The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

After dinner, Yasmine and Serana tidied up the dining area.

“Cleaning up” was a generous term, considering Serana was doing most of the

work.

Yasmine, who had grown up in an orphanage, may not have had the easiest

childhood, but she was never required to do chores like cooking, laundering, or

chopping wood. Once she left the orphanage, such tasks were even further from

her reality. Her hands were soft and beautiful, with slender, pale fingers.

Standing beside Serana at the sink, the most Yasmine would do was to wipe

down the already clean dishes. And she had this air about her, as if she had

done some monumental task that deserved high praise.

Enter title…

Serana wasn’t much of a talker. It seemed ever since Yasmine started dating

Boyd, Serana had become even quieter. The time they spent washing dishes

was particularly tough for her. The moment the last plate was dried, she let out a

sigh of relief and quickly said, “There’s nothing left to do now, Yasmine. You

should get on with your evening.”

Yasmine rinsed her hands under the faucet and watched Serana put away the

dishes. “I’ve always meant to say, you have a real knack for cooking and

cleaning,” she said.d2

Serana paused for a moment, then smiled at her. “I’m just curious about these

things, so I tend to pay more attention. Boyd isn’t too keen on eating out. If you

have the time, I could teach you a few of his favorite dishes.”

Yasmine chuckled and shook her head. “No time for that.”

After putting away the utensils, Serana turned and gave her a strained smile.

“They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I’m sure Boyd would

be delighted if you cooked for him.”

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” Yasmine smirked, looking at

her. “Is that what you thought back then?”

Serana’s smile froze instantly. Her eyes locked with Yasmine’s for a few

seconds before she forced herself to look away, her grip tightening on the edge

of the countertop. “It seems like you’ve misunderstood something about us,”

Serana said softly.

Yasmine observed her for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Why so

tense? Who did I misunderstand you with?” she teased.

Serana bit her lip, replying quietly, “Nothing…”

Noticing Serana’s trembling hand on the counter, Yasmine’s eyes sharpened.

“Thank you for the meal,” she said.

Serana didn’t reply, only managing a stiff smile.

Yasmine left the kitchen, thinking Serana’s smile was more unsettling than

comforting.

Boyd was lounging on the sofa, perusing the stack of books she’d brought over,

exuding a mature, reserved charm that struck a chord with her. She approached

and held out her hand. Puzzled, he took her hand and kissed it lightly.

Yasmine looked at him with faint disgust. “I wanted you to smell it, not kiss it.”

“It smells nice,” he said.

“I just washed dishes. So you like the scent of dish soap?”

Boyd pulled her down beside him, his brow furrowing with suspicion. “You?

Washing dishes?”

Yasmine pressed her lips together tighter, withdrawing her hand. “I did half the

work.”

Boyd chuckled and reached into the drawer under the coffee table, pulling out a

tube of hand cream. He squeezed a generous amount onto Yasmine’s hands

and began to massage it in.

The faint scent of flowers filled the air. Once her hands were soft and

Boyd kissed them

that again,”

arched an eyebrow, admiring her well-cared-for hands. “Fine,

nicely, I won’t make it

his head as he gently tugged at her ear. “Staying

tonight?”

look. “Not going back until you finish

paused, hand still on her

smirked and pushed his hand away. “Of course. But until

thinking about are off the

frown deepened

patted his shoulder. “No room for

the books on the coffee table. “What about starting next

cut him off

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

books off the table,

headed

tomorrow night,

the bed and leaned over her,

here. Have

removed her hand.

“Then we’ll talk after she

under the watchful eyes

wasn’t joking,

of bed. “I’m going to

—

Yasmine found that Boyd wasn’t

and stepped out, intending to get a

speaking

years before graduation. You’re

he said.

anxious. “I think my major

moment before conceding, “If you’ve really decided,

it’s up to you.”

a sigh of relief.

of their conversation, but she had

about what it entailed.

the bedroom, Serana stood up from the sofa,

for a moment. “I’ve got homework. I should head

glass

temperature.”

watching Serana pick up an orange peel from

and toss it in the trash. She took

the way Bryson’s wife, Aliza, would play the part of the

wife at home. She would cook

the house until it was spotless, and always speak softly

she prepared the meal.

half-drunk, was handed

couple of trash

I didn’t know any better, I’d

brow twitched as he finished the water and set the

thing you do know

narrowed her eyes at the doorway, her gaze briefly

away. She looked at Boyd with a half-smile that wasn’t quite

it. What’s there to be glad

scooped her up, placing her back on

for a maid after an afternoon’s hard work—I doubt she’d

that amusing.”

“So are you

didn’t make her upset?”

moment.

Then why

head, “Since you’ve pointed out the difference, if I were

the consequences would probably

definitely one I don’t want to hear,” Yasmine

but pushed him away and dived under the covers. “As you

consequences are indeed severe.”

for a while, a small smile curling

just scrolling on her phone, looked

or shall I go?” With that, she lifted the edge

the blanket.

pinned it back down and covered her again, his tone

take a

didn’t reply, diving back

—

Yasmine already nestled

back to

slipped under the covers, and was greeted

fragrant scent.

gazed into her

her forehead, “I didn’t think you’d

his kiss deepened, Yasmine dodged him. “Do you

severe consequences?”

Boyd paused, “So…”

a faint smile, “So let’s start with that paper

arguments.”

no choice but to compromise with

at the well-defined muscles

motionless, letting him hold her as she

morning, Boyd was gone. She got out of

up, opened the closet, and chose

it was Boyd’s apartment, her clothes had pushed his

sight to see. She pushed her clothes aside,