The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Creighton frowned slightly, a mix of joy and concern etching his features. He was pleased because, well, knowledge was power, and who wouldn’t be happy about their child gaining more power? But the worry was, could all this hard studying take a toll on her?

He didn’t exactly expect her to be a straight-A student or a valedictorian. In fact, he wouldn’t mind if Cicely turned out to be a carefree, happy-go-lucky “good-for-nothing.” After all, the Ellis family had the means to indulge such a lifestyle.

He had considered the future of inheritance. However, with his daughter’s temperament, she didn’t seem the least bit inclined to pour her heart into the family legacy.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t discussed it with her. More than once, he had tried every trick in the book – cajoling, enticing, but nothing seemed to sway her. Eventually, he had let go of that expectation.

She was, after all, Creighton’s daughter. Her future was destined to be with the cream of the crop. He wasn’t worried about the future of the Ellis family.

As the saying goes, “The children’s luck is their own.” To him, the Ellis family wealth was nothing more than the financial foundation for his daughter’s future happiness. Nothing was more important to him than her joy and well-being.d2

Besides, that young lad Seth had both the mind and the capability, and had won over the affection of his clear-minded Cicely. With a little nurturing, the Ellis family would surely not decline.

No one knew his daughter better than he did. If Cicely wasn’t thinking along these lines, he wouldn’t have entertained the thought either.

She had always been “without high ambition,” so why the sudden drive?

After pondering for a while, Creighton sighed. At the end of the day, more learning could only be a good thing.

He had barely hung up the phone with Cicely when Danielle’s call came through. She, too, was skipping dinner at home for a tutoring session. Now, dinner would be a solo affair for him.

Might as well, he thought, and instructed the kitchen to prepare just one plate of spaghetti for him.

After school, Danielle and Cicely had bumped into each other at the school gates. Danielle was alone, whereas Cicely was with Joel.

Cicely never hid her disdain for Danielle, and Joel was well aware of it. Now that the three of them had collided, he felt a touch awkward. He wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

Danielle glanced at him, surprised to see Cicely this close to him. Everyone knew that Cicely was a loner at school, never one to initiate or indulge in friendships.

“What are you looking at?”

Cicely loathed that scrutinizing gaze from Danielle, as if she was trying to probe her life through Joel.

Danielle’s eyes met Cicely’s, “I won’t be home for dinner tonight, and I’ve already called.”

Hearing this, Cicely frowned, “Are you trying to provoke me?”

Danielle’s expression remained neutral, “I just don’t want you to hassle me like you did last night.”

A faint smile played on Cicely’s beautiful face, “Are you deaf or has your brain been waterlogged?”

Danielle’s usually impassive face now clearly displayed irritation, “No one is more self-righteous than you.” Cicely believed the whole world was hers, that she was the best, irreplaceable, and everyone else was just background to her brilliance.

Danielle had no intention of engaging further, leaving Cicely with a parting shot before walking away.

Cicely watched her leave coldly, saying nothing more, and proceeded to the café she and Joel had reserved earlier.

had ended early, and Seth typically lingered on campus. He’d either shoot hoops with Kane and the guys or bury himself in the library. But with Kane now fully immersed in college life, cruising with girls and his entourage, Seth had forsaken those invitations, making the library his

mother had volunteered him to tutor Danielle. He always tried to avoid conflicts with

anxious the previous night, but when he didn’t

agreed to meet at the university library after school for the tutoring session, but the anticipation and happiness

at arm’s length. No matter what, he was a thinker, not a fighter. That polished demeanor made it impossible for her – or anyone, for that matter, including Seth’s mother –

at the disheveled figure before her – his trousers stained and scuffed, his once pristine shirt missing buttons and bearing more stains and blood spots than his trousers. His face, with

on the lawn, three guys were picking themselves up, nursing their

man. Just

light, but it was like a razor-sharp icicle, piercing and ruthless,

three flinched, exchanged glances, and promptly scrambled

mind went blank. “What

turned to the person next to

dropped a few

the person murmured to Danielle as they watched the commotion from a safe distance. “Those three guys were just walking ahead of us, and

even if there was a reason, what on earth could it be that made him decide to resort

after the trio that got beat up had left,

here before he turns on us. He’s terrifying. You… you can’t even imagine how vicious

she didn’t say a word. Yeah, she couldn’t imagine. But there were plenty of others who had gotten a glimpse

realized that besides Patty, she probably interacted with Seth more than anyone else in the world. However, in reality, it felt like she and Seth were the farthest apart. She even felt like she

area cleared out, she slowly approached

as icy and fierce as it had been when he looked at

remained expressionless as he readjusted his disheveled

was unimaginable, the scene that must have unfolded

his voice deep and clear, devoid of any discernible

seconds before she murmured, “You’re in no shape for

If not, then don’t bother in the future; I don’t have the patience to waste

to her. He treated helping her with her studies as

limited understanding of him over the years to talk him into agreeing

never defied Patty. Their mother-son relationship was simple and unadorned. If Seth had a red line, it was definitely Patty. So, the night before, during dinner, she had cunningly mentioned her need for tutoring in front of Patty. She hadn’t been certain of the outcome, but Patty seemed to pick up on her hint, and thus

at the time, and she had been elated. Perhaps human nature was

speak again, fearing that any more words might cause him to walk away. She had fought hard for this chance to

and after a while, she gathered the courage to speak up. “But Seth,

or show any

Seth walked in, looking worse for wear, everyone

No one dared to approach him to

read. Danielle used this time to message

was far from indifferent, despite his usual quiet. Danielle could feel the chill and lingering anger radiating from

him any questions. If she didn’t initiate a

to glance at Seth. As he appeared to be absorbed in his book, impassive, she stood up and whispered that she was stepping out

returned, she held a small bag in her hand, no doubt

of Seth. “Seth, can I help you

at the bag of medical supplies. “Looks

face turned pale. “It’s not that.

book. “If you don’t have any more questions, we’re