The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

No freaking way!

Nathan blinked. Pinching Anya’s chubby cheeks, he teased, “Come on, my little munchkin, flash me another smile.”

But Anya was having none of it at this point.

The little girl was at that age where she needed constant praise, and after Nathan had offhandedly called her ugly,

she was a mix of hurt, angry, and pouty. Smiling was the last thing on her mind.

With her lips pursed and brows furrowed, she twisted her little shoulders away, wanting nothing to do with Nathan.

“Hey, look at that temper,” Nathan chuckled, genuinely puzzled about who she might have gotten that from.d1

Yulia? He rarely, if ever, saw Yulia throw a tantrum. Thinking about it, Yulia seemed mostly well-behaved. But ever

since that Ronald started hogging the spotlight, he began to suspect that Yulia was not as innocent as she seemed.

Raising an eyebrow, Nathan scratched Anya’s chin playfully. “Are you going to smile or what?”

“Hmph, Nathan, you’re annoying.”

Nathan grinned, scooping Anya up in his arms. “If you won’t smile, then so be it. I don’t have much of a memory for

my brother’s grins anyway. I’ll ask him about it tomorrow.”

Carrying Anya out, they were met by Carly in the living room, who quickly said, “Dinner’s all warmed up. Should I

call Yulia to join us?”

Nathan hoisted a moody Anya onto his shoulder. “No need, I’ll bring something up to her in a bit.”

Anya, initially nervous high up on Nathan’s shoulder, clung to his head for dear life. Once she was sure he wouldn’t

drop her, her fears dissolved into giggles, the previous insult forgotten.

Carly watched Anya’s happiness spread and couldn’t help but smile with relief.

“I’ll go get ready then. Anya should be going to bed soon. You guys eat, and I’ll take care of her.”

Nathan nodded, and Anya, now addicted to the fun of riding on his neck, wriggled and laughed even more.

“You aiming for the stars or what?” He gripped her tightly, playfully swaying her back and forth, which made her

cling to him, laughing and screaming.

After a few minutes, Nathan’s feeling of unease grew. “All right, that’s enough. Time to get ready for bed.”

He set Anya down on the couch as Carly came out with a tray of food. Taking the tray from Carly, Nathan glanced

at Anya, who was now curled up in a ball on the couch. “Make sure you sleep tight, you hear?”

Anya pouted and huffed but said nothing.

Upstairs, Yulia was sprawled out in bed, too tired to move a muscle.

with his appetite and build, was not a man to be

art of gentleness was something she wished

door opened with a familiar kick from an impatient foot. Yulia’s eyelids fluttered but

her eyes.

movement in the room, but she didn’t mind. However, she couldn’t ignore it when

his kisses trapped her, his broad, warm palm sneaking under the covers,

on her skin.

to

pushed his hand away and propped herself against his shoulder, catching her breath as

at him. “I’m

flatter

me.”

covers back, wrapped her in a towel, and carried her to the sofa by the

down with her on

saw the food on the coffee table, she remembered she hadn’t eaten

the conversation.

face flushed, clutched the towel and tried to slide off his lap, but Nathan’s

her waist and he picked up a bowl of

“Stay put.”

“I’m hungry too. I want to

a bite and fed

reluctantly accepted and eventually chewed

her comply and took a bite himself.

prepared lots of food,

alternated between feeding himself and

more food, but Nathan stubbornly

before giving up.

some food in her, Yulia’s

the bathroom, it was nearly dawn.

had taken their toll. Once back in bed, she

company, his brother was hardly managing

flooded with unread documents.

relaxed and not wanting to leave

on his phone. With a rough idea in mind, he tossed the phone

drifted off

—

of her internal clock. She

softly as she lay on his chest, gazing

man with such a devilish charm, it was as though he

seemed almost gentle.

and sketched his features in the air, admiring the canvas that should

for exploration, but here he was, hers and hers alone. At

lips curve into a wider grin. He pretended to be

be an innocent

Pfft.

popped into Yulia’s head unexpectedly, and

such a close distance, Nathan woke up as soon as she pressed against his chest. Now,

feel it had something to do

his eyes to stare at her, he

giggly this early, huh? Dreaming