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

arched an eyebrow, admiring her

so nicely, I won’t make

as he gently

tonight?”

him a languid look. “Not going back until

Boyd paused, hand still on her

and pushed his hand away. “Of course. But

things you’re thinking about are off the

frown deepened at her

his shoulder.

glanced at the books on the coffee table. “What about

cut him

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

Boyd swept the books off the

and headed for

tomorrow night, no

and leaned over her, Yasmine put her hand

still here.

removed her hand.

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

it under the watchful eyes

joking, Boyd

got out of bed. “I’m going to

—

Boyd wasn’t

and stepped out, intending to

and Boyd was speaking with a

still have two years before graduation. You’re thinking

he said.

anxious. “I think my major is totally

before conceding, “If you’ve

it’s up to you.”

breathed a sigh of relief.

beginning of their conversation, but she had a

about what it entailed.

the bedroom, Serana stood up from

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

Yasmine a glass

temperature.”

glass, watching Serana pick up an orange

it in the trash. She took

Bryson’s wife, Aliza, would

cook a table of dishes that her

son liked, tidy the house until it was

she prepared the meal.

glass, half-drunk, was handed

grabbed a couple of trash bags and stepped out

didn’t know any better, I’d say Serana was the maid

as he finished the water

you do know she’s

the doorway, her

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

she’s not, so be it. What’s there to

up, placing her back on the bed in the

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

that amusing.”

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

didn’t make her upset?”

a moment. “Is

why did you

out the difference, if

would probably

definitely one I don’t want

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

consequences are indeed severe.”

while, a small smile

who was just scrolling on her phone,

or shall I go?” With that,

the blanket.

covered her again, his tone

take a

back into

—

found Yasmine already nestled under

aside, her back to him, still

the covers, and was

fragrant scent.

his arms, he gazed into her

“I didn’t think you’d fall asleep

dodged him. “Do you think I was

severe consequences?”

Boyd paused, “So…”

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

arguments.”

compromise with regret, still pulled her firmly

embrace. Yasmine stared at the well-defined muscles on his chest for a

him hold her as

woke up the next morning, Boyd was gone. She got out of

opened the closet, and

her clothes had pushed

sight to see. She pushed her clothes