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 large, well-defined

His son.

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

his hand came to rest on the child’s head, watching the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes softened with a tenderness

check on the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh. “Sir, the child is breaking the

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

for a moment,

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

smile, “I’ve rarely seen a father so hands-on. Usually, it’s

man of such stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances can

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 collar

in his ear, and that instinctive murmur sent a

settling Hugo back in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep again. But one

the awkward and

see the child’s face, yet he felt the deep helplessness

throat tightened.

*

Seth was waiting at the

them, Seth asked. “What’s

but her heart

slightly downwards, resting on the grout between the tiles, his expression serene

leave, Chloe suddenly called out to

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

remained silent

*

She had borrowed a charger from Charlie and it was nearly ten

been over two hours since she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe he would actually go home to rest by

frequent glances towards the window, a clear sign she was waiting for someone. He offered to

frowned slightly, her expression distant. “Why would his whereabouts

tell me where he was either. I’m not sure

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

his intentions, fell

going

some warm milk for Cicely.

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

with a collection of stubs at his

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

He leaned back, crushed the packet, tossed it aside, and

chill of late October numbed to the bone. The darkness

she was lying quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing

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

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, not at all

Seth apologized in a low, husky voice,

still, lost in

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

embrace, but minutes passed with no such move. She didn’t remember falling

about her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had been

breakfast. She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her

which had been charging overnight. There were several missed

struck her, as she thought of Hugo. She wanted to return the calls, but

meal, his face

a morning of tests and waiting for results, the surgery was

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

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

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

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

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

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

at the operating room door, Danielle stopped, a

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

evident. “Then go

her shoulder pressed down with more force. “Cicely, I said no,” Seth’s voice

her eyes red. “So after three years of playing along, you can’t

look at her, instead focusing on two tall men

flickered at the sight of these

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