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.

hand gently touched Hugo’s forehead. The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed face. His large, well-defined hand could almost cradle the small face

His son.

the coolness soothing the persistent fever, as the child’s frown gradually

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

long while. The nurse, having waited patiently, finally approached to check on the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh. “Sir, the

the child’s face,

nurse hesitated for a moment, then quickly

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

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

of such stature

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

small hand grasp the collar

voice echoed in his ear, and that instinctive murmur

settling Hugo back in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep again. But one hand kept gripping his collar, refusing to let

maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

yet he felt the deep helplessness and lack of security emanating

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

*

Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

them, Seth asked.

was a mask of indifference, but her heart ached at the

slightly downwards, resting on the grout between the tiles,

As he turned to leave,

speak, he said calmly, “I won’t use the kid as a bargaining

remained silent after

*

She had borrowed a charger from Charlie and it was nearly

away. She didn’t believe

towards the window, a clear sign she was waiting for someone. He offered to help. “Ms.

distant. “Why would his

was speechless, his concern genuine. “Mr. Diaz didn’t tell me where he was either.

to him. There’s no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be some pitiable soul. Do you think

in his

going

for Cicely. It was

garden, his coat

a half-smoked cigarette, with a

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

one cigarette after another until the pack was empty. He leaned back, crushed the packet, tossed it aside, and then silence

to the

quietly on the bed.

indifference, carelessness, intense hatred, and reckless

Seth stepped back, but she opened her

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

in a low, husky voice, then quickly

still, lost in

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

no such move. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but when she awoke, Seth was already

her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had

up, Cicely found Charlie had set up breakfast. She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her

which had been charging overnight. There

of Hugo. She wanted to return

continued his meal, his

of tests and waiting for results, the surgery was

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

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

wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It’ll

body cold. The carefree façade from last night crumbled

three years.

arms crossed. She wore

Cicely in Seth’s embrace at the operating room door, Danielle stopped,

stepping out of Seth’s arms. “If

sarcasm was evident.

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

after three years of playing along,

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

at the

before. Clearly, Seth’s worry for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged for them to be present during the surgery to keep