The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Serana glanced at Boyd, her mind a blank slate as to what to say next. However, nothing was inappropriate about Yasmine’s actions afterwards. They munched on slices of cake and sipped on coffee, making small talk about how each other had been lately.

Aside from her initial sharp words, Yasmine’s demeanor was so faultlessly normal you couldn’t pick a bone with it. If there was anything to comment on, it was that her phone never seemed to leave her hand for long.

But the more she played it cool, the more both Serana and Boyd felt something was off.

“Do you come here often?” Boyd asked casually as Yasmine’s plate became crumb-free.

Yasmine gave a half-smile. “Yeah.”

“It is a nice place,” he admitted.d2

Taking a sip of her coffee, Yasmine leaned back in her chair. “Yeah.”

Boyd pursed his lips, and silence fell like a curtain.

Serana looked on, worry creasing her forehead. For years, Boyd had always been the one looking down on others, never the one to seek out chit-chat.

Serana could tell he was trying to find common ground, to say something – anything – to ease the tension with Yasmine.

Even though Yasmine was sitting there with them, who could really say where her thoughts were?

The misunderstanding that had started over a jar of flowers seemed resolved, and they were interacting like before. But was there real forgiveness from Yasmine? Not likely.

There they were, sitting across from each other, yet it felt like miles between them. Serana was curious – could Yasmine ever truly like someone?

What would she be like? What lengths would she go to? She’d love to see that.

But who would be the one to break through?

Yasmine’s phone rang, but she ignored it, standing up instead. “You guys carry on. I’ve got something else to attend to. I’ll head out first.”

She answered the phone as she pulled out her chair.

Boyd stood, reaching to catch Yasmine’s wrist. Phone to her ear, Yasmine looked at him. “Something else?”

Boyd stared for a moment. “Where are you off to?”

“Home.”

Derek’s figure appeared beside them. He eyed the hand Boyd had on Yasmine. “You want something?”

Boyd’s grip tightened unintentionally.

Yasmine pulled her hand back, phone down. “Should be clear now.”

—

Serana watched through the glass as Yasmine’s car pulled away, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. “She’s still the same.”

Boyd didn’t respond.

car, Yasmine’s expression

way more times than necessary within five

glasses?” Yasmine casually

look, Derek focused on the road. “You got nothing to say? No contact for two months and suddenly

finger across her phone’s screen, engrossed in

twitch was barely perceptible. “All this

“Am I that

“Then what’s your reason?”

“Just feeling annoyed.”

kid’s squabbles from when we were ten. Holding onto that,

Yasmine cut him off. “Do you want

the steering wheel tighter.

seemed to follow her more closely than ever. Any

an item. Rumors reached

relationship with

in the cafeteria, ignoring Serana sitting across from her,

Boyd, and silently shoveled

bit slow on the uptake, aren’t

“When

Silence.

More silence.

misunderstanding. Don’t overthink it.” She wasn’t about

opened her mouth to speak, but Boyd

into his eyes for two seconds. Almost as he stood up, she abruptly stood up

Boyd’s expression darkened.

pulled toward the exit. They stopped at the basketball court next to the cafeteria, where Boyd finally let

until Boyd inhaled deeply and spoke, “Were

frowned. “Escape? Why would

know what I

I get a ‘boyfriend’ and a love rival? Boyd, are you trying to say

“Who’s your love rival?”

her temple and exhaled, “Alright, so

Serana and

business. As for the rumors, we know what’s

through the air, sharper

her with a penetrating intensity, “You sure you’re not just playing dumb with

the nearby railing, and let out a laugh. “Me, playing dumb? What’s up? Are we, like, actually dating or something? How come I, the person

hers, “So, all of that has to happen for it to be considered

heard the rumor, I found it ridiculous. Just the rumor alone seemed absurd to me, so the idea

“Why?” he pressed.

weren’t for your insistence on linking our childhoods together, I would’ve probably stayed completely cut off from you. I think I’ve been pretty

clearly displeased

she continued, “don’t use your guilt towards me as a way to make amends, and don’t confuse those childhood bonds and the so-called love from us spending a few years together

was disarming, silencing any retort before it could

the look