The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Though they had seen much of life’s harsh realities, the children at the local orphanage couldn’t fathom the depths

of darkness that might dwell in the heart of a seven-year-old girl who had just lost her parents.

Serana kept to herself, a solitary figure in the corner, quiet and well-behaved in class, and equally so during recess,

watching the others play with an expressionless demeanor, like a still pond devoid of life.

Perhaps they sensed a kindred spirit in her, or maybe it was pity, or a thick slather of curiosity, but from that point

on, Boyd had someone else woven into the tapestry of his childhood.

From then until now, Serana had become a thread running through the narrative of his life.

In their daily interactions, Serana was the picture of innocence, speaking in gentle whispers, looking at people with

sincerity and care. Even as the years passed and she grew, she never changed – tender and fragile, yet brave and

stubborn.

Outwardly, she seemed as delicate as a glass figurine, always needing protection, yet she fiercely tried to prove her

strength, insisting she didn’t need anyone’s care and could even protect others.d2

Such a girl was irresistibly endearing – tender and attentive, pure and kind, brave, stubborn, and resilient.

Like her long, dark hair, the number of people drawn to her grew day by day. And it was true what they said – girls

should have long hair.

Yasmine was beautiful but frosty by nature. Others kept their distance. From start to finish, Boyd was her only

constant, and she never felt lonely. At least, not until she suddenly realized what loneliness was and found that

certain things had become inevitable.

Boyd’s time was no longer solely dedicated to her as he began to learn deeper subjects beyond the basic

curriculum.

Companion? She had never considered Boyd’s presence as companionship before.

But when did it start? It wasn’t when Boyd’s time began to scatter, leaving more for Serana.

Was it from the moments they shared meals together, or those occasional breaks when they sat beside the flower

beds?

Or when they planted a lily bulb together, one digging a hole, the other tenderly placing the bulb inside?

felt it

to irk her. And in their routine, she’d find herself unintentionally

even hostility

other kids at Angel’s Haven Orphanage noticed too, whispering

refute them.

she knew it

it start,

the lilies in the garden bloomed exceptionally beautiful, and the

appeared so harmonious.

she found the

been a captivating sight at Angel’s

petals scattered, leaves shredded, and stems snapped. Such an act was a significant event in

orphanage, and the investigation

days after planting, I saw her by the

saw her too, uprooting the seedlings with that

like when she looks at Serana,” a third

like Serana. We all know that. The lilies were planted by Serana, so it must’ve been

another.

up, but

had merely added extra seeds after Serana planted, knowing the germination rate was low.

she thinned them out so

didn’t understand these simple gardening concepts and blamed

frustrating and laughable.

the ruined garden, picking up

displeasure at Yasmine, but the children’s naive and ignorant gazes didn’t

concern.

have any particular feelings about Serana. There’s no

orphanage didn’t jump to conclusions based on the

lilies

dropped for the time being, and the investigation

reprimand for the culprit.

the

in craft class, he paired

a long table, as Serana was

with colorful paper, greeted him casually.

the heavy finance books he’d been carrying – a surprising

grown accustomed to.

word, he shook the books, and out fluttered colorful petals.

of lilies, pressed flat and still

heart felt inexplicably

curved in a casual smile. “I

all those

regarded her with a detached gaze, standing by the table, not much taller than the

a universe of secrets, now

seem to care much about them,” he

let out a light chuckle. “And what, pray tell, should I feel

picked them up. She cried over them for an