The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“I can get a PR firm to sweep this under the rug. I could have handled it myself.”

Ronald listened until I finished speaking. “Yulia, is Anya really your sister?”

His unexpected question made Yulia’s heart skip a beat. Without thinking, she shot back, “Of course she is my

sister.”

“I’m just curious. What exactly were you doing during those months you disappeared? It’s one thing to have a tight

grip on the company shares, but doesn’t the sudden appearance of a sister strike you as odd?”

Yulia pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. “What’s so odd about it? Only someone with a

dark mind would find everything peculiar.”

“And why are you so nervous then?” Ronald pressed.d2

Yulia swallowed hard, her hand on her chest curling into a fist. “I’m not.”

“Yulia, I really hope Anya is your sister.”

Yulia bit her lip and stayed silent.

But Ronald persisted, “So, is she really your sister?”

That question had been eating at him for a while. Yulia’s disappearance and the sudden appearance of a sister

upon her return were too closely linked. He knew her parents were a solid couple. It was unthinkable that her father

would have a child with another woman so soon after her mother’s death.

And if it were true, why couldn’t he find any information about Anya’s mother? There should be some trace of her

after her father passed away.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“As long as Anya isn’t involved with Nathan, it doesn’t matter if you’re hiding something about her.”

“It’s none of your business, and you don’t need to know.”

“Yulia.” Ronald called her name, halting her. “Have you considered what would happen if the media shifted their

focus to Anya? Even if they don’t find anything, what about Nathan then? Can you be sure he doesn’t care or won’t

do his own digging?”

Yulia trembled slightly, “What’s there to investigate? Anya is my sister.”

“Yulia, I said it before, you’re nervous. Why?”

Caught off guard again, her heart clenched, and she had no idea what to say. Instinctively, she ended the call. Anya

looked up at her with big, puzzled eyes. “Yulipop, are you scared? Is Mister Ronald bullying you?”

She stared at Anya for a long moment before shaking her head. “No.”

Anya still looked concerned and gently patted Yulia’s stomach. “Don’t be scared, I’ll protect you.”

Yulia’s eyes filled with a tender light as she tousled Anya’s hair.

“I’ll always protect you, Anya.”

Yulia’s phone buzzed with a message from Ronald. [We need to meet. I’ll pick you up in a bit.]

[No need.]

Replying curtly, she put her phone away.

Forty minutes later, Yulia was in the kitchen, managing only a few simple dishes. Carly had tried to kick Yulia out a

couple of times, but only when Anya started complaining of hunger did Yulia reluctantly abandon her culinary

experiments and leave the dining room.

But then, the doorbell rang. It was Ronald, standing at the doorway.

Yulia frowned, “Didn’t you get my message?”

“I think it’s necessary. For the company, for Anya, and for you.”

“Don’t say it was for me.” Yulia cut him off coldly. “What do you know? What are you trying to prove? What do you

think I can’t handle now?

“The only thing that nearly broke me in this life is behind me. I’ve survived betrayal by the one person I trusted

most, the only one I thought I could turn to. What’s left that I can’t handle?”

Ronald pursed his lips, “Yulia, you know I’ve never meant to hurt you. Never.”

Yulia knew her emotions were out of control. She took a deep breath and realized Anya was watching them,

confused.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Ronald asked.

Yulia knew refusing him would just send him away for the moment, but…

She glanced towards the second floor, then grabbed her coat and told Anya, “Stay home and play with Carly for a

bit, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Anya hugged her leg. “Will anyone bully you?”

Yulia smiled softly. “Ask Mister Ronald.”

Anya looked up at Ronald with curiosity.

He offered a faint smile. “I like her too much to bully her.”

Anya beamed. “You like Yulipop?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

“But you can only like her a little bit. Yulipop belongs to Nathan, so you can’t like her too much.”

Ronald’s smile stiffened for just a moment. He smiled without speaking further, and Yulia stroked Anya’s head. Then

Yulia put on her coat and stepped out.

_

“You won’t even let me into your house?”

She walked briskly toward the elevator. “It’s not convenient at home.”

Ronald chuckled lightly. “To avoid suspicion? Or is Nathan there?”

“Isn’t either reason valid?”

The smile faded from Ronald’s face. “If you care so much for him and your marriage seems so perfect, why did you

debase yourself to come to me? With the Harper family’s resources and Nathan’s willingness to pay or apply a little

pressure, couldn’t he have easily settled your troubles? And you don’t have to cheat on him.”

Ronald’s voice held a tinge of anger. At first, Yulia was furious, but then, silence followed her rage. The past reared

its ugly head, sending a shiver down her spine.

Handing herself over to him? Cheating on Nathan?

Her lips pressed tightly together, Yulia remained silent. No one else knew that Nathan himself had wanted her to

cheat on him, and to seduce Ronald of all people.

“Why don’t you say something?” Ronald’s voice broke the silence.

“What is it that you want me to say?” Yulia’s voice was icy as she looked up at him. “What’s the reason for your visit

today?”

As the elevator doors slid open, she stepped out, with Ronald trailing behind her. Watching her cold and resolute

back, Ronald suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm from behind.

“Yulia…”

Yulia struggled at first, and when she realized it was futile, she looked up at him, angered. “What do you think

you’re doing?!”

“Do you hate me that much? Hate me for walking out on you? For not supporting you, not handing over the Shaw

family shares?” he asked, pain etching his features.

“Yes! Yes!” Yulia admitted with a sudden outburst, her voice almost a roar. “Why wouldn’t I hate you? You were my

boyfriend, who vowed to protect me for life. I trusted you, Ronald. Do you think that is not enough for me to hate

you?”