The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“Boyd left this morning. He went back to B Country with Herschel.”

Yasmine’s embrace around her grandchild tightened for a moment.

Chloe’s brows knit together slightly, “Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

Elizabeth, who had been lounging on the sofa, slowly stood up, a look of concern etched on her face as she watched Yasmine.

Yasmine’s eyes glinted briefly. She masked every emotion on her face and said calmly, “There’s nothing to regret. What would regret change anyway? Am I supposed to end up like him, a total nutcase?”

Chloe pressed her lips together, “I just hope you truly believe in what you’re saying. By hurting Boyd, you’re hurting yourself just as much, if not worse.”d2

Yasmine offered a wry smile, “When you put it that way, I suppose you’re right.”

Yasmine was so stubborn. Chloe decided not to push further and bent down to pluck a thread from the stroller’s fabric.

Elizabeth looked from Yasmine to Chloe, puzzled. Neither seemed inclined to continue the conversation. Elizabeth suddenly missed her husband.

In the days that followed, Yasmine stayed in Greenfield Village, acting like any other day. She ate normally, slept normally, played with the babies, and seemed to laugh more each day as the babies grew and responded to her. She didn’t seem like someone harboring a heavy secret.

At first, Chloe was concerned, but she eventually came to terms with it. Perhaps Yasmine’s desire to rid herself of Boyd was her most earnest wish in life. If separation made her truly happy, Chloe was content to see her at peace.

However, Chloe couldn’t shake off a niggling feeling about Boyd’s abrupt departure, leaving behind no trace of a father’s responsibility.

—

Three months later.

The living room was carpeted with soft rugs and topped with sponge mats for safety, and the sharp edges of tables and cabinets were all securely padded. This was all because Little Sun and Little Moon, the two bundles of joy, were now wobblingly sitting up and even crawling a bit.

The crib was no longer their small world. Toys littered the floor, and the two energetic tots were particularly lively.

Elizabeth and Yasmine had to be more vigilant than ever.

The presence of the babies was like the village’s very own happy pill, filling each day with laughter. Elizabeth and Yasmine were no exception.

Still Chloe noticed Yasmine’s temper getting worse by the day, her irritation more apparent except when she was with the babies. It was like walking on eggshells around her, never knowing what might set her off. Chloe, unsure of the cause and fearful of setting off the ticking bomb, tentatively chalked it up to a midlife crisis.

The babies rarely needed Chloe’s care. Sometimes, she got involved with some business affairs and kept an eye on news from B Country.

Herschel, being a president, wasn’t on TV that frequently, but his policies and economic movements were often in the news, and occasionally there was coverage of his regional visits.

Getting updates on Boyd was almost impossible. However, today there was an exclusive accompanying interview with Herschel, mainly focused on capturing a day in Herschel’s everyday life.

Yasmine and Elizabeth took the little ones out for a play, leaving Chloe to watch the news in the living room, curious if this ‘day in the life’ would offer a glimpse of the estranged father.

The President’s day started at eight in the morning with state affairs, followed by high-level briefings and his secretary at his side, helping to sort and summarize.

At ten, there was a personal inspection of a development area. Lunch at twelve with local government officials. Returned to the presidential residence at two, surveying en route. By two-thirty, he was on international calls with other country leaders. At three-thirty, during a rare break, he hit the gym.

Chloe found it dull. That was when she heard Elizabeth and Yasmine’s voices at the door, and she got up to go outside.

The little babies were always happiest playing outside and were reluctant to come in. She stepped out to adjust their hats and casually asked, “What would you like for lunch? I can have the maid prepare something.”

Elizabeth said she’d go to the kitchen herself later.

Yasmine, never one for cooking even in her younger days, held her precious grandchild but didn’t look too keen. “I’m not hungry. Whatever’s made is fine.”

Elizabeth and Chloe exchanged glances. Yasmine wasn’t like this before. She never settled for less, so why such an indifferent reply now?

Still, Chloe went ahead and ordered two of her favorite dishes.

As they returned to the house, the TV still flickered in the living room. On the screen was Herschel working out in the gym. At first, they paid it little mind. Women didn’t typically care for such things, especially with their attention fully on the kids. But then, the former President of B Country, Boyd, was mentioned.

The women, not long inside, turned their eyes to the TV simultaneously. There, Boyd was on a treadmill, looking exceptionally well. It was a world of difference compared to how he had looked three months earlier.

Elizabeth glanced at Chloe, who in turn looked at Yasmine. Elizabeth followed Chloe’s gaze to Yasmine.

With all eyes on her, Yasmine shifted her gaze away from the TV, set Little Moon down on the mat, where the baby fiddled with a rubber toy, unsure of how to play with it.

Elizabeth placed Little Sun beside Little Moon, and everyone settled back into the rhythm of daily life, the TV murmuring in the background.

squirming and eventually sprawling out on the cushions. It

had stepped off the treadmill, and the camera zoomed in on him. Yasmine stood up, an icy look crossing her face as she turned towards Chloe. With a swift

not hungry for lunch,” Yasmine suddenly

headed upstairs. “I made plans for lunch with someone. Don’t worry about

something simple just a while ago. And

all my appointments to you? Am I your mother, or are you

her lips, “I’ll arrange the driver.” Yasmine was a force to be

she came back down, Yasmine had changed into an outfit that was hard to miss even in the cold winter. She was decked out in

looked stunning on Yasmine, and any

his invitations. It wouldn’t be right to refuse him again

After three months of rejections, why did she suddenly feel like going

hardly accommodating. She lived for her own happiness, and today’s words seemed to

eyebrow. Yasmine had been unpredictably moody these past few days,

a reason behind today’s behavior, Chloe could guess one—it must be because of the man on the TV, the one Yasmine had asked to

but a sharp look

shot her a warning glance and left the house, her driver

returned to the living room where Little Sun and

you think your mom is seeing a new man? But she doesn’t even like Mr. Fletcher. She’s been refusing him for months, and now she

“She’s not really considering a relationship with

Chloe remained silent.

she? If she wanted to be with another man,

Chloe didn’t respond.

head to the other side, “But, you know, fate is unpredictable. What if there’s really something between her and Mr. Fletcher?

Chloe still said nothing.

her the details of the restaurant where Yasmine was dining with Mr. Fletcher.

nap, Chloe got a call from Damon.

for the babies, who indeed had given him a hard

what do you have in

to the leather couch in front of him,

“Don’t you have

phone, his voice deep and tinged with a hint of mock grievance, though

out a sigh through the phone, “Wait for

wider, “Are you willing

be fine. They’re good

I’m in your debt,

but I

could relish the moment, Chloe’s words froze the smile on his face. “Why

with Mr. Fletcher, and it’s just Elizabeth at home. I’m afraid she might be overwhelmed if

clearly in a worse

and at that moment, Elizabeth approached her. “Go on, it’s fine. We have plenty of help at home.

decision. “Alright

no trouble at

a

Yasmine, oh boy, she was a ticking time bomb on legs. After hanging up the phone with Chloe, Damon squinted in deep thought before he reached for his phone again, scrolling through

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—

the course of three months, she felt a bit uneasy. She

didn’t eat much, and the dishes she had liked before were merely revisited once or twice. Today’s choices showed

and charm—a real catch by any standard. Even at middle age, with his looks, charisma, and financial clout, it wouldn’t be hard for him to charm women in their twenties with a mere wave of his hand. But he didn’t seem the

look beautiful today,” he said with a soft

a sip of her drink,

surprised you

met the gaze of the man across

Fletcher asked, his

do as I please, often without much regard for others’

taking a sip from his cup. “Can I interpret this as

eyebrow,

that is

“Right.”

Fletcher didn’t seem upset. Instead, he poured her a fresh cup of hot tea. “Don’t feel burdened. The

brow twitched, “Mr.

“I think you’re overthinking it. I admit I’m fond of you, but it’s just that—a fondness. We’ve both lived over forty years, and we know what we feel. I don’t really buy into the whole ‘love at first sight’ fantasy. I’m not looking for a romance, but a companion to comfortably spend the latter part of life with, to look after each other. I’m fond of you, but

given me a chance to truly get to

fondness—all seemed to hit right where it