The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Cicely took a moment to digest his words— Her slap hadn’t landed, so he wasn’t seeking justice for Danielle. She supposed she could reluctantly accept that answer.

“Figured out how to make it up to me yet?”

Seth glanced at her coolly. “I didn’t make you mad.”

“Use the excuse of bringing me homework to check if Danielle was being bullied by my grandad, use me as a cover to care for another girl, and you think I shouldn’t be mad?”

Seth fell silent, walked over to the car, and tapped on the window. “Pop the trunk.”

The driver complied, and the trunk slowly opened.d2

Seth walked over, bent down, and pulled a box from the trunk. As he opened it, he said in a deep voice, “Come here.”

He didn’t look up, and it wasn’t clear who he was speaking to.

Cicely approached. She saw him rummaging through a first-aid kit and instantly understood. A smirk tugged at her lips.

Watching Seth take out a bandage, Cicely arched an eyebrow and said, “Is this your way of making it up to me?”

He shot her a glance, took her hand, and applied the bandage to her wrist.

“The Diaz family’s business has always been under your dad’s wing. I wouldn’t want him to find out I’ve upset his little princess and have him take it out on the company,” Seth explained.

“So you really are trying to butter me up.”

Cicely’s wrist was slender, and the bruise-reducing bandage wrapped around it neatly. She waved her arm in the air, a playful smirk on her lips as she looked up at him. “Don’t want my dad to see it?”

Wasn’t it more obvious now?

Seth pressed his lips together, silently packing up the first-aid kit, but Cicely stopped him. She picked up another bandage, tore off the wrapper, grabbed his hand, and placed it on the back of his hand. “Courtesy demands reciprocity.” It was where she had hit him with the book earlier.

After a glance at the haphazard wrapping, Seth let his hand hang, closed the first-aid kit, and shut the trunk, staring at her impassively. “All good now?”

Cicely raised an eyebrow. “Of course not. I got hurt because you were protecting her. Isn’t it only natural you make it right?”

She flaunted her wrist in front of him. “I’m thirteen, not three. You can’t fool me that easily.”

Seth’s gaze swept over her face, past her shoulder, landing on the books she had thrown to the ground. “Still don’t want your homework?”

Cicely turned and saw the scattered books, frowning.

“Speak up.”

“What’s there to say? I threw them out, and now you want me to pick them up?” She’s not going to embarrass herself.

Seth simply walked over, bent down, and picked up the books, methodically packing them into a bag. “I’ll have someone return your stuff later. You don’t need to come tomorrow.”

Cicely’s face darkened again. “You wouldn’t do that!”

Seth remained silent, opening the car door.

Why should I let my education suffer because I’m

through her words and turned to run away. Her gaze swept past Danielle, still standing there

disappear into the distance, his gaze lingering on Danielle. “Aren’t you going

Danielle’s eyes flickered. “Seth.”

looked at her calmly, waiting for her to

want to skip

“That’s something you should discuss with the

her eyes pleading. “Won’t you even ask me

“That’s your business.”

tone was flat as he got into the

the Ellis family, and I don’t know how to approach them with a request yet, but I have to skip a grade. Next semester, I’ll talk to them, but I

sure you have to make trouble for me like

door. “Trouble?” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why

to do

swirled in Danielle’s eyes, stung

any of them. Now, even Seth, her most trusted person, seemed to

his lips pressed into a thin line. Without answering her question, his cold gaze fell on her

cold enough to shatter

the sofa, holding a pen in her

saw Danielle return, Cicely lazily

Thinking back on Cicely’s attempt

from the coffee table, the first time she’d called

was a tough nut to crack. Nothing seemed to faze her, with her aloof and superior demeanor

her. Despite her gentle, affectionate name, her personality couldn’t be further from it. Yet, everyone seemed

taken aback to hear Danielle formally address her, but she knew the seriousness likely meant trouble. Her posture unchanged, she continued to look at Danielle

hold back the turmoil within as she said,

what? You want to talk about who’s the other

were just beginning to grasp, the edges of understanding blurry and strange. They knew the words—the labels—but they were just that: terms to be read and ostensibly

an indisputably derogatory

be living under the same roof for the

Danielle was speechless.

ridiculous,” Cicely said, her laugh ringing out as she twirled a pen into her messy bun. “You don’t fancy me, and

he fancied you.” Danielle protested.Books Chapters Are

to him, didn’t I?” Cicely’s smile cooled

I want him, and if I can’t have him, I’ll fight for him. If I can’t win him, I’ll cling to him. As long as the end result is to my satisfaction, I’m not above playing dirty. Besides, I made my move

not going to let you

enough that I fancy him. If he loves me, great; if not, I’ll make him say he does

her own question. Of course, she wanted Seth to love her back. But if he didn’t, she couldn’t just let him walk away, could she? At the

by this irrational proclamation. Yet, as unreasonable as Cicely’s words were, they were irrefutable. She fancied

but from the moment I declared him mine, he’s off-limits

even if he doesn’t love you? Cicely, you’re spoiled. Not everyone is part of the Ellis family.

dismissively. “I’ll cross that bridge when I come

Ellis family ever not exist? It was there, backed by her father,

Danielle’s offhand retort

on the sofa with a spread of snacks on the

casually, as Cicely approached the

faint smile. “How’s your study going? Jumping straight into the seventh grade, do you