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

do that again,” he

eyebrow, admiring her well-cared-for hands.

so nicely, I won’t make it difficult

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

tonight?”

him a languid look. “Not going back until you

paused, hand still on

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

you’re thinking about are off the

deepened at her

patted his shoulder.

glanced at the books on the coffee

Yasmine cut him

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

frustration, Boyd swept the books off the

headed for the

tomorrow night, no

he laid her down on the bed and

here. Have

hand. “She’ll leave

“Then we’ll talk after she leaves. I’m

to doing it under the watchful eyes of a third

she wasn’t joking,

got out of bed. “I’m going to

—

shower, Yasmine found that Boyd wasn’t in the bedroom.

stepped out, intending

left yet, and Boyd was speaking with a detached

years before graduation.

he said.

think my major is totally

was 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.

the bedroom, Serana stood up from the

her for a moment. “I’ve

and handed Yasmine a glass of

temperature.”

accepted the glass, watching Serana pick up an orange

and toss it in the trash.

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

home. She would cook a table of dishes that

tidy the house until it was spotless, and always speak

she prepared the meal.

glass, half-drunk,

of trash bags

know any better, I’d say Serana was the maid

finished the water and set the

thing you do

eyes at the doorway,

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

not, so be it. What’s there to

her back

maid after an afternoon’s hard work—I

that amusing.”

are you relieved she wasn’t

didn’t make her upset?”

for a moment. “Is

Then why did you feel

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

consequences would

don’t want

him away and dived under the

consequences are indeed severe.”

while, a small smile

on her phone, looked

room, or shall I go?” With that, she

the blanket.

back down and covered her again, his tone tinged

take

didn’t reply, diving back

—

shower, Boyd found Yasmine already nestled under the

her back to him, still

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

fragrant scent.

his arms, he gazed into her still-lucid

think you’d fall asleep

him. “Do

severe consequences?”

Boyd paused, “So…”

faint smile, “So let’s start with

arguments.”

choice but to compromise with regret, still

embrace. Yasmine stared at the well-defined

him hold her as she

the next morning, Boyd was gone. She got

opened the closet, and chose an

apartment, her clothes had pushed

sight to see. She pushed