The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

After wrapping up a hectic day at the office, Derek would inevitably make his way to the hospital to visit Yasmine.

Most of the time, he’d grumble about the overwhelming stack of paperwork and corporate hassles. Sometimes, he’d just lug a pile of files into Yasmine’s room, flipping through them and venting to her as she listened.

Bryson and Aliza had both talked to him about not burdening Yasmine with work woes, but Derek paid them no mind.

Yasmine, bored out of her mind, eventually found herself sifting through Derek’s documents without even realizing it.

As days passed, Derek was either furiously gaming by her bedside or sleeping so soundly that it bordered on offensive.

Aliza was exasperated every time she saw him, but Bryson, her husband, eventually stopped complaining.d2

Aliza was baffled. Once, the sight of her son eating had been an eyesore for him. Now, Bryson was pampering him with food and treats just as good as Yasmine’s hospital fare.

The change in her husband’s attitude puzzled her. Before, their son could run himself ragged without earning much more than a sideways glance from his father. Now, what had changed?

Watching her own son’s sloppy appearance, Aliza couldn’t hold back her concern. “What are you thinking? You’re practically coddling him into uselessness. All he does is sleep and eat.”

Bryson disagreed, “Nonsense. Don’t I know my own son? He’s doing great.” Aliza took another look at her son’s unsightly mannerisms, turned away with a heavy heart.

Over time, Yasmine had gotten a rough understanding of the company’s projects thanks to the endless files, which also helped her pass the time.

She wasn’t oblivious to Derek’s intentions. He was clearly trying to distract her and keep her occupied. And she did feel the need to find something to do, but aside from reading, she struggled to find any other engaging activity.

Derek wanted her to be involved with the company, so she went along with it, and it seemed to work well. But the pain of losing her baby was a hurdle she hadn’t expected to be so hard to overcome.

She couldn’t forget. Every dream was filled with her baby’s cries, laughter, and the happy moments when they called her “mom.” She could even envision her baby’s face in the dreams, bearing a striking resemblance to Boyd when he was younger.

The happier the dreams, the more brutal the awakening. And then, her hatred for Boyd grew even stronger.She couldn’t imagine forgiving him in this lifetime.

The best revenge, they said, was to live well and act as if the other person was a stranger. But she realized she hadn’t hated him enough back then.

Because truly hating someone meant wanting them to live a lifetime in misery, almost wishing to see them torn apart a thousand times over.

Boyd was dead. She wanted justice for her baby. Now she understood the extreme and seemingly

Johnson in the graveyard would one day be her own cross to bear, but what

and after turning away Serana countless times, Yasmine finally

“You cut your hair?”

robe, stood by the window, arranging the fresh flowers Aliza brought daily into a vase – her skill in the art had

and that’s your question?” Yasmine didn’t turn around, inserting a freshly trimmed

hesitated, “How are

suppose I won’t

loss for words. The room fell silent, save for the hum of the air purifier and the snipping of

Yasmine wasn’t inclined to engage with

felt an unease she always did around Yasmine, a sensation that had lingered over the years and never

If I hadn’t chased to the graveyard,

she couldn’t continue, but because the temperature in the room seemed to drop suddenly, and she felt goosebumps all over. She instinctively looked at Yasmine, who still had her back to her, seemingly continuing her task as

Was it her imagination?

a baby. I felt I needed to come and sincerely

the vase, the stem cut too short,

thanks,” she said,

was backed into a corner in that situation. I hope you won’t blame everything on him. You know well enough what happened back then. He was just trying to save us in his own way. Besides, he didn’t know you were pregnant. Maybe if he had known, he wouldn’t have made that

want me to hate him or

petals dropped on the

just don’t want you to misunderstand him. He

her name in a flat tone, “whether I hate Boyd or misunderstand

who visited the hospital daily without fail, stood outside the room. He didn’t demand to see Yasmine but hoped to be a little closer, to hear her voice if nothing

from Yasmine sent tremors through his

into this mess, let’s get one thing straight—he was only coerced by thugs to kill you. And I bet those two goons never imagined his bullet would end up hitting me, an innocent bystander,

love for me, it turns out you, the unwanted burden, weigh heavier on his heart. You should be over the moon. You and Boyd are quite the pair, aren’t you? I’ve lost, and I’ve lost spectacularly. If I were you, I’d be thrilled too. Did you come here just to hear

I’m genuinely concerned about your health, and my thanks

that, when put together, sound to me like you’re just showing off. I will not accept your

dropping like solid blocks of ice. “Can your apology seal the bullet wound in my body? Can it heal the knife wound in my back? Or can it bring back my

in, causing Serana to step back in panic, her