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.

be trifled with. Too many times Yulia felt like he’d

gentleness was something she wished she

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

her eyes.

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

enveloped her, and his kisses trapped her, his broad, warm palm sneaking under

on her skin.

had to

pushed his hand away and propped herself against his

at him. “I’m

flatter yourself. Even if you wanted me now,

me.”

a towel, and carried

down with her on

remembered she hadn’t eaten at all. Now that food was in

eagerly joined the conversation. Her stomach grumbled on

clutched the towel and tried to slide off his

he picked up a bowl of

“Stay put.”

Yulia protested, “I’m hungry too.

forked up a bite and

reluctantly accepted and eventually

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

prepared lots of food, knowing

Nathan alternated between feeding himself and Yulia.

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

before giving up.

her, Yulia’s fatigue eased

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

exertion, had taken their toll. Once back in bed,

company, his brother was hardly managing

flooded with unread documents.

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

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

and drifted off to

—

day, Yulia woke first, courtesy of her internal clock. She

lay on his chest, gazing

a devilish charm, it was as though he was

seemed almost gentle.

sketched his features in the air, admiring the canvas that should rightfully be

but here

lips curve into a wider grin. He pretended to be a playboy,

be an

Pfft.

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

woke up as soon as she

it had

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

got you all giggly this early, huh? Dreaming