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 the flushed face. His large, well-defined hand could almost cradle

His son.

fingertips lightly touched Hugo’s furrowed brow, perhaps the coolness

watching the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes softened with

the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh. “Sir, the child is breaking the fever; I need to change

his gaze locked on the child’s face, his voice a deep rasp.

nurse hesitated for a moment, then quickly

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

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

stature and handsomeness. Indeed,

needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the

stiffened, feeling a small hand grasp the collar of his

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

in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep again. But

maintaining the

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

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

*

Chloe, Seth

seeing them, Seth asked.

heart ached at the question

shifted slightly downwards, resting on the grout

As he turned to leave, Chloe suddenly

could speak, he said calmly, “I won’t use the kid

indeed remained

*

a charger from Charlie and it was nearly ten

she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe he would actually go home to rest

she was waiting for someone. He offered

distant. “Why would his

tell 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.

caught in his intentions,

going

warm milk for Cicely. It was ten o’clock, and he didn’t dare

as Charlie described, sitting on a wooden bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned and draped over the bench,

long fingers held a half-smoked cigarette, with a

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

cigarette after another until the pack was empty. He

the

lying quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate and peaceful face with a tranquil

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

Seth stepped back, but

of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her voice was cool

in a low, husky voice, then quickly entered

still, lost

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

for his embrace, but minutes passed with no such move.

her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had been

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

her phone, which had been charging overnight. There were several

wanted to return the

continued his meal,

waiting for results, the surgery was

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

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

her shoulders. “It’ll be

body cold. The carefree façade from last night crumbled in the

grandfather left. She hadn’t been by his side for three years. If something went wrong with the surgery,

escorted by bodyguards, her arms crossed. She wore a sterile suit, her expression

door, Danielle stopped, a hint of

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

sarcasm was evident. “Then go

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

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

two tall men in sterile suits at

the

was so profound that he deliberately arranged for them to