The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Phoebe hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on him, her lower lip bitten so fiercely it had turned white, visibly trembling. Her eyes were a fierce red, tears swirling but stubbornly refusing to fall.

“Just let it out if you want to cry!”

His temper flared, rare anger bubbling to the surface, but it was his very words that made Phoebe bite down even harder on her lip.

Azriel took a deep breath and left the hospital room.

*

Azriel didn’t go looking for Grayson. Instead, he went straight to the Nace residence.d2

The Naces had some old money ties with a hint of political clout and had ventured into business over the years. Now they held a respectable place in the P City business circles.

The elders, always eyeing advantageous matches, had pegged the Naces and the Graysons for a union that would benefit both families.

Grayson, with his bad-boy charm that seemed to attract women like moths to a flame, had caught Alyna’s eye. No surprise there.

Once they were engaged, Alyna became obsessed with eliminating any female competition around Grayson. He let her, unbothered by her tantrums and her relentless theatrics.

To put it nicely, he was a playboy; to be blunt, he was nothing short of a scumbag. Being linked to a woman like Alyna, it was his just desserts.

Azriel had grown up in the same neighborhood as Grayson and the others, and being of a similar age, they naturally fell into the same crowd. They didn’t know much about Azriel’s life abroad, only that he came back as a corporate leader.

Azriel’s car was parked directly in front of the entrance to the Nace family’s villa, and the Nace family’s old butler looked at it for a while before recognizing it was Azriel, whom he hadn’t seen in years.

“Is that you, Mr. Azriel? What brings you here?”

“Is Alyna in?” He cut straight to the chase, his tone icy, his expression stormy, an aura of barely contained fury about him.

Caught off guard, the butler admitted, “Miss Alyna left early this morning and hasn’t returned.”

Azriel let out a cold laugh, “Is that so? Then I’ll wait.”

The butler, now sure that Azriel wasn’t here for pleasantries but to settle scores, led him to the living room.

Someone, alerted by the arrival, came down the stairs, and frowned at the guest below. Upon recognizing Azriel, that frown turned into a beaming smile.

“Is that you, Azriel?”

“Mr. Ricky.” Azriel greeted without a hint of warmth, his voice sending a chill through Ricky, who exchanged a puzzled look with the butler.

Descending the stairs, Ricky asked directly, “What’s got you so heated up?”

“Sorry, Mr. Ricky, I’m only here for Alyna. There’s something we need to sort out.”

Ricky felt an unusual unease. Accustomed to flattery and people seeking his favor, this abrupt, no-nonsense confrontation was unfamiliar territory.

“Look, if there’s a misunderstanding with Alyna, tell me, and I’ll make sure to correct her if she’s stepped out of line.”

“She has indeed stepped out of line, but this is something you can’t correct for her.”

This doesn’t sound good at all. Ricky hesitated, “Azriel, Alyna has been somewhat spoiled over the years, but she has always been principled and has never done anything too outrageous…”

“Her previous adherence to principles, and what she had done that was not too outrageous has nothing to do with me. All I know is that what she did today has offended me, violated my principles, and crossed my lines.”

Azriel appeared gentle and indifferent on the surface, without any sharp and provoking edges. If you didn’t provoke him, he was like a cat napping in the day, but once you did, he could immediately jump up and tear you apart.

The gentler the person appears on the surface, the more terrifying they can be when they lose their temper.

Ricky’s face darkened completely, “What exactly is the matter that you are holding onto so tightly? If it really was Alyna’s fault, I would apologize to you on her behalf!”

“You can’t solve this problem for her.”

The butler listened, bewildered by the tension in the air. This sight of his employer so blatantly disrespected by a kid was rare.

a maid motioned the

is it? Can’t you see we’re in the middle of

found this…” The maid whispered, handing the butler a smartphone. “Miss Alyna got into a fight at Summit Ridge University’s gates,

video, the volume low, yet the voices still reached the

seduce

him in, what were you thinking? I’m telling you, keep away from him. If I catch wind of this again, I’ll strip you down and give you a

Phoebe’s voice was faint, while Alyna’s

knew Phoebe had been mistreated over a misunderstanding, but he

gates,

Well.

the fight, but because it meant Grayson was

butler promptly made the call as Azriel watched Ricky’s fury

to contain his anger, couldn’t hide the turmoil within. “It’s Grayson again, getting involved with

women? Mr. Ricky, your

moment before he finally spoke,

a misunderstanding or not, she landed my girl in the hospital, and

his face turned cold towards Azriel. “What’s the deal, Azriel? You really gonna hit my daughter in front

“Why not.”

“You…”

Alyna is your daughter, but no one else

coming; it saved Azriel from having to make a

his demeanor screaming that he wouldn’t rest until he saw Alyna, and

living room was caught

the roaring sound of an engine came from outside. Azriel’s

pink Birkin slung over her shoulder, and her phone glued to her ear, her face meticulously made up and radiating schadenfreude. “Gone viral online? Serves her right. Who does

his brain, hoping Alyna would be the first to apologize with a better attitude that could defuse the

frustration, just as Alyna noticed Azriel in

paused, staring at Azriel for a while before disconnecting her call, still uncertain as she addressed him, “You

towards him. “It really

him, Azriel suddenly grabbed her by the

stopped in her tracks, her face contorting as she

cold, “That hurts? Didn’t think about the consequences when you were hitting

pause, even Alyna realized he was referring to the incident from earlier that morning. “Are you here for that slut’s revenge? What do you mean that I should think about the consequences? She tried to seduce someone else’s fiancé.

with anger, “Alyna!

those shameless women who are at fault? If they act

“You…”

guts, then kill someone for real, but Alyna, today

Gripping her shoulder blades tightly, his voice was

you out of your mind? How could you hit a woman?!”

others, you didn’t act like

are you taking me…” Amidst her cries,

at the entrance, his face etched with

Azriel’s gone mad…” Alyna cried

came to his senses, staring at Azriel with complicated emotions,

cryptic talk. Didn’t you think there’d be a day like today when you staged that scene yesterday? Do you think I’m too forgiving or just plain dumb? Using your own woman to get back at another, does that give you a sense of accomplishment or some twisted satisfaction? You’re not off the hook either. I’m reminding you to go to the hospital and apologize

much as a glance at Grayson’s expression, Azriel kicked him

in Azriel’s car. By the time everyone regained their senses, the

*

hospital with such force that

room, the voices coming from

you sneak out for days on end, and it turns out you’ve been playing

you, and this

Alonso family. Our family’s reputation is

this on purpose? Are you aiming to disgrace our

you deaf or

finger and hurling insults at her. Grace glared at her

while before Azriel heard Phoebe’s hoarse voice, “Since you’ve all made up your minds, what’s left for me to say? What reputation does the Alonso family have left to lose?

Alonso family. How much has she sacrificed

snort, her voice flat, without a trace of fluctuation. “Yeah, I guess I deserve to be sold off, married to an idiot so you

“You…”