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.”

closest to Phoebe,

difficult. The shares she held were minimal,

into a pimple. “She’s

to cement her place in the Alonso family

have to do with her?

“They have nothing to do with

froze. “With

softly as she watched the investment numbers climbing on the screen. “His actions tonight

and within two seconds, her cheeks flared with indignant rage. “She’s utterly

quietly, “Shameless

to Azriel, “Great, you’ve just invested in a wife for yourself. You’re in their sights now. They’ll do everything to push me

a half-smile and beckoned a server, “Please bring Mr. Alonso

are you

wife, why should they go to all that

was dumbstruck, her face a portrait of incredulous

“Surprised?”

approached, “Mr. Azriel, what

straight to the

said I want to marry your second daughter, what would

felt

tonight, I may no

Phoebe clenched her fists.

tensed, “In that case, I’ll forgo the other formalities. For the wedding gift, I’ll just take

“Cole!!”

by her sudden outburst. As he regained his composure, he realized all eyes in the banquet

managed to speak again. “Are

“You’re out of line! Of course, I’m your father. Have you

I’m worth

he flushed with shame. “You… do you truly wish for the

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

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 shares to benefit her child. Cole, you’re not my father; you

paled at

Cole!! Phoebe has lost it. She’s

gaze turned to Grace. “For a rich lady’s title, you became a murderer. Grace, you’re the mad one. And you, Cole,

chilled by her

beside them, suddenly spoke up and pulled Phoebe into

it weren’t for your meddling, the Alonso family would be

of this lamb

unwrapped

“Peach-flavored. Open up.”

unshed tears, but she eventually calmed down and obediently opened

was perplexed. That actgually

always had a lollipop ready when she cried would truly let her

in marriage. In the future, if the Alonso

paid ensures that Phoebe has

aback, his gaze on Azriel clouded

coldness. “That thirty percent stake? It’s out of

Cole’s face twitched violently.

His question was abruptly cut off by Wendy’s interrogative shout. Everyone turned to

curled into a

“To whom?!”

answer finally came when Chloe took

had often spoken with

nearly mad

turned into Chloe’s victory lap. The change in leadership

Phoebe stood dazed in the back garden, waiting for Azriel to

as

somewhat dazed.

it’s mine, I’ll ensure it doesn’t depreciate 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

interrupted, “You’re right. I’ve understood this from the start. I don’t have the chops to run a company, and I think it’s best run by capable people like you. Plus, with my thirty percent stake and you at the helm, I

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 you cry and be silly with you, that’s something

quite grasping why Chloe would suddenly

know you and Azriel had a past connection, and he’s the student of your grandparents. In every way, he should protect you, and in fact, he has. But financially speaking, Azriel could have easily taken the Alonso family’s thirty percent stake, or even bought it all to give to you. Yet, he gave it to me. Have you ever thought about why, that even though he’s

Indeed, that was the case. Azriel was more

what he’s

is probably the one thing in this

Damon lead Chloe away, biting her

*

expecting to see Phoebe where he left her. Instead, it took him a good fifteen minutes to

Phoebe, wrapped in her coat with hands clasped to her chest and head resting on her knees, looked like

wave of irritation surged

the huddled girl, who slowly lifted her

a face marred by sadness, thinking she had hidden away to cry over the Alonso family’s antics.

“Aren’t you cold?”

of his coat, and

it?” he asked, looking down at his coat

“You…”

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