The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Seth’s brows knitted slightly before he leaned back into the chair, reopening the book he had just closed. His eyes locked back onto the text as he spoke in a tone so even-keeled it barely rippled the air. “You’re out of chances.”

At that, Kane’s brow furrowed, he paused for a few seconds and rolled his eyes. “First loves are only first loves when they actually happen, you know. Didn’t you just say you weren’t interested?”

Seth’s gaze settled on a particular word, paused, and the recently eased expression on his face seemed to darken in an instant. “Can you just not?”

Knowing Seth’s temper all too well, Kane casually picked up a book and leaned back in his chair, waiting for Danielle to return.

Cicely finished her homework and, bored out of her mind, plopped onto the couch. She munched on some popcorn and half-watched a movie. But after only devouring half the snack and giving the movie a mere fifteen minutes of her attention, she grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.

Standing at the top of the stairs, clutching a pillow she snatched from the couch, she looked left and right, her gaze finally resting on the far-left corner of the upstairs hallway.d2

After a brief pause, she walked over.

At the end of the corridor was the music room, where a white piano stood by the window, surrounded by various other instruments. Violins, cellos, recorders, guitars – each had their rightful place.

Music was perhaps Cicely’s reluctant hobby, chosen under the duress of not disappointing her father. Though he doted on her, he wouldn’t have her be a lady without skills.

Singing, dancing, instruments, painting, even judo and martial arts were laid out before her to choose from. Her father, Creighton, had hoped she’d pick something like judo or martial arts, something that would enable her to protect herself. But Cicely hadn’t even considered dance. The thought of the grueling flexibility training, the sweat from every intense session, made her wrinkle her nose in distaste.

Painting required immense patience and a talent she felt she lacked. Singing was too much of an effort to even open her mouth. So that left instruments as her sole option.

After all, being the daughter of the prestigious Ellis family, she had to have some sort of skill to uphold the family’s reputation.

Initially, the cool allure of the guitar caught her interest, so she learned to play. Once she got the hang of it, the allure of the violin caught her eye, and she went on to learn that, followed by the cello. A period film sparked an interest in the zither, and later, the elegance of the piano made her bring one home.

Though it might seem she was a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, the Ellis family genes blessed Cicely with a sharp mind that made her quite adept at each instrument in the room.

She glanced around the room, taking the path of least resistance to the piano, and sat down. Bored, she slammed a note, the somber sound echoing her mood.

A few discordant notes later, she half-heartedly played an obscure melody until the setting sun cast an orange glow on the white piano, signaling it was time to stop.

Back in her room, Cicely checked her phone—it was past five with no calls or messages. Throwing herself onto the soft bed, she stared at the phone for a while, her finger hovering over the call log and messaging app, hesitant to contact Seth after their last encounter. She feared running into another of his cold rebuffs.

Finally, she tossed the phone aside, buried her head in the pillow, and clutched its sides tightly.

could make Cicely so cautious and wary. Another

evening, with daylight still lingering, Danielle was down to her last two math problems. Kane, the “whiz kid,” had given up silently after pretending to ponder for ages, leaving the floor to

within minutes, his pen revealed the correct answers with a flourish—clear, concise,

“Got it?” he asked.

found his explanation surprisingly

problem and wrapped up

That’s how it works.” On the side, Kane had

the pen in his hand onto the table before standing up, holding the book he had been reading halfway through. “That’s

disappointment washed over Danielle, but before she could speak, Kane jumped

What if Danielle still

if she hadn’t understood,

gave Kane a chilly, mocking glance

hair, his triumph fading to irritation. He turned

carefully bookmarked it in her textbook. Though she had wanted to tell Seth she didn’t understand, she now felt too embarrassed to say anything. After all, his message

about to prove herself dumber than a fool, was she? Though she knew there

just returned a book to its rightful spot on the shelf when his phone buzzed

I’m at The Rusty Anchor, come join me for dinner with

no intention of replying as his gaze paused on the name below

and serenity, now burdened with the

clean profile

and stepped out to see Danielle just ending a call, smiling at him, “Patty wants

Danielle, used to his

went his own

An hour passed around the table until Patty could no longer bear Seth’s growing chill, and the gathering finally came

the Ellis household at eight, clutching her math textbook

hugging a pillow on the couch, engrossed

the family knew that Cicely needed

household servants naturally went to greet

rarely exchanged more than a few words, and Cicely merely glanced at her before turning back

bag, but she refused to hand over her

your dinner was kept

“I’ve already eaten.”