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.

beads of sweat covering the flushed face.

His son.

lightly touched Hugo’s furrowed brow, perhaps the coolness soothing the persistent fever,

rest on the child’s head, watching the peaceful face,

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 is

gaze locked on the child’s face, his voice

a

brought clean clothes and directed Seth as he changed the child. His movements, cautious at first 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 water and a towel to wipe the child

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

such stature

him. During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back

a small hand grasp the collar of

child’s sleepy voice echoed in his ear, and

in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep

didn’t move, maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

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

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

*

with Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

them, Seth asked.

mask of indifference, but her heart

grout between the tiles, his expression serene and

leave, Chloe suddenly called out to

he said calmly, “I won’t use

remained silent

*

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

sent Seth away. She didn’t believe he would actually

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

her expression distant. “Why would his whereabouts

he was either. I’m not

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

his

I’m going to

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

coat unbuttoned

fingers held a half-smoked cigarette, with a collection of stubs

upon closer inspection, the cigarette between his fingers was crushed out of shape, and

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

numbed to the bone. The darkness

was lying quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing down at

different person. All her pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense hatred, and reckless love were all hidden

slightly, and Seth stepped back, but she opened her eyes

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

apologized in a low, husky

lost

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

such move.

about her grandfather’s surgery, her

She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her grandfather’s surgery. Seth called her to breakfast with a detached tone. She didn’t

which had been charging overnight. There were

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

his meal, his

for results, the

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

the operating room, her

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

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

been by his side for three years. If something went wrong with the

by bodyguards, her arms crossed. She

in Seth’s embrace at the operating room door, Danielle

of Seth’s arms. “If

was evident.

force. “Cicely, I said

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

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

eyes flickered at the sight of

profound that he deliberately arranged for them to be present during the surgery to keep an