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?”

sideways, “Don’t you have someone to teach

don’t care. You’re not allowed to leave

Seth said no more.

caught sight of Cicely’s happiness and shook his head. Indeed,

the most well-mannered families of today. It was all about finding the right balance. Yet Danielle adhered rigidly to those archaic rules, always the prim and proper lady of the Ellis household, her table manners

family, known as the pampered princess in P City, she sat in front of Seth, ceaselessly offering him dishes from the table. Using the serving spoon was one thing, but she

ever the stoic, could hardly stomach such fervor. “That’s enough.” Watching the heap of food in the

she didn’t need to sample each one to feel full. In the end, it was about her taking a bite, serving Seth two, and then

her, Danielle looked on with a detached air, her eyes painting a picture

the more so. Did such a person ever leave a good

left hand and holding a fork in her right, she leaned slightly to watch Seth. “You’ve barely touched your food, and I’m the host

brow as he looked at the plate

bite of food, his face showing no emotion. Naturally exuding an air of elegance and cold nobility, he

like someone

at the edges of Cicely’s mouth, hinting at a tinge of disappointment, yet her eyes couldn’t hide a triumphant gleam. She knew Seth too

see it. And Seth wasn’t ignorant to it

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

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

her, whether for the sake of the Ellis family’s influence or for her as a person. But her nature was such that, in his estimation, she didn’t

softly, shaking his head. “I’m happy to help. I hope you ace your exams the day after tomorrow. You can thank

in her hand,

it would be a disservice to the time and effort you’ve invested in

eating steadily, tightened his jaw ever so slightly,

You’re smart, and I

again, turning her attention back to Seth at her side. The plate was nearly empty now, with

meals, incorporating celery

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

celery in his plate.

celery and

you like?”

forming words, and he

table, her gaze settling on

caught on to her intentions. As Cicely’s fork reached toward the

cold glance at Danielle’s pretentious expression, she still served a piece of

her with a a piercing coldness. Cicely, still smiling, said, “Why aren’t

her cheerful demeanor, everyone felt the atmosphere

finally intervened, breaking the

up trouble? It’s premium

if you want

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

Danielle’s complexion darkened further.

Cicely was making a statement. Removing someone’s place setting mid-meal was the

“Are you hard of

maid quickly moved to Danielle’s

spoke with an icy edge in her voice, “What’s it to you if he doesn’t

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

of the maids whose face

to Seth, she

glance and said matter-of-factly, “I

candid admission

for years, understood him too well. Had Seth remained

merely smiled wryly, using her fork to transfer a

she said

was silent. Almost simultaneously, they realized that Cicely was just unwilling to acknowledge how

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

appetite.” No

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

were clear to all. Moreover, to avoid any bitterness on Danielle’s part, he had been more

in such a manner, especially not when guests were present and after he had given