The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Obsidian Enterprises had been brewing new endeavors recently.

Chloe was meticulously packing Damon’s suitcase for his business trip. “I’ve squared away the essentials with Nate already. Here’s the medicine pouch. If you feel a cold coming on, remember to take a couple of these powdered mixes. I’ve also packed antacids and hangover pills. I included three sets of clothes for you, and I’ve ordered some outfits to be delivered directly to you over there in a couple of days.”

As Chloe bent over the suitcase, sorting through items with great attention to detail, familiar garments suddenly appeared on the surface of the luggage. Upon closer inspection, she realized they were her own clothes. Lifting her eyes, she watched as the tall, broad-shouldered man knelt before her, his defined fingers carefully folding her clothes and placing them atop his own. “What are you doing?”

“Coming with me on the trip,” he said, his voice firm and unyielding.

Chloe sighed with a hint of resignation and began removing the clothes from the suitcase, “I can’t go with you. I need to stay home and take care of the kids.”

Damon’s expression darkened a shade, “They have grandparents, nannies, and housekeepers.”d2

“But I’ll miss them. I need to see them every day to feel at peace.”

Damon took the clothes back from Chloe’s hands, pressed them into the suitcase, and then silently stood up and left the dressing room. She was sure of it – he was upset.

Chloe pondered how to soothe him later, but before she could act on it, Damon re-entered, one child in his arms and another dangling from his hand, both as beautiful and delicate as dolls.

Chloe was clearly familiar with Damon’s way of holding the babies, especially when she saw the little babies being lifted and kicking his tiny legs, giggling happily. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of helplessness. She remembered vividly how her heart had leaped the first time she saw her precious son treated in such a cavalier fashion.

Over time, she’d come to question what exactly constituted a man’s idea of “romance.”

“What are you—”

Before Chloe could finish, Damon bent down and placed the little one inside the suitcase. Chloe stared in astonishment.

With a grunt, Damon glanced at the little creature reaching out cheerfully for Chloe from within the suitcase and said, “Pack him up and bring him along.”

Startled, Chloe quickly scooped her son out of the suitcase. She knew Damon wasn’t serious about shipping their son off in a suitcase, but seeing him now, doting on his soft, sweet daughter with nose rubs and kisses, Chloe couldn’t help but feel even more protective of her son.

The disparity in affection was striking.

She had once discussed this favoritism with Damon quite seriously, but in the end, she somewhat agreed with his conclusion: Their son would also have to spoil his sister unconditionally.

With a silent apology in her heart, Chloe held her son close and kissed him again and again.

In spite of this tender moment, Chloe didn’t agree to join Damon on his trip.

Soon after, Nathan’s boisterous voice echoed from downstairs. “I’m here to see you!”

Sometimes Chloe thought Damon was so lucky to have a brother like Nathan – despite taking his fair share of beatings, Nathan’s uncanny timing often rescued her from tricky situations.

His reasons for showing up were seldom what one might call “normal” though.

stairs with a face like a thundercloud, Damon saw Nathan had arrived with his entire family in tow. The butler had already directed the

was hard to miss as he admired

he glanced at Damon’s sour expression before turning his attention to the

especially when it came to his daughter. His preferential treatment was no secret in the

treasured daughter and his beloved wife, Chloe. Though Nathan often came off as unreliable at home, this time he had made the

was a grand concession to Nathan. Clearly, he was

her hand, while the staff lowered their heads to conceal their

by Damon, glanced at the beautiful girl in Damon’s arms and scurried to Chloe’s side, resting her chin on Chloe’s knee and gazing at her handsome

smiled and watched as Anya gently touched Little Sun’s

tried to bring them to his mouth. Anya’s laughter made her eyes

Sun, you still need to pay attention to hygiene.” Anya chided, taking on the role of

Anya’s hair, her eyes filled with warmth. “Anya is such a good

beamed even brighter. “I’ll always protect Little Sun

each time, Chloe felt a deep sense of warmth and joy. The

profit seemed to strip them of their humanity. They measured kinship in dollars and cents, turning affection into something as transactional as a business deal. If this was the case in the Summers household, she could only imagine the emotional void in the grander Harper family, where any genuine sentiment must have

to her cynical

was complete with Damon, but he gave her so

sister,”

Moon onto his lap, encircling her tiny frame with his arm, his fingers toying with her small hand. He watched contentedly

sat opposite on the couch, grinned, “We’re about to go on a business trip, so I asked

Clearly, fatherhood was doing wonders for Nathan’s communication

unimpressed. “Another babysitting job

defiant air of resignation. “Just thought they’d keep her company, bro. Besides, Yulia’s carrying your nephew

about? Were the housekeepers merely ornaments? And their mother… Well, best not to go

as their mother didn’t stir up trouble, she would be doing him a

–

The Diaz residence.

a mess of sheets lay on

over the pillow, and faint marks dotted the smooth shoulders. Strands of

door swung open, and the light from the hallway

in a simple loungewear, approached the bed, bending down to place a glass of water on the bedside table, then sat down beside the sleeping

from him, grabbing the blanket in a

into a slight smile as he slipped under the covers, planting a gentle kiss on her exposed shoulder before wrapping

off, hoarse from discomfort, and

chuckle from the man behind her. “Sorry,” he whispered, his breath

over her head, muttering, “Get

feel every bone in her body soften,

her sore back, the tension slowly easing until Cicely sighed in relaxation. After a while, Seth handed her the

massage her back as she rested lethargically in

you ever