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.

forehead. The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the

His son.

coolness soothing the persistent fever, as the

rest on the child’s head, watching the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes softened with a

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

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

nurse hesitated for a moment, then

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

father so hands-on. Usually, it’s the grandmothers

man of such stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances can

needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of

feeling a small hand

in his ear, and that instinctive murmur sent a pang through Seth’s

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

move, maintaining the awkward

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

forehead against Hugo’s, Seth’s throat tightened. Chloe was right; the harm had

*

Damon returned with Chloe, Seth

them, Seth asked. “What’s

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

eyes shifted slightly downwards, resting on the grout between the tiles, his expression serene and deep.

As he turned to leave, Chloe suddenly called out

Before she could speak, he

indeed remained silent

*

borrowed a charger from Charlie and it was

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

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

expression distant. “Why would his

me where he was either. I’m not sure what corner of the hospital he’s

constantly remind me, making him out to be

caught in his intentions,

going to

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

garden, his coat

long fingers held a half-smoked cigarette, with

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

was empty. He

deep chill of late October numbed to the bone. The

he returned to Cicely’s room, she was lying quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate and peaceful face with a

pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense

and Seth stepped back, but she

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

Seth apologized in a low, husky voice, then quickly entered

lost in

climbed into bed beside her, his

move. She didn’t remember falling asleep,

about her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had

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

which had been charging overnight. There were

She wanted to return the calls, but seeing Seth, she hesitated, then pocketed

meal, his

for

by her grandfather’s side, silent, watching

the operating room, her slender figure and anxious

around her shoulders. “It’ll be

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

She hadn’t been by his side for three years. If something went wrong with the surgery, she would never forgive

approached, escorted by bodyguards, her arms crossed. She wore

at the operating room door, Danielle stopped, a hint of a smile

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

was evident. “Then go

pressed down with more force. “Cicely, I

glanced coldly at him, then suddenly laughed, her face pale, her eyes red. “So after three years of playing along,

didn’t look at her, instead focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at the operating room door. “Take her

at the sight of these

had not encountered before. Clearly, Seth’s worry for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged for them to