The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Noah had many friends, and in previous years, she used to stick close to him. Whenever Noah was roped into a new group chat, Ella was inevitably there as well.

Take, for instance, the old neighborhood crew—friends from way back when, the sort who grew up on the same block and trudged to school together. As time marched on, they’d all spun off in their own orbits, some landing in different cities, others hustling through the same ol’ town, but whenever a reunion cropped up, Ella would be there, mingling and melding with the crew as if she’d never been anything but one of the gang.

This particular group was a bit looser with their banter than most.

It was a Thursday night when Ella, fresh from a shower and cozied up in bed, noticed her phone buzzing with a barrage of messages from the gang. Amidst the chaos of notifications, her name was flashing in a bold, beckoning red.

Driven by curiosity, she tapped into the thread, only to be greeted by a chorus of congratulations for Noah.

She clicked on the message that had tagged her: [@PrincessElla, spill the beans! Who’s the lucky lady Noah’s snagged? Pics or it didn’t happen.]d2

Ella blinked in disbelief. Noah’s got a girlfriend?

Instinctively, she scrolled through the chat history and discovered that someone had shared their upcoming nuptials with a celebratory digital toast. After the initial wave of well-wishes, talk turned to the dwindling number of bachelors in the group, and naturally, all fingers pointed to Noah.

Bombarded with tags and probably fed up, Noah had blurted out a bombshell: [Not single. Don’t bother sending me wedding gifts under a hundred grand.]

[Damn!]

[Holy smokes!]

[The big shot at Visionary Productions keeping his love life under wraps?]

[Which girl has he charmed?]

[@PrincessElla, come on, give us the deets on your new auntie-in-law! Pics, please.]

The chat erupted with further tagging, congratulations, and a burning curiosity that only intensified with Ella’s cryptic response. Her fingers hovered over the screen for an eternity before she finally tapped out a message, forcing a smile through the digital divide, her fingertips trembling above the keys. [No comment, folks. But let’s just say she is quite the looker.]

Her playful deflection only stoked the group’s curiosity. In no time flat, Noah added someone new to the chat: [Any questions? Ask her yourself.]

A brief silence fell before the chat exploded again.

[Damn, the lady herself?]

[Really?]

[The Mrs.?]

[Hello everyone, I’m Rebecca.]

[Welcome to the family.]

[Pics or it didn’t happen.]

Ella quietly exited the chat, her mind replaying the image of the woman she’d seen at the mansion. Noah and Rebecca truly seemed well-matched.

The next day, Noah went public with the engagement.

largest private hospital, with their heiress Rebecca apparent holding a PhD and serving as a resident physician in their own

senior position straightaway, but she chose to start from the ground up. Her actions were beyond reproach. Even as her identity became fodder for the

had encountered that fateful night. Apparently, Noah and Rebecca

could talk about. Some even approached Ella with cryptic congratulations on gaining such

textbooks, Ella settled into a seat in the multimedia classroom. Paul joined her shortly after. “You

wry smile playing on her lips, and nodded

“What is?”

crush on my

pause, Paul

simply nodded,

a moment.

am wondering, if he is so smart, how did he never see my blatant attempts? And why did he let me stay

Paul furrowed his brow.

*

Friday afternoon, Noah phoned Ella to pick her up for a trip back to the

that accentuated

smile, then turned her gaze

hand on the handle of the passenger seat, the beautiful familiar face revealed by the slowly retracting car window still made her smile stiff for a moment. She instinctively looked at the driver’s seat, but all she could see was the

a few seconds, she quickly adjusted her emotions, greeted Rebecca

smile

was in, Rebecca turned around to chat. They talked about Ella’s major, her life at school, and then the conversation naturally drifted to whether Ella

games to make Noah jealous,

romance—such a wonderful age. With your smarts and

few.” That was an

surprised. “Then you

her studies. Romance can wait,”

been driving in silence when he suddenly cut Rebecca off

you plan on dating if

go their separate ways. It is a waste of emotions and

ways? If they truly love each other, the girl will follow the

up in a

off-guard, Ella took a moment to ponder before responding

sharply grim, his lips pressed into a thin line. He remained silent for the rest of the journey.

given his family a heads-up because they

behind Rebecca, who had already looped her arm through Noah’s, heading towards the

slower pace, Ella couldn’t help

entrance, the robust laughter of Jon filled her ears. “Have a seat. Make yourself

you, Jon,” Rebecca said, her ease and

a seat on the couch first. At Jon’s gesture, Rebecca settled

her gaze away and stepped through the foyer into

looked up with a warm smile, gesturing her over. “Met

“Yep, I have.”

before pulling her to sit next to him. “I saw in the news, the engagement is set for

free then,

to remind her of this event, even timing it