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?”

Phoebe responded awkwardly, then

yet

quickly stood and entered the bathroom. She came

“Ms. Alonso, good morning.”

“Good morning.”

of hair by her temples

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

located near the entrance, they crossed paths, and Jace’s gaze lingered on Phoebe’s face for a few

The stern, calm voice sent a shiver down Jace’s spine, prompting him to

on the couch, watching indifferently

up, but it was clear he was

over and sat down a short distance

someone will take you back to the villa. You should rest at

“Since you’re fine

forget, you’re

Phoebe was speechless.

experienced butler and two maids,

need to go back to

24/7, just make sure

Azriel courting disaster? After a

maid thing…

Phoebe finally replied,

*

apparently informed the butler in advance, and the

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

it. After all, the Alonso family had always carried themselves with an air of aristocracy, their noses high in the clouds, especially since they were related to some distant royal cousin

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

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

so someone here must

efficiency of butlers

she curiously opened

silent. She wasn’t

responsibilities before, but now she

she’d better spend

*

evening, the butler was right there

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

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

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

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

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

the spatula, dusted off her hands, and proudly declared,

Azriel was speechless.

How could she say OK to

a fluke, but was he wrong? Could anything in that pan

took up the lid as a shield and cautiously turned on the heat again. About half

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

pause

and change, quickly. I’ll serve up the

the first time, Azriel

at a loss for words. Watching Phoebe humming tunefully as she plated her creation,

*

half hour to come downstairs. He recognized the dish on the dining table immediately and strategically sat as far

plate in