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?”

“Don’t you have someone to

You’re not allowed to leave after

Seth said no more.

them descended the stairs, Creighton caught sight of

throughout the meal, only occasionally engaging when Creighton directed a question to Joel, to which he would politely 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 rigidly to those archaic rules, always the prim and proper lady of the Ellis household, her table manners flawless.

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

enough.” Watching the heap of food in the plate grow

need to sample each one to feel full. In the end, it was about her taking a bite, serving Seth two, and then watching

her eyes painting a picture of scorn upon hearing Seth finally speak up coldly to

too far. People like Cicely, all the more so. Did such a person ever leave a good impression in

coldness. Resting her chin in her 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 here.

Seth’s brow as he looked at the plate of food before picking up

exuding an air of elegance and cold nobility, he

could Cicely like someone who

smirk played 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 well to expect him to admit he was

see it. And Seth wasn’t ignorant to

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

for tutoring me

were somewhat wary of the Ellis family’s haughty heiress, those who got close knew she wasn’t as difficult as rumored. In fact, Cicely’s reputation was

there would be many people willing to get close to 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 care for idle chitchat. She was one of

eyes shimmering beautifully. He smiled softly, shaking his head. “I’m happy to

resting her cheek in her hand, clearly pleased as she took

it would be a disservice to the time

ever so slightly, his expression darkening where no one

too much pressure on yourself. You’re smart, and I

side. The plate was nearly empty now, with only a few stalks of celery

was always careful with the meals, incorporating celery into

something novel or caught him in a fault. Thinking back, she couldn’t recall ever seeing celery in any dish at the Diaz

but the celery in his plate.

watched as the fork took his celery and brought

else don’t you like?” Cicely asked

and he could

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

As Cicely’s fork reached toward the dish, Danielle

for a moment. After a cold glance at Danielle’s pretentious expression, she still served

with a a piercing coldness.

cheerful demeanor, everyone felt the atmosphere turn

Creighton finally intervened, breaking

me stirring up trouble? It’s premium mussel, how could

down her fork, unable to contain her frustration. “Cicely, even if you

as she watched Danielle for a moment before turning to

Danielle’s complexion darkened further.

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

addressed the maid again, “Are you hard of hearing

maid quickly moved

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

heart. You always carry yourself with such an air of superiority, like some high-and-mighty heiress. The Ellis clan isn’t fussy

maids whose face tightened with embarrassment as she quickly

Seth, she

Cicely a cool glance and said

tensed silently. His candid admission seemed

attitude was because Danielle, having known Seth for years, understood him too well. Had Seth remained silent or denied it, the incident might have

fork to transfer a piece of mussel from Seth’s plate to her

it,” she

simultaneously, they realized that Cicely was just unwilling to acknowledge how well

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

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

it was hard for him to maintain any semblance of affection for her. He prided himself on treating her as he treated his own daughter,

same level of dedication, the starkly different returns he received from Danielle and his daughter were clear

predictable, but a thoughtful person would not have left in such a manner, especially not when guests were