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

The art of gentleness was

door opened with a familiar kick from an

her eyes.

the room, but she didn’t mind. However,

his broad, warm

on her skin.

had to pay attention

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

at him.

softly, “Don’t flatter

me.”

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

with her

table, she remembered she hadn’t eaten at all. Now that

stomach eagerly joined the conversation. Her stomach

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

he picked up

“Stay put.”

“I’m hungry too. I

up a bite and

accepted and eventually chewed

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

lots of food,

and Yulia.

food, but Nathan stubbornly fed her

before giving up.

food in her, Yulia’s fatigue eased

the bathroom, it was nearly dawn. The tiredness

Once back in bed, she fell

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

flooded with unread documents.

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

With a rough idea in mind, he

and drifted off to

—

courtesy of her internal

as she lay on

charm, it was as though he was crafted solely to tempt women. In his

seemed almost gentle.

his features in the air,

just her. His beauty begged for exploration, but here he was, hers and hers

the corners of her lips curve into

to be an

Pfft.

term innocent virgin popped into Yulia’s head unexpectedly,

soon as she pressed

feel it had something to

her, he saw that

this early, huh? Dreaming up some