The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Serana bit her lip, silent.

Straightening up in her chair, Yasmine’s gaze grew colder. “You might not like hearing this, but you knew what you were doing getting into this. So don’t play the victim.”

Casting a glance at the sandwiches left on the table, Yasmine let out a sarcastic chuckle. “To win a man’s heart, you gotta win his stomach first. Have you managed that over all these years?”

The words were blunt, and any pretense of ignorance Serana had maintained was now impossible to continue.

Perhaps Yasmine hit a particularly sore spot, Serana finally met Yasmine’s eyes. “No one knows Boyd better than I do.”

Yasmine raised an eyebrow, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Serana with feigned interest, as if waiting for a sermon.d2

Serana didn’t disappoint, continuing, “Sure, you knew him before I did, but you left his side for nine years. During those nine years, I was the one by his side.”

The expression on Yasmine’s face grew darker by several degrees. “Are you bragging or giving me a friendly reminder of my place? That it’s about time I stepped aside?”

Shaking her head, Serana clarified, “I’m not bragging, nor reminding you of anything. I’m just laying out the facts to explain that I’ve grown up with him, I know what he wants, and that’s why I’ve come to accept him being with you.”

Yasmine nodded, “It seems I should thank you for being so gracious about us being together.”

“I know you must think I’m a fool, but if I…”

“What’s going on here?”

Boyd’s voice suddenly cut in, interrupting Serana. He placed a plate of spaghetti in front of Yasmine. “You ordered it. You better eat it all.”

“But I didn’t say I wanted two eggs.”

“Just eat it.”

Boyd sat beside her, giving Serana a fleeting glance. “What were you two talking about?”

Serana’s complexion paled slightly as she gently shook her head. “Nothing important.”

Boyd turned to Yasmine, only to hear her say, “It’s not ‘nothing.’ I’m actually quite curious about what you were about to say.”

Serana took a sip of her milk, “I forgot.”

Yasmine only ate half her pancakes before pushing the plate towards Boyd. “Are you full?”

He pulled the plate closer to himself. “I don’t think you want to hear that I am.”

Wiping her mouth with a napkin, Yasmine quipped, “Do I look like someone who forces others?”

“I’m not full.”

Boyd directly took a bite of the half-eaten sunny-side-up egg Yasmine had left.

Yasmine smiled.

After Boyd finished eating, Yasmine’s phone rang. She answered the call without a second’s delay. “I’ll be right down.”

Boyd watched her, “I’ve arranged a ride.”

Standing, Yasmine said, “I won’t be going to school today.”

She brushed her hair back and exited the dining room.

could see it, but if Yasmine had already called for a driver, there

had happened. Before getting into the car, she reminded him, “Don’t forget about the term

pulled her close, kissing her

vehicle. “If you can’t learn to talk to her, then talk less. If you piss her off, I’m the one who has to sweet-talk

picture of sadness. She knew it was

the driver

to reality, took a

—

from Serana lingered in Yasmine’s mind. She told herself not to worry about it, but they always seemed to creep into

But what if…

What if what?

pleasant. However, such an exchange with Serana could

avoid the issue too, rarely

After all, they had grown up together. The ties couldn’t

silent than before, perhaps due to impending farewells, the pressure

concerns held

she could stay in school if she was bored, as the

refuse, seemingly without ambition, which

her, except when it came

childhood play as just that—play, and the near-death experience as a game gone too far. She couldn’t deny Serana’s present self due to past events or hold onto old prejudices forever, but as time and events proved, she

she couldn’t shake Serana off. Her intolerance grew day by day, and her displeasure

month had passed since their

Yasmine from school. She instinctively went for the front passenger seat, but the driver opened the door and walked out, gesturing towards

you’re really stepping up your game, not

“Can’t drive today. Got

of playing

every day of my life and

chuckled, “Then why do we eat out? I’m actually quite a

in. She’s asked us to dinner. Must’ve

Yasmine raised an eyebrow,

head without hesitation,

is why you can’t

it a reason to celebrate? She probably wants to share her joy

and it calls for a celebration? She isn’t some academic

indeed celebrate Serana’s achievements occasionally, though Yasmine had never paid much attention to it, sometimes only responding politely. After all, with all the tests big and small along the

cold chuckle escaped her, but anger coiled in her chest. Were they really having their own little world

her mood, Boyd squeezed her hand, “What’s on your

eyes, looking

she was at the orphanage, and

a straightforward answer to what your relationship

cold, her

her for a moment,

“Ah, grew up together.” She repeated, seemingly accepting the answer, though the smile that touched her eyes was tinged with chill, “So, the orphanage was left with just

Boyd’s brows furrowed.

who grew up with you at the orphanage, why haven’t you handed out prime real estate to each of them, or pulled strings to get them into Summit Ridge University, or joined them for a celebratory meal for their good

lowered, “Why are you

perhaps your long-lost

“No.”

trying to save you, almost paying with her virtue

layer of frost settled over Boyd’s features

at him for another two seconds, then sat up straight, turning to watch the world slide by outside the car window. “Pull

rear view mirror, catching sight of Boyd’s dark expression, and felt a wave of

pace, his palms sweating. He wasn’t deaf — the argument in the back was loud and clear in the confined