The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

The following day.

Charlie saw Cicely plant a kiss on Seth’s cheek at the doorstep once again. It wasn’t a surprise anymore. Mr. Diaz was in a good mood these last few days, and Charlie felt the ripple effect of his relaxation.

As he started the car, Charlie couldn’t help but tease, “I thought Cicely would throw a fit over your dinner with Ms. Danielle yesterday.”

The atmosphere in the car suddenly grew heavy, and Charlie realized that, from the moment he got in, Mr. Diaz’s mood seemed off compared to the previous days.

Seth didn’t respond, his face an unreadable mask of calm and indifference.

A fit? Yes, a fit. What happened to the woman who used to get so worked up over the smallest things?d2

He almost wished she would throw one of her tantrums, but she seemed to take his every command as gospel.

She didn’t question, didn’t argue, didn’t fight. She just quietly played the role of what she called a “lover.”

Hah. She had too many ways to twist a knife into his heart, with an ease that required no effort at all.

Charlie’s heart raced with anxiety. So, there was trouble in paradise?

But everything seemed fine just a moment ago.

“This afternoon, take her to pick out a Thanksgiving gift, and tomorrow, bring her to Alyssa’s place,” Seth ordered after a pause.

Tomorrow he was to take Ms. Cicely to Alyssa’s, but tomorrow was Thanksgiving.

Charlie suddenly remembered, they weren’t spending Thanksgiving together.

“Actually, after the surgery, you might be able to make it back in time to spend Thanksgiving with Ms. Cicely.”

Seth closed his eyes, hands clenched till his knuckles whitened, his voice strained to the breaking point. “What if something goes wrong. How am I supposed to face her then?”

Charlie felt a weight settle in his chest, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. He believed that nothing could be more agonizing than what they went through three years ago.

The Seth of today, a known prodigy in the business world, with his deep strategies and extreme tactics, held power and prestige in his hands. He was the epitome of elegance, seemingly born to maneuver through life with ease. To most, he appeared unshakeable, capable of commanding the winds and the storms.

But who had seen him scared?

Scared enough that his eyes turned red.

Charlie had. It was during Thanksgiving three years ago.

His only kin had passed away, and his wife had voluntarily gone to prison. He blamed himself for Creighton’s death, was anxious over Issac’s departure, and his company was in utter chaos. Each issue was more than enough to break an ordinary man.

Back then, everyone worried he wouldn’t make it through. Even the slightest breeze could have shattered him into dust. But as fate would have it, the worst always seems to happen at the worst times.

On Thanksgiving, when Erik was at death’s door, it was like a hurricane unleashed upon him without warning.

Cicely had just lost her father less than two months prior, Issac’s fate was uncertain, and her resentment towards Mr. Diaz ran deep. If Erik were to leave too, could Cicely handle it?

Losing her loved ones one after the other, what would become of her? Would she blame Mr. Diaz, hate him, or seek revenge? Just how wide would the chasm between them grow?

As an observer, that was all he could conceive. But who truly knew what Mr. Diaz was enduring, and what he was thinking?

After all, it’s impossible to truly understand pain unless the knife cuts your own flesh.

*

failure of blood-forming

state and required whole blood transfusions. Danielle was

didn’t have time to dwell on these

newly assigned assistant couldn’t keep up with her, so the new assistant was left to learn the ropes at the company, accompanied by the remaining one of her two original

the examination room, pressing a cotton

Seth approached her,

at the sound of his

looked pale, her eyes somewhat vacant,

test. How much blood did they take from

crossed her lips. Her pale face contrasted sharply with her reddening eyes, drawing attention

face went pale, and he

dark eyes flashed

let out a soft laugh, “Do

just watched her

not? Is it

Danielle, this is a hospital. They don’t discriminate against patients. It was normal for Ms. Cicely to be here

feet, laughing as tears fell, “I’m not feeling well. I might not be able

her wrist, his voice as cold as his expression. “Stop it. He’s not just

He’s my grandfather, but he indirectly caused my parents’ death. Sure, he brought me back to the Ellis family, but I’ve given my

everyone knew Grandpa’s blatant favoritism towards her. It was common

one side, his heart pounding in trepidation, as he watched Danielle’s tears fall

years of placating, tomorrow was the day.

a flat line, devoid of any hesitation, leaving Charlie holding his

“Why not?”

whole

spin, a momentary suffocation gripping her, a deep sorrow she couldn’t suppress. “Why not? Why didn’t you prepare her with steak, seafood,

gown, revealing her scarred knees. The wounds were healed, but the scars were vivid testimonies

at them, then quickly averted his

know. Does Cicely have scars like these, Seth?” Her voice quivered with tears, “I had an infection. I couldn’t even get to eat plain rice, and you fed me all these rich foods, all for boosting blood. Why didn’t you prepare them for her? Because it might

a skin graft surgery,

ice, lips pressed into a

heartless to me? There was no Cicely back then, and it’s an emergency, so I gave my

to hear?” It was a while before Seth spoke again, his gaze coldly indifferent as it fell on Danielle’s tear-streaked face. “Danielle, I’ve treated you well for three years. Everything you wanted, I’ve given you.

her body staggering before leaning against a nearby wall. “So, all your kindness these past three years was just for my blood? You’ve been deceiving me all

provided what

a beggar on the street a bread roll

she wanted more than just that. “Don’t play dumb. I wanted

intensely at her. “In these three

had lied about even that. For three years, she had lived in

pain peaked, and she laughed, her voice thick with irony. “It’s a natural cycle, life and death. He’s not related to you. Did you really need to demean yourself to become a despised deceiver

but his eyes seemed to harden with cruelty. “Do you

Danielle paused, “Yes.”

them all, on one condition: you cooperate

then a cold

“Mr. Diaz…”

raised hand stopped him. Then came his chillingly cruel voice, “He’s not unrelated to me. He’s