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.

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

The art of gentleness was something she

kick from an impatient foot. Yulia’s

her eyes.

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

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

on her skin.

had to

herself against his shoulder,

at him. “I’m

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

me.”

the covers back, wrapped her in a towel, and

her on

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

stomach eagerly joined the conversation. Her

Yulia, face flushed, clutched the towel and

waist and he

“Stay put.”

hungry too.

up a bite and

and

himself. After she finished,

prepared lots of

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

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

before giving up.

her, Yulia’s fatigue eased a

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

back in bed, she fell asleep

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

flooded with unread documents.

and not wanting to leave the comfort of

With a rough idea in mind, he tossed the phone aside, content with the soft woman

and drifted off

—

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

smiling softly as she lay on his

such a devilish charm, it was as though he was crafted solely

seemed almost gentle.

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

beauty begged for exploration, but here he

thought alone made the corners of her lips curve into a wider

be

Pfft.

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

a close distance, Nathan woke up as soon as she

he couldn’t help but feel it had something to do with

he saw that indeed, her smile was

huh? Dreaming up some