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.

of sweat covering the flushed face. His large, well-defined hand could almost cradle the small face in

His son.

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

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

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 sweaty clothes. If

his gaze locked on the child’s face, his voice

for a moment,

it under control, the nurse fetched a basin

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

stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances can be

was impassive, drying 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

feeling a small hand grasp

ear, and that instinctive murmur sent a pang

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

move, maintaining the

the child’s face, yet he felt the deep

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

*

with Chloe, Seth was waiting at

them, Seth asked.

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

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

As he turned to leave, Chloe suddenly

speak, he said calmly,

remained silent

*

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

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

waiting for someone. He offered to

her expression distant. “Why would his

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

him. There’s no need to constantly remind me,

caught in his intentions, fell

I’m going

in to prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It was ten o’clock, and he

his coat unbuttoned and draped over the bench, a pack of cigarettes and a lighter lay discarded beside

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

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

was empty. He leaned back, crushed the

deep chill of late October numbed to the bone.

room, she was lying quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate and

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

and Seth stepped back, but

you is disgusting.” Her voice was cool and detached, not at all like someone

low, husky voice, then quickly entered

lay still, lost in

He climbed into bed beside her, his movements gentle, not pulling her into his arms as he had

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

grandfather’s surgery,

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

on her phone, which had been

She wanted to return the calls, but seeing

continued his meal, his face

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

silent, watching the

her slender figure and anxious expression making

“It’ll be

cold. The carefree façade from last night crumbled in the

his side for three

arms crossed. She

the operating room door, Danielle stopped, a hint of a smile on her

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

was evident.

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

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

men in sterile suits at the operating room

eyes flickered at the sight

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