The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 1854

Chapter 1854

Even though their marriage wasn't one of true love, now their issues had become the talk of the town.

Couldn't he, for the sake of the years they had shared a bed, leave her with some dignity? What was she supposed to do as a nominal wife when her husband was out gallivanting?

And where did she truly stand? She didn't even know what her proper attitude should be.

A wife? Did he ever consider her one? Putting on a show for herself was just ridiculous.

Perhaps he had grown tired of her these past few days, and was hinting that she should initiate the divorce?

Ronald noticed her hesitation and spoke up again. "Yulia, now that Anya's become the center of attention, if you keep dragging your feet..."d2

"Ronald," Yulia suddenly cut him off.

"What?"

"Anya is important to me, but getting caught up in the mess with Nathan again would just be another misunderstanding. What are you really thinking?"

Ronald paused for a moment, "Yulia, I can't find any record of this supposed biological mother of Anya you've been mentioning."

"So?"

"Is Anya actually your daughter?"

Yulia's grip on her phone tightened, and after a few seconds, she let out a cold laugh, "You have quite the imagination. Whose daughter?"

"Nathan's."

The cold laugh on Yulia's face froze, and her complexion turned pale. For a long time, she said nothing. "I never had any interaction with him before."

"Nathan used to be a drifter, carefree and wayward. He's been to many places, and you, coming from the South to the North, have also moved through several cities. In three of those cities, there's a chance you and he may have crossed paths, however big or small. The odds are too slim. It's rare for two people to even have that kind of probability of fate in the same city. I don't know if it was a fluke or if you planned it, but other than him, men rarely appear around you. If Anya is your daughter, then the only father I can think of is Nathan."

Yulia seemed dazed. Had they really crossed paths in three cities?

She couldn't remember. All she knew was that Nathan was her last lifeline. When she knew his identity and happened to be in the same city, she did the craziest and boldest thing of her life.

As for the child...

"Yulia, Anya's right there, and I have plenty of opportunities to prove your relationship. You don't need to hide it from me. The only person you need to hide it from is Nathan. Everyone can know, except Nathan. Yulia, if you keep delaying, you might really lose Anya."

Yulia's breathing hitched. Ronald really had her by the throat. He always knew what mattered most to her.

"Even if I divorce Nathan, it doesn't mean we'll end up together."

Ronald chuckled, "That's okay. At least, I'll have a legitimate chance to pursue you again."

"Have you thought about my position in the company once we divorce?"

"I'll give all the shares to you."

Yulia let out a scoff, "Even if I'm not with you?"

"I owe you."

"Name your price," Yulia suddenly said.

Ronald frowned, "Do we really have to make it that clear between us?"

"As long as you're not my parents or my husband, it has to be clear."

Ronald was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Alright. I'll sell them to you." As long as she agreed to divorce Nathan, anything was acceptable.

Yulia hung up the phone without another word. She glanced at the trending news before exiting the app.

--

It was a given that Nathan wouldn't return that evening. After putting Anya to bed, Yulia sat alone on her own bed, lost in thought.

She turned her phone on and off repeatedly, unsure how many times she had done so. She was tempted to call Nathan and ask what the hell he was up to., but then she remembered that he probably wouldn't have time to answer the phone. Or perhaps she would interrupt something important, earning a burst of anger or ridicule for overstepping her bounds.

After agonizing for a while, her phone warned of low battery, and she finally plugged it in, crawled under the covers, and tried to sleep.

--

At the bar, Nathan left with a woman, and the crowd's curiosity faded as quickly as it had arisen. Those who frequented bars weren't exactly saints.

A man leaving with a woman was hardly an unusual sight. In fact, it was rather common. Nothing of interest there.

The room Nathan had been given was of the highest quality. As soon as he entered, he flung the woman onto the couch and seated himself opposite her, watching her with a smirk. "How are you going to thank me?"

The woman sat up, her face flushed. "I... I don't know."

"Hmm," Nathan chuckled, "Hasn't anyone taught you? There's really only one way to show gratitude around here."

She didn't respond.

Nathan loosened his tie and continued to watch her in silence. That gaze seemed casual, but it had a piercing quality.

Eventually, the woman stood up and approached Nathan, straddling his lap, her knees resting on the couch, her hands on his shoulders.

Nathan's lips twitched as he lazily looked up at her, "Are you a virgin?"

She stiffened slightly, "Didn't you say I should properly thank you?"

As she leaned in for a kiss, Nathan laughed softly, looking up at her without dodging. "If you're not a virgin, get off me. I only play with virgins." His face wore a smile, but his eyes were cold and unyielding.

The woman's expression soured, "I've had a boyfriend before."

"Get off." Her words were cut short by Nathan's icy command.

She hesitated, and Nathan's hands gripped her shoulders and pushed with sudden force. Caught off guard, she tumbled onto the adjacent couch, her position awkward and her cry of surprise adding to her embarrassment.

Nathan brushed off his shoulders, leaned back, propped his head on his hand, and watched her coldly. "Who gave you the impression I'm someone who would settle for just any woman?"

Watching the woman scramble to sit up, Nathan couldn't help but let out a derisive chuckle. "How many guys have you fooled with that innocent act of yours, huh?"

The woman bit her lip, her gaze darting around uncertainly. "I... I haven't."

Nathan's smirk only deepened. "At least you managed to fool one, otherwise the price wouldn't have come down so easily, right? How much? I'll double it for you. How does that sound?"

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

Nathan raised an eyebrow, his fingers curling up to his temple as he casually rotated them.

"Anyway. I just wanted to thank you, Nathan. I've returned your clothes, and I... I should get going now."

As the woman spoke, she got to her feet, ready to leave in a hurry.

Nathan's eyes were closed. "Try leaving this room, I dare you."

The woman froze in place. "Nathan..."

"I didn't say that I can't play with non-virgins. Come here."

The woman stood still, unsure of how to react to this man's contradictory statements. His words just now clearly meant that he didn’t intend to hook up with her..

All she wanted was to leave, but she was too afraid to move.

Nathan lay on the couch, a frown creasing his brow, a sheen of sweat on his handsome face.

The woman hesitated in place for what felt like an eternity. Finally, under pressure, she turned back around. Taking in Nathan's somewhat abnormal state, she was surprised.

She thought about leaving, but as soon as she turned around, her wrist was suddenly gripped. She jumped at the sudden contact, feeling the unexpected heat of his hand.

After a moment's thought, she turned back around and placed her hand on Nathan's forehead. It was burning up.

"Nathan, you have a fever."

"Shut up. Just stay put. You don’t want to know what will happen if you step out of this room."

The woman was silent. For a long time afterward, the room was devoid of conversation.

---

Nathan was notorious for his escapades with escorts, even openly taking a woman to a hotel room. It was common knowledge.

Outside the apartment building, a crowd of reporters had already gathered. Carly arrived early in the morning and overheard the chatter about Nathan, Yulia, and Anya. Once inside the apartment, she relayed the situation to Yulia.

Yulia was silent for a moment before saying, "Carly, you might have to work a bit harder these next few days. Keep a close eye on Anya, and don't let her go out. Who knows what those people are capable of."

"I know, don't worry. I'll take good care of little Anya."

Yulia gave a tight-lipped smile as her phone rang.

"I'm waiting downstairs for you." It was Ronald.

"Ronald, aren't you being a bit too much?"

"There are so many reporters outside, I'm worried. Get ready and come down. We'll go to work together."

Yulia was exasperated. "You know there are reporters watching and you still come?!"

Ronald chuckled. "Yeah, I wish they all knew I'm pursuing you."

"Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm being very rational right now. Besides, with the current situation, it won't look too bad for you, right?"

Yulia frowned, knowing what Ronald meant. Nathan shamelessly cheating and humiliating her as his wife. So, she too could have a change of heart. It was just a game, after all. This way, she wouldn't look so pitiful.

"I don't need to tarnish my reputation over this."

"I've never thought of it that way, Yulia. Everyone knows we were a real couple once. No one will talk."

Yulia took a deep breath, not in the mood to argue with him, but a thought suddenly crossed her mind. She decided to go downstairs and join him for work.

After reminding Carly once more, Yulia got ready to leave.

Ronald made no attempt to hide their reunion. When he was seen escorting Yulia away and it was confirmed they were going to work together, the excitement was palpable.

No need for further investigation. Their past relationship was well known. And with Ronald's sudden involvement, the complicated situation suddenly seemed simpler.

Especially regarding Anya's origin, a plausible explanation suddenly emerged. She’s the child of Yulia and her ex-boyfriend.

---

Nathan had a stomachache all night, unsure how he fell asleep. When he woke up, he was in bed.

The woman seemed to have spent the night on the couch. She wasn't awake yet. His head throbbed. Reaching out, he felt a damp towel on his forehead.

He tossed the towel aside and looked at the woman, only then remembering the events of the previous night.

After some thought, he lay still, turning to face the other side. After squinting for a while, he woke again to find the woman awake, but for some unknow reasons, her look was a mix of nervousness

and pity.

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