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

His son.

brow, perhaps the coolness soothing the persistent fever, as the child’s frown gradually

head, watching the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes softened with a tenderness he

having waited patiently, finally approached to check on the sleeping child, letting out a

child’s face, his

hesitated for a

and directed Seth as he 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 while, then took the towel from her, bending

a smile, “I’ve rarely seen a father so hands-on. Usually, it’s the grandmothers or the mothers who do

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

to lift Hugo to straighten the back of the shirt. In his half-awake state, Hugo let out a whimper against

feeling a small hand grasp the collar of

ear, and

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

move, maintaining the awkward and

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

tightened. Chloe was right; the harm

*

with Chloe, Seth was waiting at the

them, Seth asked. “What’s his

heart ached at the question coming from his

slightly downwards, resting on the grout between

he turned to leave, Chloe suddenly called out

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

remained

*

borrowed a charger from Charlie and it was nearly

two hours since she had sent Seth away. She didn’t believe he would actually go home to rest by

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

distant. “Why would

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

to constantly remind me, making him out to be some pitiable soul. Do you think he’s the

in his intentions, fell

I’m going to

milk for Cicely. It was ten o’clock,

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

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

of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the cigarette between

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

numbed to the bone. The darkness was filled with a heavy

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

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

brows furrowed slightly, and Seth stepped

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 entered the

lost

her, his movements gentle, not pulling

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

about her grandfather’s surgery, her sleep had been

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

she powered on her phone, which had been charging overnight. There were

return

meal, his

morning of tests and waiting for

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

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

shoulders. “It’ll be

nervousness, her body cold. The carefree façade from last

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

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

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

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

was evident. “Then

force. “Cicely, I said no,” Seth’s voice was low and authoritative, brooking no

face pale, her eyes red. “So after three years of playing along, you can’t even pretend anymore for this one

focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at the operating

at the sight of

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