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

His son.

the coolness soothing

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

check on the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh. “Sir, the child is breaking the fever; I

gaze locked on the child’s face,

a moment, then quickly

for fear of disturbing the little one, soon became more confident. Once he seemed to have it under control, the nurse fetched a basin of warm

rarely seen a father so hands-on. Usually,

stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances

Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his half-awake state,

small hand

ear, and that instinctive murmur sent a pang through Seth’s

in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep again. But one hand kept gripping

move, maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

see the child’s face, yet he felt the deep

tightened. Chloe was right; the harm had already been

*

Seth

them, Seth

mask of indifference, but her heart ached

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

As he turned to leave, Chloe suddenly called

could speak, he

indeed remained silent after

*

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

two hours since she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe he would actually go

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

slightly, her expression distant. “Why would his whereabouts

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

loyal to him. There’s no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be

in his intentions, fell

going

prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It was ten o’clock, and

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

long fingers held a half-smoked cigarette, with a

expression was incredibly calm, his features relaxed, the very picture of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the cigarette between his fingers was

pack was empty. He leaned back, crushed the

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

room, she was lying quietly on the bed. He

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

stepped back, but she opened her eyes

and dismissive. “The smell of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her

Seth apologized in a low, husky voice, then quickly entered the

still, lost in

hadn’t moved. He climbed into bed beside her, his movements gentle,

with no such move. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but when she awoke, Seth was

grandfather’s surgery, her sleep

and distracted by her concern for her grandfather’s surgery. Seth called her to breakfast

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

return the calls,

his meal, his

waiting for results, the surgery

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

him to the operating room, her slender figure and anxious expression making her seem even more

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

with nervousness, her body cold. The carefree façade from last night crumbled in the face

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

her arms crossed. She wore a sterile suit,

at the operating room door,

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

evident. “Then go

could move, the hand on her shoulder pressed down with more force. “Cicely, I said no,”

her face pale, her eyes red. “So after three years of playing

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

at the sight of these

were men 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