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.

gentleness was something she

from an impatient foot. Yulia’s eyelids fluttered but

her eyes.

room, but she didn’t mind. However,

kisses trapped her, his broad, warm

on her skin.

to pay attention

away and propped herself against his shoulder, catching

him.

and chuckled softly, “Don’t flatter yourself. Even

me.”

the covers back, wrapped her in a towel, and

her on

on the coffee table, she remembered she hadn’t eaten at

conversation. Her stomach

clutched the towel and tried to slide off his lap, but

and he picked up a bowl of

“Stay put.”

Yulia protested, “I’m hungry too. I

bite and fed

and

her comply and took a bite himself. After

lots of food, knowing

and

full and refused more food,

before giving up.

in her,

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

Once back in bed, she fell asleep in Nathan’s

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

flooded with unread documents.

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

he tossed the

and drifted

—

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

softly as she lay on his chest, gazing at his

he was

seemed almost gentle.

air, admiring the canvas that should rightfully

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

curve into a wider grin.

be

Pfft.

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

woke up as soon as

help but feel it had something to do

to stare at her, he saw that indeed, her smile was particularly

early, huh? Dreaming up some