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.

Now she understood the extreme and seemingly insane actions of Johnson, the regret that

she once felt for Johnson in the graveyard would one day be her own cross to bear, but what could she do? She had to live

her health improved day by day, and after turning away Serana countless times, Yasmine finally allowed her into the

“You cut your hair?”

steps out of bed. As Serana entered, Yasmine, draped in a robe, stood by the window, arranging the fresh flowers Aliza brought daily into a vase – her skill in

so long, and that’s your question?” Yasmine didn’t turn around, inserting a freshly trimmed sunflower into the vase and adjusting

“How are your

I

at a loss for words. The room fell silent, save for the hum of

Yasmine wasn’t inclined to engage

Yasmine, a sensation that had lingered over the years and never

all my fault. If I hadn’t chased to the

to drop suddenly, and she felt goosebumps all over. She instinctively looked at Yasmine, who still had her back to her, seemingly continuing her

Was it her imagination?

I needed to come and sincerely say

placed another sunflower into the vase, the stem cut too short, leaning against

need for thanks,” she said, her voice devoid

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.

you want me to hate him or

dropped on the

just don’t want you to misunderstand him. He never intended for

name in a flat tone, “whether I hate Boyd or misunderstand him is not for you

see Yasmine but hoped to be a little closer, to hear her voice if nothing

Yasmine sent tremors through

mess, let’s get one thing straight—he was only coerced by thugs to kill you. And I bet

his endless declarations of 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.

about your health, and

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

blocks of ice.

Serana to step back in panic, her gaze inadvertently landing on the