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

had happened. Before getting into the car,

her close, kissing her forehead, “As

drive away, Boyd headed to another vehicle. “If you can’t learn to talk to her, then talk less. If you piss her off, I’m the one who has

pulled away, Serana stood there, a picture of

driver beside

reality, took a deep breath,

—

herself not to worry about it, but they always

But what if…

What if what?

conversation, it wasn’t anything pleasant. However, such an exchange with Serana

issue too, rarely visiting Boyd’s home

grown up together. The ties couldn’t

were less boisterous, more silent than before, perhaps due to impending farewells, the pressure to advance, embarking on long-awaited journeys, or fear of an

like Yasmine and Boyd, these concerns held little significance. In fact, Boyd’s focus

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

didn’t hesitate to refuse, seemingly without ambition,

her, except

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

off. Her intolerance grew day by

month had passed since their “unpleasant”

afternoon, Boyd came to 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 back seat for her. Boyd was already sitting

“Mr. Boyd, you’re really stepping up

drive today. Got a dinner planned

of playing

for you every day of my life and never

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

in. She’s asked

Yasmine raised an eyebrow, “Thinking about studying

shook his head without

is why you

reason to celebrate? She probably wants to share

for a celebration? She isn’t some academic

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

but anger coiled in her chest. Were they really having their own

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

eyes, looking up at him

“Why do you ask? Before you left, she was at

just want a straightforward answer to what your

cold, her words

a moment,

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 the two

Boyd’s brows furrowed.

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

lowered, “Why are you so

she perhaps your

“No.”

trying to save you, almost paying with her virtue or

frost settled over Boyd’s features at her words.

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

the rear view mirror, catching sight of Boyd’s dark expression,

— the argument in the back was loud and clear in the confined space of the car. How could he pretend