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.

feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed face. His large, well-defined hand could

His son.

perhaps the coolness soothing the persistent fever, as the child’s

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

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

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

nurse hesitated for a moment, then

have it under control, the nurse

rarely seen a father so hands-on. Usually,

such stature and handsomeness. Indeed,

Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his half-awake state, Hugo let out

hand grasp the

in his ear, and that instinctive murmur

bed, the child seemed to fall asleep

the

He couldn’t see the child’s face, yet he felt the deep helplessness and lack of security emanating

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

*

Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

seeing them, Seth asked. “What’s

indifference, but her heart ached at the question coming from his lips.

resting on the grout between the tiles, his expression serene and deep.

he turned to leave, Chloe suddenly called

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

indeed remained

*

She had borrowed a

Seth away. She didn’t believe he would actually go home to

sign she was waiting for someone. He offered

distant. “Why would

“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

in his

I’m going to

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

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

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

closer inspection, the cigarette between his fingers was crushed

after another until the pack was empty. He leaned back, crushed

chill of late October numbed to the bone. The darkness was filled

bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate and

her pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense

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

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

in a low, husky

lay still, lost in her

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

but minutes passed with no such move. She didn’t

grandfather’s surgery, her

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

breakfast, she powered on her phone, which had been charging overnight. There were several missed calls

wanted to return the calls, but seeing Seth,

his meal, his face

of tests and waiting for results, the surgery was

watching the old man’s gaunt

her slender figure and anxious expression making

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

nervousness, her body cold. The carefree façade from last night crumbled in

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

bodyguards, her arms crossed. She wore a

operating room door, Danielle stopped, a hint of a

arms. “If you don’t want to, I’ll do

was evident.

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

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

at her, instead focusing on two tall men

eyes flickered at the

was so profound that he deliberately