The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Phoebe had a knack for being unreliable in front of Azriel, but when it counted, she showed she cared.

Twenty-four hours later, a bowl of soup and an assortment of delicate side dishes were placed before him right on time.

After unwrapping the cutlery and handing him the spoon and fork with both hands, she beamed with a grin: “Starving, aren’t you? This is from The Lucky Spoon, the soup everyone’s dying to try. It’s tough just to get a reservation. It’s delicious, give it a try.”

Azriel glanced at her coolly, taking the cutlery from her expectant gaze. “Scared now?”

The smile Phoebe was trying to keep up on her face stiffened, and eventually, her shoulders slumped as she hung her head and averted her eyes, her apology coming out straightforward and sincere. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

“Better think of how to make amends.”d2

Phoebe shivered involuntarily, for some reason that sentence sounded to her more like “Better think of how to face your doom.”

But then again, it was her fault he was in the hospital. She could at least own up to that.

Watching Azriel begin to eat, his movements slow and refined, he hardly looked like someone who had starved for a full day.

*

When Azriel finished eating, he turned to see the girl on the couch had curled up and fallen asleep.

The room was set to a comfortable temperature, but it was winter after all. Frowning slightly, he got up, cleared the food containers off the table, opened the closet near the door, and took out a blanket. Walking over to her, he gently covered her with it.

The lights in the room were bright, and perhaps it was the rarity of being this close to a girl, or maybe it was just how peaceful and well-behaved she seemed in her sleep, or maybe he was curious about how much that quirky, lively child had changed over the years, but with a mere glance at her face, his brow furrowed sharply.

Her skin was glowing, her features fine, her sleeping form attractive, but beneath her eyes were faint shadows, and her forehead bore the clear signs of fatigue.

What caught his attention even more were the reddened corners of her eyes, a few long lashes clumped together from moisture, glistening under the light.

They had been together all day. She had been playing pranks heartily just hours ago, and had just admitted her faults to him with feigned obedience. And yet, in such a short time, she had cried herself to sleep.

He had been completely unaware.

Jace had said about her running off to a villa that no longer housed her grandparents, after Abelard’s birthday party. If he hadn’t just returned to the country, cleaned up the villa, arranged for heating and paid the electricity bill, she would have spent the night alone, curled up on the couch.

Then she was startled by him, the unexpected “intruder,” and all the hassle that led to the police station and then the hospital.

Through all this time, he hadn’t heard a peep from the Alonso family about looking for her.

With this thought, his expression grew darker. A young lady of good standing was nearly violated by a fool in a calculated scheme, and now, there was not even a pretense of concern from anyone.

No wonder, Damon had suddenly decided to take action against the Alonso family.

He hadn’t understood the decision at first, but now it seemed necessary and entirely correct.

*

Waking up the next morning, her first instinct was to glance towards the hospital bed. It was empty. She frowned, sitting up from the couch, the blanket falling to the floor.

She paused, then picked the blanket up.

Azriel emerged from the bathroom, having changed out of his hospital gown into a crisp, black suit. His tall, lean figure, impeccably dressed, his handsome face expressionless, detached yet commanding. Merely standing there, he exuded an aura of authority that demanded respect.

This was the first time Phoebe had seen Azriel in formal wear. Their first encounter had been in his pajamas at the police station, the second in his hospital gown. Now, confronted with this imposing version of Azriel, she was struck by how outrageous her actions the day before must have seemed to him.

Azriel, adjusting his cuffs, glanced at her briefly and said in a detached tone, “Awake?”

then added, “Are you

yet he

quickly stood and entered the bathroom. She came out just as Jace was walking in

“Ms. Alonso, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

washed her face, strands of hair by

even the basics

the entrance, they crossed paths, and Jace’s gaze lingered on Phoebe’s face

sent a shiver down Jace’s spine, prompting him to

watching indifferently as Jace

breakfast.” He didn’t look up, but it was clear he was

over and sat down a short distance away from

will take you back to the villa. You

paused, “Since you’re fine

you’re my

Phoebe was speechless.

maids, learn

to go

the villa 24/7, just make sure you’re there for dinner and

off to the side, couldn’t help but hide a smirk. Was Azriel courting disaster? After a near-death experience,

the maid thing…

finally replied,

*

had apparently informed the butler in advance, and the man showed no

her upstairs to rest . And he told her to feel free to ask if she

air of aristocracy, their noses high in the clouds, especially since they were related to some distant royal cousin in Y Country. Most of the servants had been browbeaten by Wendy and her mother into a state resembling ancient serfs,

the staff here was a far cry from what she

the vanity to dry her hair, she noticed a collection of skincare products lined up. They were from the

herself, so

butlers nowadays

drying her hair, she curiously opened the wardrobe to find

She wasn’t that

of evading her responsibilities before, but

better spend

*

Azriel came back in the evening, the butler

the butler said with a smile before Azriel could even speak,

eyebrow and headed to the kitchen. As he approached, he saw faint wisps of smoke drifting from the

hand and a pot lid as a shield in the other, squinting and occasionally coughing as she bravely attempted to stir the contents of the frying pan. It was as though she was engaged in a duel, or more aptly,

moment, as she gritted her teeth, resolved herself, and dumped a pinch of salt into the pan from a distance before

of relief, then went on to playfully add various spices, one

she stirred the mixture with the spatula, dusted off her hands,

Azriel was speechless.

could she say

thought the instant noodle fiasco was a fluke, but was he wrong? Could

the gravity of her culinary creation, she took up the lid as a shield and cautiously turned on the heat again. About half a

Phoebe caught a glimpse of him. “Azriel, you’re back! Come and try

didn’t pause

Never mind, go wash up and change, quickly. I’ll serve up the

time,

taking out the trash, gazed upon the smoky battlefield that was the kitchen, and was at a loss for words. Watching Phoebe humming tunefully as she

*

dish on the dining

him with her plate in hand, eagerly picking up a bite of the dish