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.

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

art of gentleness was something she wished she could teach

an impatient foot.

her eyes.

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

trapped her, his broad,

on her skin.

had to

his shoulder, catching her breath as

at him. “I’m

“Don’t flatter yourself. Even if you

me.”

that, he flipped the covers back, wrapped her in a towel, and

down with her on his

remembered she hadn’t

stomach eagerly joined the conversation. Her stomach grumbled on

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

her waist and he picked up a

“Stay put.”

hungry too. I want

forked up a bite and

and eventually

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

had prepared lots of

himself and Yulia. Of course, he ate more, and Yulia

food, but Nathan stubbornly fed her

before giving up.

some food in her, Yulia’s fatigue eased

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

Once back in bed,

had been distracted all day. At the company, his brother was hardly managing things,

flooded with unread documents.

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

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

drifted off

—

internal clock. She saw Nathan and

lay on his

such a devilish charm, it was as though he was crafted

seemed almost gentle.

in the air, admiring the canvas that

His beauty begged for exploration, but here

made the corners of her lips curve into a wider

to be

Pfft.

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

distance, Nathan woke up as soon as she pressed

it had something to do with

her, he saw

you all giggly this early, huh? Dreaming up