The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

With a wicked glint in her eye, Danielle suddenly lunged forward and twisted the doorknob to Cicely’s room.

“Cicely…”

Danielle had to admit, there was a deliberate edge to her action, and even in that fleeting moment, a thrill of schadenfreude danced in her heart. But as the door swung open, she was met with the sight of a spotless, empty room.

On the neatly made bed, devoid of a single wrinkle, lay two plush toys. Beside it stood her vanity, while on the other side her desk was adorned with an array of simple trinkets and several books, all arranged with meticulous cleanliness.

Seth noticed a few items that resembled those Cicely had previously brought to his room. The state of the room was testament enough that no one had set foot in it for the day.

“It’s just dinner. What’s the rush…”d2

A familiar voice echoed in the hallway, laced with unmistakable impatience and a hint of irritation, but the words cut off abruptly.

Hearing the sound, Seth turned slowly.

Cicely stood there, staring blankly at him. Her stunning eyes were wide with surprise, fixed on him, tinged with disbelief.

“Seth?”

Indeed, her voice carried the fuzziness of a dream.

Seth’s gaze lifted coolly, sweeping past her to the bookcase anchored against the wall behind her. His eyebrows quirked slightly, the darkness in his eyes dissipating a fraction. “Typical spoiled princess, requiring an invitation and a personal summons just for dinner.” The familiar voice carried the usual indifference.

Cicely snapped back to reality, her joy apparent as she scampered over and wrapped her arms around Seth’s waist.

Caught off guard, his body swayed slightly with the impact of her embrace.

“What brings you here?”

Cicely’s unique, fragrant scent instantly filled his nostrils. Her soft body pressed affectionately against him, marking their second close encounter. It seemed that after the first, the second or third time became more natural.

He remembered how she had barged into the Diaz estate, eager to assertively apply medicine to his wounds.

Danielle’s face darkened on the spot. “Cicely, have you no shame?”

Seth had just reached out to push her away when Cicely, still in his arms, tilted her head to look at Danielle and countered, “Why are you in my room?”

Danielle’s face flushed, her eyes darting away. “I came to call you for dinner. You didn’t respond, no matter how much we knocked.”

Cicely’s eyes flickered, and she gave Danielle a sneer, unaware that Seth had just touched her shoulder.

Joel heard the commotion and walked out of the study. “Cicely.”

Seth’s gaze met his, registering the fleeting shadow of disappointment that crossed Joel’s eyes at the sight of Cicely in his arms.

Upon hearing the name, Cicely glanced back, instinctively straightening her posture. But a sudden weight on her shoulder pressured her back into the hold – a brief force like a sandbag, that felt almost like an illusion. Just as quick, Seth pulled her aside. His movement was neither gentle nor harsh, simply decisive.

Seth’s gaze lingered on Joel for a few seconds before shifting to Cicely beside him. He slightly lowered his jaw, his narrow eyes holding their usual detachment, his thin lips parting slightly. “So when exactly will you be ready for dinner?”

His voice seemed as indifferent as ever, but Cicely could detect an unfamiliar softness. Forgetting her unsettled grudges with Danielle, she replied, “I had no idea. There’s this problem I just can’t solve, and it’s driving me insane.”

Perhaps Cicely was truly vexed by the problem, her voice tinged with irritation, her delicate frown revealing her emotions for all to see.

Creighton wasn’t wrong. She was unaccustomed to deceit, her innocence so pure that she never learned to mask her expressions. She was too easy to read.

“Let’s have dinner first.”

Cicely inhaled sharply, her pert nose wrinkling slightly, “If I don’t solve it, I’ll have indigestion.”

Her voice trailed off, then suddenly she looked up, her eyes seeming to absorb all the light in the room. “Will you help me after dinner?”

Seth walked ahead without a word.

Cicely hurried behind him, “That means you’ll help me with the problem, right?”

glanced at her sideways, “Don’t

You’re not

Seth said no more.

descended the stairs, Creighton caught sight

respond. The old adage “don’t speak while eating” was no longer strictly observed, even in the most well-mannered families of today. It was all about finding the right balance. Yet Danielle adhered

sat in front of Seth, ceaselessly offering him dishes from the

Watching the heap of food

full. In the end, it was about her taking

from her, Danielle looked on with a detached air, her eyes painting a picture of scorn upon hearing Seth finally speak up coldly

push their luck too far. People like Cicely, all the more so. Did such a person ever leave a

in her right, she leaned slightly to watch Seth. “You’ve barely touched your food, and I’m the host here. I can leave food

as he looked at the plate of

his face showing no emotion. Naturally exuding an air of elegance and cold nobility, he ate with a deliberate, refined,

like someone who wasn’t

yet her eyes couldn’t hide a triumphant gleam. She knew Seth too well to expect him to admit he was one of the Ellis

Seth

a guest Cicely had invited, and now that Seth was eating as she wished, she turned her attention to Joel. Being a gentleman from a distinguished

really owe you one for

Ellis family’s haughty heiress, those who got close knew she wasn’t as difficult as rumored. In fact, Cicely’s reputation was mixed, but Joel thought few truly

the sake of the Ellis family’s influence or for her as a person. But her

watched the corners of her mouth lift slightly, her eyes shimmering beautifully. He smiled softly, shaking his head. “I’m happy to help. I hope you ace your exams the day

hand, clearly pleased as she took another bite

it would be a disservice to the time and effort

been eating steadily, tightened his jaw ever so slightly, his expression darkening where no one could

smart, and I have every faith

her attention back to Seth at her side. The plate

was always careful with the meals, incorporating celery into nearly every dish, whether as a main

she’d discovered something novel or caught him in a fault. Thinking back, she couldn’t recall ever seeing celery

eat everything but the celery in his plate. Suddenly, a fork appeared over

his celery and

like?” Cicely asked with

moved, forming words, and

Cicely scanned the table, her gaze settling on a dish in front of Danielle that

intentions. As Cicely’s fork reached toward the dish, Danielle

for a moment. After a cold glance at Danielle’s pretentious expression, she still served a piece of the sea cucumber onto Seth’s

a piercing coldness.

demeanor, everyone felt the atmosphere turn

finally

up trouble? It’s premium mussel, how could I let

“Cicely, even if you want to play games, there’s a time and place. Do you

Danielle for a moment before turning to a maid, “It seems Ms. Danielle is done eating. Clear her

Danielle’s complexion darkened further.

statement. Removing

hard of

maid quickly moved to

edge in her voice, “What’s it to you if he doesn’t eat seafood? Throwing a tantrum like a child, really, what are you trying to prove?

nonchalantly reached over and plucked a stick of celery from Seth’s plate, chewing with deliberate slowness before replying, “Pick your battles, darling. That’s advice you might want to take to heart. You always carry yourself with such an air of superiority, like some high-and-mighty heiress. The Ellis clan isn’t fussy about dining etiquette

she glanced at one of the maids whose

turning to Seth,

cast Cicely a cool glance and said matter-of-factly, “I don’t

others tensed silently. His candid admission seemed

for years, understood him too well. Had Seth remained silent or denied it, the incident might have passed

merely smiled wryly, using her fork to transfer a piece of mussel from Seth’s plate to

it,” she said

room was silent. Almost simultaneously, they realized that Cicely

and gave the servant a nod, “Bring a fresh set, please.” It was

standing. “I’ve lost my appetite.” No one wanted to linger after

maintain any semblance of affection for her. He prided himself on treating her as he treated his own

same level of dedication, the starkly different returns he received from Danielle and his daughter were clear to all. Moreover, to avoid any bitterness on Danielle’s part, he had been more critical of his daughter

manner, especially not when guests were