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.

the butler over to show him something

Can’t you see we’re in the middle

the butler a smartphone. “Miss Alyna got into a fight at Summit Ridge University’s gates, and it’s all over the internet now. That

video, the volume low, yet the voices still

to seduce my fiancé.

him in, what were you thinking? I’m telling you, keep away from him. If I catch

was faint, while Alyna’s was piercingly

knew Phoebe had been mistreated over a misunderstanding, but he hadn’t expected the scene to be

beaten at the university gates, gawked at

Well.

because of the fight, but because it meant Grayson was messing around with other women again.

made the call as Azriel watched Ricky’s fury with a hint of

the turmoil within. “It’s Grayson again, getting involved with some

“Low-class women? Mr. Ricky,

aback for a moment before he finally spoke, “It

don’t care if it’s a misunderstanding or not, she landed my girl in the hospital, and I need to get

“What’s the deal,

“Why not.”

“You…”

Alyna is your daughter, but no one else is obliged to put up

was good that Grayson was coming; it saved Azriel from having to make a special trip to

immovable as a mountain, his demeanor screaming that he wouldn’t rest until he saw Alyna, and Ricky, though fuming with anger, couldn’t bring himself to kick him

living room was caught in a

roaring sound of an engine came from outside. Azriel’s face instantly tensed, and he

ear, her face meticulously made up and radiating schadenfreude. “Gone viral online? Serves her right. Who does she think she is, trying to seduce Grayson and play the other woman? Let everyone see that tramp’s true colors. A grad student,

attitude that could defuse the situation.

He growled in frustration, just as Alyna noticed Azriel in the

while before disconnecting her call, still uncertain as she addressed him,

excitedly opened her arms and ran towards him. “It really is you! I

him, Azriel suddenly grabbed her

stopped in her tracks, her face contorting as she gasped

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

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

beside himself with anger, “Alyna! Will you shut

eyes, “Dad, am I wrong? Isn’t it those shameless women who are at fault? If they act shamelessly, they deserve to be hit. She’s lucky she wasn’t

“You…”

guts, then kill someone for real, but Alyna, today you messed with my person,

the face and followed with two strong kicks to her legs. Gripping her shoulder blades tightly, his

your mind? How could you hit a woman?!” Alyna

were terrorizing others, you

taking me…” Amidst her cries, Alyna was dragged by Azriel

at the entrance, his face etched

Grayson help me, Azriel’s gone mad…”

senses, staring at Azriel with complicated emotions, “Azriel, isn’t this a

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

so much as a glance at Grayson’s expression,

was taken away in Azriel’s car. By the time everyone regained

*

Alyna into the hospital with such force that those around him stepped back in

voices coming from inside made

you sneak out for days on end, and it

clothes? I’ve provided for you,

Alonso family. Our

do this on purpose? Are you aiming to

deaf or

figures burst into the room. Cole was livid, pointing his finger and hurling insults at her. Grace glared at her with a grim and disdainful look

for me to say?

the Alonso family. How much has she sacrificed

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

“You…”