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

kissed them again,

do that again,”

an eyebrow, admiring her well-cared-for hands.

I won’t make

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

tonight?”

gave him a languid look. “Not going back until you

hand still

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

about are

frown deepened at her

his shoulder. “No room for

books on the coffee table. “What about starting

cut him off

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

swept the books off the table, scooped Yasmine

headed for the

tomorrow night,

her down on the bed and leaned over her, Yasmine put her hand

“Serana’s still here.

removed her hand. “She’ll leave

“Then we’ll talk after she

to doing it under the watchful eyes of

she wasn’t joking, Boyd sat

got out of bed. “I’m going to

—

Yasmine found that Boyd wasn’t in the

intending to get

hadn’t left yet, and Boyd was speaking with a detached tone

graduation. You’re

he said.

anxious. “I think my major

silent for a moment before conceding, “If you’ve really

it’s up to you.”

a sigh of

their conversation,

about what it entailed.

from the bedroom, Serana stood up from the

on her for a moment. “I’ve got homework. I should

stood and handed Yasmine a glass of water. “It’s at the

temperature.”

Serana pick up

the

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

at home. She would cook a table

until it was spotless, and always speak softly

she prepared the meal.

half-drunk, was handed to

couple of trash bags and stepped out

didn’t know any better, I’d say Serana

water and set the glass

you do know

her eyes at the doorway, her gaze briefly intense

at Boyd with a half-smile that

it. What’s

up, placing her back on the bed in the

a maid after an afternoon’s

that amusing.”

“So are you relieved she wasn’t upset,

didn’t make her upset?”

moment. “Is there a

Then why did you

pointed out the difference, if I

would probably

I don’t want to hear,”

dived

consequences are indeed severe.”

a while, a small smile curling his lips. “Is this…

who was just scrolling on her phone,

sleep in another room, or shall I go?” With that, she lifted the edge

the blanket.

back down and covered her again, his tone tinged

take

back into her mobile

—

shower, Boyd found Yasmine

aside, her back

slightly, slipped under the covers, and was greeted by her

fragrant scent.

he gazed into her still-lucid eyes and smiled

forehead, “I didn’t think you’d

his kiss deepened, Yasmine dodged him. “Do you think

severe consequences?”

Boyd paused, “So…”

“So let’s start with that paper

arguments.”

compromise with

well-defined muscles on

letting him hold her as she drifted

the next morning, Boyd was gone. She

closet, and chose

was Boyd’s apartment, her clothes had

sight to see. She pushed her