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.

still feverish, beads of sweat covering the flushed face. His large, well-defined

His son.

Hugo’s furrowed brow, perhaps the coolness soothing

his hand came to rest on the child’s head, watching the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes softened with

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

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

nurse hesitated for a

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.

seen a father so hands-on.

a man of such stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances can

the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the

a small hand grasp

ear, and that instinctive murmur sent a pang

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

move, maintaining the

yet he felt

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

*

Chloe, Seth was

Seth asked.

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

on the grout between the tiles, his expression serene and deep.

to leave, Chloe suddenly

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

indeed remained

*

had died. She had borrowed a charger

she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe

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

slightly, her expression distant. “Why would his whereabouts

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

There’s no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be some

in his intentions,

going

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

indeed as Charlie described, sitting on a wooden bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat unbuttoned and draped over the

half-smoked cigarette, with a collection of stubs at his

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

pack was empty. He leaned

the bone. The

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

indifference, carelessness, intense hatred, and reckless love were all hidden

furrowed slightly, and Seth stepped back, but

at him, her gaze cold and dismissive. “The smell of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her voice was cool and detached, not at all like someone rudely awakened

low, husky voice,

lost in her

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

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

surgery, her

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

which had been charging

she thought of Hugo. She wanted to return the calls, but seeing Seth, she

continued his meal, his

of tests and waiting for results, the surgery was scheduled

side, silent, watching the old man’s

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

shoulders. “It’ll be okay. The surgeon

façade from last night crumbled in the

had only her grandfather left. She hadn’t been by his side for three years. If

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

room door, Danielle stopped,

Seth’s arms. “If you

evident. “Then go

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

glanced coldly at him, then suddenly laughed, her face pale, her eyes red. “So after three years

instead focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at the operating room door. “Take her

at the

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