The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Derek shook his head while Bryson and Aliza exchanged a look, their lips pressed tightly together in silent communication.

Bryson sat down at the kitchen table, and Aliza ladled out some soup for them.

Yasmine took a spoonful and then spoke up, “Aliza, I’ve been off my food lately. Next time, could you add a dash of vinegar to the soup?”

Aliza sighed, then asked, “Maybe you should see a doctor?”

Yasmine just shook her head. “It’s nothing. Sometimes you just crave a change of flavor.”

That was when Derek chimed in with a tease, “So, does that mean you’re thinking of replacing Boyd, too?”d2

A sharp kick under the table from his father came with a stern glare. Aliza also threw Derek a disapproving glance.

Biting back a grimace, Derek shoveled a forkful of food into his mouth.

Yasmine didn’t seem to react to the jab. After she finished her soup and picked at her food, she put down her fork.

Aliza looked worried. “You’ve hardly touched anything.”

“I’ll eat when I’m hungry,” Yasmine said, standing up.

“I’ll whip up some light snacks for you later, just in case.”

“Sure.”

The mood was subdued. Nobody said much more as Yasmine retreated to her room. A sudden breakup can mess with your appetite, that was for sure.

Back in her room, Yasmine flipped open her laptop to search for a movie with good reviews, then she grabbed her phone and curled up in her chair to play some mobile games.

She split her attention between the movie and the game. Texts and calls kept coming in, but she just cut the calls short and ignored the messages, continuing her gaming.

There weren’t many numbers on her phone, really. Aside from gaming and catching up on news, the phone might as well have existed just for Boyd. Other than him, who else would reach out to her?

She had no idea what he wanted with his relentless calls and texts, but just seeing his number irritated her. Whatever he might say would likely just annoy her further, so she kept to her movies and games, not about to let anything ruin her peace.

Downstairs, Boyd leaned against his car, scrolling through his phone, his face shadowed as he saw his messages sinking into the digital abyss. He looked up at her darkened window, where faint, colorful light flickered.

He could almost picture her at her desk by the window, half-watching TV, half-absorbed in her phone, dismissing his calls and texts without a second thought.

Knowing she wouldn’t give him the time of day was maddening, but doing nothing wasn’t an option either. It would only leave him anxious and afraid.

After a while, the light in her room went on, and he saw her silhouette. He stood and dialed her number again. But the shadow moved away, and the call went unanswered.

After her bath, Yasmine just went to bed and turned off the light.

Boyd lingered outside for nearly four hours more.

Derek, not one for tidiness, surprised himself by gathering the trash from his room and taking it out. At ten o’clock, Boyd was still there. Shaking his head, Derek approached him. “Man, you’ve made your point. Go home.”

him. “How

snacked later. She’s fine,

over and saw his clenched jaw, the stoic

girl, she’s tough. Acts like she doesn’t care, and has a knack for settling with whatever comes her way. What did you do to make her want

probing into tender territory, Derek was

repeated, lost

He could give her everything she wanted. Why would she

of a kind. Happy as a saint one minute, fierce as a demon the next, and stubborn as a mule. You know her, so you might as well go home. She won’t budge if she’s made up her mind, and you lingering here won’t help. If anything, it’ll make her more irritable, and then the

then I’m sorry,” Boyd finally said. He had to see her.

as each other. Fine, if

his mission unaccomplished, Derek felt

off, then she drew back the curtains to see that familiar car still there. She unplugged her phone charger and headed

for school with Derek. Bryson had arranged a ride for

out, Boyd got out of

ride without so much as a

look, shrugged his shoulders, and then joined Yasmine

the university, with Boyd’s car following at a

playing games on

rear view mirror. “He’s been waiting since yesterday afternoon, didn’t leave all night, and now he’s trailing us. Look, I get you two are having issues, but this has gone on

game but asked, “Do you think he got any sleep

that morning, Derek shook his head. “Doubtful. He seems really into you. If he could sleep after you sprung a breakup on him, he’d be heartless. And if that’s the case,

then nodded. “He probably didn’t sleep. He’s my choice, after all. I should know

you know him so well, how

spoke again, Derek nearly choked on his

chance there’s a reward for

incredulously. “You

“And what’s the penalty for the driver? A slap on the wrist and a few points off the license? Fine, I’ll

went on to describe Boyd’s car

speechless. This woman was a force to

to prove, isn’t it? If he

is practically the same as driving drunk, you

Derek blinked. “Is

didn’t reply, just slouched in her seat, “Whatever,

was pulled over at the next

her, which let her breathe a little easier. But it was just for two class periods. Boyd still showed up at school. However, he didn’t approach her to talk,

they were really going to split. With graduation looming, it wasn’t unheard of for people to

lunch with Derek, and Boyd was still

are usually glued at the

sarcastic smile tugged

had stepped on a landmine and his

her food and pushed her plate away, picking up a yogurt to drink instead. Boyd watched her

looked at him lazily from across the table, sipping through a straw. “Did I not make myself clear yesterday, or are you having hearing

keen on

“I disagree.”

straw. Setting it aside, Yasmine took a breath and said flatly, “What now? I want