The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

The car pulled to a curb and Yasmine spoke with a detached indifference before swinging the door open and stepping out.

She glanced at the nearby diner, a sardonic smile creeping over her lips. The place was one of P City’s top-tier spots, not the kind of joint a college kid with no family to speak of could afford – hell, even folks from a decent background wouldn’t waltz in there without a second thought.

Talking about splashing the cash.

Boyd followed, stepping out of the car’s other side.

Yasmine was on the edge of the pavement, the rush of traffic buzzing by. Boyd, with a furrowed brow, strode over to her and guided her across to the safety of the sidewalk.

Yasmine brushed off his hand, “I’ll say it again – I’m not feeling great, I’m not going to the hospital, and I certainly don’t need you hovering over me every second. You go meet whoever you’re meeting. I’m heading home.”d2

She pulled out her phone to order a ride.

Boyd, with pursed lips, snatched the phone from her grasp. Yasmine looked at her empty hand, her usually impassive face darkening with irritation. “Boyd, there’s a limit, you know. My temper’s been good lately, but don’t mistake that for weakness.”

Instead of responding, Boyd opened the car door and nudged her back in. “Can’t bear the thought of leaving you here to fend for yourself. Does that make me heartless and cold? I don’t think so.”

Her smile was syrupy sweet, “Heartless and cold? Those words don’t even begin to do you justice.”

Boyd slid back into the car and shut the door behind him. “Drive.”

Rubbing at her temples, Yasmine continued, “So you’re playing the soothing boyfriend now, only to deal with Serana later? Doesn’t that wear you out?”

“You and she are never on the same scale for me,” Boyd said. “Making you feel better doesn’t mean I have to deal with her. And like I said, she’s not your concern.”

Yasmine gave a half-hearted smile, watching the road ahead, “If you don’t listen to me and end up taking me to the hospital anyway, you might as well fire your driver and sell the car.”

She noticed the driver stiffen – clearly, he wasn’t deaf.

Boyd turned to look at her, his hand briefly checking her forehead for fever before letting it drop. “You sure you don’t need the hospital?”

She gave him a withering glance and remained silent. The look in her eyes said it all – she was looking at him like he was an idiot.

Boyd pressed his lips together, then took her hand gently, “Home.”

“My place,” Yasmine corrected.

He didn’t speak, just gave a meaningful look to the driver, who understood immediately.

On the ride back, Yasmine, leaning against the seat with her eyes closed, seemed genuinely uncomfortable.

As expected, Serana’s call came through. Boyd answered honestly, saying that Yasmine wasn’t feeling well – and Yasmine didn’t even bat an eyelash.

Was Boyd honest? Painfully so. Not just with her, but with everyone. It seemed ‘lies’ were not in his vocabulary. But then again, she couldn’t fault someone for being too sincere.

Half-asleep, she felt the car stop and was just straightening up when Boyd scooped her out of the seat.

Seeing they were at Boyd’s apartment, she frowned, “So my words are just bullshit to you now?”

He gave her a disapproving glance.

Yasmine knew he disapproved of her choice of words, but at the moment, she couldn’t be bothered to come up with something more elegant that carried the punch she intended.

“I have everything you need here. Aren’t you feeling unwell?”

She didn’t bother to respond.

Back in the apartment, Boyd set her on the couch. “Rest up. I’ll whip something up for you.”

Yasmine wasn’t hungry, but she didn’t protest. Just like she said, her words were as good as nothing to Boyd.

took a quick shower.

sit while he ladled the soup into a bowl for her. The table was set with light

sat down. Boyd took a seat opposite her, also with a bowl of soup. After a few sips, she noticed he was just having soup as well, and her eyes flickered. “That lazy, huh? You can’t even make yourself a

lips,

back to eating in

if she was

day, Yasmine called in sick to school. Boyd, deciding to play the devoted

was his makeshift office, papers strewn across

check in on them and offered to come over with lunch, which Boyd promptly

in her hand, listlessly watching a TV show she had stumbled

were truly akin to lunatics. She didn’t want Boyd to have any secret dealings with Serana behind her back, but neither did she want to watch them openly interact under her very nose,

phone, Boyd gave her a glance, “What do you want to

“I don’t know.”

so Boyd didn’t press

not long after, the doorbell to the apartment rang. Yasmine, groggy with sleep, was jolted awake by the sound. The TV in front of her had

up to

It was Serana.

are you here?” he

smile, “I heard Yasmine wasn’t feeling well. Thought I’d come by

brow twitched. Nobody knew better than Serana herself that her presence was the last thing Yasmine needed. It was almost like she’d come to rub

with a bag of groceries, clearly planning to stay for lunch.

sick,” Yasmine replied, her voice light

expression shifted ever so slightly, but she maintained a smile,

handle it. You don’t need to trouble

did stand me up last night,

sarcastic laugh from her perch

for their consent, Serana headed straight for the kitchen. “By the way, guys, I bought quite a lot of groceries today. Mind if I invite someone

Boyd frowned, “Who?”

“A friend of mine.”

back, Serana opened the kitchen door, effectively cutting herself

up unannounced, the fact that she insisted on cooking, or the sudden, inexplicable desire

mood sour, smirked and tossed the remote aside before standing up and heading

level as Serana? Well, it was about time to put that theory

stood in the empty living room, looking even

rang again. Serana dashed out from

paperwork drastically lower than when Yasmine had

returned with her

papers and stood up, giving Serana’s companion a cursory

a bit out of place. Seeing Boyd stand, he quickly said, “Hi, I’m

a cold look and

Boyd, could you call Yasmine to

“Sure.”

allow her to skip lunch. Since he couldn’t win with words, he had to use force. He carried

threw a cushion from his chair onto the floor for her to

any respect, Yasmine still cared about Boyd’s feelings. She couldn’t bring herself

intimate interaction left Patrick

a light broth. I added just a bit of vinegar to stimulate the appetite. Yasmine, you

and ground her heel in a bit. She

slightly, understanding her sudden aggression, and let her

and took a sip of the soup, arching

asked, “How is it,

gaze detached, “Your cooking

“That’s good to hear.”

soup without another word, and

bite of food, “Eat something solid. Don’t fill up on

another sip, “Am I a child that needs