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

His son.

furrowed brow, perhaps the coolness soothing the persistent fever,

head, watching the peaceful

while. The nurse, having waited patiently, finally approached to check on the

twitched, his gaze locked on the child’s face,

a moment, then

Once he seemed to have it under control, the nurse fetched a basin of warm water and a towel to

seen a father so hands-on. Usually, it’s

stature and

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 half-awake state, Hugo let out

a small hand grasp

echoed in his ear, and that

asleep again. But one hand

the awkward and uncomfortable

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

Hugo’s, Seth’s throat tightened. Chloe was right; the harm had

*

Seth was

them, Seth

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

resting on the grout between

turned to leave, Chloe suddenly called

her. Before she could speak, he said

remained silent after

*

died. She had borrowed a charger from Charlie and it was

she had sent Seth away. She didn’t

window, a clear sign she was waiting for someone. He offered to help. “Ms. Cicely, should I go look for

expression distant. “Why would his

me where he was either. I’m not sure what corner of the hospital he’s

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

in his intentions,

I’m going

just come in to prepare some warm milk for Cicely.

a wooden bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned and draped

with a collection of

expression was incredibly calm, his features relaxed, the very picture of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the cigarette between his fingers was crushed out of shape, and the ground was littered with

one cigarette after another until the pack was empty. He leaned back, crushed the packet, tossed it aside, and then

the bone. The darkness was filled

on the bed.

seemed a different person. All her pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense hatred,

and Seth stepped back, but

her gaze cold and dismissive. “The smell of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her voice was cool and detached, not at all like someone rudely

Seth apologized in a low, husky voice, then

lost in her

Cicely hadn’t moved. He climbed into bed beside her, his movements gentle, not pulling her into his arms as he

such move. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but when she awoke, Seth

surgery, her

a little pale and distracted by her concern

powered on her phone, which had been charging overnight. There

She wanted to return the calls, but seeing Seth, she hesitated,

his meal,

a morning of tests and waiting for results, the

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

room, her slender figure and anxious expression making her seem even more

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

cold. The carefree façade from last night crumbled in the

hadn’t been by his side for three years.

bodyguards, her arms crossed. She wore a sterile suit, her

operating room door, Danielle stopped, a

arms. “If

evident. “Then

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

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

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

flickered at the sight of

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