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.

a man to be trifled with. Too many times Yulia felt like he’d nearly

was something she wished she could

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

her eyes.

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

her, his broad, warm palm

on her skin.

to

herself against his

him. “I’m

softly, “Don’t flatter yourself. Even if you

me.”

wrapped her in a towel, and carried her

her

food on the coffee table, she remembered

eagerly joined the conversation.

the towel and tried to slide off his

and he picked up

“Stay put.”

hungry too. I want

bite and fed it

accepted and

took a bite himself. After she finished, he fed

had prepared lots of food,

alternated between feeding himself and Yulia. Of course, he ate more, and

food, but Nathan stubbornly fed her

before giving up.

in her, Yulia’s fatigue eased

nearly dawn.

had taken their toll. Once back

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

flooded with unread documents.

relaxed and not wanting to leave the comfort of his bed,

in mind, he tossed the

and drifted

—

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

lay on his

though he was crafted solely to tempt women. In

seemed almost gentle.

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

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

her lips curve into a wider grin. He pretended to be a

be an

Pfft.

head unexpectedly,

up as soon as

help but feel it had something to

her, he saw that indeed,

you all giggly this early, huh? Dreaming up