The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Boyd idly pushed around the green beans on his plate and said coolly, “Compared to before.”

“Yeah. With all those books you read, you should grasp the concept of self-awareness. I know I’m not the most

straightforward person, and someday I might do something that’ll make y’all cringe. But what bugs me most is,

even if what they say is true, I can’t stand people bad-mouthing me. I won’t give them the satisfaction of calling me

shameless behind my back. I don’t need that kind of gossip in my life.”

Boyd watched as she flicked the onions from her salad to the side, her face twisted in disgust. He smirked slightly, “I

thought you didn’t care about such things?”

“So I should just let everyone nitpick at me?” Yasmine’s appetite vanished as she shoveled a few more forkfuls of

mashed potatoes into her mouth. “I am also a human being. I don’t care, so does that mean anyone can freely slap

a label on me?”

Boyd just looked at her, “You can always set the record straight.” He slowly took another bite, “But this is because

of what I said to you in art class, isn’t it? If it isn’t you, you could explain, or prove your innocence.”

Yasmine’s movements quickened, and soon her plate was empty, save for the pile of onions in the corner.d2

“No need.” She slammed her fork down a bit too hard, “If I’m already so despicable in everyone’s eyes, what’s the

point? Proving myself once means I might have to do it again. Who am I proving my innocence for? Them? Or you?

Who among you is worthy of my explanation?”

A shadow fell across Boyd’s usually clear-cut gaze. “It seems you feel quite wronged indeed.”

Yasmine stared at him for a moment before standing up abruptly. “You’re right, I’m no saint. To suffer baseless

accusations is indeed a grievance.”

Boyd finished his last bite of food, “So, isn’t that also one of the reasons to clear your name?”

“Not good enough.” Yasmine raised her voice, her chin up, her eyes looking down at Boyd with a chilly smile,

“They’ve wronged me for no reason, and you think proving my innocence is that simple?”

She picked up her plate and pushed back her chair, “They made me suffer, and I intend to make them suffer more.

Today, thanks to you, Boyd, I realized I still have a twisted sense of humor. An eye for an eye makes life more

interesting. So everyone had better watch out. Don’t think I’m just talking. I’m full of cunning plans, and not using

them would be a disservice.”

The whole cafeteria fell silent.

All the kids were looking at Yasmine, with confusion, disgust, and fear in their eyes. There were few people around

Yasmine, and fear of her was definitely a part of the reason.

Boyd glanced up at her, “You don’t care about the suspicions of others, but my words stir up such a reaction?”

Yasmine paused, her grip on the plate tightening. She was silent for a moment before looking straight into his eyes

and said frankly, “Because I think no amount of reading can make up for your useless brain, and it’s just sad. After

all, we go way back, and now to realize I’ve been wrong about you from the start, it feels like a waste of time.”

Boyd looked up at her, and for the first time, his usually expressionless face showed a hint of anger. An immature

face filled with the force of fury.

Yasmine felt a sudden sense of satisfaction. Nothing pleased her more than hitting Boyd’s sore spot.

Serana got up with a worried look and approached them. “Yasmine…”

“Cut it.”

Yasmine cut her off coldly, giving her a cool glance and walked away with her plate towards the tray return area.

She left the cafeteria without looking back. Her demeanor was clearly that of someone about to do something

drastic.

Boyd frowned and stood up, his face set as he followed her out. The rest of the cafeteria exchanged puzzled

glances before they too followed.

When they stepped outside, Yasmine was by the flowerbed, yanking out the lilies that had survived the recent cold

snap, one handful after another, in front of everyone, including Boyd and Serana.

She even tossed the uprooted flowers at Serana’s feet. Staring at Serana, who had tears in her eyes and was

trembling, Yasmine said coldly, “You like them, don’t you? Take them. They’re a gift. Keep them as long as you like.”

The surrounding kids couldn’t help but murmur disapprovingly.

Yasmine still looked at Serana with cold eyes, “You are ignorant and stupid. I do despise you.”

Ignoring the surrounding chatter, she continued, “I can’t understand why you’d hide your dislike for someone. I

despise you, and I want you to know it. Otherwise, what’s the point of my dislike?”

She gestured with her chin towards the flowers at Serana’s feet, “I despise you, I pulled up the flowers, and there’s

no need to be sneaky about it.”

She turned to look at Boyd, her face sarcastic, “I’m not into playing your subversive games. Not interested, not

worth it. I act openly, and if people decide it’s me, I don’t feel wronged by a bit of slander. But if I were to do it

secretly and still get blamed, then I end up with the reputation of a cowardly schemer. Why go the longest way

round to suffer the biggest insult? What for?”

The others didn’t quite grasp the meaning of Yasmine’s words, but Boyd’s face suddenly turned ashen.

Why indeed? Yasmine was never naive or foolish. She wouldn’t bother with thankless tasks.

Serana picked up the flowers, and the students crowded around her. Yasmine watched the throng with the same

biting sarcasm, unaffected.

The matter escalated, and the director arrived. The students babbled the story, but the director was visibly upset, “I

never said Yasmine was responsible for this. Without evidence, it’s irresponsible to blame her. Do you understand?

How would you feel if you were falsely accused of something you didn’t do?”

After a moment of silence, the director’s words hung in the air, leaving much to be considered.

“But I swear, we saw her always hanging around the garden. If it wasn’t her, who else could it be? Those beautiful

flowers, how could anyone be so heartless.”

The director sighed heavily, “Those flowers weren’t willfully destroyed by Yasmine. The reason they blossomed so

beautifully was largely due to her care. She’s been tending to them all along. So, it couldn’t have been her. No one

destroys what they cherish so easily.”

The room erupted in murmurs of disbelief.

“How is that possible? Those flowers were clearly Serena’s little project.”

“True, Serena did plant the seeds, but without Yasmine, that garden wouldn’t have thrived the way it did.”

The children were relentless, “But she just uprooted all of them, even if it wasn’t her, even if she had contributed,

she destroyed what she loved.”

The director shook his head in resignation, “If she decided to destroy them, then she must have felt that those

things were no longer worth her love, or perhaps, they didn’t deserve her love anymore.”

Standing quietly to the side was Boyd, whose eyes suddenly flashed. He looked up at Yasmine, but she avoided his

gaze.

The director paused, then turned to the teachers nearby, “This afternoon’s class, let’s teach the kids about

cultivating lilies.”

The teachers nodded in agreement and accepted the task.

“I’d like to take a leave,” Yasmine spoke up, dusting the soil off her hands, “director, Bryson is taking me out this

afternoon.”

The director looked at her for a moment before responding, “Alright, you already know plenty about cultivating

lilies.”

Yasmine forced a smile, “May I borrow your phone?”

“Use the one in my office.”

“Thank you.”

With that, Yasmine thanked him and walked towards the office, passing by Boyd with an expressionless face.

Boyd’s fingers twitched slightly, but by the time he raised his hand, Yasmine was already far way.

—

Compared to the other orphans, Yasmine’s life was relatively decent. Over the past few years, Bryson had started a

small business in P City. It wasn’t a big enterprise, but aside from annual donations to the orphanage, he showed

particular favoritism towards Yasmine.

Although the director often wondered why Bryson didn’t just take her out of the orphanage, he never mentioned it.

Secretly, the director thought it might be best to keep it that way, as it meant additional funding for them each

year.

On Yasmine’s birthday, Bryson sometimes didn’t show up, but the month after her birthday, he would make it a

point to visit the orphanage and improve the meals for everyone, providing a delicate cupcake for each child.

No words were needed. The joy of a delicious treat was enough to make the kids happy and boisterous. That was

enough.

A few days later, during the orphanage’s celebration for Yasmine’s birthday, Boyd made an appearance.

After dinner, they played in the yard, a time for post-meal activity. Yasmine sat beside the flowerbed, with a shovel

in hand. Her uniform, though washed to a faded white, was spotless. Her sleeves rolled up to her elbows revealed

slender arms that moved with the rhythm of the shovel.

Bored, idle, and listless.

Boyd sat down beside her, handing her a wrapped package. Yasmine, with her hands behind her back and chin

propped on her wrist, glanced at him but didn’t accept it.

“Happy Birthday.”

Yasmine tugged at the corner of her mouth, slightly turning her head to look at him, “Looking for a shortcut, Boyd?

Trying to curry favor by timing your gift with my birthday? Should I consider this an apology or a birthday present?”

Boyd’s lips curved up slightly, “If it was a gift to appease you, would you accept it? If not, then it’s just a birthday

present.”

Yasmine scoffed and grasped the shovel tighter, casually turning the soil in the flowerbed. “I’m not accepting it.”

Boyd stood, squatting beside her, “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, and I feel really guilty. I think a sincere

apology is in order.”

“Don’t talk to me about how you feel,” Yasmine said indifferently, her shovel patting the clumps of earth. “It’s

irrelevant to me how guilty you feel. In fact, knowing you’re uncomfortable makes me quite happy.”

Boyd pursed his lips, “Yes, I feel bad. It is good to know that you’re happy. Maybe if you accepted my apology, I’d

feel even more guilty for doubting such a kind and generous person.”