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.

gently touched Hugo’s forehead. The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed face. His

His son.

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

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

a long while. The nurse, having waited patiently, finally approached to check on the

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

a moment, then

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

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

such stature

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

hand grasp the collar

and that instinctive murmur sent a

to fall asleep again. But

move, maintaining the awkward and

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

Hugo’s, Seth’s throat tightened.

*

Chloe, Seth was waiting at

Seth

her heart ached at the

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

he turned to leave, Chloe suddenly

she could speak, he said calmly, “I won’t

remained

*

a charger from Charlie and it was

away. She didn’t believe he

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

slightly, her expression distant.

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

to constantly remind me, making him out to be some pitiable soul.

in his intentions, fell

going

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

on a wooden bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned and draped over the bench, a pack

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

his features relaxed, the very picture 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 leaned back, crushed the packet, tossed it aside, and then

late October numbed to the bone.

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

sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense hatred, and reckless love were

furrowed slightly, and Seth stepped back, but she

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

a low, husky voice, then quickly entered

lay still, lost

beside her, his movements gentle, not pulling her into his arms as he had

no such move. She didn’t remember

her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had been

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

been charging overnight. There were several

wanted to return the calls,

his meal,

and waiting for results, the surgery

side, silent, watching the old man’s gaunt and weary face, her

room, her slender figure and anxious expression making her seem

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

her body cold. The carefree façade from last night crumbled in the face of today’s

by his side for three years. If something went wrong with the surgery, she

She wore a

operating room door, Danielle

Seth’s arms. “If you don’t want to, I’ll do

evident. “Then

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

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

focusing on two tall men in sterile

flickered at the sight of

encountered before. Clearly, Seth’s worry for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged