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.

The Mintons—owners of P City’s largest private hospital,

from the ground up. Her actions were beyond

woman Ella had encountered that fateful night. Apparently, Noah and Rebecca had known each other for ages—a

even approached Ella with cryptic congratulations on gaining such a stunning aunt-in-law. She

into a seat in the multimedia classroom. Paul joined her shortly after.

glanced at him, a wry smile playing on her lips,

“What is?”

on

a pause, Paul replied, “Very

nodded, her expression

her for a moment. “What’s

smart, how did he never

Paul furrowed his brow.

*

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

Ella through the car window. She was dressed in a simple blue and white striped sundress that accentuated her delicate collarbone, adorned with a red pendant necklace that set off

a smile, then turned her

doing quite well, although it was somewhat deliberate. However, when she instinctively put her 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

few seconds, she quickly adjusted her emotions, greeted

returned the smile warmly. “Hi

talked about Ella’s major, her life at school, and then the

playing games to make Noah jealous, shook

your smarts and looks, Ella, I bet

smiled modestly. “A few.”

“Then you have plenty of

on her studies. Romance can wait,”

in silence when he suddenly cut

you plan on dating if not in

can’t withstand the test of time. When graduation comes, everyone would go their separate ways. It is a

truly love each other, the girl will follow the boy wherever he

her, it was Rebecca and Noah who ended up in a heated debate, but then Rebecca swiftly brought Ella back into the

a moment to ponder before responding

expression, however, turned sharply grim, his lips pressed into a thin line. He remained silent

Noah had given his family a heads-up because they

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

slower pace, Ella couldn’t

laughter of Jon filled her ears. “Have a

said, her ease and grace clearly winning

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

and stepped through the foyer into the living room,

with a warm smile, gesturing her

“Yep, I have.”

for any sign of distress before pulling her to sit next to him. “I saw in the news, the

Ella will be free then, and

a smile, wondering just how many times they intended to remind her of