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.

sweat covering the flushed face. His large, well-defined hand could almost cradle the small face

His son.

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

the child’s head, watching the peaceful

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

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

for a

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. Seth watched for a

smile, “I’ve rarely seen a father so

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

child’s body, then carefully dressing him. During the process, he needed to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt.

stiffened, feeling a small hand grasp the collar of

and that instinctive murmur

child seemed to fall asleep again. But one hand

didn’t move, maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

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

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

*

Seth

them, Seth

of indifference, but her heart

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

turned to leave,

speak, he

indeed remained

*

She had borrowed a charger from Charlie

hours since she had sent Seth away.

sign she was waiting for someone. He offered to help. “Ms. Cicely, should I go look

expression distant. “Why would his

his concern genuine. “Mr. Diaz didn’t tell me where he was either. I’m not sure what corner of

no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be some pitiable soul.

in his intentions, fell

going

prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It was ten o’clock, and he

described, sitting on a wooden bench in the hospital’s garden, his coat

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

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

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

of late October numbed to the bone. The

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

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

slightly, and Seth stepped back, but she opened her

of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her voice was cool and detached, not at all

apologized in a low, husky voice, then quickly

lay still, lost in her

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

no such move. She

her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had been

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

been charging overnight.

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

meal,

of tests and waiting for results,

side, silent, watching the old

him to the operating room, her slender figure and

“It’ll be okay. The surgeon is very

body cold. The carefree façade from

grandfather left. She hadn’t been by his side for three

She

the operating room door, Danielle stopped, a hint of a smile

Seth’s arms.

sarcasm was evident. “Then go

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

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

men in

at the sight of these

encountered before. Clearly, Seth’s worry for her was so profound that he deliberately