The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2113

Phoebe hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on him, her lower lip bitten so fiercely it had turned white, visibly trembling. Her eyes were a fierce red, tears swirling but stubbornly refusing to fall.

"Just let it out if you want to cry!"

His temper flared, rare anger bubbling to the surface, but it was his very words that made Phoebe bite down even harder on her lip.

Azriel took a deep breath and left the hospital room.

*

Azriel didn't go looking for Grayson. Instead, he went straight to the Nace residence.d2

The Naces had some old money ties with a hint of political clout and had ventured into business over the years. Now they held a respectable place in the P City business circles.

The elders, always eyeing advantageous matches, had pegged the Naces and the Graysons for a union that would benefit both families.

Grayson, with his bad-boy charm that seemed to attract women like moths to a flame, had caught Alyna's eye. No surprise there.

Once they were engaged, Alyna became obsessed with eliminating any female competition around Grayson. He let her, unbothered by her tantrums and her relentless theatrics.

To put it nicely, he was a playboy; to be blunt, he was nothing short of a scumbag. Being linked to a woman like Alyna, it was his just desserts.

Azriel had grown up in the same neighborhood as Grayson and the others, and being of a similar age, they naturally fell into the same crowd. They didn't know much about Azriel's life abroad, only that he came back as a corporate leader.

Azriel's car was parked directly in front of the entrance to the Nace family's villa, and the Nace family's old butler looked at it for a while before recognizing it was Azriel, whom he hadn't seen in years.

"Is that you, Mr. Azriel? What brings you here?"

"Is Alyna in?" He cut straight to the chase, his tone icy, his expression stormy, an aura of barely contained fury about him.

Caught off guard, the butler admitted, "Miss Alyna left early this morning and hasn't returned."

Azriel let out a cold laugh, "Is that so? Then I'll wait."

The butler, now sure that Azriel wasn't here for pleasantries but to settle scores, led him to the living room.

Someone, alerted by the arrival, came down the stairs, and frowned at the guest below. Upon recognizing Azriel, that frown turned into a beaming smile.

"Is that you, Azriel?"

"Mr. Ricky." Azriel greeted without a hint of warmth, his voice sending a chill through Ricky, who exchanged a puzzled look with the butler.

Descending the stairs, Ricky asked directly, "What's got you so heated up?"

"Sorry, Mr. Ricky, I'm only here for Alyna. There's something we need to sort out."

Ricky felt an unusual unease. Accustomed to flattery and people seeking his favor, this abrupt, no-nonsense confrontation was unfamiliar territory.

"Look, if there's a misunderstanding with Alyna, tell me, and I'll make sure to correct her if she's stepped out of line."

"She has indeed stepped out of line, but this is something you can't correct for her."

This doesn't sound good at all. Ricky hesitated, "Azriel, Alyna has been somewhat spoiled over the years, but she has always been principled and has never done anything too outrageous..."

"Her previous adherence to principles, and what she had done that was not too outrageous has nothing to do with me. All I know is that what she did today has offended me, violated my principles, and crossed my lines."

Azriel appeared gentle and indifferent on the surface, without any sharp and provoking edges. If you didn't provoke him, he was like a cat napping in the day, but once you did, he could immediately jump up and tear you apart.

The gentler the person appears on the surface, the more terrifying they can be when they lose their temper.

Ricky's face darkened completely, "What exactly is the matter that you are holding onto so tightly? If it really was Alyna's fault, I would apologize to you on her behalf!"

"You can’t solve this problem for her.”

The butler listened, bewildered by the tension in the air. This sight of his employer so blatantly disrespected by a kid was rare.

As they spoke, a maid motioned the butler over to show him something urgent.

"What is it? Can't you see we're in the middle of a crisis?"

"I found this..." The maid whispered, handing the butler a smartphone. "Miss Alyna got into a fight at Summit Ridge University's gates, and it's all over the internet now. That must be what this is about."

The butler watched the video, the volume low, yet the voices still reached the living room.

“Because she's a tramp. She dared to seduce my fiancé. Can you handle the consequences?"

"Now you play the timid card, huh? When you were luring him in, what were you thinking? I'm telling you, keep away from him. If I catch wind of this again, I'll strip you down and give you a beating."

In the video, Phoebe's voice was faint, while Alyna's was piercingly loud with arrogance.

Azriel knew Phoebe had been mistreated over a misunderstanding, but he hadn't expected the scene to be so disgraceful.

She’s beaten at the university gates, gawked at and humiliated online.

Well.

Ricky, recognizing his daughter's voice, frowned not because of the fight, but because it meant Grayson was messing around with other women again. "Get Grayson here now!"

The butler promptly made the call as Azriel watched Ricky's fury with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.

Ricky, trying to contain his anger, couldn't hide the turmoil within. "It’s Grayson again, getting involved with some low-class women."

Azriel's already dark expression frosted over. "Low-class women? Mr. Ricky, your daughter attacked my woman today."

Ricky was taken aback for a moment before he finally spoke, "It seems there really is some misunderstanding here."

"I don't care if it's a misunderstanding or not, she landed my girl in the hospital, and I need to get even."

Ricky squinted his eyes and his face turned cold towards Azriel. "What's the deal, Azriel? You really gonna hit my daughter in front of me?"

"Why not."

"You..."

"Mr. Ricky, Alyna is your daughter, but no one else is obliged to put up with her antics."

It was good that Grayson was coming; it saved Azriel from having to make a special trip to find him.

Azriel remained seated on the couch, immovable as a mountain, his demeanor screaming that he wouldn't rest until he saw Alyna, and Ricky, though fuming with anger, couldn't bring himself to kick him out.

The living room was caught in a prolonged standoff.

Time went by until the roaring sound of an engine came from outside. Azriel's face instantly tensed, and he rose from the couch, sending the room's temperature plummeting.

Alyna strutted in, her high heels clicking on the floor, a pink Birkin slung over her shoulder, and her phone glued to her ear, her face meticulously made up and radiating schadenfreude. "Gone viral online? Serves her right. Who does she think she is, trying to seduce Grayson and play the other woman? Let everyone see that tramp's true colors. A grad student, huh? Well, let’s see if she manages to graduate..."

Ricky racked his brain, hoping Alyna would be the first to apologize with a better attitude that could defuse the situation. Yet before he could speak, he watched helplessly as his coddled daughter drove the situation to a breaking point.

"Alyna!" He growled in frustration, just as Alyna noticed Azriel in the room.

She paused, staring at Azriel for a while before disconnecting her call, still uncertain as she addressed him, "You are... Azriel?"

Without a word from Azriel, Alyna excitedly opened her arms and ran towards him. "It really is you! I heard you were back and thought we should catch up someday."

Just as she approached to embrace him, Azriel suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders. "Let's catch up today then."

Alyna stopped in her tracks, her face contorting as she gasped in pain. "Ouch. Azriel, you're hurting me!"