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.

was not a man to be trifled with. Too many times Yulia felt like he’d nearly

in. The art of gentleness was something she wished she

door opened with a familiar kick from an impatient foot.

her eyes.

was movement in the room, but she didn’t mind. However, she couldn’t

his kisses trapped her, his broad,

on her skin.

to pay attention

against his shoulder, catching her breath

at him.

on her lip and chuckled softly, “Don’t flatter yourself. Even if

me.”

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

down with her on

on the coffee table, she remembered she hadn’t eaten at all. Now that food was

joined the conversation. Her

flushed, clutched the towel and tried to slide off

and he

“Stay put.”

hungry too.

forked up a bite and

and

and took a bite himself. After she finished, he fed her

prepared lots of

alternated between feeding himself and Yulia. Of course,

and refused more food, but Nathan stubbornly fed her

before giving up.

her,

quick shower in the bathroom, it was nearly

back in bed, she fell asleep in Nathan’s

company, his brother was hardly managing things,

flooded with unread documents.

to leave the comfort of his bed, he skimmed

mind, he tossed the phone aside, content with the soft woman in

drifted off to

—

internal clock.

lay on his chest, gazing at

with such a devilish charm, it was as though he was crafted solely to tempt women. In

seemed almost gentle.

in the air, admiring the canvas that should

but here he was, hers and hers

into a wider grin. He pretended to be a playboy,

be an

Pfft.

into Yulia’s head unexpectedly,

as soon as she pressed against his chest. Now,

help but feel it had something to do

stare at her, he saw that indeed, her

got you all giggly this early, huh? Dreaming up some R-rated