could

light finally

Ava!” Ava rushed over, shocked by Yasmine’s battered state.

shaken as she helped Yasmine to her feet. “Oh

really fall from

her, “More like

her

didn’t expect you to be the one to

“Did

ground. No one knows it better than me. If you fell

you could end

weak smile, “Truly the

strength. The police and

away. Let me take

too heavy.”

“I can’t walk…”

sit up and handed her a

front of her, “Climb

at Ava’s slender, fragile silhouette, feeling a

and gratitude. Hot tears flowed down her rain-chilled cheeks.

can’t carry me.”

draping it over

of flour up the mountain when I was five. I

lighter than a

spoke, she steadied Yasmine and slowly

behind its vine-covered

next to some

on Yasmine’s body,

She tried to clean

suggesting, “You should probably take off those clothes. You’d

in those wet

attire and frowned but shook

began helping her undress

she muttered while helping Yasmine out

You hide in the haystack for a

look for

helpless as a fish on a cutting board, barely

anything but let Ava strip

God, Look at your injuries. You must hurt like

gave a slight shake of

gotta be so tough?

won’t admit it. You shouldn’t be like that, you know. People

get the wrong idea.”

really not painful,” Yasmine insisted.

and nodded.