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?

never felt it

Serana began to irk her. And in their routine, she’d find

even hostility

Haven Orphanage noticed too, whispering behind their backs, but she never

refute them.

she knew it was

did it start,

it was when the lilies in the garden bloomed exceptionally beautiful, and the

appeared so harmonious.

few days later, she found the desecrated lilies, and realized something had

sight at Angel’s Haven Orphanage.

shredded, and stems snapped. Such an act was a significant

and the

after planting, I saw her by the garden, holding a

too, uprooting the seedlings with that trowel,” added

was frightening, like… like when she looks at Serana,”

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

another.

up,

added extra seeds after Serana planted, knowing the germination rate

grew too dense, she thinned them out so

gardening concepts and blamed her out of

frustrating and laughable.

garden, picking up

displeasure at Yasmine, but the children’s naive and

concern.

don’t have any particular feelings about Serana. There’s no motive. It wasn’t

orphanage didn’t jump to conclusions based on the children’s words, agreeing with

After all, the lilies thrived mainly

the time being, and the investigation continued quietly, possibly

reprimand for the culprit.

of the “crime,” seemed indifferent to the whole

craft class, he paired up with

at a long table, as Serana was already working with

playing with colorful paper, greeted him casually. “Rare sight,”

set down the heavy finance books he’d been carrying – a surprising choice for someone his age

grown accustomed to.

and out fluttered colorful petals. One

covered in the petals of lilies,

heart felt inexplicably

up at him, his eyes serene but his lips curved in a casual smile. “I recall Serana was

all

the

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

don’t seem to care much about them,”

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

picked them up.