The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

What the heck was he babbling about!

“I’m stiff as a board, can’t dance a step.”

Azriel would have none of it. “Just do the Bunny Hop.”

Phoebe froze for a moment, then her entire face suddenly turned beet red. “I… I don’t know how.”

Azriel reached over, grabbed his phone, and after a few taps, the familiar yet foreign tune filled the hospital room. The moment the intro hit, Phoebe wished the earth would swallow her whole.

“You… you…” She glared at Azriel, her face so hot she could probably cook an egg on it.d2

Out of all the songs in the world, why on earth did it have to be this one? She had been the butt of the joke in her family for years because of that dance.

Back in the day, she had performed it at a school event, showing off to her grandparents the day before. Everyone had clapped and praised her, except for one good-looking boy who had dismissively said, “It’s alright.”

To a child, there’s only pretty or ugly. She couldn’t accept such a lukewarm review, so her confidence took a nosedive, and on the following day, she was pushed on stage unwillingly and ended up crying through the entire routine.

She remembered the intermittent laughter from the audience and couldn’t understand why they found joy in her misery.

Little did she know, the performance was recorded and her grandparents had shamelessly flaunted it every chance they got. People would bring it up even now, years later. She wouldn’t be surprised if the video was still floating around online.

Why was this embarrassing memory resurfacing here and now?

“You really can’t dance?”

Azriel was undeniably bored and just looking for a laugh at her expense. Seeing her blush with mortification, he persisted, phone in hand, “Let me find you a tutorial video. You’ll pick it up after one watch.”

“No!” Phoebe shot out her hand in a stop sign, “No, no, no, no! I… I can do it, I just can’t do it well, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dance.”

Azriel arched an eyebrow, nodded, and after swiping on his phone for a bit, he said, “Alright, let’s see it then.”

The music from the phone started again. Phoebe, with her eyes closed, took deep breaths until the crucial moment when, resigned to her fate, she opened her eyes and started her stiff, awkward dance moves.

The sight was cringeworthy, and it made Azriel look like he had a twisted sense of humor. Once wasn’t enough; he had her do it a second time, and Phoebe was grinding her teeth.

You build up a tolerance for embarrassment, she thought. If at first, the prospect of dancing your most embarrassing dance alone in a hospital room made you want to vanish into thin air, by the second round, it felt like no big deal.

resolve, the door to the room burst

stiffened, staring blankly at

was frozen at the entrance, hand

hands poised like bunny ears atop her head, knees bent as if ready to bounce. Dressed in simple jeans and a knit burnt orange sweater with a

and Azriel, who typically wore an air of aloof detachment

had received not long ago, Jace suspected

composure, Phoebe quickly dropped the act, pretending to be calm as she downed two glasses of water, her eyes glaring through the clear glass at the man on the bed who seemed to be

at Jace, who had just entered, and his

intense gaze, Azriel’s cool eyes met hers. “What are you

shook her head, “Nothing. Since you guys have

over some documents, Azriel gave a noncommittal

just as she was about to escape, Azriel’s voice,

a forced smile, “Okay,” she said before slipping

embarrassment from earlier came flooding back. Her

the room, Jace briefed Azriel on the Alonso family’s latest antics

the Alonsos had been plotting to “sell” Phoebe off, especially during their recent close call, Azriel’s grip

a lot lately. Someone must’ve tipped her off, or else with her nature, she wouldn’t have

she would

and Jace felt a chill

exchanged polite greetings. Remembering the chill in the room and seeing Phoebe enjoying ice cream despite the cold, Jace couldn’t help but comment, “Ms. Alonso, it’s

off, “I’ve got too much fire inside. This is

couldn’t help but find it slightly amusing. He paused before adding, “Anyway, Ms. Alonso, it might be better to eat a bit less. Do you have plans for lunch,

Phoebe paused and looked up

noon. Reminded like this, she suddenly felt

a tomato, since she was keeping vigil by Azriel’s side, and had missed breakfast altogether. Thinking about it now, she must be on the brink of fainting

“I might need to take care of Mr. Azriel

but ask, his gaze sweeping across the

that hard, you know. The incident was just an

to himself. “Poor instant noodles, taking the brunt of

meant well and had asked him to arrange lunch, he guessed he might as well do as she asked. “Alright, I’ll have someone bring the food over to you

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