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.

of P City’s largest private hospital, with their heiress Rebecca apparent holding a PhD

could’ve snagged a senior position straightaway, but she chose to start from the ground up. Her actions were beyond reproach. Even as her identity became

encountered that fateful night. Apparently, Noah and Rebecca had known each other for

Ella with cryptic congratulations on gaining such a stunning

in the

at him, a wry smile playing on her lips, and nodded

“What is?”

crush on my

pause, Paul replied, “Very

nodded,

her for a moment. “What’s on your

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

Paul furrowed his brow.

*

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

dressed in a simple blue and white striped sundress that accentuated her delicate

then turned her gaze to his car. The smile on her face faded slightly, yet she still walked

when she instinctively put her hand on the handle of the passenger seat, the beautiful familiar face revealed by the slowly retracting car

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

smile warmly. “Hi

backseat, and as soon as she 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 had a

games to make Noah jealous, shook

time for romance—such a wonderful age. With your

few.” That

surprised. “Then you have plenty of

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

he suddenly cut Rebecca off with a cold

on dating

comes, everyone would go their separate ways. It is a waste of emotions and

If they truly love each other, the girl will follow the boy wherever he goes, isn’t

the conversation revolved around her, it was Rebecca and Noah who ended up in a heated

a moment to ponder before

however, turned sharply grim, his lips pressed into a thin line. He remained silent for the rest of the journey. Ella, too, just passively

seemed Noah had given his family a heads-up because they showed no surprise at

behind Rebecca, who had already looped her

couldn’t help

laughter of Jon filled her ears. “Have a seat. Make yourself

you, Jon,” Rebecca said, her ease and grace clearly

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

the foyer into

smile, gesturing her over. “Met your

“Yep, I have.”

to sit next to

“Yeah, during the summer break. Ella will be free then, and she can even bring her

wondering just how many times they intended to remind