The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2120

The craziest thing Ella ever did in her life was that when she turned twenty, bolstered by alcohol, she went into Noah's room.

Before she was kicked out of the bed, her cheek stung from a sharp slap.

As she was flung to the floor, the word “slut” crashed into her eardrums.

After she hit the ground, Ella was painfully aware that her heart was shattered, lying in ruins beneath her, a dignity pulverized by her own doing.

The air in the room held a frosty chill, oppressive, almost suffocating.

Ella had both hands supporting her on the ground, and her disheveled hair almost entirely obscured her lowered head, making it impossible to see any expression on her face. "Am I really that bad?" she asked, her voice eerily calm, devoid of the expected sobs and trembles.d2

Noah sat perched on the windowsill armchair, clad in dark blue pajamas. Between his fingers, he held a cigarette, its pale smoke doing nothing to soften the icy edge on his face. "Do you even know who you are?" he asked, his voice sharp.

Ella nodded slightly, "Yeah, grandpa’s granddaughter, your niece."

"So you knew what you were doing. Have you no shame?"

Her fists clenched on the carpet. "It's just a title, isn't it? I share no blood with you all. I'm just the girl grandpa took in."

Noah pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray with force, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Ella, over the years, the Trettons have given you more than just a 'title'. Even if it's just that, you bear the Tretton name. Don't play those trashy games with me. You really think I'm that stupid? I'd advise you to get over whatever fantasy you're harboring, or you can just get the hell out of the Tretton family."

Sitting on the floor, staring at her trembling hands, she couldn't move.

He'd accused her of playing trashing games more than once. Indeed, she had been playing games. There was that one time when she got too close to another boy and incurred his scolding. She naively thought it was jealousy, so she tried again, only to be met with his repeated scorn for her "trashy games".

He knew, and in his eyes, she was nothing but a childish clown, deluded and dancing for attention.

"Get out!" Noah's voice, heavy with anger, crashed down on her like a lead weight.

She blinked her dry eyes, and nodded slightly, using almost all of her strength to stand up from the ground.

She walked all the way to the door before she paused. "The Tretton family has given me so much, and I am very grateful to the Tretton family, grateful to my grandfather, grateful to you. So grateful that I am willing to repay it with my entire life."

Noah's voice was still chillingly cold, "I don't need you to repay it in this way."

"I know." Ella almost interrupted him, "I never thought of repaying it in this way. I didn't think clearly, and I was ungrateful. It won't happen again."

Noah didn't say anything anymore, Ella stayed for a few more seconds, then leaned on the door frame and stepped out of the room, closing his bedroom door behind her.

Back in her room, Ella sat on her bed, hands braced on the mattress, looking around her bedroom. Every corner and trinket spoke of luxury.

She’s an orphan adopted into wealth, treated like a beloved daughter – what more could she ask for?

She’s just being too greedy.

From Noah's reaction, she was consumed with a sense of extreme ungratefulness. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile, gripping the bedsheets, reminding herself she had no right to feel hurt or cry. Yet the tears wouldn't stop. Eventually, she gave up trying to hold them back.

After some time, she pulled herself together and splashed cold water on her swollen eyes in the bathroom.

The next morning, she was awakened by a knock on her door. "Miss, it's time for breakfast, or you'll be late for school."

Without looking in the mirror, she could feel her eyes were still puffy. She took a small mirror from the bedside table and after a silent moment, she said, "I'm not feeling well. I've already informed my advisor. I won't be going to school today."

The housekeeper asked with concern, "Miss, what seems to be the problem? Shall I have the butler call the family doctor to come and take a look at you?"

"No need," Ella replied. "I had a bit to drink last night and have a headache now. I just need some rest."

"Understood. Rest well."

The housekeeper descended the stairs, and Jon and Noah were in the dining room. "Ms. Ella isn't feeling well today and won't be attending school," the housekeeper informed them.

Jon frowned, "Not feeling well? What happened? Why don’t you call the doctor?"

"She said it was from drinking last night, and she just needs more sleep this morning."

"Drinking?" Jon's eyes widened with disapproval as he turned to Noah. "And what kind of uncle are you? Not keeping an eye on her?"

Noah continued his breakfast unfazed, "She's twenty. A little drinking is fine."

"That's fine?" Jon's voice rose. "She's got a headache from it."

Jon's every word dripped with favoritism for Ella. Noah was used to it. "Maybe she's building her tolerance. It could help her protect herself if needed."

Jon was silent, his expression shifting subtly before he finally sighed, "Just make sure you keep an eye on her. She's at an age where it's easy to make mistakes."

"I know," Noah responded, his indifference apparent.

Jon's face darkened, "She's at a delicate age. If something happens, no one can undo it."

"I understand."

With a hint of impatience in his eyes, Noah set down his utensils, grabbed his jacket, and left.

As the sound of the car engine faded into the distance, Jon resumed eating, then turned to the butler with a stern expression, "What exactly happened?"

The butler approached respectfully, "Ms. Ella went into Mr. Noah's room last night and got quite the scolding."

Jon's expression darkened, and after a moment, he sighed, "Ella's a good kid."

The butler agreed, "Indeed."

*

Ella didn't go back to sleep. She stood by the window, watching as Noah, with a coat draped over his wrist, casually opened the car door and got in.

His face was always adorned with that kind of icy indifference, a look that seemed to push people miles away. Even the aura he exuded was the same.

However, when he was with her, he a,ways showed unconditional adoration. She had even believed that he had reserved all his gentleness and patience just for her, that she was special to him. Only now did she realize that she had been too full of herself.

It was nothing more than an uncle's favoritism towards his niece, and she had mistaken it for love.

She made her way back to bed, called her advisor to excuse herself from classes, and then burrowed back under the covers to sleep. It wasn't until noon that she finally descended the stairs. What she hadn't anticipated was that there would be a visitor at home at this hour.

"Ella, you are up?" Jon's voice was warm and welcoming as he looked up at her descending the staircase, "Heard you were under the weather, so Paul swung by to check in on you."

At the mention, the man on the sofa stood up and turned, flashing her a smile. "Our advisor mentioned you were ill, so I thought I'd come see how you're doing."

"I'm much better now." Ella scratched her head, slightly embarrassed, "Thanks for coming by. It was just a hangover from drinking last night."

Paul paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Glad to hear you're okay."

"Ella, you should cut back on the booze, don't listen to your uncle about building your tolerance. If you really needed that, what use would he be?" Jon's playful scolding warmed her heart.

"I got it. Grandpa, it won't happen again."

"Good. Lunch will be a bit yet, Paul, you'll stay for a meal. If you're bored, you two can take a walk in the yard, we'll call you when lunch is ready."

Ella hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on Jon's face before she smiled, nodding in agreement, "Alright."

The Tretton family were originally from P City. The place where they lived now was an old estate on the outskirts of town, handed down from their ancestors. As the city grew and changed, many properties were lost to development and demolition. A century passed, and only this plot of land remained intact. After several renovations, the Tretton family's villa still retained an air of antiquity.

Passing through the arched corridors and several round gates, they came to a large backyard garden with a man-made lake.

The two chatted as they walked, mostly about school life. They were in the same finance program, of the same age, and their families had always been close. Their rapport at school was solid, and both were top students in their department, standouts that the school took pride in. On the school's forum for couple pairings, it was no surprise that they were both listed.

However, there was plenty of gossip about Ella as well. Like how she was only an adopted daughter of the Trettons and didn't have the pedigree of a true-blue heiress. Or how she didn't seem that smart, but had somehow gotten into Summit Ridge University's finance program with outstanding grades, and despite not seeming to try as hard as others, consistently ranked at the top of her class.

She lacked a glamorous pedigree but had an enviable upbringing and an academic prowess that was the envy of many.

At school, opinions about her were split down the middle, which was part of why she was such a notable figure.

"Have you heard about the Academic Bridges program the school's offering this year?"

Ella shook her head, "What's that?"

Paul explained, "The university has partnered with Golden University in Y Country. Each department will send two exchange students. You spend two years here and the remaining two abroad, with the chance to earn dual bachelor's degrees. And if you want to advance further, you can stay at the foreign university."

Ella slowed her pace, and they came to a stop on a white bridge over the lake. "So, you're thinking of going?"

Paul nodded, "I was hoping we could go together."

Ella froze, surprised by his suggestion.

Paul took a deep breath, "Don't feel pressured. I admit I like you, but I won't do anything you're not comfortable with. Going to Y Country with me doesn't mean you're agreeing to anything else. I just think with your credentials, you'd have no problem getting into the program. It just so happens to align with my own wishes because once we're abroad, I'll be the only one you can really rely on. If you accept my feelings then, great; if not, I won't press you. Regardless, this program seems like a win-win for me, but it ultimately depends on you."

Paul's candor and directness left Ella at a loss for words.

"Ella, I hope you'll think it over carefully. This opportunity is too good to miss. Don't reject the program just because of me. Like I said, agreeing to go to Y Country doesn't mean you're agreeing to anything with me. I respect your decision."

"I'll think about it." She seemed eager to break the awkwardness of the moment and quickly added, "Lunch should be ready by now. Let's head back."