The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

How could Ella just abandon Paul and walk away? She dug her heels in, trying to stand her ground, even leaning back against Noah’s hold, but he didn’t flinch or change expression as he continued to pull her along.

“Let go of me!” Ella snapped in a low growl, frustration boiling over.

Noah didn’t reply, just kept that stoic face as he relentlessly led her upstairs.

Ella grabbed the banister, forcing Noah to a halt. She was breathless from the struggle but still demanded, “Why are you doing this?”

Noah’s gaze was heavy, “Ella, make no mistake, he provoked me first.”

“I’m well aware!” Ella retorted immediately, “Tonight, I’m his date, and your actions are clearly disrespecting him.”d2

“Why should I give him any respect?” Noah shot back.

“Have you thought about the consequences of your actions tonight?!” Ella’s knuckles whitened as she gripped the banister, her voice trembling slightly.

“Do you see the looks we’re getting from downstairs? Do you have any idea what they’re all thinking? Aren’t you afraid of the rumors that could spread?”

At her words, Noah glanced down the stairs with a slight turn of his head. The grand ballroom was aglow, filled with the clinking of glasses and the murmur of well-dressed guests exchanging pleasantries. All eyes were on them now, a mix of shock, curiosity, and inquiry.

He squinted slightly, then let out a low chuckle. Turning to face her, the smile on his face sent a shiver down Ella’s spine. She felt the pressure of his arm around her waist increase as he stepped closer. Their proximity was such that no words could explain it away.

“What are you doing?” she stammered.

“I was just thinking,” Noah’s voice was low as he stared at her panicked face, “maybe we should give them the drama they’re so curious and eager to see?”

Ella was stupefied, disbelieving what she was hearing, “Have you lost your mind?”

Downstairs, whispers were growing louder, the questioning of their relationship clear. She glanced instinctively towards Paul. If Noah really did something drastic, where would that leave Paul’s dignity?

Her action only incensed Noah further. Even now, her first thought was concern for Paul.

Suddenly, Noah’s hand grasped her chin, forcibly turning her face back to him. A collective gasp rose from the crowd below. Ella’s heart tightened, and in a surge of defiance, she pushed Noah away and turned, lifting her dress as she ran up the stairs.

At this moment, she didn’t know what was best to do; she only knew that getting away from Noah was paramount.

She didn’t understand his sudden desire for such drastic action. If it had been four years ago, she might not have hesitated, even welcomed it, but things were different now.

He was engaged, and she had a boyfriend. More importantly, she no longer harbored feelings for him. She refused to deny the progress she’d made in those four years of absence.

“Ollie!”

Unable to calm the storm of emotions downstairs or worry about Noah’s reaction, she hastened upstairs.

Missing the expected climax of the evening, Ollie looked a bit disappointed but still gave Ella a big hug as she arrived. “I’ve missed you so much these years. You’re amazing, you know, leaving and coming back without a peep.”

Ella quickly apologized, “I’m so sorry.”

Ollie snorted, “Sorry won’t cut it. You have no idea how much we’ve been through with your Uncle Noah trying to find you.”

“What?”

With a playful flick on Ella’s head, Ollie remarked, “All because of you.”

Ella was surprised.

“Grandpa Jon already warned us ahead of time. However, that Noah can be so petty.”

At that moment, Noah approached with a cold expression, “Talking behind my back and not even having the decency to avoid me?”

Ollie, linking arms with Ella, retorted, “If you knew I was talking about you, why didn’t you just walk away?”

Ella admired Ollie for her unchanged directness over the years.

Noah shot her a frosty glance, which Ollie ignored, leading Ella to a lounge area reserved for VIPs.

“Come on, tell us all about your life these past few years.”

Cicely straightened up, glancing at the still buzzing ballroom below, and a subtle smile played on her lips as her eyes flitted from Noah to Ella. “Your date looks rather forlorn.”

scanning the room before she ventured,

“Of course!”

“Absolutely.”

“Sure thing.”

“No.”

chorus of approvals, a single, distinct voice stood out. Ella didn’t even need to think twice to know who it was. She ignored the voice

face darkened to an extreme, his eyes

who could

*

dress in hand, headed straight downstairs.

staircase, she

was probably the end of the night’s drama, but to their surprise,

of her voice.

smiled as she approached, “Come upstairs with me. They’re all waiting for

him, stepping forward. At that moment, her other wrist was forcibly

an irate Noah.

she was already being forcefully whisked away by Noah, his grip tighter than before, his

ballroom erupted into chaos. With the same

secret. Rumors about the uncle and his niece had been floating around for years. Though Noah’s sudden engagement had shut some mouths, his niece’s

it was clear that the issue was

seemed that P City, just recently quieted, was

*

in a state of shock and

before the crowd, she felt a wave of helplessness wash over her, and her

do you want?!” she growled, her scalp tingling uncontrollably,

a suffocating lump in her chest. “Why can’t you just leave

thought of Paul being the subject of gossip tonight due to her, sent a sharp pain through her heart. The embarrassment he faced was all her

Noah’s forehead. Tears welled up in her eyes when she mentioned Paul. “What did he ever do to you,

the elevator wall. A gasp of pain escaped her as Noah’s imposing

breath hitched, her eyes widening as the blurry vision of Noah’s face contorted with wrath became all

and unyielding, held her tight, nullifying any chance of

kiss she had impulsively given him at the airport four years ago. That memory had jolted him

as if their past meant nothing—She

the elevator dinged its arrival that Noah finally released her. Without giving her a chance to speak, he

parking did Ella come to her senses. Instinctively, she

a long pause, she took a deep breath, gripping the seatbelt tightly, her voice trembling despite her

“What do you think?”

to bear his reckless behavior. “Why? Where

was a grinding,

silence that followed was

car came to a sudden stop. Ella turned to the

out of the car and into the

me go! I’m not going in!” Her struggles, though

her upstairs, to her old room,

as clean and unchanged as the day she

kissed her again, her panic soared to new heights. More terrifying than the elevator was the fact that his hand was now under her dress, his warm palm directly touching

Noah.” her voice was

scorching as his gaze,

pull away his hand, but he pinned it beside her body. He finally stopped and looked down at her, the turmoil in his dark eyes startling her. “Don’t you

head, “No! Let me

determined to be gentle, despite the anger that the veins on his forehead

we can’t. Please, let me

kisses trailed down her cheek, her jaw, and

she closed her eyes. “Have you thought about what this makes me? You’re engaged. By doing this, where do

strike a chord, and for a moment, there was a

eyes, quickly clutching her disheveled skirt as she retreated to the head of the bed, tears streaming down her

bending one knee, his

countless times for Noah’s rationality to return. It was just a moment of

before Ella spoke up softly, “I could pretend that tonight never

suddenly turned to look at her, his dark eyes filled with a shadowy and icy

composure entirely. However, his next words did not put Ella at ease. “I’ll take care of

words,

So, what did he mean by