The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1896

Serana glanced at Boyd, her mind a blank slate as to what to say next. However, nothing was inappropriate about Yasmine's actions afterwards. They munched on slices of cake and sipped on coffee, making small talk about how each other had been lately.

Aside from her initial sharp words, Yasmine's demeanor was so faultlessly normal you couldn't pick a bone with it. If there was anything to comment on, it was that her phone never seemed to leave her hand for long.

But the more she played it cool, the more both Serana and Boyd felt something was off.

"Do you come here often?" Boyd asked casually as Yasmine's plate became crumb-free.

Yasmine gave a half-smile. "Yeah."

"It is a nice place," he admitted.d2

Taking a sip of her coffee, Yasmine leaned back in her chair. "Yeah."

Boyd pursed his lips, and silence fell like a curtain.

Serana looked on, worry creasing her forehead. For years, Boyd had always been the one looking down on others, never the one to seek out chit-chat.

Serana could tell he was trying to find common ground, to say something – anything – to ease the tension with Yasmine.

Even though Yasmine was sitting there with them, who could really say where her thoughts were?

The misunderstanding that had started over a jar of flowers seemed resolved, and they were interacting like before. But was there real forgiveness from Yasmine? Not likely.

There they were, sitting across from each other, yet it felt like miles between them. Serana was curious – could Yasmine ever truly like someone?

What would she be like? What lengths would she go to? She'd love to see that.

But who would be the one to break through?

Yasmine's phone rang, but she ignored it, standing up instead. "You guys carry on. I've got something else to attend to. I'll head out first."

She answered the phone as she pulled out her chair.

Boyd stood, reaching to catch Yasmine's wrist. Phone to her ear, Yasmine looked at him. "Something else?"

Boyd stared for a moment. "Where are you off to?"

"Home."

Derek's figure appeared beside them. He eyed the hand Boyd had on Yasmine. "You want something?"

Boyd's grip tightened unintentionally.

Yasmine pulled her hand back, phone down. "Should be clear now."

--

Serana watched through the glass as Yasmine's car pulled away, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. "She's still the same."

Boyd didn't respond.

Inside the car, Yasmine's expression remained unreadable.

Derek glanced her way more times than necessary within five minutes.

"Do you need glasses?" Yasmine casually commented.

With a constipated look, Derek focused on the road. "You got nothing to say? No contact for two months and suddenly you're sharing desserts and coffee? What's going on in your head?"

Yasmine traced her finger across her phone’s screen, engrossed in Candy Crush. "Their treat."

Derek's twitch was barely perceptible. "All this for a free meal?"

Four stars on the level, "Am I that cheap in your mind?"

"Then what's your reason?"

"Just feeling annoyed."

Derek nodded, a classic Yasmine response. "Those were just kid's squabbles from when we were ten. Holding onto that, or keeping score with them, it's pointless."

Impatient, Yasmine cut him off. "Do you want me to jump out and end it?"

Derek gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Can't do that."

Yasmine still went to school, not avoiding Boyd. She didn't care, but he wouldn't allow distance. His watchful eyes seemed to follow her more closely than ever. Any guy that approached her would be "taken care of" by Boyd before she even noticed.

Eventually, everyone got the impression that they were an item. Rumors reached Yasmine, and she found the idea absurd.

In a relationship with Boyd?

At lunch in the cafeteria, ignoring Serana sitting across from her, Yasmine addressed Boyd directly, "Rumor has it we're dating?"

Serana blinked, turning to the ever-composed Boyd, and silently shoveled food into her mouth.

Boyd's eyes flickered. "You're a bit slow on the uptake, aren't you?"

Yasmine paused. "When did this start?"

Silence.

More silence.

Yasmine turned to Serana, "Clearly, there's some misunderstanding. Don't overthink it." She wasn't about to deal with a surprise rival.

Serana opened her mouth to speak, but Boyd set down his fork.

Boyd took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a couple of seconds, then managed a smile.

"At the end of the day, you still resent me."

She nodded, "Yeah, that's right."

He chuckled ruefully, "Your personality really is something."

"Indeed."

"I get it now."

Yasmine looked at him, puzzled.

After that, Boyd didn't say anything more and certainly didn't discuss how they would move forward.

However, his behavior was as if this entire conversation had never happened. He was ever-present by her side. Their relationship was neither clarified nor confirmed.

Despite things seeming unchanged, both Yasmine and Boyd started receiving confessions.

They came in all forms: love letters, texts, phone calls, even face-to-face confessions. Some with a bit of fanfare, the pursuit tactics dazzling, and the locations for confessions ever-changing.

Boyd always had the same response, rejecting each one. Yasmine did likewise, though her patience seemed to be wearing thin.

This time she was cornered in the cafeteria.

Staring at the bunch of bright red roses thrust before her, Yasmine's patience was on the verge of snapping.

Boyd, standing by her side, asked calmly, "You planning on dating anyone right now?"

With a frosty impatience creasing her brow, she replied, "No, I'm not."

"Neither am I. But it seems they're not taking the hint."

She shot him a cold glance. How many times had she said she had no intention of dating? These people acted as if they were invigorated by defeat; the more they were rejected, the more they persisted.

Boyd, unusually, flashed a smile and pulled her to his side. "We've been friends for years. Maybe it's time we help each other out?"

Yasmine looked up at him, probing, "How do we help each other? I don't see how I can be of any help to you?"

"I have a plan, nearly a hundred percent certain it'll work. Wanna give it a try?"

Squinting slightly, she scrutinized him, "What's the plan?"

Boyd glanced at the man standing not too far away, the roses in his arms glaringly bright. "Since you're curious, I'll take that as a yes."

Yasmine, tired of his evasive tactics, showed her annoyance. She tried to free herself from his grasp, but his other hand encircled her waist, holding her close, and his lips found hers in a cool, unexpected kiss.