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.

*

bodily functions, weakened immunity, failure of blood-forming organs, necessitating long-term plasma therapy, or in severe

was the only match

time to dwell on these thoughts, before they had

new assistant was left to learn the ropes at the company, accompanied by the remaining

needed to undergo tests today. When they arrived, Danielle was sitting outside the examination room, pressing a cotton swab against her arm. Her long hair draped

Seth approached her, his

at the sound

was taken aback. Danielle looked pale, her eyes somewhat vacant, and her whole demeanor

furrowed, “It’s just a test. How much blood

flickered, and a weak smile crossed her lips. Her pale face contrasted sharply with her reddening eyes, drawing attention to her

and

eyes

let out a soft laugh, “Do you know

watched her silently, not

Is it that hard to

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

fell, “I’m not feeling well. I might not be able to donate blood tomorrow. I need

grabbed her wrist, his voice as cold as his expression.

rose, and she jerked her hand away, tears streaming, “Have her save him! 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 blood for two years. Isn’t that enough to repay him for

blatant favoritism towards her. It was common knowledge. Why wasn’t she the one rushing to save him? Why

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

years of placating, tomorrow was the day. Just one more time, one

Seth’s voice was a flat line, devoid of any

“Why not?”

the dark about the whole thing, and her health

suffocation gripping her, a deep sorrow she couldn’t suppress. “Why not? Why

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

then quickly averted his

even get to eat plain rice, and you fed me all these rich foods, all for boosting

can’t afford scars, mine apparently can. She’s too frail to donate blood, but when I was fresh from a skin graft surgery, barely off my hospital bed, you dragged me to the operating room. Did

pressed into

There was no Cicely back then, and it’s an emergency, so I gave my blood, but why now…”Books Chapters

treated you well for three years. Everything you wanted, I’ve given you. Your health, your beauty, the fame and fortune you now possess. Few women wouldn’t envy you. You owe me some kind of

“So, all your kindness these past three years was

provided

on the street a bread roll because

more than just that. “Don’t play dumb.

“In these three years, no one doubted that I

heart clenched. He had lied about even that. For three years, she had lived in a lie, everything a

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

face remained impassive, but his eyes seemed to harden

Danielle paused, “Yes.”

them all, on one condition: you cooperate with tomorrow’s

cold laugh escaped

“Mr. Diaz…”

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