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.

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

that the pity she once felt for Johnson in the graveyard would one day be her own cross

times, Yasmine finally

“You cut your hair?”

As Serana entered, Yasmine, draped in a robe, stood by the window, arranging the fresh flowers Aliza brought daily into a

and that’s your question?” Yasmine didn’t turn around,

“How are

I

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

inclined to engage

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

my fault. If I hadn’t chased to the graveyard,

drop suddenly, and she felt goosebumps all over. She instinctively looked at

Was it her imagination?

much, even lost a baby. I felt I needed

the vase, the stem cut too short, leaning against the rim

said, her voice

back then. He was just trying

me to hate him or

petals dropped on

to misunderstand him. He never intended for

I

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

from Yasmine sent

only coerced by thugs to kill you. And I bet those two goons never imagined his bullet would

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. If I were you, I’d be thrilled too. Did you come here just to hear me admit defeat, to see the

concerned about your health,

together, sound to me like you’re just showing off. I will

approach Serana, each word 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

in panic, her gaze