The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1852

"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."