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.

build, was not a man to be trifled with. Too many

of gentleness was something she wished she

kick from an impatient

her eyes.

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

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

on her skin.

to pay

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

him.

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

me.”

a towel, and carried her to the sofa by the window, where

her on

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

conversation.

the towel and tried

around her waist and he picked up a bowl

“Stay put.”

hungry too.

forked up a bite

reluctantly accepted and

himself. After she finished, he

had prepared lots of food, knowing

feeding himself and Yulia. Of course, he ate

Yulia was full and refused more food, but Nathan stubbornly

before giving up.

her, Yulia’s fatigue

the bathroom, it was nearly

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

all day. At the company, his brother was hardly managing things, and his inbox

flooded with unread documents.

mind relaxed and not wanting to

phone. With a rough idea in mind, he tossed the phone aside, content

and drifted

—

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

relaxing, smiling softly as she lay on his chest,

a devilish charm, it was as though he was crafted solely to

seemed almost gentle.

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

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

made the corners of her lips curve into

be an innocent

Pfft.

head unexpectedly, and she couldn’t

as soon as she

feel it had something to do

his eyes to stare at her, he saw that indeed, her smile was

all giggly this early, huh?