The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chloe furrowed her brow.

Seth’s gaze settled on her, his lips quirking in a half-smile. “You should know that I would never harm him.”

Chloe should understand that as the father of the child, he would never bring him harm.

Chloe’s eyes flickered, her expression guarded. “Did you ever intend to harm Cicely?”

Seth’s chest shuddered at the accusation.

Chloe didn’t want to pry into past scandals, nor did she wish to meddle in family affairs that were not hers to tend. But Hugo tethered her to a concern she couldn’t ignore.d2

The tales of the past were so vivid that a mere inquiry brought forth a slew of witnesses. Gleaning the gist was all too easy, especially with Damon, one of the involved parties, right by her side.

Her penetrating gaze and assertive presence were enough to make one feel overpowered. “To come out and to spend Thanksgiving with Cicely, he’s endured a fever until now, not saying a word for fear that something would change because he gets sick. Do you know who caused all this?”

Seth’s hands clenched in his pockets, his lips pressed into a thin line, and Chloe could see the tension etched across his face and body.

But she had to make her point clear; Hugo was just a child.

“You believe you wouldn’t harm him, but the damage is already done. How can anyone trust you now, Seth?”

He stood like a bow strung tightly, ready to snap at any moment.

“The deepest wounds in this world are often inflicted by those we love the most. And if there is a deeper pain, it’s when two people in love turn that love into a war. And that child was born on the battlefield of your struggles. The harm is done, and for that, neither of you deserves forgiveness. Don’t use your so-called love to hurt them again. If you can’t manage that, then stay away.” Chloe’s voice was cool and stern, imbued with solemn reproach.

After a long moment, the man who seemed carved from stone finally spoke, his voice a hoarse whisper.”I won’t…”

Won’t what?

Won’t harm them again?

In a sentence short of ten words, he managed only two.

Chloe’s eyes met his, filled with a tumultuous emotion, but she forced herself to look away indifferently. “It’s for the best.”

Damon pulled her into his embrace, casting a cursory glance at Seth. “Chloe is right.”

Seth remained silent.

Long after Damon and Chloe had left, Seth stirred his stiff body, slowly walked to the hospital room door, and gently placed his hand on the doorknob, followed by a prolonged silence. He hadn’t even considered the possibility that she would have a child with him in the present or the future.

If she wasn’t willing, he would never force her. As long as she was by his side, that was enough.

Cicely had actually borne him a child.

The doorknob creaked under his grip. After a while, with a click, the door to the hospital room opened.

Inside, a nurse stood watch. She stared at him with confusion and caution.

“Sir, may I ask who you are.”

Seth’s eyes were fixed on the small figure lying quietly on the large, soft bed. For the first time in his life, Seth didn’t know how to answer that question.

Who was he…

He lacked the right, and the courage, to utter those words.

Approaching the bed, the moment his gaze touched the child’s sleeping face, his heart skipped a beat before pounding like a drum.

No wonder Cicely had tried so hard to hide him.

No wonder Chloe had been so forthright earlier.

He could never remain oblivious to this child’s existence. Just one look, and the truth was self-evident.

“Are you the child’s father?” the nurse asked with a soft smile. “The little one is the spitting image of you.”

Seth remained silent.

So it was.

He watched Hugo for a long time. The eyebrows and the nose—they were all his.

Hugo’s forehead. The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed face. His large, well-defined hand could almost cradle

His son.

Hugo’s furrowed brow, perhaps the coolness soothing the persistent fever, as the child’s

to rest on the child’s head, watching the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes softened with a tenderness he hadn’t realized

bed for a long while. The nurse, having waited patiently, finally approached to check on the sleeping

gaze locked on the child’s face, his voice

for a moment, then

under control, the nurse fetched a basin of warm water and a towel to

a smile, “I’ve rarely seen a father so hands-on. Usually,

of such stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances

the child’s body, then carefully dressing him. During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his

stiffened, feeling a small hand

and that instinctive murmur sent

seemed to fall asleep again. But one hand kept gripping his collar, refusing to let

move, maintaining the awkward

say anything. He couldn’t see the child’s face, yet he felt the deep helplessness and lack of security emanating from

pressing his forehead against Hugo’s, Seth’s throat tightened. Chloe was right; the

*

Damon returned with Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

seeing them, Seth

face was a mask of indifference, but her heart ached at the question coming from

slightly downwards, resting on the grout between the tiles, his expression

to leave, Chloe suddenly called out to

still to her. Before she could speak, he said calmly, “I

remained

*

phone battery had died. She had borrowed a charger from Charlie and it

over two hours since she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe

waiting for someone. He

distant. “Why would his whereabouts

genuine. “Mr. Diaz didn’t tell me where he was either. I’m not sure what corner

no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be some pitiable soul. Do you think he’s the

his intentions,

going

come in to prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It was ten

Charlie described, sitting on a wooden bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned and draped

fingers held a half-smoked cigarette, with a collection of stubs at

picture of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the cigarette between his fingers

smoked one cigarette after another until the pack was empty. He leaned

chill of late October numbed to the bone. The darkness was filled with a heavy

he returned to Cicely’s room, she was lying quietly on the bed.

sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense hatred, and

brows furrowed slightly, and Seth stepped back, but she opened her eyes

of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her voice was cool and

a low, husky voice, then quickly entered the

still, lost

He climbed into bed beside her, his movements gentle, not pulling her into his arms as

passed with no such move. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but

her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep

up, Cicely found Charlie had set up breakfast. She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her grandfather’s surgery. Seth called her

her phone, which had been charging overnight. There were several missed

to return the calls, but

his meal, his

tests and waiting for results, the surgery was scheduled

silent, watching the old man’s gaunt and weary

remained quiet as she accompanied him to the operating room, her

“It’ll be okay. The surgeon is very

body cold. The carefree façade

had only her grandfather left. She hadn’t been by his side for three years. If

bodyguards, her arms crossed. She

embrace at the operating room door, Danielle stopped, a hint of a smile on her

arms. “If you

sarcasm was evident. “Then go

her shoulder pressed down with more force. “Cicely,

face pale, her eyes red. “So after three years of playing along, you can’t even pretend anymore for this

on two tall men in sterile suits at the operating room door. “Take

eyes flickered at the

she had not encountered before. Clearly, Seth’s worry for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged for them to be present during the surgery to keep an eye on