The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Though they had seen much of life’s harsh realities, the children at the local orphanage couldn’t fathom the depths

of darkness that might dwell in the heart of a seven-year-old girl who had just lost her parents.

Serana kept to herself, a solitary figure in the corner, quiet and well-behaved in class, and equally so during recess,

watching the others play with an expressionless demeanor, like a still pond devoid of life.

Perhaps they sensed a kindred spirit in her, or maybe it was pity, or a thick slather of curiosity, but from that point

on, Boyd had someone else woven into the tapestry of his childhood.

From then until now, Serana had become a thread running through the narrative of his life.

In their daily interactions, Serana was the picture of innocence, speaking in gentle whispers, looking at people with

sincerity and care. Even as the years passed and she grew, she never changed – tender and fragile, yet brave and

stubborn.

Outwardly, she seemed as delicate as a glass figurine, always needing protection, yet she fiercely tried to prove her

strength, insisting she didn’t need anyone’s care and could even protect others.d2

Such a girl was irresistibly endearing – tender and attentive, pure and kind, brave, stubborn, and resilient.

Like her long, dark hair, the number of people drawn to her grew day by day. And it was true what they said – girls

should have long hair.

Yasmine was beautiful but frosty by nature. Others kept their distance. From start to finish, Boyd was her only

constant, and she never felt lonely. At least, not until she suddenly realized what loneliness was and found that

certain things had become inevitable.

Boyd’s time was no longer solely dedicated to her as he began to learn deeper subjects beyond the basic

curriculum.

Companion? She had never considered Boyd’s presence as companionship before.

But when did it start? It wasn’t when Boyd’s time began to scatter, leaving more for Serana.

Was it from the moments they shared meals together, or those occasional breaks when they sat beside the flower

beds?

Or when they planted a lily bulb together, one digging a hole, the other tenderly placing the bulb inside?

She never felt it then.

But somehow, Serana began to irk her. And in their routine, she’d find herself unintentionally showing indifference

or even hostility towards Serana.

The other kids at Angel’s Haven Orphanage noticed too, whispering behind their backs, but she never bothered to

refute them.

Because she knew it was true.

When did it start, exactly?

Perhaps it was when the lilies in the garden bloomed exceptionally beautiful, and the two silhouettes sitting together

appeared so harmonious.

And then, a few days later, she found the desecrated lilies, and realized something had changed.

The garden’s vibrant lilies had been a captivating sight at Angel’s Haven Orphanage. Now, they were mostly dead,

their petals scattered, leaves shredded, and stems snapped. Such an act was a significant event in the otherwise

tranquil orphanage, and the investigation began.

“It was Yasmine. Just days after planting, I saw her by the garden, holding a trowel and looking pensive,” said one.

“I saw her too, uprooting the seedlings with that trowel,” added another.

“Recently, her gaze towards the garden was frightening, like… like when she looks at Serana,” a third chimed in.

“She doesn’t like Serana. We all know that. The lilies were planted by Serana, so it must’ve been her,” concluded

another.

The accusations piled up, but Yasmine just smiled.

She had merely added extra seeds after Serana planted, knowing the germination rate was low. And when the

seedlings grew too dense, she thinned them out so the others could flourish.

They didn’t understand these simple gardening concepts and blamed her out of ignorance, which she found both

frustrating and laughable.

Serana said nothing, just knelt by the ruined garden, picking up petals with tears streaming down her face. Her

tears drew even more displeasure at Yasmine, but the children’s naive and ignorant gazes didn’t warrant her

concern.

“I don’t have any particular feelings about Serana. There’s no motive. It wasn’t me,” she stated plainly.

The head of the orphanage didn’t jump to conclusions based on the children’s words, agreeing with Yasmine’s

simple statement. After all, the lilies thrived mainly because of Yasmine’s care.

The matter was dropped for the time being, and the investigation continued quietly, possibly leading to a private

reprimand for the culprit.

Boyd, who hadn’t visited the scene of the “crime,” seemed indifferent to the whole ordeal.

The following afternoon, during a rare appearance in craft class, he paired up with Yasmine, who had been working

alone at a long table, as Serana was already working with someone else.

Yasmine, playing with colorful paper, greeted him casually. “Rare sight,” she remarked.

Boyd set down the heavy finance books he’d been carrying – a surprising choice for someone his age that she’d

grown accustomed to.

Without a word, he shook the books, and out fluttered colorful petals. One book after another, until Yasmine saw

the table covered in the petals of lilies, pressed flat and still vibrant.

Her heart felt inexplicably heavy.

She looked up at him, his eyes serene but his lips curved in a casual smile. “I recall Serana was the one who

gathered up all those flower petals.”

Boyd regarded her with a detached gaze, standing by the table, not much taller than the piece of furniture itself.

However, those eyes seemed to hold a universe of secrets, now veiled with a frosty film.

“You don’t seem to care much about them,” he observed.

Yasmine glanced at the petals and let out a light chuckle. “And what, pray tell, should I feel about them?”

He stared at her for a long moment. “Indeed, Serana picked them up. She cried over them for an entire day.”

She paused, tearing off excess edges from the colored paper in her hands. “So, you think I should have a good cry

over them too?”

“You look rather happy as it is.”

Yasmine was all too accustomed to Boyd’s way of conversation. Always skirting full disclosure, they nevertheless

understood each other’s unspoken words with ease.

Her heart continued to sink, a suffocating weight. “Don’t I have the right to be happy?”

She hesitated for a second before continuing, “Do you think I had something to do with this mess?”

Boyd ran his finger over the petals. “Didn’t you say you had no motive?”

Suddenly, Yasmine froze, her heart laced with an inexplicable guilt.

Motive. Perhaps there was one, shadowy and blurred. She had no particular fondness for Serana, and those lilies

had indeed been an eyesore.

The reason was rooted deep within her, yet she took a deep breath and brushed past the issue.

“Yeah, I have no motive. What makes you suspect me?”

Boyd sneered. “Since when does disliking someone need a reason?”

Yasmine laughed in spite of herself, but his words rang true. Dislike was reason enough.

“Why would I have a problem with her?”

Boyd watched her for a while before responding. “You’re asking me?”

Yasmine pursed her lips. “Even so, it’s just a matter of probability. There are plenty who don’t like her. Why are you

so convinced I’m the culprit?”

Boyd took a piece of green paper and began gluing petals onto it, clearly reconstructing the lilies.

Yasmine watched coldly.

After a while, he muttered, “Yasmine, in the entire orphanage, you are the most cunning and unpredictable one.”

That craft class, Yasmine hadn’t managed to create anything, her desk littered with scraps.

Boyd patiently pieced together the petals into a vibrant bouquet of lilies, carefully wrapped in colored paper, which

he then handed to Serana.

“Put them in an airtight jar, and they’ll last as long as you want.” His tone was still cool, but tempered with an

unusual gentleness.

Serana’s eyes sparkled with joy and gratitude. “So beautiful, thank you.”

Boyd nodded, with a hint of a smile on his lips.

Too young to understand, Yasmine didn’t know why her heart ached. She thought it was just unfair.

Boyd didn’t trust her. She was too scheming for anyone’s comfort.

Hmph.