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

the ground up. Her actions were beyond reproach.

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

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

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

him, a wry smile playing on her lips, and nodded before diving into

“What is?”

on

a pause, Paul replied,

simply nodded, her

her for a

am wondering, if he is so smart, how did

Paul furrowed his brow.

*

pick her

catching sight of 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 her fair complexion. Her hair cascaded over

school gate, Ella waved goodbye to her classmates with a smile, then turned her gaze to his car. The smile on her face faded slightly, yet

the beautiful familiar face revealed by the slowly retracting car window still made

a few seconds, she quickly adjusted her emotions, greeted Rebecca with a smile. “Hey,

smile

around to chat. They talked about Ella’s major,

playing games to make Noah jealous, shook her

age. With your smarts and

few.” That was an

wasn’t surprised. “Then you have

her studies. Romance

in silence when he suddenly cut Rebecca off with a

do you plan on dating if not in

test of time. When graduation comes, everyone would go their

go their separate ways? If they truly love each other, the girl will

up in a heated debate, but then Rebecca swiftly brought Ella back into the

took a moment to ponder before

a smug look at Noah. Noah’s expression, however, turned sharply grim, his lips pressed into a thin line. He remained silent for the rest of the journey. Ella, too, just

heads-up because

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

slower pace, Ella couldn’t help

the robust laughter of Jon filled her ears.

her ease and grace clearly winning

coat and took a seat on the couch first. At Jon’s gesture, Rebecca settled beside

gaze away and stepped through the foyer

warm smile, gesturing her over. “Met your future aunt-in-law

“Yep, I have.”

to sit next to him.

during the summer break. Ella will be free then, and she can

times they intended to