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.

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

His son.

perhaps the coolness soothing the persistent fever, as

the child’s head, watching the peaceful face, Seth’s

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 deep rasp.

for a

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

father so hands-on. Usually, it’s the grandmothers or

stature and handsomeness.

he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his half-awake state, Hugo let out a whimper against his

small hand grasp the

echoed in his ear, and that instinctive murmur sent

fall asleep again. But one hand kept gripping

maintaining the awkward

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

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

*

Damon returned with Chloe, Seth was waiting at

Seth asked.

but her heart ached at the question

downwards, resting on the grout between the

turned to leave, Chloe suddenly called out

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

indeed remained silent

*

a charger from Charlie and it was

sent Seth away. She

waiting for someone. He offered to help. “Ms. Cicely, should I

her expression distant.

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

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

in his intentions, fell

I’m going

for Cicely. It was ten o’clock, and

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

held a half-smoked cigarette, with a collection of

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

the pack was empty. He leaned back, crushed the packet, tossed it aside, and

numbed to the bone. The darkness was filled with

the bed. He

her pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense hatred,

and Seth stepped back, but

at him, her gaze cold and dismissive. “The smell of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her voice was cool and detached,

Seth apologized in a low, husky voice,

lay still, lost

beside her, his

no such move. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but when she

surgery, her sleep had been

was a little pale and distracted by her

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

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

his meal, his face

morning of tests and waiting for results,

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

quiet as she accompanied him to the operating room, her slender figure and

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

carefree façade from

side for three years. If something went

crossed. She wore a sterile suit, her

at the operating room door,

Seth’s arms. “If you

sarcasm was evident.

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

“So after three years of playing along, you can’t even pretend anymore for this

instead focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at

eyes flickered at the sight of these

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 to