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.”

Phoebe,

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

furrowed into a pimple. “She’s eyeing

do you think she’s going to cement her place

to do with her?

lips curled up slightly, “They have nothing to do with

froze. “With

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

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

quietly, “Shameless people often

swam with anger, turning to Azriel, “Great, you’ve just invested in a wife for yourself.

a server, “Please bring

are

“Since I’m supposedly investing in a wife, why should they go

her face

“Surprised?”

approached, “Mr. Azriel, what can I do for

getting straight to

marry your second daughter,

guard by the blunt proposition but felt a

shook his head, “After tonight, I may no longer want

Phoebe clenched her fists.

the wedding gift,

“Cole!!”

attention of everyone in the room. Cole was startled by her sudden outburst. As he regained his composure, he realized all eyes in the

rage and shaking, finally managed to speak

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

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

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

than I 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 been killed

death 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 shares to benefit her child. Cole, you’re

paled at

Cole!! Phoebe has lost it. She’s insane!! Get her out of

Grace, you’re the mad one. And you, Cole, after sharing a bed with a murderer for years, have you never worried she

clearly chilled by her words.

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

your meddling,

now fully understanding the ferocity of this lamb he

his pocket, pulled out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and offered it to Phoebe. “Save

“Peach-flavored. Open up.”

her eyes wet with unshed tears, but she eventually calmed down and obediently opened her mouth for the

crowd was perplexed.

a lollipop ready when she cried would truly let

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 do hope you’ll step up to the plate. After all, you’re not just a son-in-law

seem to be under some misapprehension. The thirty billion I paid ensures that Phoebe has nothing further to do with the

on Azriel clouded with confusion. “What do you

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

Cole’s face twitched violently.

by Wendy’s interrogative shout. Everyone turned to look at her, her face twisted grotesquely,

into a

“To whom?!”

finally came when Chloe

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

nearly mad with

turned into Chloe’s victory lap. The change in leadership of the Alonso family was a done deal. Defeated and humiliated, Wendy had become the butt

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

Chloe in his arms as well. “Phoebe,” Chloe

somewhat dazed.

“The Alonso family will be fine. Now that 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 family will fare better with me than it did under Wendy. Of course, if one day you feel that your own blood ties

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

worth leaning

why Chloe would suddenly say all this. They rarely had

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 been involved with the Alonso family’s affairs, in the

the case. Azriel was more than involved; he was the mastermind. Yet in the end,

wonder what he’s

responding obliquely, “Love is probably the one thing

Chloe away,

*

expecting to see Phoebe where he left her. Instead, it took him a good fifteen minutes to find her by the central fountain in the

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

irritation surged

her head

away to cry over the Alonso family’s antics. Instead, her eyes were full of confusion and

“Aren’t you cold?”

Phoebe reached out, grabbing the hem of his coat,

is it?” he asked, looking down at his

“You…”

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