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

of gentleness was something she wished she could

an impatient foot. Yulia’s eyelids

her eyes.

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

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

on her skin.

had to

herself against his

him.

nibbled on her lip and chuckled softly, “Don’t flatter yourself. Even if you

me.”

towel, and carried

down with her

the coffee table, she remembered

stomach eagerly joined the conversation. Her

laughter. Yulia, face flushed, clutched the towel and tried to slide off his lap, but Nathan’s

he

“Stay put.”

hungry too. I want

a bite and

and

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

lots of food, knowing Nathan’s

and Yulia. Of course, he ate more,

more food, but Nathan

before giving up.

her, Yulia’s fatigue eased

nearly dawn. The

had taken their toll. Once back in bed, she fell

At the company, his brother was hardly

flooded with unread documents.

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

he tossed the phone aside, content with

drifted off

—

woke first, courtesy of her internal

she lay on his chest, gazing at his

charm, it was as though he was crafted solely to

seemed almost gentle.

and sketched his features in the air, admiring the canvas

beauty begged for exploration, but here he

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

to be an innocent

Pfft.

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

soon as she

he couldn’t help but feel it had something to

her, he saw that indeed, her smile was particularly

you all giggly this early, huh?