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.”

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

“Of course!”

“Absolutely.”

“Sure thing.”

“No.”

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

face darkened to an extreme, his eyes ablaze with

the man who could hardly contain himself for half

*

dress in hand, headed

approached the staircase, she softly called out to

the night’s drama, but to their surprise, the

guests, turned at the sound of her voice. “Why are you back

me. They’re all waiting

expression suddenly darkened. Ella, confused, reached out to him, stepping forward. At that moment, her

surprise to face an irate

already being forcefully whisked away by Noah, his grip tighter

the same scene repeating

the uncle and his niece had been floating around

Tonight, it was clear that

recently quieted,

*

the banquet hall and into the elevator, still in a state of shock and anger. She struggled fiercely, but to no avail against Noah’s

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

her scalp tingling uncontrollably, dreading the answer

felt was a suffocating lump in her chest. “Why

to her, sent a sharp pain through her

bulging veins on Noah’s forehead. Tears welled up in her eyes when she mentioned Paul. “What did he ever

escaped her as Noah’s imposing

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

was futile as Noah’s arms, strong and unyielding, held her tight,

and despite his anger, he was reminded of the kiss she had impulsively given him at the airport four years ago. That memory had jolted him awake

him nonchalantly, as if their past

her a chance to speak, he pulled

Ella come to her senses. Instinctively, she buckled her seatbelt, and closing her eyes, she

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

“What do you think?”

to bear his reckless behavior. “Why? Where does this leave your

was a grinding, explosive force. “Don’t mention

that followed

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

but Noah carried her out of the car and into

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

to her old room, under the astonished gaze

was as clean and

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

Noah.” her voice was

his touch as scorching as

body. He finally stopped and looked down at her, the turmoil in his dark eyes startling

Ella shook her head,

that the veins on his

can’t. Please, let me

down her cheek,

Ella as 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

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

the bed, bending one knee, his somber gaze falling out

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

before Ella spoke up softly,

at her, his

he slowly stood up from the bed, seemingly having regained his composure entirely. However, his next words did not put Ella

words,

what did he mean