The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1887

The relentless prattle chasing after her quickened Yasmine's steps even more.

“Mmm...hmm...”

Serana’s voice suddenly sounded strangled. Yasmine stopped dead in her tracks, spun around, and saw Serana in a man’s grip, her mouth covered, struggling fiercely. The eyes that met hers were filled with terror.

Yasmine’s brow furrowed deeply as she locked eyes with the assailant. He wore a black baseball cap and a face mask, leaving only a pair of menacing eyes visible, staring her down.

“Mind your own beeswax, or I’ll snatch you up too,” the man hissed.

“Mmm...help...”d2

All Serana could do was to flail, tears streaming from her eyes in fear. The terror and helplessness in her eyes were palpable.

Yasmine understood all too well the fear and despair Serana was feeling. Serana was begging for help, and she knew Jasmine despised her.

Serana's plea was clear, and she was fully aware that Yasmine might not even bother to respond, perhaps even taking pleasure in her predicament, finally rid of her.

The kidnapper seemed jittery, scanning towards the orphanage entrance, fumbling to drag Serana away. But in the struggle, Serana managed to pull down the man’s mask. His face was briefly exposed before he quickly lowered his head in panic.

Yasmine’s gaze flickered. They were still a distance from the entrance, and they were currently right behind Bryson’s parked car. From the orphanage entrance, it was a complete blind spot.

Even if she called for help, she knew she’d be silenced by the man before making a sound. Other than Bryson’s car, there were no other vehicles around.

Her expression darkened, and she clenched her fists in her pockets, looking back at Serana’s face. Most of it was covered by the man's large hand, leaving only her pleading eyes visible.

After a moment, Yasmine began to laugh, looking straight into her eyes. "Serves you right!"

Serana’s eyes widened in shock, her struggles ceasing as she stared at Yasmine’s seemingly joyful expression, dumbfounded.

"Everyone knows I can't stand you. How stupid are you to think I'd help you. I loathe you so much, and here you are, expecting my rescue."

She then turned to the man, "You better scoot. They'll do roll call in class, and soon they will notice she's missing. I'll head back and cover for her, which will give you a bit more time. Not sure how long I can stall since the teachers will likely check on her, but I can buy you ten, maybe fifteen minutes."

The man, anxious at her words, seemed to hurry his actions.

Yasmine continued, "In return for my stalling, I hope you make her suffer. She's a nasty piece of work. I've been ostracized because of her and I hate her guts. I want her to feel what it's like to be abandoned, all alone. Especially at night, the feeling must be intense."

"You're a cruel kid, but I'll do as you ask."

Yasmine smiled, "Thanks, sir. You're the best." Then she turned and ran towards the orphanage.

Serana watched her leave in terror, still struggling, her muffled cries falling on deaf ears.

Yasmine burst into the orphanage, barely crossing the threshold before her legs gave out, and she collapsed, knees and elbows hitting the ground hard, gasping from the pain. But she got up, dusted herself off, her face ghostly pale, her legs still trembling.

When she got to the director's office, Bryson emerged, and seeing Yasmine's pallor, he asked urgently, “What’s wrong?”

Yasmine clutched his shirt tightly, her knuckles white.

"Call the cops."

Bryson paused, puzzled, "What?"

Shaking, Yasmine repeated, "Call the cops."

The director snapped to attention and asked, “What happened?”

Yasmine shot him a cold look before taking the water Bryson had prepared for her. The glass mug was still piping hot, but Yasmine gripped its sides without any sign of discomfort. She took a tentative sip and only then seemed to register the heat, her brow furrowing ever so slightly.

Boyd slid the sketch across the desk to the detective, his eyes lifting to meet Yasmine's.

"If you saw the guy's face, why would he let you go?"

Yasmine's grip on the mug tightened as she looked across the desk at Boyd.

"Sounds like you're almost sorry I made it back."

Boyd's frown deepened. "Don't put words in my mouth. If I were that man and you saw my face, I wouldn't let you go, and I certainly wouldn't give you a chance to call the police."

Yasmine took another sip of water, her lips curling into a nonchalant smile. "The thing is, I hated her. Seeing someone I loathe about to vanish before my eyes? You have no idea how thrilled that made me."

Boyd looked at her with a hard expression. "So you just watched her get taken? Didn't lift a finger?"

Yasmine let out a laugh. "What? You expected me to play the hero and save her?"

Boyd remained silent.

"Putting aside my feelings for her, do I look like the self-sacrificing type to you?"

"You just said the guy wasn't after money. He just wanted Serana's life."

"What's her life to me?" Yasmine interrupted him with a cold voice, her gaze piercing into Boyd's. "The fact that I made it back here and even thought to call the cops is a bloody miracle of conscience. Boyd, don't measure others by your own yardstick, or I'm betting you'll end up with some serious antisocial issues."

Boyd watched her for a long moment, his voice low and steady. "I always thought that no matter how much you despised someone, it was all talk, no real harm done. Looks like I really got you wrong."