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.

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

was something

opened with a familiar kick from an impatient foot. Yulia’s

her eyes.

she didn’t mind.

trapped her, his broad, warm

on her skin.

had to pay

his

at him. “I’m

nibbled on her lip and chuckled softly, “Don’t flatter

me.”

her in a towel, and carried her

with her on

saw the food on the coffee table, she remembered

conversation.

the towel and tried to slide off his lap, but

and he picked up a bowl of

“Stay put.”

“I’m hungry too. I want to

bite

reluctantly accepted and eventually

comply and took a bite himself. After she finished,

had prepared lots of food,

alternated between feeding himself and Yulia. Of course,

food, but

before giving up.

some food in her, Yulia’s fatigue

a quick shower in the bathroom, it was nearly dawn. The tiredness had

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

At the company, his brother was hardly managing

flooded with unread documents.

wanting to leave the comfort of his

rough idea in mind, he

and drifted off to

—

courtesy of her internal clock. She saw Nathan and stiffened for just a

she lay on his chest, gazing at his

it was as though he

seemed almost gentle.

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

exploration, but here he was, hers and hers alone. At least

curve into

be an

Pfft.

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

up as soon as she pressed against his chest. Now,

it had something

to stare at her, he saw that indeed,

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