The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

The cafeteria erupted in a low buzz of shock.

It wasn’t that anyone was surprised to see Boyd and Yasmine together. It was the sheer audacity of their public display of affection that was so jarring.

The guy still clutching a bouquet of roses stood frozen, clueless on how to proceed. Even a polite rejection from Yasmine would have been better, but this was a slap to his pride. Gritting his teeth, he threw the roses to the ground, cursed under his breath, and stormed off.

As Boyd’s lips met hers, Yasmine’s mind went blank. She breathed in his scent, her pupils dilating slowly until, with a jolt of returning consciousness, she recoiled and pushed him away.

Boyd seemed to anticipate her next move and allowed her hand to meet his shoulder before he caught it, placing it over his heart, his grip on her waist tightening.

He took his advantage with her lips, then released her just before she exploded. “He’s gone,” he said immediately, not giving Yasmine a chance to speak.d2

Without looking, she knew what the scene around them must be. The solution was clever, indeed.

Yasmine glanced at Serana sitting beside her, who looked just as shocked as everyone else. With a forced smile, she pushed Boyd back slightly, “You sure have a knack for drawing fire my way.”

The corners of Boyd’s lips turned up as he admired her now-flushed lips, “You’re capable enough. Who are you afraid of?”

Yasmine shot him a cold glare, “You’re not helping me solve problems.”

Boyd followed her gaze to Serana, then back to her, “I think you might be misunderstanding something about me.”

Yasmine looked around. The onlookers dispersed. “Your method worked, but I don’t think it was a spur-of-the-moment idea. If you had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have needed your help.”

Boyd’s brow twitched, “That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

Sitting across from Serana, Yasmine ate a spoonful of mashed potatoes. “All things considered, it wasn’t a bad outcome.”

Photos of their cafeteria kiss exploded on the campus forum. There were various comments, but Yasmine couldn’t care less. Such words were selective. If she didn’t want to see them, they wouldn’t affect her. Much better than dealing with someone constantly trying to grab her attention.

Their relationship resumed its usual pattern, but after the cafeteria incident, everyone saw them as a couple, albeit a strangely subdued one. They had been assumed to be together all along, but their kiss had shocked everyone as much as a public love scene. It was such a rarity.

Yasmine’s aloof beauty made it hard to imagine her with a man. Boyd, with his perennially indifferent face, didn’t seem the type to be interested in women either. Their pairing was both expected and utterly bewildering. Their subdued interaction now seemed par for the course.

Curious, Derek once asked Yasmine what she was thinking, only to receive a nonchalant reply about the convenience of the situation.

Derek shook his head at her attitude. This woman was indeed the type to drive men crazy. With a sharp mind, but such low emotional intelligence, wasn’t that a shame?

“Aren’t you interested in love? With things so ambiguous with him, aren’t you afraid of missing out on the real deal?”

Yasmine flipped a page in her book, not looking up, and took a bite of her apple. “If it slips away, can it be called fate?”

“What about Boyd?”

She paused, chewing her apple, then nodded thoughtfully, “Good point.”

Confused, Derek asked, “What’s good?”

She didn’t answer.

up.” She didn’t bother to hide it.

reactions around them mirrored the day they confirmed their relationship

expected this move. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, “Why bring this up

true love. If I

considered how long we’ve

and replied, “Three years.” As she spoke,

years they had

been waiting out these years, avoiding

that compliant. If we’ve been together this long, it means she hasn’t shown up. If she had, we probably would have

to feel burdened. As you said, if we are still together, she hasn’t appeared, and there’s no need to make meaningless decisions for

her. As friends,

“Is that all I’ve been to you these

was taken aback by the icy look in his eyes, then found it ludicrous. “Am I deluding myself?

for a long moment before chuckling coldly.”Look, you’re not wrong. We are, indeed,

agreed with a nod.”Uh-huh. So from now

us when it’s time. Right now, it’s

exasperated. “So, basically, everything I just

to elaborate further. “Not

“So what’s the verdict?”

need a little help from you, my friend. Romance isn’t

“Great, so I have to wait until you find ‘the one’

as dumping between us,” Boyd stated

a marathon—exhausting and endless. Yasmine frowned, “Whatever you

out, gripping her arm. She turned back, clearly annoyed.

looked at her, silent for a long moment. “Yasmine, in these three years, have you ever thought about what it would be like if we were actually

her smile broadened. “Nope, never

Boyd’s grip on her wrist

weight settling in her chest. “Anything

slowly letting

—

Yasmine and Boyd’s supposed breakup, but

pair were enigmatic figures on campus,

style of dating, even the way they handled breakup rumors, was like two debaters coolly negotiating their way back into status quo, as if nothing ever happened. Their

the news

many guys would kill to

out of touch with

frustration. Having a beauty like Yasmine at arm’s reach

came in droves, some of which

Boyd was a coward. He’d won her over, carried the title of boyfriend for three years, and yet, he hadn’t managed to warm her heart. Even a hint of wavering would have been something, but today’s declaration of not

that crossing a line might mean

into this cautious charade, Boyd

he were a desperate traveler quenching his thirst in a desert, and finally mustered the courage to snatch the glass from

bloodshot, cold as

she’d taken was back in his hand

as she watched him silently. “You didn’t break up, right? Isn’t it fine to