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.

was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed

His son.

the coolness soothing the persistent fever, as the

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

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

child’s

for a moment, then

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

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

of such stature

carefully dressing him. During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the

small hand

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

in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep

the awkward

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

throat tightened. Chloe was right; the

*

Damon returned with Chloe, Seth was waiting at

them, Seth asked. “What’s his

of indifference, but her heart ached at

downwards, resting on the grout between the tiles, his expression

to leave, Chloe suddenly

she could speak, he said

indeed remained silent after

*

borrowed a

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

was waiting for

slightly, her expression distant. “Why would his whereabouts concern

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

no need to constantly remind me,

caught in his

I’m going to

warm milk for

described, sitting on a wooden bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned

cigarette, with a

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

cigarette after another until the pack was empty. He

October numbed to the

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

sarcasm, indifference, carelessness,

stepped back, but she opened her eyes

him, her gaze cold and dismissive. “The smell of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her voice was

husky voice, then quickly entered

lay still, lost in

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

minutes passed with no such move. She didn’t

her grandfather’s surgery, her

Charlie had set up breakfast. She was a little pale and distracted by her

her phone, which had been

her, as she thought of Hugo. She wanted to return the

continued his meal, his

for results, the surgery was scheduled for

side, silent, watching the old man’s gaunt

room, her slender figure and anxious expression making her

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

body cold. The carefree façade from

only her grandfather left. She hadn’t been by his side for three years. If something went wrong with the surgery,

by bodyguards, her arms crossed. She

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

up, stepping out of Seth’s arms. “If you

evident. “Then go

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

suddenly laughed, her face pale, her eyes red. “So after three years of playing along, you can’t even pretend anymore for

men in sterile suits at the operating

the

worry for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged for them to