The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Serana’s stiff expression eased ever so slightly at his words, but her face remained ghostly pale.

She subconsciously glanced around, as if afraid that Johnson might suddenly appear from somewhere.

It had been just like that back at the orphanage. He had taken her away when she was completely unprepared, snatching her from the safety of her mundane life.

The memory of facing Johnson alone was etched into her mind, a stark terror she could never shake. He was like a madman, completely disregarding the fact that she was still a child back then, subjecting her to merciless punches and kicks. He genuinely wanted her dead.

If she hadn’t scrambled up into the safety of an old oak tree, and if help hadn’t arrived just in time, she’d be six feet under instead of here. What if he still wanted revenge?

Her hands twisted together nervously, unsure, “I think that maybe I should go back to my room.”d2

The assistant nodded in agreement and followed her upstairs.

Mr. Boyd had been swamped all afternoon, missing lunch and ordering a double portion of takeout instead. A backlog of work kept him at his desk until seven in the evening.

If it hadn’t been for Serana’s call, asking if he had left the office yet, he might have worked through the night. After a brief conversation, he hung up and stared at his phone screen, thumb hovering over Yasmine’s contact.

He thought about how seldom she reached out to him first. Especially when they were at odds, she never initiated contact. The only exception had been earlier that day at the hospital.

With a heavy sigh, he rubbed his temples, set down his phone, and leaned back in his executive chair.

She never backed down. Whatever she said went, and she’d make decisions without giving anyone a chance to question them.

The office was eerily quiet as he rested for a moment, eyes closed. Then, he sat up, took a deep breath, and sent Yasmine a text. He needed to see if her mood had improved.

Yasmine was reclining on the bed, a laptop resting on her lap as she watched a movie. Her phone rang, and she turned her head to glance at the illuminated screen. It was a message from Boyd, and she nonchalantly returned her gaze to the computer screen.

It wasn’t until the credits rolled that she finally picked up the phone and read his text.

—[Are you asleep? What did you have for dinner? I skipped mine.]

With a roll of her eyes, Yasmine deleted the message and shoved the phone under her pillow. “Jerk.”

Unsurprised by Yasmine’s silence, Boyd wrapped up his work and left the office around nine. Since his assistant had stayed with Serana, he didn’t visit the hospital the next day. A cocktail of disappointment and understanding flowed through Serana. She knew all too well how preoccupied Boyd could get. Her phone was fully charged, prepared for the day. After a morning filled with hesitance and anxiety, she finally gathered the courage to dial Yasmine’s number in the afternoon. The calls went unanswered.

Yasmine hung up without a word. To act out such a drama at the hospital and then have the audacity to call her? The nerve.

The phone didn’t ring again, and Yasmine thought maybe Serana had given up. However, a message came through instead.

[Yasmine, I think there’s been a misunderstanding about Boyd at the hospital. I can’t leave here right now, but I want to talk to you. About why Boyd has looked after me all these years, and about the child.

probably disdainful of these matters, but for Boyd’s sake—he loves you so much—could you maybe set your pride aside? Even if you’re breaking up, it’s

the text for a long time, torn between

message was certainly

was piqued. She wanted to know what Serana would reveal, but she didn’t make

hide her

“Ms. Yasmine.”

towering bodyguards stationed outside Serana’s room, their

misunderstand, Ms. Yasmine. It’s just that there are

teased, twirling a stem of lilies in her hand. “Don’t beat around the

were casual, yet they cut deep. Everyone knew Boyd’s affections, yet she always managed to twist the

“Ms. Yasmine, please.”

with a

her. She remained seated like a host

and took a seat, her posture exuding her usual air of aloofness. “Spit it out. What’s so important that you had to say to me?”

continuing, “Do you know

for the story

pregnancy. Honestly, if it was someone else, Boyd wouldn’t have been

lips curled into a frost-tinted smile, “You don’t need to remind me between the lines how special you are to Boyd. Do you think that, since I’ve reached this point today, I would care

“Because

eyes narrowed in

that she finally showed a different reaction, Serana smiled wryly, “We ran into you at the hospital the other day. It looked like Boyd was going to tell you, but I stopped him on purpose. From your reaction, I bet you had no clue I’m actually a heart patient, huh? I’ve always wanted to keep it under wraps, so I also asked Boyd not to tell anyone. Because I

I might suddenly die and they would be responsible. Consequently, they were reluctant to have

been with me since I was a child, before I came to

smile held a touch

a car crash, it was because of my illness. That man tried to kidnap me from the orphanage,

watched her,

realize my parents really loved me. They probably wanted me to have a childhood no different from any other kid, so they rushed to get me a heart transplant. As you know, it’s not as simple as just doing it. Finding

heart. Before me, there was an older kid in line, waiting for that life-saving transplant. His family had struggled for years with his condition, and they weren’t well off. My

that family, and snatched the heart for me. It was in P City, and to save time, they rushed there with

fate too much, or it’ll bite you. We arrived in P City overjoyed, only to have an accident on the way. The heart expired before the surgery, and I missed my chance. The kid didn’t last two years after that. And that man, who

scoffed, “With Boyd taking care of things all these

company afloat. He didn’t have the resources to hunt for a heart for me. It’s only been the past couple of years he’s started

in your parents’ footsteps, snatching a heart from

but since you started

with a frosty disdain. “Let me guess, you’ve got a lead on a donor, so you got pregnant as soon as

Serana didn’t deny it.

that moment, Yasmine truly thought Serana was insane. To cling to a man with no ties, no promises, she was willing to gamble

risky path, even sacrificing their lives, to give you a complete childhood and a life without