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.”

to Phoebe, examining her slightly

all too well. Her main concern now was 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, but Mr. Azriel had a solid thirty

brow almost furrowed into a pimple. “She’s

you think she’s going to cement her place in the Alonso family

do with her? Why would she covet

slightly, “They have nothing to do with her, but everything to do

“With

softly as she watched the investment numbers climbing on

cheeks flared with

quietly, “Shameless people often

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

and beckoned a server, “Please bring Mr.

are

why should they go

her face a portrait of

“Surprised?”

could retort, Cole approached, “Mr. Azriel,

straight to

to marry your second daughter, what would

guard by the blunt proposition but felt a secret surge of joy. “Shall

head, “After tonight, I

Phoebe clenched her fists.

case, I’ll forgo the other formalities. For the wedding gift, I’ll

“Cole!!”

could finish, Phoebe shot up from her seat, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Cole was startled by her sudden

pale with rage and shaking, finally managed to speak again.

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

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

gaze fell upon Cole, and he flushed with shame. “You… do you truly

the wealth and power that

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

at Phoebe’s hysterical

lost it. She’s insane!! Get her out

became a murderer. Grace, you’re the mad one. And you,

chilled by

them, suddenly spoke up and pulled Phoebe into his embrace, “Let’s not make a scene now.

it weren’t for your meddling, the Alonso family

now fully understanding the ferocity of this lamb

some resignation, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and offered it

“Peach-flavored. Open up.”

unshed tears, but she eventually calmed down

perplexed.

had a lollipop ready

and said again, “Thirty billion, and I’ll give you Phoebe’s hand in marriage. In the future, if the Alonso family ever needs a hand, I

seem to be under some misapprehension. The thirty billion I paid ensures that Phoebe has nothing further to do with the Alonso family. As for being the family’s

his gaze on Azriel clouded with confusion. “What do you mean

Azriel’s eyes had faded, replaced by a steely coldness. “That thirty percent stake? It’s out

Cole’s face twitched violently.

about your shares?” His question was abruptly cut off by Wendy’s interrogative shout. Everyone turned to

curled into a sneer, “Sold

“To whom?!”

came when Chloe

regained her composure. Though the process was unexpected, the outcome seemed almost inevitable. Chloe had often spoken with fierce determination about taking over

nearly mad with

to flaunt her success in Chloe’s face, had turned into Chloe’s victory lap. The change in leadership

in the back garden, waiting for

Chloe in his arms as well.

somewhat dazed.

let me know. In fact, I believe the Alonso

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 won’t have to lift a finger for the rest of my life and still have more money than I could count. Some might call me foolish, but I

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

nodded, not quite grasping why Chloe would

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 been involved with the Alonso family’s affairs, in the end, it has nothing

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

what

“Love is probably the one thing in this world that can’t afford to be

watched Damon lead Chloe away, biting her lip lightly

*

her. Instead, it took him a good

especially by the water. Phoebe, wrapped in her coat with hands

wave of irritation surged through

startled the huddled girl, who slowly lifted her head to

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

“Aren’t you cold?”

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

it?” he asked, looking down at his coat in

“You…”

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