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.

had already called for a driver, there was nothing more

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

close, kissing her forehead, “As you

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 to sweet-talk

there, a picture of sadness. She knew

driver beside

reality, took a deep breath, and

—

to worry about it, but they always seemed to creep into her thoughts

But what if…

What if what?

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

issue too, rarely visiting

they had grown up together. The

the students’ emotions began to settle down. They were less boisterous, more silent than before, perhaps

concerns held little significance. In fact,

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

without ambition, which

her, except when it

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

Her intolerance grew day by day, and her displeasure was

passed

school. She instinctively went for the front passenger seat, but the driver opened the door and walked

you’re really stepping up your game, not even

“Can’t drive today. Got a dinner planned for

of

could cook for you every day of my life and never

out? I’m actually

She’s asked us to dinner. Must’ve aced

Yasmine raised an eyebrow, “Thinking about studying

shook his head without

why you can’t

reason to celebrate? She probably wants to share her joy with

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

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

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

her mood, Boyd squeezed her hand, “What’s on your

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

you ask? Before you left, she was at the orphanage, and after you left, she was still

just want a straightforward answer to what your relationship

cold, her words

looked at her for a

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

Boyd’s brows furrowed.

with you at the orphanage, why haven’t you handed out prime real estate to each

brows lowered, “Why are you so

she perhaps

“No.”

you were kidnapped and she nearly sacrificed herself trying to save you,

of frost settled over Boyd’s features at her words.

him for another two seconds, then sat up straight, turning to watch the world slide

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

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