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.

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

had happened. Before getting into the car, she

pulled her close, kissing

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

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

Serana,” the driver beside

reality, took a deep breath,

—

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

But what if…

What if what?

sure, given the context of their conversation, it wasn’t anything pleasant. However, such an exchange

issue too, rarely visiting Boyd’s home

all, they had grown

months 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 on long-awaited journeys, or fear of an uncertain

Boyd, these concerns held little significance. In fact, Boyd’s focus had already

even suggested she could stay in school if

refuse, seemingly without ambition, which left

couldn’t fault her, except

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

Her intolerance grew day by day, and

had passed

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

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

drive today. Got a dinner planned

of

every day of my life and never

out? I’m actually quite a fan of

in. She’s asked us to dinner. Must’ve

Yasmine raised an eyebrow, “Thinking about

his head without

is why you can’t drive

to celebrate? She probably wants

and it calls for a celebration? She isn’t some academic slacker, is she? Are

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 tests big and small along the way, it was okay to mention a good

escaped her, but anger

in her mood, Boyd

corner of her eyes, looking up at him playfully. “I’m curious, what exactly

Before you left, she was at the orphanage, and after

answer to what

cold, her words

her for a moment, “We grew up

tinged with chill, “So, the orphanage was left with just the two of you to fend for yourselves after I

Boyd’s brows furrowed.

orphanage, why haven’t you handed out prime real estate to each of them, or pulled strings to get them into

are you

she perhaps your long-lost

“No.”

trying to save you, almost paying with her virtue

layer of frost settled over Boyd’s features at

turning to watch the world slide by outside the car window. “Pull

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

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