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.

his hand gently touched Hugo’s forehead. The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed face. His large, well-defined hand could almost cradle the

His son.

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

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

approached to check on the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh. “Sir, the child is breaking the fever; I

fingers twitched, his gaze locked on the child’s face, his voice a deep rasp. “I’ll

hesitated for a

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. Seth watched for a while, then took the towel

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

such stature and handsomeness.

Hugo

small hand grasp the collar of his

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

seemed to fall asleep again. But one hand kept gripping his collar, refusing to

maintaining the awkward

anything. He couldn’t see the child’s face, yet he felt the deep

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

*

with Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

Seth asked.

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

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

As he turned to leave, Chloe suddenly called out

paused, his back still to her. Before she could speak, he said calmly,

remained silent

*

borrowed a charger from Charlie and

hours since she had sent Seth away.

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

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

was either. I’m not sure what

darkened. “Charlie, everyone knows you’re loyal to him. There’s no need to constantly remind me, making

caught in his intentions,

going to

prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It was ten o’clock, and he didn’t

sitting on a wooden bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned and draped over the bench, a pack

fingers held a half-smoked cigarette, with a collection of

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

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

chill of late October numbed to the bone. The darkness was filled with a

was lying quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate and peaceful face with a

she seemed a different person. All her pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense hatred, and reckless love

Seth stepped back, but she opened her eyes

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

husky voice, then

still, lost

beside her,

his embrace, but minutes passed with no such move. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but when she awoke, Seth was already

surgery, her

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

breakfast, she powered on her phone, which had been charging overnight. There were several missed calls from

She wanted to return the

continued his meal, his

morning of tests and waiting for

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

around her shoulders. “It’ll

façade

side for three years. If something went wrong with the surgery, she

bodyguards, her arms crossed. She wore a sterile suit,

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

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

evident. “Then

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

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

look at her, instead focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at the

flickered at the

worry for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged for them to be present during the surgery to keep an eye on