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.

man to be trifled with. Too many times Yulia felt like

art of gentleness was

with a familiar kick from an impatient foot. Yulia’s eyelids fluttered but she didn’t

her eyes.

didn’t mind. However, she couldn’t

her, his broad,

on her skin.

to pay

and propped herself against his shoulder, catching her breath as she

at him.

softly, “Don’t flatter yourself. Even if you wanted me

me.”

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

her on his

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

conversation. Her

with laughter. Yulia, face flushed, clutched the towel and tried to slide off his lap,

he

“Stay put.”

Yulia protested, “I’m hungry too. I want

a bite and fed it to

and eventually

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

lots of food,

alternated between feeding himself and Yulia.

and refused more food, but Nathan stubbornly fed

before giving up.

food in her, Yulia’s fatigue

it was nearly dawn.

recent exertion, had taken their toll. Once back in bed, she fell asleep in Nathan’s

distracted all day. At the company, his brother

flooded with unread documents.

to

he tossed the phone aside, content with the soft

drifted off to

—

internal clock. She saw Nathan and stiffened for just

softly as she lay on his chest, gazing at

devilish charm, it was as though he

seemed almost gentle.

the air, admiring

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

made the corners of her lips curve into a wider grin. He

be an

Pfft.

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

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

it had something

her, he saw that indeed, her smile

all giggly this early, huh? Dreaming up some R-rated scenarios about