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.

appetite and build, was not a man to be trifled

in. The art of gentleness was something she wished

with a familiar kick from an impatient foot. Yulia’s eyelids

her eyes.

room, but she didn’t mind. However, she couldn’t ignore it when Nathan’s

her, his broad, warm palm sneaking under

on her skin.

had to pay attention

pushed his hand away and propped herself against his

at him. “I’m

flatter yourself. Even if

me.”

towel, and carried her to

with her on

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

joined the conversation. Her

laughter. Yulia, face flushed, clutched the towel and tried to slide

around her waist and he picked up a bowl

“Stay put.”

“I’m hungry too. I want

a bite and fed it to

reluctantly accepted and

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

had prepared lots of

feeding himself and Yulia.

Eventually, Yulia was full and refused more food, but Nathan

before giving up.

her, Yulia’s fatigue

it was nearly dawn. The tiredness had subsided, but her internal

toll. Once back in bed,

day. At the company, his brother was hardly

flooded with unread documents.

to leave the comfort of

on his phone. With a rough idea in mind, he tossed the phone aside, content with the soft

drifted off to

—

first, courtesy of her internal clock. She saw Nathan and stiffened

softly as she lay on his chest,

charm, it was as though he

seemed almost gentle.

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

not just her. His beauty begged for exploration, but here he was, hers and hers alone. At

her lips curve into a wider grin. He pretended to be a

be an

Pfft.

into Yulia’s head unexpectedly, and she couldn’t suppress a

distance, Nathan woke up as soon as she pressed against

it had something to do with

her, he saw that indeed, her smile was particularly

all giggly this early, huh? Dreaming up