The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1856

Yulia's struggle to break free from Nathan's grip was futile. She was incensed, nearly losing her mind.

How could he bring up Anya out of the blue?

Her mind was a blank slate, her only thought was to deny everything.

Ronald simply stared at Nathan, a bruise marring his otherwise handsome face, and his faint smirk was unbearably irritating. "It was a sham marriage from the start. Thanks for playing house, but it's time she came back to me."

Yulia's entire body trembled. "Shut up, Ronald. Just shut up!"

In the next moment, she stumbled, and before she could regain her footing, Nathan had dragged her through the lobby of the apartment complex without further discussion.d2

"Nathan!" Yulia had no clue what he was planning, but a sense of dread overwhelmed her.

Throwing Yulia into the elevator, Nathan frantically jabbed the close button before Ronald could catch up. The elevator, holding just the two of them, was charged with tension, their rapid breathing the only sound.

Pressed against the cold metal walls, Yulia pursed her lips, her face ashen, barely daring to breathe too loudly. She was on high alert, watching Nathan for any sudden moves, terrified of the darkness she saw in him. Her wrist, gripped tightly in his hand, throbbed painfully, as if her blood flow had been cut off.

"So, Anya isn't your sister, huh?" Nathan's voice, cold and harsh, made her flinch.

It was a statement, not a question.

"No, Anya is my sister..."

Nathan let out a bitter laugh, turning to her with a menacing look. "Yulia, do you really think DNA can't tell the difference between sisters and a mother-daughter pair?"

Her fingertips trembled, and after a fleeting panic in her eyes, despair took over.

The elevator doors slid open, and Nathan yanked her out. They burst into the apartment where Carly was looking after Anya. Hearing the commotion, Carly barely had time to rise before Nathan stormed in with Yulia stumbling behind, looking disheveled.

Startled, Carly quickly covered Anya's eyes and stayed silent. There was no time for greetings before the pair ascended the stairs.

Yulia was flung onto the bed. Nathan loomed over her, his legs pinning her down.

Her voice shook. "Nathan..."

He pressed down on her shoulders, leaning in to meet her gaze.

Apart from his angry eyes, he made no move.

Despite her fear, Yulia could still see the unmistakable disdain in Nathan's eyes. She suddenly felt calm. Of course. How could she forget? He was a Harper, with any woman at his beck and call.

Clean, docile, a dime a dozen, just like his latest fling, that was what he preferred. Not someone like her, who schemed her way up, dirty and calculating, willing to sell herself for gain, and now, even had a child with another man.

He had every right to loathe her.

Nathan didn't touch her. He rolled off and stood by the bed, looking down at her. "Are you going to come clean, or should I take Anya to the hospital myself?"

Yulia tensed once more. She sat up, meeting his gaze. "Whether she's my sister or my daughter, it's none of your business. You've been wanting a divorce, right? I'll agree to it."

Silence fell like death.

Yulia bit her lip. "I appreciate your patience these past days. I've been content. I've dragged the divorce out too long, and it's time it ended."

"Is it time, or have you found a surefire escape and think I'm of no further use to you?"

Yulia fell silent, then said slowly, "Think what you want. As long as you're satisfied, that's all that matters to me."

She was accustomed to his disdain and insults. What more could she not endure? It was her fault, after all.

Her acceptance only fueled Nathan's scorn. "Yulia, you're unbelievable. You shamelessly schemed into marriage, and now you're shamelessly seeking a way out. Well, your dignity isn't worth much. Seems like you've put a price on yours, and I doubt anyone's dignity is worth more than yours."

Yulia bit her lip harder, enduring Nathan's insults in silence.

"But are you really content? After being tossed aside without a second thought, you're still eager to crawl back? Tell me, Yulia, have you always been this desperate, or do you think you can't survive without a man?"

Yulia swallowed hard, feeling a painful dryness in her throat. "You're right, I have no shame, and you've known that from day one."

Her confession made Nathan feel like he was about to explode.

"I can't even imagine what Anya will turn into under your guidance."

"It doesn't concern you!"

Yulia, who had been relatively composed, suddenly changed at the mention of Anya. She became defensive, her suppressed sharpness now fully evident.

"Do I need to take a trip to the hospital?"

Yulia shrank back slightly. She had hidden this secret for so long, thinking she had fooled everyone, believing she could keep it hidden until she and Nathan went their separate ways. But as Ronald had pointed out, Nathan's actions had thrust Anya into the spotlight.

She had thought the worst outcome was to break ties with Nathan before he discovered the truth, but she had not anticipated Ronald's urgency, his rush to force a divorce as quickly as possible.

The thought of Ronald filled Yulia with rage. If it weren't for him, Anya would always be just her sister in Nathan's eyes.

"Will you talk or not?" Nathan's tone carried a hint of threat.

Yulia hesitated. "What if she is?"

Nathan's breath caught, then he let out a cold laugh. "If she is, then you marry me with Anya, and she becomes our child. You want a divorce, fine, but Anya stays with me."

Yulia turned pale. "Anya is my child. She has nothing to do with you."

Nathan scoffed, "From the moment you married me with her, I became her father."

"There's no blood relation. Even in court, it wouldn't be granted to you."

Nathan released her and leaned against the dresser beside the bed, his laughter cold. "If I want to fight, I'll make sure I win."

"That's impossible!"

"Would the court still grant her to you if you lacked the means to care for her?"

Yulia shook her head, "I won't lack the means. And even if I did, Ronald would never give up Anya's custody."

"Huh." Nathan laughed mockingly, full of scorn. "You have it now, but that doesn't mean you will in the future. Ronald? You'd better tell him if he wants to fight for Anya, he better be ready to go bankrupt. Ask him if he's willing. Even if he is, after bankruptcy, what will he have left to support you and Anya?"

Yulia's head finally exploded. "What are you going to do?"

"Of course, I want Anya. I want to see how determined Ronald is. Is he willing to go bankrupt for that?"

Studying Yulia's pale face, Nathan pursed his lips before speaking again, "As a man, I think he can afford to clash with me for your sake. But to go bankrupt? He can't do that. In the end, a man's pride is built on money and status. Without that, what dignity does he have left in front of you?"

"Don't even think about sticking with him through thick and thin." Nathan stood up, looking at her with a smirk. "Because I won't give you the chance. You've angered me, and I'll either be in a good mood and let it slide, or I'll crush you into the abyss. I’ll make your deaths quick. Me witnessing your 'deep love'? I have neither the patience nor the time to watch you struggle and suffer before me."