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.

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

Yasmine acting as if nothing had happened. Before getting into the car, she reminded him, “Don’t

her close, kissing her forehead, “As you

learn to talk to her, then talk less. If you

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

driver beside her prompted

reality, took a deep

—

lingered in Yasmine’s mind. She told herself not to worry about it, but they always

But what if…

What if what?

such an exchange with Serana could only happen once. The question

issue too,

they had grown up together. The ties couldn’t be completely

down. They were less boisterous, more silent than before, perhaps due to impending farewells, the pressure to advance, embarking on long-awaited

held little significance. In fact,

the hands-off boss quite comfortably. Bryson even suggested she could stay in school if she was bored, as the challenges

seemingly without ambition,

fault her, except when

around Serana since their reunion. She dismissed their 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 and Serana just didn’t

off. Her intolerance grew

had passed since

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

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

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

Tired of

could cook for you every day of my

out? I’m actually quite a fan of your culinary

score came in. She’s asked us to dinner.

raised an eyebrow, “Thinking about

his head

this is why you can’t drive

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

good score and it calls for a celebration? She isn’t some academic slacker, is she? Are we going to throw

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 tests big and small along the way, it

occasions. A cold chuckle escaped her, but anger coiled in her chest. Were they really having

the shift in her mood, Boyd squeezed her

looking up at him playfully. “I’m curious,

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

straightforward answer to what

was cold, her words

at her for a moment, “We grew

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

Boyd’s brows furrowed.

be 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

are you so concerned about

perhaps your

“No.”

trying to save you, almost paying

a layer of frost settled

turning to watch the world slide

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

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