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.

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

his mother had volunteered him to tutor Danielle. He always tried to

been anxious the previous night, but when he didn’t object, she felt an unfamiliar flutter of

for the tutoring session, but

she knew was a loner, cool, calm, detached, always keeping people at arm’s length. No matter what, he was a thinker, not a fighter. That polished demeanor made it impossible for her –

pristine shirt missing buttons and bearing more stains and blood spots than his trousers. His face, with a bruise on his lip, clearly showed he

few meters from Seth, on the lawn, three guys were picking themselves up,

man.

narrow eyes slowly. His gaze was seemingly light, but it was like

exchanged glances, and promptly

mind went blank.

around, and she turned to the person next to her. He shook

voice dropped a

distance. “Those three guys were just walking ahead

start a fight for no reason? But then again, even if there was a reason, what on earth could it

stick around after the trio that got

classmate tugged at Danielle’s sleeve, “Let’s book it out of here before he turns on us. He’s terrifying. You… you can’t even imagine how vicious this guy can look in a fight, considering how calm

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

like she and Seth were the farthest apart. She even felt like

cleared out, she slowly approached

and fierce as it had been when he looked at those three guys, and Danielle instinctively stepped

readjusted his disheveled shirt, his long

the scene

don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Head to the library,” he said, his voice deep and clear, devoid of any discernible emotion.

for a few seconds before she

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

a pang in her heart at Seth’s words, which were loud and clear to her. He treated helping her with her studies as nothing more than a chore,

over the years to

had cunningly mentioned her need for tutoring in front

hadn’t refused at the time, and she had been elated. Perhaps human nature was

didn’t dare speak again, fearing that any more words might cause him to walk away. She had fought hard for this chance

she gathered the courage to speak up. “But Seth, you

didn’t stop or

with students. When Seth walked in, looking worse for wear, everyone turned to look at him. Their faces showed

No one dared to approach him to ask what

familiar bookshelf, effortlessly found a book, and sat down to read. Danielle used this time to message the driver to buy some medical supplies. She couldn’t just

usual quiet. Danielle could feel the chill

didn’t dare ask him any questions. If she didn’t initiate a conversation, Seth certainly

was only when her phone vibrated that she dared to glance at Seth. As he appeared to be absorbed in his book, impassive, she stood up and whispered that she was stepping out before

no doubt containing the medicine she had asked the driver

placed it gently in front of Seth. “Seth, can I help you with the

of medical supplies. “Looks like you won’t have any issues with your

pale. “It’s not

you don’t have any more questions,