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.

touched Hugo’s forehead. The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed face. His

His son.

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

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

patiently, finally approached to check on the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh.

fingers twitched, his gaze locked on the child’s face,

for a moment, then

the little one, soon became more confident. Once he seemed to have it under

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

of such stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances can be

carefully dressing him. During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his half-awake

feeling a small hand

and that instinctive murmur sent a pang

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

maintaining the awkward and

felt the deep helplessness and lack of security emanating from this

pressing his forehead against Hugo’s, Seth’s throat tightened.

*

Damon returned with Chloe, Seth was

seeing them, Seth asked. “What’s his

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

grout between the tiles,

to leave, Chloe suddenly called

his back still to her. Before she could speak, he said calmly, “I won’t use the kid

remained silent

*

a charger from Charlie

away. She didn’t believe he would actually

Cicely’s frequent glances towards the window, a clear sign she was waiting for someone.

expression distant. “Why would his whereabouts concern

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

face darkened. “Charlie, everyone knows you’re loyal to him. There’s no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be some pitiable soul. Do you

in his intentions,

going

for

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

half-smoked cigarette, with

the cigarette between his fingers was crushed out of shape, and the

pack was empty. He leaned back, crushed the

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

quietly on the bed. He approached, gazing down at her delicate

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

stepped back, but she

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

a low, husky voice,

lay still, lost in

returned. Cicely hadn’t moved. He climbed into bed beside her, his movements gentle, not pulling

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

about her grandfather’s surgery,

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

phone, which had been

struck her, as she thought of Hugo. She wanted to return the calls, but seeing

continued his meal, his

waiting for results, the surgery was

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

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

an arm around her shoulders. “It’ll

façade from last night

been by his side for three

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

in Seth’s embrace at the operating room door, Danielle

stepping out of Seth’s arms. “If you

was evident. “Then

Cicely could move, the hand on her shoulder pressed down with more force. “Cicely, I said no,”

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

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

the sight of

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 surgery