The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“I don’t need it. I don’t need anyone’s approval.”

He was well aware that everyone was more sensible than he was now.

Ask Ella? If she were likely to agree, would he have felt the need to keep her confined to her room?

Right now, she was probably the most sensible person of all. She had made a promise to her grandfather once, and now she was burdened by his feelings. She fretted over Paul, agonized over where Noah placed Rebecca in his life, and even worried about the entire Tretton, Reeves, and Minton families.

She had thought of nearly everything. Was there any point in asking her? So no, Noah didn’t need anyone’s approval.

Noah had always been after one thing: a satisfying outcome. And that hadn’t changed.d2

He couldn’t bear the thought of watching the flower he had nurtured from a seedling being plucked away by someone else. No one knew how much Noah had invested in Ella. Why should he just hand her over to someone else?

Aside from a deep chill and rage, Jon felt nothing else. Ever since four years ago, every conversation with his son had been fruitless.

Still, even until the night before, Jon had held onto the hope that his son would eventually get it right. Now, all that remained was a deeper disappointment.

After the anger subsided, Jon was left with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Had he been too trusting in the past? Had he given Noah too much control too soon? The Tretton family had been placed entirely in his hands.

Noah was his only son. Without Noah, to whom would he pass the vast Tretton estate? Noah had successfully struck at his most vulnerable point.

Ella, witnessing Jon’s sudden calm and utter disappointment, felt a dull pain in her heart. “Uncle Noah, can you try to calm down?”

Noah didn’t move, or turn to look at her, his voice sounding eerily calm. “If I calm down, will you agree to be with me?”

Ella paused, then continued， “If you regain your composure, and find your reason, I believe you won’t be fixated on this issue anymore.”

Everyone thought what Noah was doing was wrong. He was smart enough to realize it himself.

Noah let out a bitter laugh, “Calm down? It was because I was too calm and rational before, that things have gotten to this point. If you’re not willing to stay by my side of your own free will, then don’t bother speaking. I only want the outcome I desire. I don’t want to hear the rest.”

Ella began to understand why Jon had grown increasingly intolerant of discussing matters with Noah. There was no reasoning with him.

Noah’s phone had vibrated countless times, the sound especially clear to Ella standing nearby. Jon’s phone also rang intermittently. Perhaps the events of last night’s gala had already reached the Minton family. Now they were likely demanding an explanation or were disrupted in their regular lives.

The media, once they sniffed out any scandal, clung to it relentlessly. And what happened last night was far from a mere trifle. She wondered what sort of chaos was unfolding outside.

“Uncle Noah, maybe you should take the call.”

It was him who should be calming Rebecca at this moment.

As soon as Ella finished her sentence, Rebecca appeared at the door. She practically stormed in, her gaze immediately landing on the few people in the living room.

Rebecca paused, then strode towards them, stopping in front of Noah. She looked up at him for a long while before letting out a cold laugh. “Noah, now that I’m right here in front of you, can’t you offer me an explanation?”

“I’m sorry about this morning,” he said, his indifference stinging Rebecca.

“An explanation?”

“There’s nothing to explain.”

Rebecca had no visible response to Noah’s words; instead, her eyes shifted to Ella. “So, you agreed to the arranged marriage because of her. And now, after all the twists and turns, you want to break off our engagement also because of her? Even in the end, you’d protect her at the cost of leaving me without a shred of dignity?”

Ella, caught by surprise, blurted out, “Break off the engagement?”

Seeing Ella’s reaction, Rebecca couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. She rubbed her forehead, paced for a moment, then turned back to Noah. “She doesn’t even know? Are you planning to keep this a secret forever?”

Ella suddenly remembered his words from the night before about “handling it.” So this was his way of handling it.

just going to break it off, just like

“Uncle Noah, you…”

none of

her business?” Rebecca interjected sharply. “My life has been overshadowed by her. She leaves for four years, and I can hardly get a moment with you.

you before that our marriage was just a contract, with no feelings involved. If you wanted out, I wouldn’t oppose it.

it you who suddenly

and I apologize. You can be upset, and you can reject it, but don’t use your feelings to tie me down. You should understand, no matter how wronged, innocent, or intolerable you

only made him feel disdainful, even disgusted. That

the beginning—they had agreed not to

unwillingness to accept it. Why had the man who once loved no one suddenly become so madly

prided yourself on being a self-centered pragmatist, with interests above all else, right? Noah, are you truly mad enough not to consider the consequences of your actions today, or are

right now. Just say what you want, no need to play the victim card so hard,” Noah said, trying to keep his

whenever it suits you. These past four years haven’t

coolly over Ella, curtsied silently to Jon,

dark. It seemed the arranged marriage

cloud, but he couldn’t muster the energy to grill Noah about what

to Ella, “Ella, come

Noah dug his heels in like a stubborn mule. He turned to the butler and commanded, “Tony, take my father home. I’ve got things to sort out here. When all this is

nodded vigorously, adding his own reassurance, “Mr. Tretton, Mr. Noah’s right. It’s a mess out there. Give him some time to handle things before

by force, Noah was liable to do something drastic. Better to appease Noah for now, especially since he still needed to salvage

his lips, understanding the unspoken message. Continuing this

needs to get to a hospital for his

a grunt, he

comment. Injured? Was that why Noah looked so pale when she

door to the mansion closed behind the leaving figures, Noah’s

weight. He leaned against the stair railing and sank onto

his side, unsure of what to

servants frantically dialed

“We need a doctor—”

hospital!” Noah cut them off with a voice so heavy it nearly made the phone jump out

saw it—the raw, angry mark on Noah’s neck, and her eyes narrowed in shock. She reached for his tie, loosening it, and saw more bruises on his shoulders. Before she could inspect further, Noah caught her hand. She tilted her head, gazing into his deep

and touched his forehead to hers. “Yeah,

her skin, the pain in his voice softened by a hint of pride and

“Let’s go to the hospital,” she suggested, turning her head away from

again, but seeing Ella’s worried face, he compromised, “Have

,but when the doctor arrived and announced with grim seriousness that Noah’s left knee was fractured, his right leg was severely bruised, and both shoulders were injured to varying degrees, Ella felt a rush of dread and disbelief. How could Grandpa inflict such harm on Noah? And Noah had endured it all just to

over her as her eyes closed. Why did things have to

Noah’s bedside, holding his hand, feeling the pressure on her fingers turn her knuckles white. He was clearly in pain but refused to let go. It wasn’t until the doctor finished and left

must not have slept well

here,” Noah said after a while, breaking

Noah scooted over, making room for her

prompted, “Do I need

tightly, “Uncle Noah,

silence

panicked, “What

“Just come up.”

perched on the edge of the

a pause, Ella

when Ella thought he wouldn’t do anything more, he pressed against her. His warm chest touched her back, and his arm circled her waist, slowly tightening until she was almost embedded in

the bedsheets,

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