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,

that

eyebrow, admiring her well-cared-for

nicely, I won’t make it

his head as he gently tugged at her

tonight?”

look. “Not going back until you

Boyd paused, hand still

and pushed his hand away. “Of course. But until it’s

things you’re thinking about

frown deepened at her

patted his shoulder.

the books on the

Yasmine cut him

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

frustration, Boyd swept the books off the

and headed for

tomorrow night, no

the bed and leaned over her, Yasmine

mouth. “Serana’s still here. Have you

hand.

of his embrace. “Then we’ll talk after

to doing it under the watchful eyes of a

wasn’t joking, Boyd

out of bed.

—

that Boyd wasn’t

stepped out, intending to

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

still have two years before 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 relief.

caught the beginning of their conversation, but she

about what it entailed.

emerged from the bedroom, Serana

moment. “I’ve got homework. I should

and handed Yasmine a glass

temperature.”

pick

toss it in the trash.

Bryson’s wife,

wife at home. She would cook a table

liked, tidy the house until it

she prepared the meal.

water glass, half-drunk, was handed

of trash bags

I didn’t know any better, I’d say

he finished the water and set the glass on the

you

eyes at the doorway, her gaze briefly

at Boyd with a half-smile that wasn’t quite a

so be it. What’s

her

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

that amusing.”

smile was shallow, “So are you relieved she wasn’t upset, or

didn’t make her upset?”

for a moment.

difference? Then why did you

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

the consequences would probably

I don’t want to hear,” Yasmine

pushed him away and dived

consequences are indeed severe.”

her for a while, a small smile curling

on her phone, looked up at him. “If you

in another room, or shall I go?” With

the blanket.

back down and covered her again, his

“I’ll take

didn’t reply, diving back into her mobile

—

found Yasmine already nestled under the blankets,

back to him, still

slipped under the covers, and

fragrant scent.

his arms, he gazed into her

her forehead, “I didn’t think you’d fall asleep so

kiss deepened, Yasmine dodged him. “Do you think

severe consequences?”

Boyd paused, “So…”

a faint smile, “So let’s

arguments.”

with no choice but to compromise with

stared at the well-defined muscles on his chest for

hold her as she

up the next morning, Boyd was gone.

the closet, and chose an

was Boyd’s apartment, her clothes had pushed

see. She pushed