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.

gently touched Hugo’s forehead. The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed

His son.

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

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

finally approached to check on the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh. “Sir, the

his gaze locked on the child’s face, his voice a deep rasp. “I’ll

for a

little one, soon became more confident. Once he seemed to have it under control, the nurse fetched a basin of warm water and a towel to wipe the child down. Seth watched for a while, then took the towel from her, bending down to wipe Hugo’s

“I’ve rarely seen a father so hands-on. Usually, it’s the grandmothers or the mothers who do

of such stature and

him. During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his

stiffened, feeling a small hand grasp

voice echoed in his ear, and that instinctive murmur sent a pang through

settling Hugo back in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep

maintaining the

anything. He couldn’t see the child’s face, yet he felt the deep helplessness and lack

pressing his forehead against Hugo’s, Seth’s throat tightened.

*

Damon returned with Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

seeing them, Seth asked. “What’s

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

slightly downwards, resting on the grout between the

leave,

paused, his back still to her. Before she could speak, he said calmly, “I won’t use the kid as a bargaining

remained silent

*

phone battery had died. She had borrowed a

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

towards the window, a clear sign she was waiting for someone. He offered to help.

her expression distant. “Why would his whereabouts

genuine. “Mr. Diaz didn’t tell me where he was either. I’m not sure what corner of the hospital he’s holed up

her face darkened. “Charlie, everyone knows you’re loyal to him. There’s no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be some pitiable soul. Do you

caught in his intentions, fell

going to

in to prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It was ten o’clock, and he didn’t

bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned and draped over the bench, a pack of

a half-smoked cigarette, with a

very picture of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the cigarette between his fingers was crushed out of shape,

was empty. He leaned back, crushed the

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

to Cicely’s room, she was lying quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate and

carelessness, intense hatred,

Seth stepped

on you is

Seth apologized in a low, husky voice, then

lost in

and returned. Cicely hadn’t moved. He climbed into bed beside her, his movements

braced herself for his embrace, but minutes passed with no such move. She didn’t remember

about her grandfather’s surgery, her

She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for

been charging overnight. There were several missed calls

return the

meal, his

for results, the surgery was scheduled for

side, silent, watching the old man’s gaunt and weary face, her emotions

him to the operating room, her

around her shoulders. “It’ll be okay. The surgeon

façade from last

three years. If something

her arms crossed. She wore a sterile

room door, Danielle

up, stepping out of Seth’s arms. “If you don’t want to,

was evident.

Cicely could move, the hand on her shoulder pressed down with more force. “Cicely, I

pale, her eyes red. “So after three years of playing along, you can’t

didn’t look at her, instead focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at the

at the

not encountered before. Clearly, Seth’s worry for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged for them to