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.

were ground and pressed, then his forceful presence pried open her teeth,

Warm touches, intermingling breaths…

liked this man. She didn’t

she was relieved the game

any way, but if it weren’t for the fear of implicating him, she wouldn’t have resorted to comforting herself

was good, but she didn’t

Azriel’s arm, gradually relaxed their grip, fingers curling to tightly clutch the sleeve

the initial shock, she relaxed her tensed body slightly, tilting her chin up,

at her. His dark eyes were laced with

with rosy warmth, her

a long moment, then suddenly chuckled

man chuckled again and kissed her, not just on the lips this time. His hand slid up the loose sleeve of her

and naivety, her lack of

pure and unaware, he could easily have her.

seemed so natural and inevitable to him,

as well spoil her himself. He hadn’t planned to go too far today, but now,

as the chill of the air kissed her skin, and she huddled closer to the man beside her, a hand bracing against his strong shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes hazed with a mix of emotions as she gazed

a husky whisper colored with unspoken

pondering for a moment,

next time,” he said with a chuckle that even he couldn’t suppress. It felt like a con, but

firm yet shy, “Azriel, I like you.

a groan

*

missed that

with the late afternoon. She stared blankly at the sky outside the window, desperately recalling the events prior, afraid it might have been a

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

nowhere to be seen. A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes before she steeled herself. Even if it was just

“Woke up?”

Azriel’s calm voice filled the room. She turned and saw him, dressed impeccably, exuding an

small smile. He ruffled her hair and kissed her softly on the lips. “Should

head slightly, still in a

bathrobe before she could react, then scooped her up and carried her out of the room. He set her down on the couch and handed her a glass of warm water. “Drink this first. The

then sat down beside

help but feel a bit awkward. She obediently drank the water, and

at his watch. “You have thirty

can go ahead with your work. I can take care

but started eating as

following Azriel’s instructions, managed to finish her meal within the allotted half-hour. “Do you

her several shopping bags, “Change

one of the bags –

in simple jeans and a beige knit top – her

with a glance, then took

worry about the unknown future.

stop walking but his expression darkened slightly,

understand but trusted him, “Where

*

hand, filling out forms with a numb mind. It wasn’t until Azriel slid the completed forms to the clerk that she stiffly turned to him, “Azriel. Are

smiled, “What

Application” on the

a

you not want to?”

“But my ID is still

in with a smile, “Ms. Alonso, you can’t

clerk handed her something, and sure enough, it

today, you went to the Alonso family to get my