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

in their routine, she’d find herself unintentionally showing

even hostility

at Angel’s Haven Orphanage noticed too, whispering behind their backs,

refute them.

knew it was

it

the lilies in the garden

appeared so harmonious.

she found the desecrated lilies, and realized something had

sight at Angel’s

leaves shredded, and stems snapped. Such an act was

and

her by the garden,

uprooting the seedlings with that

garden was frightening, like… like when she looks at Serana,” a third chimed

The lilies were planted by Serana, so it

another.

piled up, but Yasmine just

merely added extra seeds after Serana planted, knowing the germination rate

she thinned them out so the

simple gardening concepts and blamed her out of ignorance,

frustrating and laughable.

picking up petals with tears streaming down her

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

concern.

about Serana. There’s no motive. It wasn’t me,” she

jump to conclusions based

After all, the lilies thrived

was dropped for the time being, and the investigation continued

reprimand for the culprit.

hadn’t visited the scene of the “crime,” seemed indifferent to the

a rare appearance in craft class, he paired up with Yasmine, who had been

as Serana was already working with

paper, greeted him casually.

carrying – a surprising choice for someone

grown accustomed to.

the books, and out fluttered colorful petals. One

petals of lilies,

heart felt

lips curved in

all

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

those eyes seemed to hold a universe of secrets, now veiled with

seem to care much about

glanced at the petals and let out a light chuckle. “And what, pray tell,

at her for a long moment. “Indeed, Serana picked them