The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1884

"You see, this is just how bad of a person I am. Isn't it really awful to trample on your sincerity like that? So, do you still need to apologize to me?"

Serana bit her lip, defiance etched across her face, but tears betrayed her, streaming down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to," she whimpered.

"Yeah, I know. So you don't have to beat yourself up over it," Yasmine retorted, her voice was cold as steel, yet somehow, it sounded almost like comfort.

But how could Yasmine offer comfort? That was simply impossible.

Yasmine hooked the corner of her lip up in a smirk, stepped back, and glanced at the crushed petals on the ground, letting out a soft, mocking chuckle. "Still, you really should think about it. Sometimes, your guilt trips, they're nothing but a hassle for everyone else."

In response to her words, Serana, amidst the sadness and grievance, felt more perplexed than anything else.d2

Yasmine's impatience flickered across her eyes. Talking to Serana was like talking to a brick wall.

Boyd stepped closer, "Before you go around playing the blame game, maybe you should take a good, hard look at yourself. People are scared of you, and avoid you. When something goes wrong, you're the first suspect. Ever wondered why?"

Yasmine's gaze lifted from the trampled remnants to Boyd's face, her eyes twinkling with mirth but not a trace of warmth.

"Why indeed? Maybe because I fancy myself a lone wolf, too proud to see any flaws in myself," She said, the smile on her lips growing more pronounced. "And yeah, everyone's afraid of me, they push me away, and when trouble strikes, I'm the scapegoat. Sounds to me like it's all my fault."

Her words left Boyd realizing he'd misspoken. He pursed his lips, ready to try again.

"I'm just saying, it wouldn't hurt to be aware of this stuff sooner rather than later. I'm worried if you keep this up—"

"Oh? And how long has this 'condition' of mine been around? If I needed a wake-up call, what were you doing before? Why wait until today, when I've made your darling cry to enlighten me?"

She glanced at Serana with a cold sneer inside, "So, I guess I should be thanking Miss Serana here, huh? Without her stepping into the line of fire, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of your heartfelt concern and advice."

As Yasmine stepped toward Serana, Boyd blocked her path. Yasmine paused, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. They were the same age, but he had the height advantage.

Boyd, all defensive, said, "Yasmine, you're too cynical. Serana's just a kid."

"And what, I'm old enough to be her mother?"

He took a deep breath, struggling for calm. "Can't you stop being so aggressive? I get that you're sharp, and you see through a lot, but Serana is not like you."

"She's not as cunning, you mean." Yasmine interrupted, her laugh chilling. "Same speech, different day. As you said, I'm pretty clear on some things."

"Yasmine."

"Relax, with you here, what could I possibly do to your precious? You think I could take you in a fight? I know my limits."

Boyd frowned, "I would never hit you."

Yasmine watched him quietly for a moment, "Who knows? Maybe one day, if Serana really got hurt by me, you'd want to kill me."

His face turned sour. But Yasmine just took a deep breath, dispassionately broke the gaze, and walked over to the table to grab her backpack.

"Anyway, rest assured, I don't have the twisted pleasure of coming back just to torment her."

Slinging her backpack over one shoulder, Yasmine stood next to Boyd, her eyes shifting between him and Serana. After a moment, Yasmine forced a smile.

"So, you probably won't get the chance to kill me after all." With those words, Yasmine headed for the dining hall door.

The room fell silent, and Bryson, standing at the entrance, waited respectfully for Yasmine.

The director seemed to snap back to reality and hastily announced:

"I forgot to mention, today is Yasmine's last day here at Angel's Haven Orphanage. Let's all congratulate her as she leaves our care and starts a new life with a family of her own. We hope she grows up healthy, happy, and becomes a productive member of society."

Except for a few teachers, no one else had realized what happened. The sparse applause sounded rather dismal.

Yasmine couldn't care less, her slim figure passing through the doorway with Bryson following, his demeanor exuding deference.

"Yasmine's leaving?"

"Yeah, the director just said. And the way she's acting, it looks like she's really leaving."

"Today's her birthday, right? Was she waiting for us to finish celebrating before she left?"

"Well, she is pretty nice when you think about it. We wouldn't have had such a nice cake otherwise."

"Good riddance, though. No more walking on eggshells around her."

"But no more delicious cake either."

"Did she decide to leave because she's upset, or was it planned?"

"Uh. Not sure."

Ava caught up to Yasmine, clutching at her backpack. "Yasmine, will I ever see you again?"

"It will be best for both of us if we do not see each other again."

Ava's lip quivered. "You're just going to leave like that? You always said Boyd was the closest thing you had to a friend here. To leave under these circumstances..."

Yasmine yanked her backpack away without looking back. "I think he'll be relieved. Finally, no one to misunderstand his kindness, and more importantly, no one to pick on his little darling."

Ava's heart filled with admiration for Yasmine as she watched her retreating figure. From start to finish, she was in awe. She liked the inexplicable, cool, and elegant aura that Yasmine exuded.

Every word, every gesture, she admired everything about Yasmine, or more precisely, she worshipped her. She wanted to be that kind of person.

Boyd stood frozen in place for what seemed like an eternity before it finally clicked, and he hurried after her.

Bryson leaned against the car door, watching as Yasmine got inside.

"Yasmine!" Boyd's voice rang out, tinged with a rage—or perhaps some other emotion—that he had never known before.