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.

covering the

His son.

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

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

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

child’s

nurse hesitated for a moment, then quickly

the child. His movements, cautious at first for fear of disturbing 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 towel to wipe the child down. Seth watched for a while, then took the towel from her, bending down to wipe

“I’ve rarely seen a father so hands-on. Usually, it’s the grandmothers or the mothers who do

such stature and handsomeness. Indeed,

the child’s body, then carefully dressing him. During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his half-awake state, Hugo let out a whimper against

a small hand grasp the collar of

voice echoed in his ear, and

settling Hugo back in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep

maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

the child’s face, yet he felt the deep helplessness and lack

tightened. Chloe was right; the

*

returned with Chloe, Seth was

seeing them, Seth asked. “What’s

of indifference, but her heart ached

slightly downwards, resting on the grout between the tiles,

leave, Chloe

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

remained

*

had died. She had borrowed a charger

been over two hours since she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe he

was waiting for

her expression distant.

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

her face darkened. “Charlie, everyone knows you’re loyal to him. There’s no need to constantly remind

caught in his intentions, fell

going

prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It was ten

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

held a half-smoked cigarette, with a

his features relaxed, the very picture of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the cigarette between his fingers was crushed out of shape, and the ground was

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

to the bone.

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

person. All her pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness,

stepped back,

stared 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

a low, husky voice, then quickly entered

lay still, lost in her

beside her, his movements gentle, not pulling her into his arms

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

about her grandfather’s surgery, her

was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her

her phone, which had been charging overnight. There were

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

meal,

for results, the surgery

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

as she accompanied him to the operating room, her slender figure and anxious expression making

shoulders. “It’ll be okay.

her body cold. The carefree façade

for three years. If

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

the operating room door, Danielle stopped,

straightened up, stepping out of Seth’s arms.

evident.

down with more force. “Cicely, I said no,” Seth’s voice was low and authoritative, brooking no

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

at her, instead focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at the

flickered at the

profound that he deliberately arranged for them to be present during the surgery to