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.

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

His son.

the coolness soothing the persistent fever,

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

the sleeping child, letting out a relieved sigh. “Sir, the child is breaking the fever;

locked on the child’s face, his voice

for a moment, then quickly

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

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

he’s a man of such stature and

body, then carefully dressing him. During the process, he needed to lift Hugo

stiffened, feeling a small hand

his ear, and that instinctive murmur sent a pang through

back in bed, the child seemed to fall asleep again.

didn’t move, maintaining the awkward and uncomfortable

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

against Hugo’s, Seth’s throat tightened.

*

with Chloe, Seth was waiting

them, Seth asked. “What’s

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

shifted slightly downwards, resting on the grout

turned to leave,

speak, he said calmly, “I won’t use the kid as a

remained silent

*

a charger from Charlie and it was nearly ten

had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe

the window, a clear sign she was waiting for

frowned slightly, her expression distant.

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

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

caught in his intentions, fell

I’m going

for Cicely. It was ten

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

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

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

He leaned back, crushed the packet, tossed

to the bone. The darkness was filled

Cicely’s room, she was lying quietly on the bed. He

her pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense hatred, and reckless love were all hidden behind her closed

and Seth stepped back, but

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

in a low, husky voice, then quickly

lay still, lost in

beside her, his movements

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

surgery,

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

been charging

thought of Hugo. She wanted to return the calls,

his meal, his face

waiting for results, the

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

him to the operating room, her slender figure and anxious expression making her seem even

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

weak with nervousness, her body cold. The carefree façade from

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

She wore a sterile suit,

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

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

was evident. “Then

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

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

on two tall men in sterile suits at the operating room door.

at the sight of

Clearly, Seth’s worry for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged for