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?”

at her sideways, “Don’t you have someone to teach

You’re not allowed to leave

Seth said no more.

Creighton caught sight of

and Joel were virtually silent 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

sat in front of Seth,

hardly stomach such fervor. “That’s enough.” Watching the heap of food in the plate grow to an almost mountainous proportion, Seth finally

a table full of dishes, she didn’t need to sample each one to feel full. In the end, it was about her taking

with a detached air, her eyes painting a picture of scorn upon

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

holding a fork 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 on my plate, but you can’t.

the plate of food before

Naturally exuding an air of elegance

Cicely like someone

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

Seth wasn’t

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 family,

one for

who got close knew she wasn’t

to her, whether for the sake of the Ellis family’s influence or for her as a person. But her nature was such

smiled softly, shaking his head. “I’m happy to help. I hope you

an eyebrow, resting her cheek in her hand,

or else it would be

jaw ever so slightly, his expression

on yourself. You’re smart, and I have every

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

careful with the meals, incorporating celery into nearly every

caught him in a fault. Thinking back, she

to eat everything but the celery

as the fork took his celery and brought

you like?” Cicely asked

moved, forming words, and he could clearly see the

her gaze settling on a dish in front of Danielle that she

on to her intentions. As Cicely’s fork reached toward the dish, Danielle said

a moment. After a cold glance at Danielle’s pretentious expression,

a a piercing coldness. Cicely, still

everyone felt the atmosphere turn

finally intervened, breaking the

It’s premium mussel, how could I let him miss

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

gaze turned frosty as she watched Danielle for a moment before turning to a maid,

Danielle’s complexion darkened further.

It was clear Cicely was making a statement. Removing someone’s place setting mid-meal was the same as asking

“Are you hard of hearing or did

quickly moved to

if he doesn’t eat seafood? Throwing a tantrum like a child, really, what are

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 among family, but we certainly don’t tolerate sulking or

glanced at one of the maids whose face tightened with embarrassment as she quickly

turning to Seth, she asked,

cast Cicely a cool glance and said matter-of-factly,

others tensed silently. His candid admission seemed to confirm Danielle’s

years, understood him too well.

smiled wryly, using her fork to transfer a piece

she said

Cicely was just unwilling to acknowledge how

a nod, “Bring

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

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

Given the 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 lately. Yet, for all his

predictable, but a thoughtful person would not have left in such a manner, especially not when guests were present and after he had given her a chance to