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.

over the story, digging into Rebecca’s background. The Mintons—owners of P City’s largest private hospital, with their heiress Rebecca apparent holding

Her actions were beyond reproach. Even as her identity became fodder for the internet, criticism was scarce. The

that fateful night. Apparently, Noah and Rebecca had known

all anyone could talk about. Some even approached Ella with cryptic congratulations on

with her textbooks, Ella settled into a seat in the multimedia classroom. Paul joined her

lips, and nodded before

“What is?”

crush on

a pause, Paul

simply nodded, her expression

for a moment. “What’s on

said, “I am wondering, if he is so smart, how did he never

Paul furrowed his brow.

*

Noah phoned Ella to pick her up for a trip back to 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 her fair complexion.

then turned her gaze to his car. The smile on her face

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 well-defined hand resting

her emotions, greeted Rebecca

smile warmly. “Hi

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

no longer playing games to make Noah jealous,

romance—such a wonderful age. With your smarts and looks, Ella, I bet you have

“A few.” That

surprised. “Then you have plenty of

now, she’s focused on her studies. Romance can wait,” Noah chimed

he suddenly cut Rebecca off with

exactly do you plan on dating

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

if they go their separate ways? If they truly love each other, the girl will follow the boy wherever he goes, isn’t that

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

off-guard, Ella took a moment

Noah’s expression, however, turned sharply grim, his lips pressed into a thin line.

heads-up because they showed no

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

couldn’t help but

reached the entrance, the robust laughter of Jon filled her ears. “Have

said, her ease and grace clearly winning Jon’s

seat on the couch first.

through the foyer into the living room,

a warm smile, gesturing her over. “Met

“Yep, I have.”

sign of distress before pulling her to sit next

will be free then, and she can even bring her friends

intended to remind her of this