The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

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.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

"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!"

Azriel's voice was cold, "That hurts? Didn't think about the consequences when you were hitting someone?"

After a brief pause, even Alyna realized he was referring to the incident from earlier that morning. "Are you here for that slut's revenge? What do you mean that I should think about the consequences? She tried to seduce someone else's fiancé. Getting hit was her consequence."

Ricky was beside himself with anger, "Alyna! Will you shut up!"

Tears swirled in Alyna's eyes, "Dad, am I wrong? Isn't it those shameless women who are at fault? If they act shamelessly, they deserve to be hit. She's lucky she wasn't killed."

"You..."

"If you've got the guts, then kill someone for real, but Alyna, today you messed with my person, and I can't let you off easy."

With those words, Azriel slapped Alyna fiercely across the face and followed with two strong kicks to her legs. Gripping her shoulder blades tightly, his voice was chillingly stern, "This is the consequence you should bear for hitting someone."

"Azriel, are you out of your mind? How could you hit a woman?!" Alyna was crying and screaming, never having been so humiliated.

"When you were terrorizing others, you didn't act like a woman."

"You... Ah... where are you taking me..." Amidst her cries, Alyna was dragged by Azriel towards the door.

Just then, Grayson appeared at the entrance, his face etched with shock.

"Grayson... Grayson help me, Azriel's gone mad..." Alyna cried out.

Grayson came to his senses, staring at Azriel with complicated emotions, "Azriel, isn't this a bit much."

Azriel's gaze on Grayson was icier than ever, "Grayson, cut the cryptic talk. Didn't you think there'd be a day like today when you staged that scene yesterday? Do you think I'm too forgiving or just plain dumb? Using your own woman to get back at another, does that give you a sense of accomplishment or some twisted satisfaction? You're not off the hook either. I'm reminding you to go to the hospital and apologize to her, but we still have scores to settle."

"Out of my way!” After finishing his piece, without so much as a glance at Grayson's expression, Azriel kicked him aside.

And so, in front of everyone's shocked eyes, Alyna was taken away in Azriel's car. By the time everyone regained their senses, the car had vanished.

*

Under the watchful eyes of all, Azriel dragged Alyna into the hospital with such force that those around him stepped back in fear.

Right outside Phoebe's hospital room, the voices coming from inside made Azriel pause.

"So you sneak out for days on end, and it turns out you've been playing the other woman."

"Am I depriving you of food or clothes? I've provided for you, and this is how you repay me? By becoming someone's mistress?"

"You've brought shame upon the Alonso family. Our family's reputation is ruined because of you."

"Did you do this on purpose? Are you aiming to disgrace our family, is that it?"

"Are you deaf or mute?!"

Phoebe watched coldly as several figures burst into the room. Cole was livid, pointing his finger and hurling insults at her. Grace glared at her with a grim and disdainful look on her face.

It was a while before Azriel heard Phoebe's hoarse voice, "Since you've all made up your minds, what's left for me to say? What reputation does the Alonso family have left to lose? Haven't Wendy and her antics already dragged our name through the mud?"

"You... your sister, she did everything for the sake of the Alonso family. How much has she sacrificed for the Alonso family? And you?"

Phoebe let out a derisive snort, her voice flat, without a trace of fluctuation. "Yeah, I guess I deserve to be sold off, married to an idiot so you all won't be embarrassed."

"You..."

The door to the hospital room was suddenly kicked open with force. Everyone turned around to see Azriel dragging a weeping woman with ruined makeup into the room, an ominous presence surrounding him. He then flung her at Phoebe's bedside.

"Apologize!"

Phoebe's indifferent expression turned to surprise as she saw the woman on the floor, her face a mess and blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Alyna clung to the side of the bed, humiliation written all over her face. She tried to stand, but her legs were suddenly pinned down. Azriel stepped on her without any pretense of courtesy, his handsome face showing utter indifference.

Phoebe was stunned. Despite Azriel’s well-tailored suit and seemingly cultured demeanor, his actions were barbaric.

Tears began to stream down Alyna's face again.

Grayson also rushed into the room. Seeing Alyna trampled on the floor, his headache worsened. He ignored the other people in the room, turned to Phoebe and said, "Phoebe, I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have pressured you to go for coffee yesterday."

Phoebe looked at him and laughed coldly, "So Grayson, you really took me to your usual hangout for coffee yesterday on purpose? And you knew that the club's patrons would tell your fiancée about it?"

Grayson looked at Phoebe in surprise. He hadn't expected this seemingly innocent and simple- minded girl to see through his plan.

"But for the life of me, I can't understand why you'd plot against me? We barely know each other, having met only twice. Why? Because of my connection to Azriel? But what's it to you? Unless you like him?"

Even though Phoebe had nearly stripped Grayson of his dark intentions, this conclusion still made him grimace. Azriel, too, was rendered speechless by the accusation and couldn't help but glance at Grayson's face. Their gazes met mid-air and both quickly looked away as if stung.

Phoebe almost believed she'd guessed right.

Alyna, after a long pause, realized she was at fault for today's beating due to her own misunderstanding. "Like a man?! Impossible. I've been chasing away the women around him for years. Could that be fake?"

Everyone looked at her, speechless.

"But in the end, it was you who went for coffee with him. Why did you drink coffee together alone?! Why should I apologize..."

"You think someone like Grayson is worth my time? No one's as blind as you, chasing after a jerk and treating him like a treasure. If I were to seduce someone, he'd be the last choice."

If this were said at the school gates, Alyna wouldn't believe it. But now, in front of Grayson, this woman could outright call him a jerk, and even if Alyna didn't want to admit she was wrong, she was hesitating now. "Are you really not involved with him?"

"I told you, he's just a friend of a friend."

"So the friend you're talking about is Azriel?"

Phoebe's brow furrowed but remained silent. Alyna wiped away her tears and her teeth clenched in frustration. "I don't think he just wants to be your friend."

Azriel hadn't given a single ounce of respect for Alyna’s family when he'd beaten her like that in front of her dad. And now Azriel turned against his childhood friend Grayson. There was no way that they were just friends.

Phoebe glanced up at Azriel, only to see him staring at her with furrowed brows, his dark eyes holding emotions she couldn't understand.

"Alyna," Azriel suddenly spoke, his cold voice a warning, "Apologize."

Alyna's face paled again as Azriel's foot pressed harder on her leg. "I'm sorry. I made a mistake."

Phoebe couldn't understand how Alyna could be willing to sacrifice so much for a scumbag like Grayson. "I accept your apology, but I don't want to forgive you. From now on, let's keep to our own paths. And I expect a public apology from you. The school is waiting for news, and the stuff on the internet has done real damage to my reputation and life."

Alyna's face twisted again in anger, but she was now intimidated by Azriel's actions. Even if she refused, he'd probably drag her to apologize. With clenched teeth, she begrudgingly agreed.

In the end, Alyna was led away by Grayson, while Azriel's gaze lingered on him, as if there were scores yet unsettled.

After they left, the hospital room fell silent. Cole and Grace were looking awkward for a moment. Their eyes, however, were locked on Azriel, filled with scrutiny and calculation. "And you are?"

"Shouldn't you be apologizing to her right now?" Azriel's voice was cold and unforgiving, offering no pleasantries.

Cole, struggling to maintain his image, said, "I was mistaken, but it’s just my concern getting the best of me."

Phoebe suddenly laughed coldly and pulled the covers up to lie down. "I don't need your apology, nor do I want to forgive you. I hope you reserve this 'concern' for Wendy in the future."

Cole's face shook with anger, his voice heavy with accusation, "Where have you been staying these past few days? Stop throwing a tantrum. Our family is in chaos. You just add to the mess! There must be a reason why those people came after you unprovoked. Reflect on that."

"Phoebe, I'm talking to you!"

"Get out."

The voice wasn't Phoebe's, but Azriel's, who had been silent beside her, his face now a mask of dark fury.