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.

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

His son.

fingertips lightly touched Hugo’s furrowed brow, perhaps the coolness

came to rest on the child’s head, watching the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes

position, standing by the bed for a long while. The nurse, having waited patiently, finally approached to check on the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh. “Sir, the child

fingers twitched, his gaze locked on the child’s face, his voice a

for a moment,

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

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

of such stature and handsomeness.

During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his half-awake state, Hugo

a small hand grasp the collar of his

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

the child seemed to fall asleep again. But one

didn’t move, maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

couldn’t see the child’s face, yet he felt

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

*

returned with Chloe, Seth was waiting

seeing them, Seth asked. “What’s his

but her heart ached

shifted slightly downwards, resting on the grout between

turned to leave, Chloe

her. Before she could speak, he said calmly, “I won’t use

indeed remained silent

*

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

sent Seth away. She didn’t believe

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

slightly, her expression distant. “Why

his concern genuine. “Mr. Diaz didn’t tell me where he was either. I’m not

knows you’re loyal to him. There’s no need to constantly remind me, making him

in his

I’m going

milk for

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

half-smoked cigarette, with a collection of

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

cigarette after another until the pack was empty. He leaned back,

chill of late October numbed to the bone. The darkness

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

indifference, carelessness, intense hatred, and reckless

Seth stepped back, but she

is disgusting.”

in a low, husky voice, then quickly entered the

still, lost in her

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

braced herself for his embrace, but minutes passed with no such move. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but when she awoke, Seth

about her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had been

had set up breakfast. She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her grandfather’s surgery.

been charging overnight. There were several

thought of Hugo. She wanted to return the calls, but seeing Seth, she

his meal,

tests and waiting for results,

spent the morning by her grandfather’s side, silent, watching the

remained quiet as she accompanied him to the operating room, her slender figure and anxious expression making her

her shoulders. “It’ll be okay. The

carefree façade from last night

side for three years. If something went wrong with the surgery, she

escorted by bodyguards, her arms crossed. She

room door, Danielle stopped,

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

evident.

on her shoulder pressed down with more force. “Cicely, I

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

look at her, instead focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at the operating room

at the

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