The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1926

Back at the Summers mansion, Carolina wore a rare hint of a smile. It felt like that night at the hotel was destined to change everything. Nick seemed surprised too, but he couldn't hide his delight.

As for Yasmine, her feelings were a tangled mess. In her heart, she knew terminating the pregnancy was the logical choice. The Summers had been decent to her, and they owed her nothing. But having lost a baby once before, the thought of going through that again was unbearable.

Now, with the attitude of the Summers, it was clear that they would never agree to her not keeping the baby. And honestly, she couldn’t bring herself to tell the truth either.

The Summers had a reputation to uphold in P City, and she, pregnant with another man's child, married into their family, would be a scandal they'd never live down.

No matter how she looked at it, there was no justification for getting rid of the baby.

Bryson and Derek later found out that Yasmine was pregnant and her decision to keep the baby. Despite their initial reservations about the Summers family, they couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy when facing them.d2

Shortly after the pregnancy news broke, Boyd left town with Serana without a word to Yasmine. They hadn't crossed paths with her since that meeting two months prior. His silence was a clear sign: he'd given up on them entirely. And frankly, that was for the best.

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Nick’s transformation was notable after their marriage. Even though it was only a short two months, the situation had gradually improved. Nick's reputation and public image had been slowly building up, and under Yasmine's guidance, the other industries of the Summers family had experienced modest enhancements.

With the baby on the way, Bryson pledged to pass half of his shares and other assets to the child upon birth, ensuring this little baby and the Summers family would maintain their grandeur.

But with prestige came envy, and the Summers soon found themselves the target of hungry eyes.

Yasmine’s pregnancy put all plans of getting closer to Nick on hold. But let's face it, Nick was a man. And he had needs. Reality set in, and eventually, he sought comfort elsewhere.

Viviana, with her calculating charm, had managed to tie Nick to her. Nick wasn't great at keeping secrets, and Yasmine could see the change in him from the start. She chose not to dwell on it, unwilling to let stress affect her pregnancy.

Bryson and Aliza would visit frequently, and the Summers treated Yasmine like royalty. Jonah, who used to lead a leisurely and uneventful life, spent more time staying at home every day. The birth of the first grandchild was imminent, and with it, new roles for everyone: grandparents, and parents.

Yasmine’s guilt was immense, but she planned to keep this secret for a lifetime. This child would be a Summers through and through. Perhaps, in time, she might bear Nick a child of true Summers blood to atone.

Ironically, not long after giving birth, Yasmine found out about Nick's affair with Viviana. She was angry, yes, but it only unsettled her for a few days. She had no emotional ties to Nick. She never shared his bed or gave him the time of day. It seemed somewhat understandable that he'd look for companionship elsewhere. However, it was a real pity. She did consider accepting Nick. Maybe it was fate that love was not in the cards for her, destined never to fully commit to any man.

Yasmine had once dreamed of a life with Boyd, only for him to nearly kill her over another woman, resulting in the loss of her baby. Now, as she contemplated a future with Nick, he had strayed, driven by loneliness.

But with a newborn to care for, Yasmine had neither the energy nor the desire to confront the Summers about this indiscretion. Besides, what would it achieve? The Summers would simply expect her to forgive and forget. For her child's sake, for the Summers' reputation, and for what little dignity she had left, she stayed silent.

In just one year, her husband cheated on her, and others were probably talking behind her back, ready to spread rumors. And if word reached certain ears, how utterly ridiculous she would appear.

Her child deserved to grow up cherished, a true lady of stature. She would give her the best of everything, doubly so for the baby she had lost.

Nick promised to cut ties with Viviana, but his words were just that—words. Eventually, Viviana turned up pregnant, causing a stir that reached the Summers’ doorstep, but Carolina, staunch as ever, refused to let her cross the threshold.

Nick was wary of crossing Carolina, and Viviana didn't dare to upset her either, so they both ended up begrudgingly living outside in the house Nick shared with her.

Yasmine's main focus in life, aside from Chloe, was her work. She never expected the Summers' legacy to ultimately fall to Chloe. Viviana's unborn child would surely stake a claim to everything that was Chloe's—affection, care, and the protection of the Summers family. And possibly much more than she could currently foresee.

With such a substantial amount of assets right in front of them, who wouldn't be tempted? Carolina was no exception.

Yet Yasmine simply smiled, "If you really want to bring this up, let’s talk about it. You speak of living expenses, but where would those come from if not for my wholehearted support after marrying into the Summers? When I first joined the Summers, I had some shares that you promptly transferred to Nick's name. Perhaps at the upcoming shareholders' meeting, we should also discuss redistributing some of the shares he holds?”

“Also, my assets were acquired with funds from Peck Innovations, and Bryson gifted them to me in his name. The transfer of ownership was clearly in my name. If you or Jonah intend to give Nick your shares, shouldn't my name be written on that paper as well?

“Besides, Chloe is still a Summers descendant. Isn't giving to her akin to giving to the family? As her mother, I want to give her the best without reservation. But Nick is different. Not only does he suddenly have a mistress, but also an unexpected daughter. Can he promise to leave everything to Chloe? I mean, will he give Chloe everything that belongs to the Summers in the future?"

Carolina was fuming with Yasmine's words but had no grounds for rebuttal. Yet, it was a proposition she could not accept. "You seem to want a lot."

Viviana spoke up timidly, "Yasmine, Keira is also a grandchild of the Summers family."

Yasmine smiled, "She may be a grandchild to the Summers, but she's not to the Peck family. She can claim her share of the Summers' holdings, but she has no right over the Peck family's assets."

"But..."

"I won't lie to you, I've been spreading myself too thin across various ventures for the past decade and a half, and I've taken my fair share of hits. Lately, it's been like robbing Peter to pay Paul, and I've siphoned a hefty sum from Peck Innovations. We're not at the end of the fiscal year yet, and I haven't crunched the final numbers, but a rough tally puts my liabilities for these businesses at nearly two billion, including the loans from Peck Innovations. If you're really keen on sharing the load, I might consider it, but you should settle your debts with Peck first."

Carolina's face turned thunderous. "Two billion? You expect me to believe you're leaving your daughter with an empire that's two billion in the hole?"

"Look, I haven't exactly begun to turn these businesses around yet. And most of that sum is courtesy of Peck Innovations. I could probably dodge repayment, but you can't. These ventures might bleed more cash before they're through, but the Peck family has the means to keep these companies afloat. Who knows, maybe one of them will hit the jackpot someday?"