The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Noah’s body jolted, his gaze froze in an instant.

“Come on, Noah, don’t let Ella’s sacrifices be in vain. She wanted you and the Trettons to be okay. Just do it for her.”

“Where did she go?” Noah spoke as if Jon’s words had never reached his ears.

Jon silently stared at him.

Noah clenched his fists, his thin lips quivered, a ring of red encircling his eyes. He persistently repeated those few words. “Where did she go?”

No response came, his hoarse voice repeating the unchanged phrase. “Where did she go?”d2

Jon’s eyes shut almost in resolution.

Noah’s adam’s apple bobbed, “Dad, I’m begging you.”

Jon suddenly shuddered, his eyelids fluttering before snapping open.

“Ella did nothing wrong, it’s all on me. I’ve let things spiral into this mess. How can I live with myself using her life as a stepping stone?

“I can’t do what you call letting go, that’s not letting go. Dad, I can’t let Ella leave. There’s no one else in this world who’ll love me like she does.

“I know I messed up, but letting her go is an even bigger mistake. I need to make it right. I need to take care of her. I can’t stand the thought of her being with anyone else. What if someone breaks her heart?”

Considering the possibility, Noah’s throat worked violently, his voice ragged beyond recognition. “She loves me. She must be heartbroken without me. Dad, she must be crying right now. I have to find her. Dad, please.”

Jon slowly opened his eyes, wincing as if stabbed by the thought. His son, once proud and strong, now knelt before him, a picture of desolation and desperate pleading.

Ella was crying. Yes, she was crying.

Despite her calm expression during their last encounter, her eyes were red, her voice trembled, and every word she spoke seemed to exhaust all the strength in her body to restrain the emotions on the verge of collapse. So, he left just to give her space to vent her emotions.

She must be crying now.

He still couldn’t forget the profound sadness seeping through her stubborn gaze. Nor could he erase the image of her bending over in pain, clutching her chest, as he looked back after walking away. Tears, unstoppable, slid from his eyes.

“It’s all your fault… all your fault…” Jon gripped his cane with all his might, his trembling voice breaking into sobs.

“If only you had shown half of this resolve from the start, Ella wouldn’t have suffered so much. It’s all your fault. You hurt my Ella, forcing her away from me time and time again. You don’t deserve Ella, Noah. You just don’t.”

Tears streamed down Jon’s face, and the butler rushed to his side for support.

Only now did everyone understand that Jon had been holding up all this while.

Worried about the Trettons, concerned for Noah, but even more for Ella, Jon didn’t want anyone to be hurt, yet in the end, that was exactly what happened.

Jon was torn. Back then, he didn’t object to their relationship, yet not optimistic about it either.

Putting aside their familial connection, Jon didn’t think Ella being with his son, a man cold and calculated, concerned only with profit, was a good thing. But who knew Ella would harbor such deep feelings for Noah?

Moreover, the current situation was crafted by his own son, deemed clever by everyone.

“You’re the last person who deserves forgiveness. It’s all on you.” In a sudden motion, Jon raised his cane, striking Noah again and again with unforgiving force.

Noah’s eyes shut tight, teeth clenched, silently bearing the relentless beating.

The commotion drew airport staff, who, after failing to intervene, could only watch as the cane fell repeatedly on the man kneeling on the ground.

The onlookers grew in number, but Jon showed no sign of stopping. It wasn’t until the butler saw blood oozing from the corners of Noah’s mouth, his dark shirt gradually soaked, that he anxiously grabbed Jon’s hand. “That’s enough, sir. If you keep this up, he won’t last.”

Jon thrust away the butler’s hand with a forceful swing, the finely carved boxwood cane snapping in two.

A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

Noah, unable to hold back, groaned, a cough bringing up more blood.

“It’s because of you. All the hurt is because of you. You’re the least deserving to be with her. My Ella, so kind and sweet.”

Jon tossed aside the broken cane, the butler steadying him, his arm trembling uncontrollably. “Get out. Just get out.”

Noah’s throat worked, the metallic taste suppressed, as he staggered to his feet, gripping his knee, his search relentless and nearly obsessive. “Where did she go?”

“I won’t tell you. If you can find her, do it. If not, it just proves your bond was never meant to be.” With those words, Jon had finally spoken his piece.

Noah nodded, silently moving past his father, weaving through the crowd, and entering the airport lobby. His steps went from shaky to erratic, then purposefully striding, searching desperately for something in the vast hall.

His assistant caught up from behind, and Noah grabbed his arm like a lifeline, his voice tinged with urgency. “Help me find her, quick. Help me find her.”

The assistant was inwardly shaken; today’s Noah was something he couldn’t have fathomed. “Mr. Noah, please, take it easy. I’ll check the counter for Ms. Ella’s flight. Just please calm down.”

his words, Noah paused, a moment of clarity returning. “Thanks, I appreciate

Ella’s whereabouts. “Mr. Noah, please have a seat.

injured, and the assistant noticed a bloody imprint where his arm had been

clearly thrown his punches with the wrath of a tempest. The dark fabric of Mr. Noah’s shirt was stained

Noah was enduring at that moment, but one thing was crystal clear to him. Ms. Ella’s words to

his pride and joy,

to her calculations, would rather be beaten to death upon learning everything and still kneel on the ground begging Jon to reveal

had likely taken on the mantle of

was headed to was nowhere near where she had been studying. She was resolute

she hop to another nation upon landing, switch to different means of travel, or perhaps even end up in some godforsaken corner of the earth? Might she even contemplate something as drastic as

Noah’s frantic panic was not without

taken off just ten minutes ago. The assistant relayed this to Noah, who shot up and commanded,

perspiration mingling with the pallor of Noah’s face, the pool of crimson below, and

it.” His expression was

sigh, the assistant pulled out his phone to

*

a tizzy. In the era of instant digital news, it was impossible to ignore the headlines screaming across every

– admitted to a sordid affair with her uncle and announced she was leaving the Tretton family, heading

where his father confronted him outside the terminal, leading to the kneeling, begging scene that nearly ended in his

captured it all on video, adding

family’s adopted grand-daughter wasn’t

with Paul at a diner before she met with Rebecca. Linking the timing and events, the picture became

Rebecca. Was she pretending to be a saint in front of a man, but showing her true colors in front of

provoking Rebecca at the coffee

take all the blame to protect the Tretton family and her uncle, considering the family had already been under a lot of

the heartless traitor she was made out to

*

second floor, Cicely propped her chin on her hand, her slender fingers tapping idly on her cheek as she

calm, handsome man opposite him. Her

dark eyes glanced down casually before returning to Cicely’s delicate face. His lips parted, his voice carrying a barely

at her cup and pushing

the airport coffee? All this way for just a

for the trek here? Should I drink it all

it gently in his, a soft punishment hidden within his

exactly has Chloe

just thought you’d prefer being bothered by me than threatened by Chloe. Isn’t that

“In truth, her antics barely affect me. It

the words, turning her hand within his, her fingers brushing his palm playfully. “You think we’re close? Then perhaps you should do her more favors

the world’s most unsuccessful attempt at stirring

woman even

family

the Tretton family, and now she had managed

her mouth. “I see you look troubled. You really would’ve stayed out of it

“Is that so wrong?”

I said

“I’d

was more than

“And?”

he won’t die on a plane to B Country, but he might die in a P

didn’t say

*

flight to B Country was fully booked, and not even Noah, with all his wealth,

paced back and forth, his complexion shifting from a pale, sweaty pallor to a flushed, sweat-drenched red—a clear sign that his condition

forehead that the scorching heat transferred to the palm sent a shiver down

board.

strength was waning, his voice barely audible and his lips, cracked and pale,

the check-in time loomed closer and no news of a canceled ticket came,

one budged, no matter how outrageous

in B Country to monitor Ella’s

already late at night. Noah hadn’t reached the car when his tall figure suddenly

*

from the terminal to the emergency room,

seeking an answer for herself, or maybe looking for

where Ella had faced the media

a merger of interests. There was no love between us. I was escaping a failed romance, and he was avoiding someone he shouldn’t be involved with. Our mutual

or found true love, I could leave anytime. He even gave me the right to initiate the annulment. Because of this generosity, I found him tolerable at our

marriage was never a necessity. He feared the consequences of his feelings so much that he was

his love before me. If it wasn’t him today, it might have been me tomorrow or next year. It was just a matter of time.Books Chapters