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.

sweat covering the flushed face.

His son.

coolness soothing the persistent fever, as

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

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 breaking the fever;

the child’s face, his voice a deep rasp. “I’ll do

nurse hesitated for a moment,

he seemed to have it under control, the nurse fetched a basin of warm water and a towel to wipe the child down.

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

stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances can be

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

hand grasp the collar of

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

fall asleep again. But one hand kept gripping

maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

yet he felt the

Hugo’s, Seth’s throat tightened. Chloe was

*

Seth

them, Seth

face was a mask of indifference, but her heart ached at the question coming from his lips.

the grout between

As he turned to leave, Chloe

speak, he said calmly,

remained

*

had borrowed a charger from Charlie

she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe he

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

slightly, her expression distant. “Why

“Mr. Diaz didn’t tell me where he was either. I’m not sure what

There’s no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be some pitiable soul.

caught in his

I’m going to

in to prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It

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

a half-smoked cigarette, with a

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

cigarette after another until the pack was empty. He

of late October numbed to the bone.

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

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

slightly, and Seth stepped back, but she

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

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

lay still, lost

He climbed into bed beside her, his movements gentle, not pulling

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

about her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had

breakfast. She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her grandfather’s surgery. Seth called her to

her phone, which had been

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

continued his meal, his

waiting for results, the

watching the old man’s gaunt and weary

she accompanied him to the operating room, her

shoulders. “It’ll be okay.

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

three

by bodyguards, her arms crossed. She wore a sterile

embrace at the operating room door, Danielle stopped,

up, stepping out of Seth’s arms. “If

sarcasm was evident. “Then go

move, the hand on her shoulder pressed down with more force. “Cicely, I said no,” Seth’s voice was low and authoritative,

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

men in sterile suits at the operating room

eyes flickered at the sight

so profound that he