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,

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

her close, kissing her forehead,

drive away, Boyd headed to another vehicle. “If you can’t learn to talk to her, then talk less. If you piss her off,

Serana stood there, a picture of sadness. She knew it was Yasmine who couldn’t

the driver beside

took a deep breath, and got into the

—

unfinished words from Serana lingered in Yasmine’s mind. She told herself not to worry about it, but

But what if…

What if what?

pleasant. However, such an exchange with Serana could only happen once.

to avoid the issue

but not absent. After all, they had grown up together. The

few months of university, the students’ emotions began to settle down. They were less boisterous, more silent than before,

like Yasmine and Boyd, these concerns held little

she could stay in school if she was bored, as the challenges weren’t too

seemingly without

couldn’t fault her, except

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 and Serana just didn’t

intolerance grew day by day, and her displeasure

passed since their

front passenger seat, but the driver opened the door and walked out, gesturing towards the back

sat down, “Mr. Boyd, you’re really stepping up your game, not even driving your own

took her hand, “Can’t drive today. Got a

of

you every day of

“Then why do we eat out? I’m actually quite a fan of your culinary

came in. She’s asked us to dinner.

tests?” Yasmine raised an eyebrow, “Thinking

shook his head

this is why

celebrate? She probably wants

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

she said this, Yasmine paused, 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

cold chuckle escaped her, but anger coiled in her chest.

mood, Boyd

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

she was

a straightforward answer to what

cold, her

looked at her for a moment, “We grew up

the answer, though the smile that touched her eyes was tinged with chill, “So, the orphanage was left with

Boyd’s brows furrowed.

right, can it? So among all those kids 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

“Why are you so concerned

she perhaps

“No.”

nearly sacrificed herself trying to save you, almost paying with her virtue or

watched as a layer of frost settled over

sat up straight, turning to watch the world slide by outside the car window. “Pull

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

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