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.

off. Boyd could see it, but if Yasmine had already called for a driver, there was nothing

Yasmine acting as if nothing had happened. Before

kissing

headed to another vehicle. “If you can’t learn to talk to her, then talk less. If you piss her off, I’m the

car pulled away, Serana stood there, a picture of sadness. She knew it was Yasmine who

driver

a deep breath, and got

—

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

But what if…

What if what?

However, such an exchange with

to avoid the issue

absent. After all, they had grown up together. The ties

of university, the students’ emotions began to settle down. They were less boisterous, more silent than before, perhaps due to impending farewells, the pressure to advance, embarking

these concerns held little significance. In

Bryson managing things, played the hands-off boss quite comfortably. Bryson even suggested she could stay in school if she was bored, as the challenges weren’t too great

didn’t hesitate to refuse, seemingly without ambition, which

fault her, except when

game gone too far. She couldn’t deny Serana’s present self due to past events or hold onto old prejudices forever, but as

intolerance grew day

month had passed since

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

down, “Mr. Boyd, you’re really stepping up your game,

today. Got

Tired of playing

day of my life

we eat out? I’m actually quite

score came in. She’s asked us to

an eyebrow, “Thinking about

shook his head without hesitation,

this is why you can’t

celebrate? She probably wants to share her joy with

calls for a celebration? She isn’t some academic slacker, is she? Are we going to throw a party every

recalling that during their meals together, Boyd did 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

actually commemorating these occasions. A cold chuckle escaped her, but anger coiled in

the shift in her mood, Boyd squeezed her hand, “What’s

her gaze sliding to the corner of her eyes, looking up at him playfully. “I’m curious, what exactly is your relationship

twitched, “Why do you ask? Before you left, she was at the orphanage, and after you left, she was still

straightforward answer to

was cold, her words

a moment,

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 the two of you to fend for yourselves after I

Boyd’s brows furrowed.

out prime real estate to each of them, or pulled strings to get

are you so

she perhaps your

“No.”

were kidnapped and she nearly sacrificed herself trying to save you, almost paying with her

settled over Boyd’s features at her words.

sat up straight, turning to watch

catching sight of

argument in the back was loud and clear in the confined space of the