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,

delicate age.

“I understand.”

in his eyes, Noah set down his

distance, Jon resumed

approached respectfully, “Ms. Ella went into Mr. Noah’s room last night and

a moment, he sighed, “Ella’s

The butler agreed, “Indeed.”

sleep. She stood by the window, watching as Noah, with a coat draped over

that seemed to push

that he had reserved all his gentleness and patience just for her, that she was special to him. Only now did she realize that she had been

than an uncle’s favoritism towards his niece,

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 would

are up?” Jon’s voice was warm and welcoming as he looked up at her descending the staircase, “Heard you were under the weather, so Paul swung by to check in on

up and turned, flashing her a smile. “Our advisor

slightly embarrassed, “Thanks for coming by. It was just a

then chuckled, “Glad

your tolerance. If you really needed that, what use would

got it. Grandpa,

yet, Paul, you’ll stay for a meal. If you’re bored, you two can take a walk in the yard, we’ll call you

lingering on

the city grew and changed, many properties were lost to development and demolition. A century passed, and only this plot of land remained intact. After several renovations, the Tretton family’s villa still retained an air of

and several round gates, they came to a large

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,

a true-blue heiress. Or how she didn’t seem that smart, but had somehow gotten into

an enviable upbringing and an

down the middle, which

you heard about the Academic Bridges program the school’s

her head,

partnered with Golden University in Y Country. Each department will send two exchange students. You spend two years here and the remaining two abroad, with the chance to earn dual bachelor’s degrees. And if you want to

they came to a stop on

nodded, “I was hoping we

surprised by his

program. It just so happens to align with my own wishes because once we’re abroad, I’ll be the only one you can really rely on. If you accept my feelings then, great; if not, I won’t press you. Regardless,

directness left Ella at a

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

seemed eager to break the awkwardness of the moment and quickly added, “Lunch should be ready by now. Let’s head

few steps, Paul’s voice called out from

turned around. There was a complex expression on Paul’s face, which made her curious, “What’s

pressed, and after a moment, he said slowly, “Maybe, this choice is a win-win

understand, and soon a servant’s voice was calling them

lunch and seeing Paul off, the butler intercepted Ella with a smile. “Miss, it’s a fine day, and Mr. Jon is waiting by

spent a whole day at home and hadn’t played with

tea, with several plates

Ella ran over with a smile and glanced at the chessboard. “We’re playing chess today, I

you may not be the sharpest player, but

pouted, “I am not that bad at

me how much you’ve improved.” Eager to play, Jon barely could contain his excitement. Ella huffed

game and show you what

game. He nodded approvingly, “Not bad, you’ve gotten better.

defeat, her competitive spirit undiminished. “Anyway, I won this time. To beat you, Grandpa,

chuckled, “All right, let’s go

the pieces for the second game, Jon’s tone shifted, losing

felt a sudden tightness in her chest. “What’s

Noah scold you last

lips parted as if

deeply. “You’re still young, Ella. Your thoughts on 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

understand, Grandpa. Thank you for thinking

the chessboard, where Ella’s strategy seemed to crumble under pressure. A silent head shake and a pang of empathy were all he could afford her. “Ella,” he pressed on,

before and shook her head faintly. “I got it wrong,” she whispered. “Uncle Noah has been nothing but kind to me. I’ll act as though I never had those feelings. Grandpa, the wise

you feel, then I’ll pretend this never happened. And from now on, I won’t allow such things to occur again, understand? If you slip up, don’t blame me for

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

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

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

weekend tradition was to return to

on his way to work, and they’d stay in

didn’t come home last night. The next day, Ella was driven to school

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