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.”

Noah responded, his indifference

age. If something

“I understand.”

hint of impatience in his eyes, Noah

the car engine faded into the distance, Jon resumed eating, then turned to the butler with a stern

went into Mr. Noah’s room last night

a moment,

The butler agreed, “Indeed.”

the window, watching as Noah, with a coat draped over his wrist, casually opened the car door and got

always adorned with that kind of icy indifference, a look that seemed to push people miles away. Even the aura he exuded was the

his gentleness and patience just for her, that she

nothing more than an uncle’s favoritism towards his niece, and she

back under the covers to sleep. It wasn’t until noon that she finally descended the stairs. What she hadn’t anticipated was

warm and welcoming as he looked up at her descending

flashing her a smile. “Our advisor

Ella scratched her head, slightly embarrassed, “Thanks for coming by. It was just a

a moment, then

your tolerance. If you really needed that, what use

it. Grandpa, it won’t

a meal. If you’re bored, you two can take

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

Tretton family were originally from P City. The place where they lived now was an old estate on the outskirts of town, handed down from their ancestors. As the city grew and changed, many properties were lost to development and demolition. A century

the arched corridors and several round gates, they came to a large backyard

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

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

pedigree but had an enviable upbringing and an academic prowess that was the envy of

about her were split down the middle, which was part of why she was

you heard about the Academic Bridges program

her head, “What’s

partnered with Golden University in Y Country. Each department will send two exchange students. You spend two years here and the remaining

slowed her pace, and they came to a stop on a white

“I was hoping we

froze, surprised by his

Going to Y Country with me doesn’t mean 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 the only one you can really

candor and directness left Ella at a loss

just because of me. Like I said, agreeing to go to Y

She seemed eager to break the awkwardness of the moment and quickly added, “Lunch

turned away. After a few steps, Paul’s voice

was a complex expression

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

and soon a servant’s

smile. “Miss, it’s a fine day, and Mr. Jon is waiting by the lakeside gazebo

whole day at home and

gazebo was being set up for tea, with several plates

and glanced at

you may not be the sharpest

am not that

improved.” Eager to play, Jon barely could contain his excitement. Ella huffed lightly, rolled up her sleeves with confidence, and took her seat

and show

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

this time. To beat you, Grandpa, I’ve been nagging Uncle

chuckled, “All right, let’s go another

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

a sudden tightness in her chest. “What’s

Uncle Noah scold you last

lips parted as if to speak, but

“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 in question,

Thank you for thinking so much about

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, “I’m going to ask you again,

shook her head faintly. “I got it wrong,” she whispered. “Uncle Noah has been nothing

never happened. And from now on, I

as if something sharp had scooped out half of her heart. She knew the outcome last night, but hearing it from her grandfather

to spare her from future hurt. Or perhaps, he was just

and Noah lived in a convenient city villa, suitable for the

weekend tradition was to

his way to work, and they’d

next day, Ella was driven to

& Stay