The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1935

Chloe was the clever one, unable to voice it herself, she used her babies as a way to step down gracefully.

Boyd was all too aware of what Chloe was up to, but it was enough.

She was right. After twenty-seven years, she was now a married woman with two adorable children of her own. Her composure upon hearing the news had exceeded his expectations. To expect her to suddenly call him 'Dad' was indeed a tall order.

However, her attitude had already made things clear. She acknowledged him.

"I'm sorry."

All these years, he had known, yet he had never been there for her. He, the so-called father, had never provided her with any care, and now, he was truly unworthy of that title.d2

His apology made Yasmine pause in her playful interaction with Little Sun, her gaze falling down, her lips pressing together slightly. Perhaps if she had truly died back then, Boyd wouldn't have taken this long to face Chloe.

Chloe Herschelt down to nuzzle Little Moon's cheek, then spoke softly. "It's too late for any words now, an apology doesn't hold much substance. A mistake is a mistake, and what's missed is missed."

She looked up at him, "Even if I tell you it's okay, do you really feel it's okay?"

Boyd's gaze landed on the little one in her arms, the baby's curious eyes looking back at him, a tiny mouth opening and closing, those shiny eyes moving around but never leaving him.

This is exclusive content from Noveldrama.com (Swnovel). Please read it on Noveldrama.com to support the author and the translation team!.His features softened unconsciously, and after Chloe finished speaking, he shook his head. "No, it won't."

Even if she forgave him, he could never forgive himself. The mistake was his alone to bear, with no chance of redemption. She was right, a mistake was a mistake.

Chloe handed Little Moon over to him. Boyd was stiff, unsure of what to do, but he instinctively reached out to take the baby.

His movements were awkward, far from proper. His arms were rigid, holding the little baby, afraid of causing any harm.

Perhaps the position was really uncomfortable, for Little Moon shifted her head, her little mouth puckered, and she was about to cry.

Chloe guided his arms, pressing Little Moon closer to him, grabbing one of Boyd's hands to support the baby's bottom.

The baby was light, almost weightless, and Boyd, fearing she would start crying, began to rock her gently.

Little Moon's anxious expression gently softened as she looked at Boyd. Her eyes, full of joy, blinked, a luminescent twinkle ignited in them like sparks in the night sky. Her legs playfully kicked about, brimming with exuberance. Her voice, youthful and filled with mirth, echoed, defining the serenity of the moment. Chloe smiled.

Boyd breathed a sigh of relief, and his forehead was beaded with sweat.

"First time holding a baby?" Chloe's sudden question caught him off guard.

Yasmine turned around.

Boyd didn't see any issue with the question and nodded. "Yeah."

A flicker passed through Yasmine's eyes.

Chloe's expression remained neutral as she nodded, turned, and caught Yasmine's slightly dazed look.

Elizabeth, a bit slow on the uptake, stood up from the couch and hooked Chloe's arm. "Let's head to the kitchen and plan tonight's dinner."

Chloe caught the glint of mischief in Elizabeth's eyes and let herself be pulled away.

As they reached the kitchen, Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. "Aren't you a bit too composed? That man is your biological father!"

Chloe chuckled, heading towards the pantry with Elizabeth following.

"Did you know already?"

Chloe shook her head, selecting vegetables from the fridge, "I had no idea."

"What’s with the calmness, then?"

"I just know my mother well. From a young age, I could tell she felt nothing for Nick. With her personality, how could she possibly share a bed, much less have children, with someone she didn't love?"

Chloe turned, placing some greens in the basket.

Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully, "That makes sense. I mean, how could someone like your mom fall for a man like Nick? And allowing to have an affair? She wouldn't let a man slip from her grasp that easily."

Chloe also agreed with Elizabeth's words. If it weren't for her mother's willingness, things wouldn't have reached this point. Perhaps, Nick's infidelity back then was a kind of liberation for her mother.

But her current puzzle wasn't about that. It was about the lawsuit with Carolina, the revelation of her blood tie to Nick. Jonah later confessed that Nick wasn't Carolina's son but his with a woman named Maria. So Nick and this newfound father, Boyd, were they brothers?

Did her mother know of Nick and Boyd's relation? Was that why she approached him, so that even if a paternity test was done in the future, there would be no risk?

Was it really so?

She had investigated and found that her mother and Nick had a one-night stand, a mere coincidence. Can life be that coincidental?

After selecting tonight's dinner ingredients, they left the pantry.

The servant came over to help, and Elizabeth pulled Chloe, who was about to help, out of the kitchen. "You'll be looking after the babies later. You don't want to be covered in cooking smells."

They walked to the dining room and peeked around the corner to see the two in the living room looking after the babies.

Little Moon in Boyd's arms started to fuss, crying out loud. Boyd became a flustered mess, beads of sweat on his forehead, pacing back and forth in the living room, trying to soothe Little Moon, but the crying indicated his method wasn't working.

Hearing Little Moon's cries, Little Sun in Yasmine's arms began to cry too. The living room was in total disarray.

Elizabeth hurried to intervene but found herself restrained by Chloe's firm grip. Elizabeth's heart was breaking at the sound of her grandchildren's cries, but when she caught Chloe's expression, a wave of calm washed over her.

As a newly promoted mother, how could she bear to let her precious one cry? Elizabeth’s heart ached, but she knew Chloe felt the same—if not more. Yet, Chloe had made her decision.

"I've got it."

The voice of Yasmine echoed from the living room, pulling Elizabeth's attention.

Yasmine was settling the still wailing Little Sun into the crib.

Hearing this, Boyd hurried over to Yasmine's side, glancing at Little Sun who was crying up a storm in the crib. "He's crying too. Maybe I should go find Chloe."

Yasmine took Little Moon in her arms, and her posture looked much more natural than Boyd's. "Go hold your grandson."

Boyd did as instructed, lifting Little Sun into his arms, trying to mimic Yasmine's movements and posture, but he was at a loss, looking towards Yasmine with uncertainty, "Yasmine, he's still crying."

With a gentle sway of Little Moon in her arms, Yasmine glanced at him, "Just wait. Once Little Moon stops, he'll calm down on his own."

Boyd's mouth hung open in surprise, gazing down at his grandson in wonder. Could it really work like that?

Elizabeth pouted, feeling a pang of sympathy for her grandson.

Soon enough, the question was answered. As Little Moon ceased crying, Little Sun in Boyd's arms also quieted down. It was nothing short of miraculous.

Boyd let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a free hand.

Chloe and Elizabeth, previously tense, relaxed their shoulders.

Yasmine gently wiped Little Moon's tear-streaked face with a soft tissue. Boyd followed suit, awkwardly imitating her actions.

"When you hold them, support their neck and head together. They're still so fragile, and they squirm with curiosity. Don't let their necks hang unsupported. Try to broaden their view; an angled hold is best." Yasmine approached Boyd with Little Moon in her arms, instructed him, and gently nudged his elbow upwards to correct his posture.

Boyd stiffened for a moment but then relaxed, adjusting his hold as per Yasmine's guidance.

Little Sun looked visibly more comfortable.

"Like that."

With an approval from Yasmine, Boyd's face finally broke into a smile.

Turning her head, Elizabeth smiled at Chloe and pulled her back to the kitchen for a glass of water, settling themselves at the dining table. "I've come to understand your mom's temperament well. Considering her relationship with Boyd for so many years, there must be deep-seated reasons. She lost a baby once. And you, you only recently learned about your biological father. We can't possibly know everything that's happened. I get your attitude, but don't provoke your mother lightly. If she gets upset, my relationship with her will be effected."

Chloe had been curious about why Elizabeth was speaking so much about her mother today. Elizabeth didn't usually pry into such personal affairs. By the end, she realized Elizabeth was worried about her angering her mother and, by extension, affecting her rapport with her. It was endearingly amusing.

"Whether to forgive or not, and how they deal with it, the decision has always been my mother's. What I'm doing now is just considering how to make her happier. Whether she's taking revenge on Boyd or not, her pain is no less than his."

Elizabeth nodded, "That's true. Every time I had a spat with Royce, seeing him all apologetic and miserable made me sadder than him. I knew it was pathetic, but I couldn't help feeling for him, his pain was my pain."

Chloe chuckled. Wasn't that just the way it was? The harshest words spoken were like knives to one's own heart.

Wasn't that just affection in its truest form? To be utterly disarmed by someone.

"That's just life," Elizabeth sighed. "But I tell you, your mom accepting Boyd again, that's a tough one."

Chloe sipped her water, "Yeah, getting her to say 'it's okay' to Boyd is probably impossible in this lifetime. She has her pride."

"Ah..." Elizabeth sighed again. "Isn't that just making things harder for herself? If it were me, I'd give Royce a piece of my mind, then tend to him right after. Quick and decisive, no use dragging it out. Wasting all that time, it's just not worth it."

It seemed their presence was superfluous, so Elizabeth and Chloe decided to stay in the kitchen and help the staff with cooking.

Damon arrived home early in the afternoon, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Boyd. Usually, he encountered Boyd outside. His presence inside the home was a surprise.

Finding Chloe in the kitchen washing vegetables, he teased, "Mrs. Harper, have I been overpaying the staff?"

Elizabeth shuffled aside, uninterested in their display of affection.

Chloe turned, a smile on her face upon seeing her well-dressed husband. "Back already?"

Damon kissed the corner of her mouth, his hand resting on her waist as he eyed the running tap with a slight frown.

Before he could comment, Chloe popped a warm cherry into his mouth. "The water's warm."

Feeling the warmth of the cherry, Damon didn't finish his thought.

Chloe dried her hands and pulled him out of the kitchen, loosening his tie.

"What's going on? Why let him inside? The man I introduced seems quite taken with your mother."

Chloe's eyes sparkled with a hint of mirth as she asked, "So, what do we do now?"

Damon shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "I'm not entirely sure. But I think your mom's finally stopped seeing me in a bad light."

His stance had been unmistakably clear this time.

Chloe chuckled, "Aren't you worried about offending Boyd?"

Damon's lips curled into a smirk. "Afraid? He's probably been holding a grudge since I whisked Mom away from him. One more grudge won't make a difference."

As Chloe recalled the incident that brought his mother back—and the bullet wound Damon suffered in the process—her expression momentarily darkened. But before she could sink into concern, Damon's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. "Besides, with your mom backing me, Boyd's grudges won't amount to much."

Chloe couldn't help but laugh at his words. Did he really need his mother's support?

--

The dinner atmosphere was anything but relaxed. Boyd sat there feeling quite out of place.

Yasmine sat beside him, her face calm but stern, an expression that commanded seriousness.

Boyd remained silent, anxious not to annoy Yasmine. In reality, he was tormented by the thought of what might happen after dinner.

And then, the moment Boyd feared, arrived.

As they moved from the dining room to the living room, Yasmine announced bluntly, "I'm not going back tonight."

Standing by the baby carriage, Boyd's hand, resting on the railing, twitched as if electrified at her words. The brief smile that had surfaced upon seeing the babies was swiftly washed away by a sudden, sharp pain.

"I took that bottle as a promise from you. If you can't even keep that one promise, what right do you have to stand before me?"