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.”

Noah paused, a moment of

interest in Noah’s rare moment of panic, his focus solely on finding Ms. Ella’s whereabouts. “Mr. Noah, please have a seat. I’ll go check now and come back as soon as I have

the assistant noticed a bloody

of Mr. Noah’s shirt was stained with the blood

assistant couldn’t fathom the extent of pain Noah was enduring at that moment, but one thing was crystal clear to him. Ms. Ella’s words to the

she claimed was true, Jon would never have come close to beating his son, his pride and joy, to death for someone

did the man, who supposedly fell victim to her calculations, would rather be beaten to death upon learning everything and still kneel on

on the

information on Ella’s flight. The country she was headed to was nowhere near where she had been studying. She was resolute about

different means of travel, or perhaps even end up

Noah’s frantic panic

Country, the plane had taken off just ten minutes ago. The assistant relayed this to Noah, who shot up and commanded, “Book the next flight

perspiration mingling with the pallor of Noah’s face, the pool of crimson below, and the blood still dripping from his arm, the assistant hesitated before saying,

it.” His expression was resolute, his tone

pulled out his phone to check the

*

In the era of instant digital news, it was impossible to ignore

just confessed at the press conference – admitted to a sordid affair with her uncle and announced she

was Noah’s pursuit to the airport, where his father confronted him outside the terminal, leading to the kneeling, begging scene that nearly

it all on video, adding fuel

family’s adopted grand-daughter wasn’t telling the truth at

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

she was deliberately provoking Rebecca at

blame to protect the Tretton family and her uncle, considering the family had

the adopted grand-daughter isn’t the heartless

*

on her hand, her slender fingers tapping

calm, handsome man opposite him. Her brows arched slightly. “If this keeps

returning to Cicely’s delicate face. His lips parted, his voice carrying a barely perceptible cool detachment.

twitched imperceptibly before looking down at her cup

glanced at her. “Thought you wanted to try the airport coffee? All this way for just a

you more for the trek here? Should

reached for the cup, holding it gently in his, a

exactly has Chloe been feeding

prefer being bothered

lips curled into a half-smile. “In truth, her antics barely affect me. It makes

palm playfully. “You think we’re close? Then perhaps you should do her more favors from

this the world’s most unsuccessful attempt at stirring

even need

to coerce him into meddling in the Tretton family affair, even dragging Cicely into the mix to increase the pressure, Seth’s temples

influence to stir the pot for the

her mouth. “I see you look troubled. You

“Is that so wrong?”

if I said

broadened. “I’d be

that was more than

“And?”

plane to B Country, but he might die in a P

say anything

*

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

over an hour, Noah paced back and forth, his complexion shifting from a pale, sweaty pallor to a flushed, sweat-drenched

the scorching heat transferred to the palm sent a shiver

departure board. Make

strength was waning, his voice

loomed closer and no news of a canceled ticket came, Noah, against his assistant’s

one budged, no matter how outrageous

contacted their people in B Country to monitor Ella’s movements. Once she landed, they would intercept her as planned. Noah finally regained some

the airport terminal, it was already late at night. Noah hadn’t reached the car when his

*

a single day. Before Noah was whisked from the terminal to the emergency room, Rebecca

Ella and Paul in the restaurant, Rebecca investigated another matter—perhaps seeking an answer for herself, or maybe looking for

had faced the media that afternoon,

a merger of interests. There was no love between us. I was escaping a failed romance, and

told me that if I ever had regrets 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

young niece. For someone as outstanding as him, marriage was never a necessity. He feared the consequences of his feelings so much that he was willing to use marriage as a shield. He didn’t realize it, but I did—and chose

else. He simply found his love before me. If it wasn’t him today, it might have been me tomorrow or next year.