The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

In the evening, at 6:30, there was a knock on the door of Chloe’s apartment.

Chloe opened it with an unsurprised smile. “What brings you here?”

Seth’s voice was casual. “Dinner time.”

“Did you get lost?”

“No.” He paused, before adding, “You did say you’d treat me to dinner.”

Chloe remembered, “Oh, right. But wasn’t that supposed to be some kind of fancy, million-dollar meal? This might be a bit underwhelming for you, don’t you think?”d2

Seth shot her a look. “Let’s not push our luck, shall we?”

Chloe stepped aside with a laugh, “Welcome in.”

As Seth entered, he saw Cicely carrying a plate from the kitchen. Her hair was neatly tied back, her attire simple and homely, adorned with a blue checked apron. She came to a brief halt on catching sight of him.

Chloe came back in and focused on Cicely. “The eggs got a bit scorched.”

“Let me see.” Chloe walked over and glanced at the plate, “Hmm… not too bad, actually. Considering the rest, it’s quite an achievement.”

Cicely followed Chloe’s gaze to the slightly charred dishes on the table, clearly her own handiwork.

Chloe’s expression twisted, “I gave the staff the day off.”

“Let’s not eat this. How about we order some takeout?” Cicely suggested, picking up a plate to dispose of its contents.

But a hand with distinct knuckles reached out, stopping her. Cicely held still, looking up at him.

“No takeout. It’s not healthy.” Seth took the plate from her hands and placed it back on the table, “Hang on a second, I’ll cook.”

Seth led her to the table, unbuttoning his suit jacket in the process. After Cicely was seated, he took off his jacket, draped it over a chair, and confidently strolled into the kitchen.

Shortly after, a hearty meal of three dishes and a soup graced the table.

Seth sat down beside Cicely. “Let’s eat.”

Although Chloe was not surprised that Seth could cook, the presentation of the meal still impressed her. Cicely showed no reaction, as if this was routine for her.

Throughout the meal, Seth kept serving Cicely, who ate in silence, accepting each offering.

Chloe enjoyed her meal in apparent indifference.

By the end, while much of Seth’s cooking remained, Cicely’s dishes were polished clean.

Cicely’s last few bites were slow. Watching Seth eat the burnt dishes with a blank expression, her grip on her fork tightened. She said nothing and did nothing until the end.

She stood to clear the plates but Seth’s hand once again caught her wrist.

“What now?”

“Doing dishes.”

It was only natural to offer help after dining at someone else’s home.

“I’ll do it.”

…

Seth, with his coat in hand, stepped out of the dining room to find the two women watching a movie in the living room. It had only been on for about fifteen minutes.

Seth pressed his lips together, standing still for a moment. Chloe looked over at him. “Want to join?”

He glanced at Cicely, who was indifferent, then lowered his eyes, “I’ll head upstairs.”

Chloe nodded, “Alright then, take it easy.”

Seth gave the TV screen a final glance before leaving.

The sound of the door closing relaxed Cicely, who had been tense.

“The food was good,” Chloe complimented.

Cicely took a deep breath, “Don’t tell me you knew he was coming over tonight.”

“Why would I know he’d crash here for dinner?”

Cicely fell silent.

As soon as the movie ended, the room’s door rang promptly. Even Chloe was surprised this time. Opening the door, she met the man who had become a frequent sight these past few days. “You didn’t install a camera in my place, did you? Your timing is impeccable.”

“The feature is ninety-three minutes. You were at twelve minutes and thirty-four seconds when I left.”

Chloe surrendered, “Okay, okay, I get it. Take her away.”

Seth, unfazed by the interruption, looked towards Cicely. His silent gaze said it all.

Cicely didn’t linger. She left with Seth, taking the elevator back to the eighteenth floor.

ready. Go on

spoke with a

touch of warmth flickered in Seth’s usually impassive eyes, “Are

those burnt dishes in front of me to show how devoted and wronged you are? If I’m not moved by your efforts, wouldn’t I be ungrateful for all your stomach

gazes turned

water’s getting cold. Go take your

Cicely’s eyes, but Seth simply smiled, pulled her into his embrace, “What

tensed for a

then the corner of her eye. His

face cold as she

on her own. And

breath mingling, his lips tracing her forehead, the tip of her nose. The hand around her waist tightened and relaxed through

head lowered, until he nudged her chin upward, her rosy

his chest. His overwhelming presence enveloped her, the charged atmosphere making her

could feel the desire

released her lips and buried his face in her neck. “Don’t be scared. I won’t do anything.” The muffled,

tightly in his embrace, and a wave of sourness suddenly flooded her heart. Her eyes, brimming

No. This can’t happen.

No way.

Absolutely not.

better not feel

strolling through the neighborhood, shopping at the mall, visiting

with Seth, the dinners together, the kiss before heading out, and the evenings

picked up Seth the next morning, he witnessed Cicely planting a quick

clearly sense that Seth

no clue what had transpired between the two to bring about this apparent reconciliation, perhaps the

expression in the rearview mirror. “Ever since you

mood, which had been quite pleasant until now, slowly started to

and Ms. Danielle, being sensitive, has had people

so vigilant and tight on security, Ms. Cicely would likely have

silence, Seth replied, “I

Charlie was

Understand what?

*

had improved significantly from when she first

of the sofa and remarked casually, “Looks like you two

all by yourself?” Cicely didn’t even look up, her tone

coming home this

taking in Chloe’s radiant smile, and her eyes danced with mischief as she returned the smile. “In normal circumstances, shouldn’t I tactfully leave you two to your romantic

as if it was the

“Unfortunately for you,

and Chloe headed straight

already started preparing dinner, yet there she was, still seated on the couch, immovable as

“Determined to squat here?”

and

Lonely.

come back and immediately want to kick me out. Isn’t that a bit

glanced at her sharply in response. “If your so-called gratitude is worth a

food, the person who had been shamelessly freeloading their meals lately didn’t

Entertainment’s CEO dines with

of dishes supposedly shared by

Premium imported steak

Recently auctioned bluefin tuna

prepared by a top

ice cream crafted by a

estimated the cost of this dinner and the internet branded it with the term “astronomical” – enough

to believe she had misread a man once

her fork and took a bite of food, acting as if nothing was wrong. “Chloe, you really should

didn’t move, Cicely picked up a piece of food, holding it before her mouth, and looked up at her with a smile, “I was planning to join you at the orphanage tomorrow, but with his stunt

time he felt he had done something wrong, he would double down

Chloe had an epiphany.

catching the word

bit her lip; she hadn’t really discussed this

bring up, considering Seth was his friend. She was assisting Cicely, which

Cicely once helping her out and the compassion born from her connection with Hugo. Initially, Chloe and Damon

orphanage and

over, and Chloe could only

bold.” Damon finally spoke after a long silence, his eyes, however, on Cicely, “When you settled our accounts back then, was it so you could hide away

could I do? If I had asked you to

wasn’t a matter of

such a request.

do you mean? Were

Chloe’s hand, “I wasn’t fully aware back

you know

Damon denied it firmly, “I first found out at the orphanage. I don’t have

where I stand today, as someone who doesn’t

eyes at Cicely, “Look, everyone’s path is their own making. When I lent a hand to Seth, it was between us. He needed me, I helped, and keeping your jail saga under wraps was your only ask for compensation. What if I chose not

not only were you

of resignation. “Chloe, that was in the past. Even if I was wrong then, I’m innocent now.” It was a mix of

thought to herself, Damon was such

said with a light, detached smile, “you played it safe back then. What about Hugo, who’s come out

flicker passed through