The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“Sorry. I’m so sorry…” In a panic, she quickly withdrew her hand, her cheeks burning with a deep blush.

Azriel stood up in silence, and Phoebe quickly followed suit.

Just as she was about to dash back to her room, feeling completely out of her depth, Azriel suddenly grabbed her hand.

Turning in surprise, Phoebe looked at him. Azriel lowered his gaze again, silent for a few seconds before looking up at her.

“Azriel…”

“Last night, that man had a decent appearance and demeanor,” Azriel spoke slowly. “He comes from a well-off family, quite popular at school, and has good character.”d2

Phoebe’s eyelashes fluttered, struggling to suppress the bitterness in her heart, “you investigated him? Last night?”

“He’s into you,” Azriel replied, not directly answering her question. “Of all the guys in school, he’s one of the best.”

The more she heard, the colder Phoebe’s heart became. She laughed, with a hint of sadness in her voice. “So what? If I bring him to you as my boyfriend for your approval, you wouldn’t have a problem with that, right?”

“He’s good,” Azriel said, but then he shook his head slightly, his grip on her wrist tightening suddenly, his calm and indifferent eyes becoming fierce. “But I won’t agree.”

Suddenly, he pulled her close, spinning her around and pressing her down onto the couch. Azriel bent one knee beside her, propping his hand next to her ear, leaning over her. “I’ve thought it over and over.”

He stared at the surprised and flustered Phoebe, his voice low, and his warm breath infiltrating her skin as if seeking every possible entrance. “Since you’ve agreed to let me have a say, does that mean as long as I don’t give the nod, you’ll remain single? Maybe someone even better than him will come along for you, but I still won’t agree to you two being together.”

Phoebe felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest, “Why?”

“Because I don’t want to.” Azriel gently brushed the hair from her cheek with his fingers, his knuckles lightly grazing her skin. “I don’t want to see you with other men, not even getting close to them.”

Under Phoebe’s astonished gaze, he smirked, a shadow of a roguish smile on his handsome face.

“Why would I push you away when I’m interested? I’ve been overthinking it. I’m far from a saint, so why have I been trying to respect you to the utmost, and to let you have your freedom, when it only makes me unhappy?

“Phoebe, if I was just a bit harsher with you, you’d have no choice but to stay by my side for the rest of your life. The fact that I paid three hundred billion to buy out your relationship with the Alonso family is enough? Don;t you think so?”

Phoebe couldn’t describe her feelings at the moment: anxious, shocked, delighted, and a sense of complexity that was difficult to articulate.

“Enough to be your servant for a lifetime?”

Azriel’s eyes narrowed, his hand pinching her cheek, “What are you playing dumb for?”

“So you’re interested in me? Like how you were with those women last night?”

“Are you curious about that?” Azriel looked at her with an ambiguous expression.

“Is that a problem?”

Azriel nodded, “Not in the slightest.” With that, he abruptly straightened up, then swooped down to scoop her into his arms.

Phoebe gasped in fright, clinging to his shoulders, “What… what are you doing?”

He merely glanced at her, “Answering your question.”

It wasn’t until she was carried to the guest room bed and he followed, covering her, that she truly began to panic. “Azriel.”

Her chin was grasped, Azriel leaning in close, “Last night, I was teased by Seth like that. Phoebe, you’re not without blame for it.”

“What?” Her nearly instinctive question was muffled back.

Phoebe’s mind went blank, her ears ringing. Inexperienced, Phoebe was left with nothing but wide eyes and a heart that seemed to have stopped for an eternity before pounding violently again.

ground and pressed, then his forceful presence

Warm touches, intermingling breaths…

this moment, she was absolutely certain that she really liked this man. She didn’t mind his touch, in fact, she liked

was relieved the game

and clean-cut, and she couldn’t fault him in any way, but if it weren’t for the fear of implicating him, she wouldn’t

but she didn’t

gradually relaxed their grip,

relaxed her tensed body slightly, tilting her chin up, her lips timidly parting,

looking down at her. His dark eyes

with rosy warmth, her lips a tender red, and her body exuded

for a long moment,

her, not just on

however, did not stop because of her tension. In fact, he wickedly thought that her innocence and naivety, her lack of worldly experience, even if

was still pure and unaware, he could easily have her. Only by

and inevitable to him, and he felt not even the

someone else, he might as well spoil her himself.

she huddled closer to the man beside her, a hand bracing against his strong shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes

voice a husky whisper

her lip, pondering for a moment, then shook her head

Better to face your fears now than to be scared again next time,” he said with a chuckle that even

on Azriel’s hand firm yet shy,

a groan and

*

missed that

She stared blankly at the sky outside the window, desperately

the lingering soreness in her body, she grabbed the blanket and covered her reddening cheeks. It had all been real.

eyes before she steeled herself. Even if it was just a fleeting desire for him, she

“Woke up?”

herself, the door opened and Azriel’s calm voice filled the room. She turned and saw him, dressed

over and sat at the edge of the bed, meeting her gaze with a small smile. He ruffled her hair and kissed her softly on the

shook her head slightly, still in a daze. “You went

and carried her out of the room. He set her down on the

then sat down

a bit awkward. She obediently

handed her the utensils and glanced at his watch. “You have thirty

ahead with your

respond but started eating

Azriel’s instructions, managed to finish her meal within the

several shopping

recognized the logo on one of the bags – it was her favorite brand of casual

from the bedroom, refreshed and youthful in simple jeans and a beige knit top –

with a glance, then took her hand, leading her

future. She was content and happy in the

didn’t stop walking but his expression darkened slightly,

trusted him, “Where

*

until Azriel slid the completed forms to

“What do

Application” on the form. But

a bit

not want to?” Azriel

“But

Alonso, you can’t fill out

her something, and sure enough,

“So, when you went out today, you went to the