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.

Hugo’s forehead. The forehead was still feverish, beads of sweat covering

His son.

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

the peaceful face, Seth’s eyes softened with a tenderness he hadn’t realized he

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

locked on the child’s face, his voice a deep rasp. “I’ll do

hesitated for a moment, then

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,

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

of such stature and handsomeness. Indeed, appearances can be

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

a small hand grasp the collar of his

child’s sleepy voice echoed in his ear, and

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

didn’t move, maintaining the awkward and

child’s face, yet he felt the deep helplessness and

Seth’s throat tightened. Chloe was right; the harm had already been

*

with Chloe, Seth was waiting

them, Seth asked. “What’s his

a mask of indifference, but her heart ached

dark eyes shifted slightly downwards, resting on the grout between the tiles, his

leave, Chloe suddenly called

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

remained

*

battery had died. She had borrowed a charger from Charlie and it was nearly ten

she had sent Seth away. She didn’t

the window, a clear sign she was waiting for someone. He offered to help.

expression distant. “Why would his whereabouts

where he was either. I’m not sure what corner of

no need to constantly remind me, making him out to be

caught in his intentions,

I’m going

just come in to prepare some warm milk for Cicely. It was ten o’clock,

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

cigarette, with a collection of

his features relaxed, the very picture of tranquility. But upon closer inspection, the cigarette

was empty. He leaned back, crushed the

deep chill of late October numbed to the bone. The darkness was

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

different person. All her pride, sarcasm, indifference, carelessness, intense hatred,

brows furrowed slightly, and Seth stepped back, but

cold and dismissive. “The smell of cigarette on you is disgusting.” Her voice was cool

in a low, husky

lost

her, his movements gentle, not

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

surgery,

had set up breakfast. She was a little pale and distracted by her concern for her

phone, which had been

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

continued his meal, his

tests and waiting for results, the surgery was

her grandfather’s side, silent, watching

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

around her shoulders. “It’ll

weak with nervousness, her body cold. The carefree façade from last night crumbled in

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

bodyguards, her arms crossed. She wore a

door, Danielle stopped, a hint of a smile

Seth’s arms. “If you don’t want to,

sarcasm was evident.

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

suddenly laughed, her face pale, her eyes red. “So after three years of playing along,

focusing on two tall men in sterile suits at the operating room

at the

for her was so profound that he deliberately arranged for them to be present during the surgery to keep an