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.

The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the

His son.

coolness soothing the persistent fever, as the

came to rest on the child’s head, watching the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes

check on the sleeping child, letting out

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

nurse hesitated for a moment,

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

seen a father so

he’s a man of such stature and handsomeness.

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,

hand grasp

ear, and that instinctive murmur sent a pang through

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

maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

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

tightened. Chloe was right; the harm had already

*

with Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

Seth

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

grout between the tiles, his

turned to leave, Chloe suddenly called out

to her. Before she could speak, he said calmly,

remained silent

*

phone battery had died. She had borrowed a charger from Charlie and it was

since she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe he would actually

Cicely’s frequent glances towards the window, a clear sign she was waiting for someone. He offered to help. “Ms. Cicely, should I go

frowned slightly, her expression distant. “Why would

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

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

his intentions, fell

I’m going to

to prepare some warm milk for

hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned and draped over the bench,

held a half-smoked cigarette, with a collection of

very picture of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the

until the pack was empty. He leaned back, crushed the

chill of late October numbed to the bone.

the bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate and peaceful face with a tranquil

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

stepped back, but

dismissive. “The smell of cigarette on you is

Seth apologized in a low, husky

still, lost in her

Cicely hadn’t moved. He climbed into bed beside her, his

such move. She didn’t

grandfather’s surgery, her

little pale and distracted by her

been charging overnight. There were several

wanted to return the calls,

meal, his

and waiting for results, the surgery was

watching the old

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

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

façade from

by his side for three years. If something went wrong with the surgery, she would never forgive

her arms crossed. She wore a sterile

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

Seth’s arms. “If you

was evident. “Then go

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

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

two tall men in sterile suits at

flickered at the

so profound that he