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.

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 moisturized, Boyd kissed them again, content.

“Don’t do that again,” he said.

Yasmine arched an eyebrow, admiring her well-cared-for hands. “Fine, since you asked so nicely, I won’t make it difficult for you.”

Boyd laughed, shaking his head as he gently tugged at her ear. “Staying over tonight?”

Yasmine gave him a languid look. “Not going back until you finish my paper.”

“Really?” Boyd paused, hand still on her ear.

Yasmine smirked and pushed his hand away. “Of course. But until it’s done, all those things you’re thinking about are off the table.”

Boyd’s frown deepened at her words.

Yasmine patted his shoulder. “No room for negotiation.”

books on the coffee table. “What

Yasmine cut him

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

books off the table, scooped Yasmine into his

night, no

laid her down on the bed and leaned over her, Yasmine put her

hand. “She’ll

out of his embrace. “Then we’ll talk after she leaves. I’m not used to doing

joking, Boyd

bed. “I’m going

—

the bedroom. She dried her hair and

on the sofa. “You still have two years before graduation. You’re thinking about this

think

for a moment before conceding, “If you’ve really decided, then it’s

breathed a sigh of relief.

but she had a

eyes lingering on her

glass of

coffee table and toss

of the gentle and capable wife at home. She would cook a table of dishes that her husband and son liked, tidy the house until it was spotless, and always

water glass, half-drunk, was handed

of trash bags and stepped

didn’t know any better, I’d

the water and set the glass on

doorway, her gaze briefly intense before it faded away. She looked at Boyd with a half-smile that wasn’t quite

so be it. What’s there to be

in the bedroom.

relieved she wasn’t upset, or that

a moment. “Is there

difference? Then why did you feel

shook his head, “Since you’ve pointed out the difference, if I were to speak now,

a smile, but pushed him away and dived under the covers. “As you say, the consequences are indeed

small smile curling his lips. “Is this…

don’t shower, go sleep in

pinned it back down and covered her again, his tone tinged with resignation, “I’ll

diving back

—

the blankets, her

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

into her still-lucid eyes and smiled lightly, kissing her forehead, “I didn’t think you’d fall

Yasmine dodged him. “Do you think

Boyd paused, “So…”

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

with no choice but to compromise with regret, still pulled her firmly into his embrace. Yasmine stared at the well-defined muscles on his chest for a few seconds, motionless, letting him hold her as she drifted

the next morning, Boyd was gone. She got out of bed, washed up, opened

was Boyd’s apartment, her clothes had pushed his to a corner—a pitiful sight to see. She pushed her

there.

her hair back and headed out, only to be greeted

her cheerfully, “Morning, Yasmine. Come have

to be told,

looked up at

a

school after breakfast. I’ve got