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.”

responded, his indifference

age. If something happens, no one

“I understand.”

of impatience in his eyes, Noah set down his utensils, grabbed his

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

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

a moment, he sighed,

The butler agreed, “Indeed.”

by the window, watching as Noah, with a

a look that seemed to push people miles away. Even the aura he exuded was

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 too full of

towards his niece, and

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

up?” Jon’s voice was warm and welcoming as he looked up at her descending the staircase, “Heard you were under

up and turned, flashing her a smile. “Our

much better now.” Ella scratched her head, slightly embarrassed, “Thanks for coming

a moment, then chuckled, “Glad

booze, don’t listen to your uncle about building your tolerance. If you really needed that, what use would he be?” Jon’s playful scolding warmed

Grandpa,

bored, you two can take a walk

for a moment, her gaze lingering on Jon’s

grew and changed, many properties were lost to development and demolition. A

round gates, they came to a large backyard garden with a

had always been close. Their rapport at school was solid, and both were top students in their department, standouts that the school took pride

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 hard as others, consistently ranked at the

lacked a glamorous pedigree but had an enviable upbringing and an

split down the middle, which was part of

you heard about the Academic Bridges program

her head,

two exchange students. You spend two years here and the remaining two abroad, with the

her pace, and they came to a stop on a white bridge over the lake.

hoping

surprised by

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 rely on. If you accept my feelings then, great; if not, I won’t press you. Regardless, this program seems like a win-win for me, but it ultimately depends

directness left Ella at a loss

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 with me. I respect

it.” She seemed eager to break the awkwardness of the moment and quickly added, “Lunch should be

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

a complex expression on Paul’s face, which made her curious,

after a moment, he said

didn’t quite understand, and soon a servant’s

Ella with a smile. “Miss, it’s a fine day, and

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

was being set up for tea,

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

may not be the sharpest player,

am not that bad at

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

game and show

her enthusiasm. And she did win the first game. He nodded approvingly, “Not bad,

spirit undiminished. “Anyway, I won this time. To beat you, Grandpa, I’ve been nagging Uncle Noah to teach

right, let’s go another

the second game, Jon’s

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

Uncle Noah

face turned ghostly pale; her lips parted as if to

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, 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

Thank you for thinking so

A silent head shake and a pang of empathy were all he could afford her. “Ella,” he pressed on, “I’m going to ask

her hand, Ella remembered the unkind words Noah had uttered the night 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,

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

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

understood that her grandfather wanted to crush her hopes completely. Though it was harsh, she also knew that he probably wanted to spare

in a convenient city villa, suitable for the

weekend tradition was to return to the

his way to work, and they’d stay in

come home last night. The next day, Ella was driven

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