The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Azriel wasn’t accustomed to seeing her this incensed. He could only attribute her fury to the recent developments with the Alonso family.

Dragging her to the couch, Azriel asked nonchalantly, “So, you’re going to the business dinner?”

“You knew about Wendy throwing a business dinner?”

Azriel kept his composure, “With your sister making such a scene, it’s hard for it to go unnoticed.”

Phoebe snorted, “Looks like the Alonso’s luck is finally running out. And just as they’re about to go under, some old geezer pops up out of nowhere and hands them a fortune.”

Azriel raised an eyebrow, “Old geezer?”d2

“That’s 30 billion bucks. Who has that kind of money unless they’re as old as Methuselah?”

Azriel remained silent.

“Is this person blind or just plain stupid? Anybody with half a brain wouldn’t make such a foolhardy investment.”

Azriel pursed his lips, “You’re not the only one who sees it, Phoebe. Whoever forked over that 30 billion must see something we don’t.”

“I can’t fathom why he’d throw a wrench in the works now.”

Azriel decided to steer the conversation elsewhere.

*

The business dinner was a grand affair.

Phoebe arrived in full regalia. She caught Wendy’s resentful gaze from her wheelchair and felt a twinge of satisfaction. Despite Wendy’s scheming to have it all, she ended up ruining herself and gaining nothing.

So what if Wendy had secured that hefty investment? Phoebe still held the shares they’d been eyeing for years.

Even if the Alonso family survived this turmoil, Wendy had no skill to maintain control over those shares; Phoebe would sell them instead.

But Phoebe couldn’t have guessed that—

After she stood alone, confronting Wendy and Cole under the watchful eyes of the crowd, nearly catching a slap from her father, she found that the mysterious investor pouring 30 billion into the Alonso family was Azriel himself.

No one could fathom her shock and rage. She couldn’t accept it. He knew she despised the idea of the Alonso family’s resurgence more than anyone.

“So, you’re that old geezer! Why didn’t I just poison you with instant noodles from the get-go?!”

Enraged and fighting back tears, she bit down hard on Azriel’s hand.

The crowd was baffled by Phoebe’s seemingly unprovoked desire to see the Alonso family’s downfall.

Cole and Wendy had particularly sour expressions.

After shooting Azriel a fierce glare, Phoebe turned to leave but found herself suddenly pulled into Azriel’s embrace.

The onlookers were clueless.

Phoebe’s face buried in his chest, her nose aching and tears falling. “What are you doing?!” Had he dressed her up just to make her the butt of everyone’s jokes?

Azriel’s hand snaked behind her slender neck, forcing her to look at him. “You crying?” he asked, his smile warm and his voice soft yet clearly doting.

He raised the hand she had bitten, now bearing the clear imprint of her teeth, and said, “Old wounds unhealed, and here’s a fresh one. Where do you think you’re running off to?”

“That’s what you deserve.”

“Should I press charges for assault?”

Phoebe’s eyes widened in disbelief. Getting arrested in full view of the Alonso family would be the ultimate humiliation.

As Phoebe reluctantly calmed down, Azriel’s lips curled into a smirk. He slid his hand down to her waist, pulling her closer in a gesture both intimate and suggestive.

Phoebe, unaccustomed to such public displays of affection, blushed as red as a ripe chili pepper.

Azriel whispered in her ear, his voice a deep, velvety murmur, “Behave, and we’ll settle this at home.” His warm breath on her ear made her shrink away, but she couldn’t escape his hold.

He noticed her ear turn an even deeper shade of red, and Azriel’s brows twitched with amusement. His affectionate gesture and teasing words left no doubt about the unusual nature of their relationship.

Azriel’s atypical display of affection began to soothe Phoebe’s embarrassment, allowing her thoughts to clear. Could it be that there was a reason for his actions?

His investment had earned him a 30% stake in the Alonso family business. Combining that with her shares, he would be the majority shareholder. So, was he actually helping her?

Angie had warned her to be wary of this man’s intentions. Was he after her shares?

Her heart skipped a beat, then she forcefully suppressed the thought. Better him than Wendy anyway.

Once they were seated, the Alonso family couldn’t take their eyes off Azriel and Phoebe. Their overtly apparent thoughts barely concealed.

Glancing at the pensive woman beside him, Azriel chuckled softly, “Your father, stepmother, and sister seem a bit too interested in me. Any idea what’s on their minds?”

Phoebe looked over, catching their eager stares. Disgusted, she looked away, turning her attention to Chloe sitting nearby. “Chloe.”

rested her arm on the armrest closest to Phoebe, examining her slightly long nails, and began to

the company, aside from making my life difficult. The shares she held were minimal, and she couldn’t get her hands on your shares for the time being,

a

else? How do you think she’s going to cement her place

do with her? Why

to do with her, but everything to

“With

the investment numbers climbing on the screen. “His actions tonight weren’t unrelated to

cheeks flared with

chuckled quietly, “Shameless people often

a wife for yourself. You’re in their sights now. They’ll do everything to push me

beckoned a server, “Please

are you

why should they

her face a

“Surprised?”

Phoebe could retort, Cole approached, “Mr. Azriel, what can I do

straight to the

marry your second daughter, what would be your

guard by the blunt proposition but felt a secret surge of

“After tonight, I may no longer want to marry

Phoebe clenched her fists.

formalities. For the wedding gift, I’ll just take those thirty percent

“Cole!!”

Phoebe shot up from her seat, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Cole was startled by her sudden outburst. As he regained his composure, he realized

finally managed to speak again. “Are

of line! Of course, I’m your father. Have

father, and do you think his proposal was genuine? But of course, I’m worth a third of the Alonso family shares tonight, and you must be

with shame. “You… do you truly wish for the Alonso family’s

do. If it weren’t for the wealth and power that built the Alonso fortress, Grace wouldn’t covet Mrs. Alonso’s position, and my mother wouldn’t have

is related to her, yet you turn a blind eye. You protect the murderer who killed your wife, my mother. You’re all guilty. Now, you want to sell me for

at Phoebe’s

Cole!! Phoebe has lost it. She’s

one. And you, Cole, after sharing a bed with a murderer for years, have you

shuddered, clearly chilled by

them, suddenly spoke up and pulled Phoebe into his

your meddling, the Alonso

this lamb he

his pocket, pulled out a lollipop, unwrapped

“Peach-flavored. Open up.”

eyes wet with unshed

was perplexed. That

man who always had a lollipop ready when

the Alonso family ever needs a hand, I do hope you’ll step up to the plate.

under some misapprehension. The thirty billion I paid ensures that Phoebe has

aback, his gaze on Azriel clouded with confusion. “What

coldness. “That thirty percent stake? It’s out of my hands now. So, the largest shareholder of the

Cole’s face twitched violently.

off by Wendy’s interrogative shout. Everyone turned to look at her, her face twisted grotesquely, her gaze on Azriel sharp enough to

face curled into

“To whom?!”

finally came when

but quickly regained her composure. Though the process was unexpected, the outcome seemed almost inevitable. Chloe had often spoken with fierce determination about taking over the Alonso family; it was no surprise that she

was nearly mad with

in leadership of the Alonso family was a

the back garden, waiting for

arms as well. “Phoebe,” Chloe

looked somewhat

on my watch. Hang onto your shares; if you ever want to get involved with the company, just let me know. In fact, I believe the Alonso family will fare better with me than

by capable people like you. Plus, with my thirty percent stake and you at the helm, I won’t have to lift a finger for

gaze drifting to the exit of the car park. She swept a lock of hair off Phoebe’s shoulder. “Phoebe, it’s okay for a girl not to be strong all the time. To have someone worth leaning on, who’s willing to let you lean on them, to give you shelter your whole life, and to let

would suddenly say all

has. But financially speaking, Azriel could have easily taken the Alonso family’s thirty percent stake, or even bought it all to

it over. Indeed, that was the case. Azriel was more than involved; he was the mastermind. Yet in the end, he gained

what he’s

didn’t answer her question, instead responding obliquely, “Love is probably the one thing in this world

away, biting her lip lightly

*

her. Instead, it took him a good fifteen

by the water. Phoebe, wrapped in her coat with hands clasped to her chest and

irritation surged through

her head to look at the tall,

hidden away to cry over the Alonso family’s antics. Instead, her eyes were

“Aren’t you cold?”

Phoebe reached out, grabbing the hem of his coat, and

asked, looking down at his

“You…”

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