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.

the guys or bury himself in the library. But with Kane now fully immersed in college life, cruising

Danielle. He always tried to avoid conflicts with Patty. Besides, tutoring wasn’t hard; he had done

been anxious the previous night, but when he

the university library after school for the tutoring

Seth 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

bearing more stains and blood spots than his trousers. His face, with a bruise on his lip, clearly showed he had been

meters from Seth, on the lawn, three guys were picking themselves up, nursing their wounds

man.

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

flinched, exchanged glances, and

went blank.

the person next to her. He shook his head,

flicked to Seth, and his voice dropped

off the handle out of nowhere,” the person murmured to Danielle as they watched the commotion from a safe distance. “Those three guys

would anyone just start a fight for no reason? But then again, even if

the trio that got beat

here before he turns on us. He’s terrifying. You… you

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

she thought about it, she 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 was less connected to him than the random

the area cleared out, she slowly approached Seth.

when he

as he readjusted his disheveled shirt, his long fingers stained with

unimaginable, the scene

you shouldn’t. Head to the library,” he said, his voice deep and

silent for a few seconds before

have the patience to waste on the same thing over and over. If

her heart at Seth’s words, which were loud and clear to her. He treated

used her limited understanding of him over the years to

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

human nature was greedy; now

might cause him to walk away. She had

library. Danielle quickly followed, and after a while, she gathered the courage to speak up. “But Seth, you

or show

for wear, everyone turned to look at him. Their faces showed surprise, curiosity,

to approach him to ask what had happened. They knew

down to read. Danielle

from indifferent, despite his usual quiet. Danielle could feel the

him any questions. If she didn’t initiate a conversation,

glance at Seth. As he appeared to be absorbed in his book, impassive, she stood up and

a small bag in her hand, no doubt containing the medicine she

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

the bag of medical supplies. “Looks

pale. “It’s

don’t have