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.”

hesitated, her eyes scanning the room before she ventured, “Can I invite him up

“Of course!”

“Absolutely.”

“Sure thing.”

“No.”

stood out. Ella didn’t even need to think twice to know who it was. She ignored the

darkened to an extreme, his eyes ablaze

watched with interest as the man who could hardly contain himself for half a minute abruptly stood

*

in hand,

staircase, she

but to their surprise, the protagonist, who had just rushed

sound of her

she approached, “Come upstairs with me.

suddenly darkened. Ella, confused, reached out to him, stepping forward. At that moment, her other wrist was forcibly

in surprise to face an

away by Noah, his grip tighter than before, his

erupted into chaos. With the same

an open secret. Rumors about the uncle and his niece had been floating around for years. Though Noah’s sudden engagement

two dwindled naturally. Tonight, it was clear that the issue was far from over and was, in fact, fermenting

quieted,

*

the banquet hall and into the elevator, still in a state of shock and

that had just unfolded before the crowd, she felt a wave of helplessness wash over her, and her eyes reddened

want?!” she growled, her scalp tingling uncontrollably, dreading the answer she suspected but

was a suffocating lump in her chest. “Why can’t

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

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

was suddenly pinned against the elevator wall. A gasp of pain escaped her as Noah’s imposing

as the blurry vision of Noah’s face contorted with wrath became all too clear in his fierce

strong and unyielding, held her tight,

his anger, he was reminded of the kiss she had impulsively given him at the airport four

him nonchalantly, as if their past meant nothing—She

elevator dinged its arrival that Noah finally released her. Without giving her a chance

senses. Instinctively, she buckled her seatbelt, and closing her eyes, she tried to process the whirlwind

took a deep breath, gripping the seatbelt tightly, her voice trembling

“What do you think?”

reckless behavior. “Why? Where does this leave your fiancée? How am I

up!” Noah’s voice was a grinding, explosive

that

car came to a sudden stop. Ella turned to the familiar outline of the villa

out

in!” Her struggles, though futile against his

her upstairs, to her old room, under the astonished gaze of the

and unchanged as

journey would calm him down, but when he pinned her to the bed and kissed her again, her panic soared to new heights. More terrifying than the elevator

her voice was laden

Noah responded, his touch as scorching as his

stopped and looked down at her, the turmoil in his dark eyes startling her. “Don’t you like

her head, “No! Let

anger that the veins on his forehead

we can’t. Please, let

her cheek, her jaw, and her

as she closed her eyes. “Have you thought about what this

chord, and for a moment,

she

the bed, bending one knee, his

times for Noah’s rationality to return. It was just a moment of impulse on his part, as long

room had been quiet for a while before Ella spoke up softly, “I could pretend that

her, his dark eyes filled with

stood up from the bed, seemingly having regained his composure entirely. However, his next words did not put Ella at ease. “I’ll take care of

those words, he

and Ella was still in a daze. So, what did he mean by that?