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.

to be trifled with. Too many times Yulia felt like

gentleness was something

an impatient foot. Yulia’s

her eyes.

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

her, his broad, warm

on her skin.

had to pay

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

at him. “I’m

nibbled on her lip and chuckled softly, “Don’t flatter yourself. Even if you wanted me now, you couldn’t

me.”

in a towel, and carried her to

with her

coffee table, she remembered she hadn’t eaten at

the conversation. Her stomach

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

around her waist and he picked

“Stay put.”

“I’m hungry too.

a bite

and

himself. After she finished, he

lots of

the meal, Nathan alternated between feeding himself and Yulia. Of course, he

Eventually, Yulia was full and refused more food, but Nathan stubbornly fed her

before giving up.

her, Yulia’s

was nearly

exertion, had taken their toll. Once back in bed, she fell asleep in

At the company, his brother was hardly managing

flooded with unread documents.

with both body and mind relaxed and not wanting to leave the comfort of his bed,

idea in mind, he tossed the phone aside, content

drifted

—

next day, Yulia woke first, courtesy of her internal clock. She saw Nathan and stiffened for just a

smiling softly as she lay on his chest,

though he was crafted solely to tempt women.

seemed almost gentle.

the air, admiring the canvas that should rightfully

for exploration, but here he was,

her lips curve into a wider grin. He pretended

to be

Pfft.

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

soon as she pressed against his chest. Now, hearing

help but feel it had something

her, he saw that

got you all giggly this early, huh? Dreaming