The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

He’d been looking for any excuse to talk to her, to ask how she’d fared over the years, but he could already predict Yasmine’s reaction and response—

“Don’t you think that’s kind of a dumb question now?”

Well, she was fine now, standing healthy and well in front of him. How could she not be doing well?

But if not that question, what could he ask that would be a good entry point into a conversation?

He drew a blank.

Deep down, he understood that when she had given the impression she was gone for good, it wasn’t to deceive everyone, it was just to deceive him. As she had said, she truly wanted to rid herself of him. For nine years, she managed to stay completely detached from the orphanage and everyone in it.d2

The day came to an end, and Yasmine finally stood up to leave.

Books tucked under one arm, her other hand holding a cellphone to her ear, she breezed past him, her voice as light and ripple-free as her stride. “Okay, heading out now. Mmm, I could go for a milkshake.”

Boyd, who was also about to leave, suddenly froze. It took a moment before he slowly turned his head, watching the figure at the classroom door.

That last bit about wanting a milkshake, with that lingering tone, somehow sounded like there was a hint of playing cute in it.

He met her at an age when she should have been the most delicate and cute, yet he had never seen or heard her act like that before.

Not even in his wildest dreams did Yasmine ever act like a spoiled child.

And now, although it was subtle, he could still detect it.

He didn’t want to admit this.

Her figure disappeared through the doorway without a hint of reluctance, and he stood up, his tall and lean silhouette conspicuous in his crisp white shirt. Under the watchful eyes of the female students, he strode out of the classroom.

By the door, he saw Yasmine casually dump her stack of books onto a young man’s arms and then take a paper cup from him, lowering her head to sip through the straw.

Derek watched her contented expression and laughed helplessly, “Every time I see that look on your face, I remember how much you used to despise it.”

Yasmine was unfazed, “I never said I liked it.”

Derek chuckled ruefully, “Then what’s this? Looking all satisfied with something you don’t like?”

“Who says satisfaction has to equate to liking something?”

Yasmine took another sip, and the two walked side by side toward the school gates, Derek taking a deep breath, “Only you could argue like this. There’s no winning against you.”

“An argument is still an argument, no matter how twisted.”

that. Over the years, he’d seen plenty of her skewed logic, and somehow,

“How’s college life?”

to hit the books, what

Derek zipped his lips, deciding he was done with the conversation. Since his father had brought his mother and him to live with her, he had never seen anything that she truly liked. She

to admit

asked her that question a hundred times over the years, but he never seemed

find something appealing, I’ll aspire to own it while investing time in pursuits that may seem childish and insignificant. With that effort, I could be researching stocks,

a tightness in his chest.

She tossed it into the trash can, and Derek held the car door open for her,

the car drive away, reminded of the day she left the orphanage when they were

as natural as her strangeness

reality told him it wasn’t. Satisfaction was still too far away. It felt

cheerfully asked the first question that his

“How’s college life?”

a cup of milkshake to fill her stomach, didn’t eat the meal

“It’s okay.”

was a much better response

Yasmine’s temperament, Bryson was thrilled with the answer. “Anything you’re unhappy with? If there is, I’ll talk to the school about it

paused, “… It’s

Derek glanced at her.

living room, and

to a celebrity gossip show, not playing dumb. “It’s nothing big, just ended up in

Derek’s eyes shifted, “…Boyd?”

where the latest celebrity was getting cozy with a director at a hotel, and upon hearing Derek’s guess, she nodded faintly,

for a long time, “And that’s not a big deal? You sure you don’t

don’t.” Yasmine changed the channel, “It wasn’t easy

to himself. ” It seemed like it really wasn’t a big deal—still not as important as a

of those

around her knees, and after pondering for a moment, she turned to

“And then what?”

puzzled, “What do you mean,

childhood sweethearts are reunited, what

be an unexpected romance, and next thing you know, a

a rocket launch or what? How could it be

written all over his face, “Did you… did

turned her attention back to the TV,

“You…”