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?”

awkwardly, then added, “Are

response was cool, yet

the bathroom. She came out just as Jace was walking in

“Ms. Alonso, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

had only washed her face, strands of hair by her temples

fresh-faced without even the basics of skincare, she looked like a flower

the bathroom located near the entrance, they crossed paths, and Jace’s gaze lingered on Phoebe’s

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

watching indifferently

and have breakfast.” He didn’t look up, but

and sat down a short distance

will take you back to the

“Since you’re fine

you’re my

Phoebe was speechless.

experienced butler and two maids, learn from them. You

to

don’t need you at the villa 24/7, just

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

the maid thing…

Phoebe finally

*

informed the butler in advance, and the man

. And he told her to feel free to ask if she needed

their noses high in the clouds, especially since they were related to some distant royal cousin in Y

home, the attitude of the butler and the staff here was a far cry from what she was accustomed

long, soothing bath. As she moved to the vanity to dry her hair, she noticed a collection

brought any herself, so someone here must have prepared

butlers

her hair, she curiously opened the wardrobe to find

She

of evading her responsibilities before,

spend the afternoon perfecting a

*

in the evening, the

living room, the butler said with a smile before Azriel could even speak, “Ms. Alonso is

faint wisps of smoke drifting from the

hint of surprise, he smirked and on reaching the doorway, found Phoebe clad in a blue and pink apron, brandishing a spatula in one 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, like a soldier

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

the sizzling in the pan subsided, Phoebe let out a sigh of relief, then went on to playfully add various

with the spatula, dusted off her

Azriel was speechless.

could she say OK

instant noodle fiasco was a fluke, but was

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

glimpse of him. “Azriel, you’re back! Come and try this,

pause in

up and change, quickly.

first time, Azriel regretted something

battlefield that was the kitchen, and was at a loss for words. Watching Phoebe humming tunefully as she plated her creation, the housekeeper quickly whipped

*

on the dining

housekeeper served the rice and soup, but Phoebe sat down next to him with her plate in hand, eagerly picking up a bite