The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1886

Boyd glanced at Serana, looked away, and followed Yasmine.

"What are you following me for?" Yasmine threw a fleeting glance at him, her emotions barely flickering.

"Can't we spend a little more time together since we rarely see each other?"

Yasmine let out a chuckle. "I'm in the middle of something pretty important, and frankly, I don't think you're the kind of company I'm looking to keep right now."

"So I didn't ask your permission."

Yasmine came to a halt. "You've become quite bold in the two months we haven't seen each other."d2

"What can I say? You're a tough nut to crack, and it doesn't leave me with many options."

Yasmine took a deep breath. "Look, Boyd, we used to be pretty tight, and I get that a rare meeting warrants more time together, but I'm really tied up with something crucial right now – and it's a private matter."

Her words couldn't be more tactful.

"So, you and Ava have private matters that outsiders shouldn't know about?"

The undertone of his question was clear: Are you and Ava hiding something from everyone else?

As if she wasn't entitled to her own secrets.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

Boyd watched her for a moment before speaking slowly, "I just think it's a shame that our relationship has become so strained over someone else."

Yasmine raised an eyebrow and glanced at Serana, who was still standing there, and snorted. "You're actually asking me to let go of my grudge against Serana, aren't you?"

Boyd frowned. "Why do you have to bring her into this?"

"It's my business to dislike her, and what happens between us is our business. You're the one dragging her into it, not me. On one hand, she's a thorn in my side, and on the other, you expect me to be kind to her no matter what."

"Boyd, I'm just here to take care of some affairs, not to stir any trouble or threaten Serana. So quit trying to sell me on her like a door-to-door salesman. So what you're saying is, whether our friendship survives hinges on whether I accept Serana?"

Boyd listened quietly until she finished venting. "Is it really that pleasant to hate someone? You're usually so clear-headed. Instead of holding onto hatred, why not let go and feel better?"

"I am a bit irritated, sure. But it's just for the moment. After a good night's sleep, I'll forget all about it. It's not like I'll be around all the time to make myself miserable."

With that, Yasmine turned and strode away, but Boyd's voice followed her. "Have you really never thought about why you hate Serana?"

"Do I need a reason to dislike someone?"

"Yes, you do."

Boyd blocked her path, looking at her intently. "The day you left, Serana said, maybe you dislike her because of me. Because I was your only friend from the start, and her arrival has divided my attention."

Yasmine clenched her fists in her pockets, her expression still indifferent. "Whatever she says is fine, as long as you're happy."

"If I'm wrong, then give me a reason."

Yasmine took a deep breath, her impatience evident.

"I didn't come here to be forced to give you a reason. It's whatever you guys want to think. Honestly, you and Serana are really annoying with all this drama."

After pushing past Boyd, she left the orphanage.

In the director's office.

Bryson's expression was stern. "About Yasmine's file, I want to confirm again. There's really no trace left, right?"

The director nodded. "It's all gone from here."

"And the children..." Bryson rubbed his temples, sighing with frustration.

The director quickly reassured him. "I'll keep a close eye on them. They won't have any contact with outsiders for a while. Kids tend to forget, especially about days that held no special significance to them."

Annoyed, Yasmine stopped and turned as Serana caught up, panting and coming to a halt. “Yasmine, I gotta clear the air with you. Boyd actually cares a lot about you. You've been gone a while and…”

“You don't need to explain anything to me, Serana. There's no misunderstanding between us. I know he cares. We've been friends for years, not for nothing.”

"Then why don’t you guys make up?”

“Why should we make up? He ticked me off, and I don’t feel like patching things up. Is that a problem? Go back, stop wasting your breath on me. If you've been wronged, he has to seek justice for you. If it's truly for the good of both of us, then you should keep your distance from me..”

Serana wouldn't back down, “I really hope you two don't fall out over me. You clearly care about Boyd too. Things could be so much better, why let it get to this point.”

Yasmine scoffed, “Aren’t you the sweet and innocent one. No wonder Boyd’s so into you.”

Serana shook her head, “I’m not that innocent. When the garden got wrecked, I thought you did it. I even resented and disliked you. I dirtied your notebooks and threw trash by your desk, hoping the teacher would scold you.”

Yasmine’s eyebrows twitched. So the girl was hooked on playing the saint. Such childish antics, and Serana took them to heart.

In fact, Yasmine had to admit that Serana was indeed better in some ways. At least, she was more genuine, dealing with things that were appropriate for her age, unable to overthink or see beyond.

What had Serana done wrong? Nothing. But Yasmine just didn’t like her.

Boyd said that Serana reminded him that Yasmine’s dislike towards her was because of him. Maybe that was true.

Serana looked uneasy, “Yasmine, I…”

Yasmine blinked, but dislike was real, and now she even had a reason for it.

“Maybe you’re right. So from now on, both of you stay away from me. Saves me the headache of seeing you two.”

With that, Yasmine walked away, but Serana kept following her, rambling on and on about how great Boyd was, and how much he cared for her. It was annoying, like being stuck with a clingy bug buzzing in her ear.

Knowing Serana was dead set on sticking to her, Yasmine gritted her teeth, turned around, and headed straight for the orphanage gates.

She had to dump this nuisance back on Boyd.