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 son.

furrowed brow, perhaps the coolness soothing the persistent fever, as the child’s

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

position, standing by the bed for 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

locked on the child’s face,

a moment, then

he changed 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.

nurse watched with a smile, “I’ve rarely seen a father so

such stature

During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the

feeling a small hand grasp the collar

child’s sleepy voice echoed in his ear, and that

child seemed to fall asleep again. But one hand kept gripping his

didn’t move, maintaining the

face, yet he felt the deep helplessness and lack of security emanating from this

Seth’s throat tightened.

*

returned with Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

seeing them, Seth asked.

of indifference, but her heart ached at the

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

turned to leave, Chloe

she could speak, he said calmly, “I won’t

indeed remained

*

had borrowed a charger from Charlie and it was

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

sign she was waiting for someone. He offered to

distant. “Why would his whereabouts concern

was either. I’m not sure what corner of the

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

caught in his intentions,

going to

for Cicely. It was ten o’clock, and

his coat unbuttoned and draped over the bench,

half-smoked cigarette, with a collection of stubs at

picture of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the cigarette between his

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

to the bone. The darkness

to Cicely’s room, she was lying quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate

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

furrowed slightly, and Seth stepped back,

is disgusting.” Her

in a low, husky voice, then

lost in

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

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

about her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had been

Charlie had set up breakfast. She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her grandfather’s surgery. Seth called her to breakfast

had been charging overnight. There were several

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

meal,

a morning of tests and waiting for results,

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

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

wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It’ll be okay.

carefree façade from last night

been by his side for three years. If something went wrong with the surgery,

She wore a sterile suit, her expression calm yet

operating room door,

out of Seth’s arms. “If you don’t

evident. “Then

could move, the hand on her shoulder pressed down with more force. “Cicely, I said no,” Seth’s voice was low

laughed, her face pale, her eyes red. “So after three

two tall men in sterile suits at the operating room

at the

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