The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

The craziest thing Ella ever did in her life was that when she turned twenty, bolstered by alcohol, she went into Noah’s room.

Before she was kicked out of the bed, her cheek stung from a sharp slap.

As she was flung to the floor, the word “slut” crashed into her eardrums.

After she hit the ground, Ella was painfully aware that her heart was shattered, lying in ruins beneath her, a dignity pulverized by her own doing.

The air in the room held a frosty chill, oppressive, almost suffocating.

Ella had both hands supporting her on the ground, and her disheveled hair almost entirely obscured her lowered head, making it impossible to see any expression on her face. “Am I really that bad?” she asked, her voice eerily calm, devoid of the expected sobs and trembles.d2

Noah sat perched on the windowsill armchair, clad in dark blue pajamas. Between his fingers, he held a cigarette, its pale smoke doing nothing to soften the icy edge on his face. “Do you even know who you are?” he asked, his voice sharp.

Ella nodded slightly, “Yeah, grandpa’s granddaughter, your niece.”

“So you knew what you were doing. Have you no shame?”

Her fists clenched on the carpet. “It’s just a title, isn’t it? I share no blood with you all. I’m just the girl grandpa took in.”

Noah pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray with force, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Ella, over the years, the Trettons have given you more than just a ‘title’. Even if it’s just that, you bear the Tretton name. Don’t play those trashy games with me. You really think I’m that stupid? I’d advise you to get over whatever fantasy you’re harboring, or you can just get the hell out of the Tretton family.”

Sitting on the floor, staring at her trembling hands, she couldn’t move.

He’d accused her of playing trashing games more than once. Indeed, she had been playing games. There was that one time when she got too close to another boy and incurred his scolding. She naively thought it was jealousy, so she tried again, only to be met with his repeated scorn for her “trashy games”.

He knew, and in his eyes, she was nothing but a childish clown, deluded and dancing for attention.

“Get out!” Noah’s voice, heavy with anger, crashed down on her like a lead weight.

She blinked her dry eyes, and nodded slightly, using almost all of her strength to stand up from the ground.

She walked all the way to the door before she paused. “The Tretton family has given me so much, and I am very grateful to the Tretton family, grateful to my grandfather, grateful to you. So grateful that I am willing to repay it with my entire life.”

Noah’s voice was still chillingly cold, “I don’t need you to repay it in this way.”

“I know.” Ella almost interrupted him, “I never thought of repaying it in this way. I didn’t think clearly, and I was ungrateful. It won’t happen again.”

Noah didn’t say anything anymore, Ella stayed for a few more seconds, then leaned on the door frame and stepped out of the room, closing his bedroom door behind her.

Back in her room, Ella sat on her bed, hands braced on the mattress, looking around her bedroom. Every corner and trinket spoke of luxury.

She’s an orphan adopted into wealth, treated like a beloved daughter – what more could she ask for?

She’s just being too greedy.

From Noah’s reaction, she was consumed with a sense of extreme ungratefulness. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile, gripping the bedsheets, reminding herself she had no right to feel hurt or cry. Yet the tears wouldn’t stop. Eventually, she gave up trying to hold them back.

After some time, she pulled herself together and splashed cold water on her swollen eyes in the bathroom.

The next morning, she was awakened by a knock on her door. “Miss, it’s time for breakfast, or you’ll be late for school.”

Without looking in the mirror, she could feel her eyes were still puffy. She took a small mirror from the bedside table and after a silent moment, she said, “I’m not feeling well. I’ve already informed my advisor. I won’t be going to school today.”

The housekeeper asked with concern, “Miss, what seems to be the problem? Shall I have the butler call the family doctor to come and take a look at you?”

“No need,” Ella replied. “I had a bit to drink last night and have a headache now. I just need some rest.”

“Understood. Rest well.”

The housekeeper descended the stairs, and Jon and Noah were in the dining room. “Ms. Ella isn’t feeling well today and won’t be attending school,” the housekeeper informed them.

Jon frowned, “Not feeling well? What happened? Why don’t you call the doctor?”

“She said it was from drinking last night, and she just needs more sleep this morning.”

“Drinking?” Jon’s eyes widened with disapproval as he turned to Noah. “And what kind of uncle are you? Not keeping an eye on her?”

Noah continued his breakfast unfazed, “She’s twenty. A little drinking is fine.”

“That’s fine?” Jon’s voice rose. “She’s got a headache from it.”

Jon’s every word dripped with favoritism for Ella. Noah was used to it. “Maybe she’s building her tolerance. It could help her protect herself if needed.”

Jon was silent, his expression shifting subtly before he finally sighed, “Just make sure you keep an eye on her. She’s at an age where it’s easy to make mistakes.”

know,” Noah responded,

face darkened, “She’s at a delicate age. If something

“I understand.”

in his eyes, Noah set down his

the car engine faded into the distance, Jon resumed eating, then turned

into Mr. Noah’s room last night and got quite the

after a moment,

The butler agreed, “Indeed.”

to sleep. She stood by the window, watching as Noah, with a coat draped over his wrist, casually opened the

kind of icy indifference, a look that seemed to push people miles away. Even

and patience just for her, that

than an uncle’s favoritism towards his

back to bed, called her advisor to excuse herself from classes, and then burrowed back under the covers to sleep. It wasn’t until noon that she finally descended the stairs. What she hadn’t anticipated was that there

welcoming as he looked up at her descending the staircase, “Heard you

the mention, the man on the sofa stood up and turned, flashing her a smile. “Our advisor mentioned you were ill, so I thought

now.” Ella scratched her head, slightly embarrassed, “Thanks for coming by. It was just a hangover from drinking last

a moment, then chuckled, “Glad to

uncle about building your tolerance. If you really needed that, what use would he be?” Jon’s playful scolding warmed

Grandpa, it

meal. If you’re bored, you two can take a walk in the yard,

hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on Jon’s face before she smiled,

old estate on the outskirts of town, handed down from their ancestors. As the city grew and changed, many properties

arched corridors and several round gates, they came to

two chatted as they walked, mostly about school life. They were in the same finance program, of the same age, and their families had always been close. Their rapport at school was solid, and both were top students in their department, standouts that the school took pride in. On the school’s forum for couple pairings, it was no surprise that

how she was only an adopted daughter of the Trettons and didn’t have the pedigree of a true-blue heiress. Or how she didn’t seem that smart, but had somehow gotten into Summit Ridge University’s finance program with outstanding grades, and despite not seeming to try as

lacked a glamorous pedigree but had an enviable upbringing and an academic prowess that was

school, opinions about her were split down the middle, which was part of why she was such a notable

heard about the Academic Bridges program the

shook her head, “What’s

years here and the remaining two abroad, with

to a stop on a white bridge over the lake. “So,

hoping we could go

surprised

you’re agreeing to anything else. I just think with your credentials, you’d have no problem getting into the program. It just so happens to align with my own wishes because once we’re abroad, I’ll be

and directness left Ella at a

it over carefully. This opportunity is too good to miss. Don’t reject the program just because of me. Like I said, agreeing to go to Y Country doesn’t mean you’re agreeing to anything

seemed eager to break the awkwardness of the moment

away. After a few steps, Paul’s voice called out from

a complex expression on

pressed, and after a moment, he said slowly, “Maybe,

a servant’s voice was calling

Paul off, the butler intercepted Ella with a smile. “Miss, it’s a fine day, and

day at home and hadn’t played with her grandfather in quite

tea, with several plates

a smile and glanced at the chessboard. “We’re

not be the sharpest player, but I’ve been missing

“I am not

excitement. Ella huffed

me win a game and

at her enthusiasm. And she did win the first game. He nodded approvingly, “Not bad, you’ve gotten better. This time you only

beat you,

right, let’s go

up the pieces for the second game, Jon’s tone

tightness in her

Uncle Noah scold you last

turned ghostly pale; her lips parted as if to speak, but no words

love aren’t mature yet. I should have noticed your feelings sooner. I’ve never liked to force anyone’s hand, including the romantic lives of you youngsters. Unless the person’s character is in question, I wouldn’t interfere. So even if you have feelings for him, if Noah isn’t interested, I can’t force him to accept you. That wouldn’t be good for you either.

nodded, “I understand, Grandpa. Thank you for thinking so much about

and a pang of empathy were all he could afford her. “Ella,” he pressed on,

got it wrong,” she whispered. “Uncle Noah has been nothing but kind to me. I’ll act as though I never had

never happened. And from now on, I won’t allow such things to occur again, understand? If

sharp had scooped out half of her heart. She knew the outcome last night, but hearing it from her grandfather today made it suffocatingly painful, even more so than

understood that her grandfather wanted to crush her hopes completely. Though it was harsh, she also knew that he probably wanted to spare her from future hurt. Or perhaps, he was just trying to tell her that she

and Noah lived in a convenient city villa, suitable for the young and vibrant life they both

was to return to

Noah would drop Ella off at school on his way to work, and they’d

was driven to school by a driver arranged by

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