THE CEO’S ACCIDENTAL BRIDE

CHAPTER 3

Morning.

Maya woke up at six o'clock to prepare for the upcoming parent-teacher meeting.

Since it was winter, the world outside was still shrouded in darkness. Through the window, she could faintly see the branches swaying in the cold wind, signaling that a change in the weather was coming!

Christmas was just a couple of days away, and yet there hadn’t been a single snowfall this year. Holding a cup of warm water, She stood by the window, lost in thought. Just then, a loud clattering of footsteps interrupted her. Tessa, heavily made up and swaying, stumbled into the room, reeking of alcohol.

Seeing this, Maya furrowed her brow and lowered her voice, "Tessa, why are you so drunk? Did you go gambling again?"

At her words, Tessa lifted her head defiantly. "Who says I lost money again? Who dares to say I lost again? I just had a bit of bad luck! My fortune will turn around in a couple of days!" Without saying another word, Maya gave her a few glances at her, grabbed her scarf and bag, and walked out of the room.

At school.

At ten o'clock, it was time for the parent-teacher meeting.

The parents were already seated, with only one seat left empty. Maya bit her lip, wondering if Ethan Darwin’s parent were not going to show up again.

She was about to look for Ethan Darwin, but as soon as she turned around, her heart skipped a beat. How could it be him?

Charles Darwin was wearing a white shirt, with a tan coat draped over his arm. He seemed to be in a bit of a hurry, which added a touch of casualness to his appearance.

His deep-set eyes casually scanned the woman in front of him, a fleeting look of surprise passing over his face, but it was too quick to catch.

As he walked past, he merely glanced at Maya, passing by her like a stranger. Her heart raced uncontrollably, and even the attendance list in her hand trembled slightly. How couldn't she have guessed that he was actually related to Ethan Darwin?

It was true what they said—enemies cross paths often. But the world is too big; why did they meet so easily again? Swallowing the lump in her throat, which felt like a fishbone stuck there, Maya took a deep breath to calm herself.

Most of the parents attending the meeting were women, and Charles presence was undoubtedly a breath of fresh air among them.

With his striking features that seemed sculpted by God and his noble, elegant aura, the mothers around her quickly pulled out their phones to take pictures. Some even posted photos on social media.

Charles frowned slightly. The crowd's attention made him feel a bit impatient and irritated, but he didn't let it show. His calm gaze fell on Maya, and his thin lips moved as he spoke in a low voice, "Miss Cooper, hasn't the parent-teacher meeting started yet?"

Maya felt a shiver run down her spine, her discomfort palpable, but she straightened her back and tried to ignore the tall, imposing figure in front of her.

Adopting her teaching tone, she replied, "I apologize for keeping everyone waiting during such a busy time. The purpose of this meeting is to report on the students' academic performance over the past year and their behavior at school. When I call out the names of these parents, please respond..."

She began to call out the names of the parents of the top-performing students, all of whom had excellent grades and behavior.

Maya’s voice was steady and calm, slightly hoarse due to a cold, yet it was melodious and engaging. When she spoke about her students, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and energy.

Charles raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her as he squinted and assessed her.

Her hair was blonde, cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes were round and bright like shiny pearls, while her small, delicate nose and naturally rosy lips added to her charm.

Her fair complexion glowed like jade, and the bright red down jacket she wore made her look even more radiant, accentuating her rosy cheeks.

Without a trace of makeup, Maya looked refined and graceful, exuding a sense of comfort. Though she tried her best to focus, she could still feel that deep gaze sweeping over her.

Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself to stay calm and composed, then spoke up, “Are you Ethan Darwin’s family?”

Charles leaned back lazily, his tall frame relaxed as he replied, “Yes.” His rich, magnetic voice drew the attention of the women around him, their eyes instinctively turning to him, captivated.

He was now her student’s family, not the man from that night!

After mentally warning herself again, Maya raised her head and spoke calmly, “Do you know Ethan Darwin’s ranking in school?” Charles maintained his relaxed posture, but his handsome face turned slightly, his nose appearing even more prominent as he listened intently, exuding an undeniable charm.

“He’s always second to last in every exam, without exception. I hope Mr. Darwin can pay more attention to his study.”

If it were any other parent hearing such a ranking in front of so many people, they would likely feel embarrassed or blush. Yet, he remained unfazed, elegant, and composed. “How many senior students are there in the entire school?”

Maya replied honestly, "Two thousand nine hundred."

He flicked his long fingers against his sleeve, resting his chin thoughtfully. "But isn't there another one ranking behind him? Two thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine. That’s quite a good ranking..."

Caught off guard by such an answer, Maya blinked in surprise for a moment before regaining her composure, a hint of sarcasm creeping into her thoughts.

Wealthy people's mindset is truly different from ordinary folks. Even if they always come in last at school, they don’t worry about the future.

"Mr. Darwin, your perspective is unique..."

"Just average," Charles said, a slight smirk on his lips, though his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her.

Their eyes locked, and Maya’s heart raced. She quickly averted her gaze. The parent-teacher meeting was soon coming to an end. As soon as it wrapped up, Charles pushed back his chair and strode out with long strides.

Ethan had been waiting outside for a while. "Charles."

"Hmmm..." Charles nodded, then after a moment, he added, "Is this the best you can do in exams?"

Clearing his throat, Ethan grinned playfully. "Big brother, you know why prices in big malls often end in 9? It can boost the consumer's desire. Just listen to 'two thousand nine' and then 'two thousand eight hundred ninety-nine.' Which one feels better?" "Do you think you're a product with a price tag in a*****e?" Charles shot him a cold glance and warned, "Next time, don’t you ever rank 2899th again, or you’ll regret it!"

"When did you start caring about my rankings, Charles? If I can't run 2,899th next time, how about aiming for 2,898th instead? That’s still a pretty decent rank."

"If you don't make it into the top 1,000 next time, all your expenses will be cut off..." Charles said coldly.

Hearing this, Ethan shrugged helplessly. "Alright, Charles, if that's the case, you have to agree to one condition!"

"What condition?"

*********

By the time all the parents had been sent off, it was already noon, time for lunch.

Maya stretched and walked out of the school gate, ready to grab some spaghetti. But a sleek black Bentley suddenly blocked her path, coming to a stop right beside her.