The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Erik’s condition was stable, and Cicely had been by his side in the hospital room for two hours.

“There are plenty of people here; go get some rest.” Seth had been there with her the entire time, glancing at his watch over and over until he finally spoke up in a deep voice.

Cicely shook her head, refusing to leave.

The room fell silent once again, the sounds of the medical equipment becoming all the more pronounced.

After a while, Seth stood up from the couch and walked over to her. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.”

Impatience flickered across Cicely’s face. “Are you done?”d2

Seth stared at the strands of her hair caught in the light above her, his expression indifferent. “Weren’t you supposed to go to Alyssa’s for Thanksgiving?”

Cicely’s complexion stiffened instantly. Her mind exploded with the shock.

Hugo?!

Sensing her body tense up, Seth lowered his gaze, his voice growing hoarse. “Grandpa has someone here to look after him, and you can rest easy. Since you promised to spend Thanksgiving with them, don’t keep them waiting. It’s not right.”

He paused for a moment, then slowly reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll take you there.”

“No need!”

Cicely jerked to her feet as if stung, shaking off Seth’s hand. Realizing she had overreacted, her eyes flickered and she changed her tone. “I mean, I’ll go back on my own.”

Seth pursed his lips, his gaze locked on her tense face, and after a moment of silence, he said in a raspy voice, “I’ll just drive you there. I won’t come in, okay?”

Cicely’s eyes trembled unexpectedly. She thought she had misheard. Ever since she first met Seth when she was younger, she had never heard such pleading and inquiry in his voice.

What’s more, he had everything nowadays, with power in his hands and calling the shots, and this submissive tone didn’t seem like it should come from him.

But why? Just to drive her home, he was putting on this act.

“What if I say no?”

Seth’s gaze lowered, his voice sounding like it was dragged out of him, “It’s Thanksgiving today, we could spend a little time.”

“You said you wouldn’t come in.”

“Not going in.” Seth stepped forward and gripped her arm, his dark eyes locking onto her glowing and radiant face. His husky voice seemed to come through a dense fog, “We’ll celebrate on the road.”

Cicely watched him silently for a while. After a long pause, she looked away, her voice calm and cold when she spoke again. “If I disagree, are you planning to drag this out all night?”

Seth pressed his lips together and remained silent.

Maybe that was his plan.

*

Once inside the car, Cicely leaned back in her seat, staring out the window expressionlessly. Seth got in from the other side, and the two sat at a distance from each other.

Halfway through the journey, silence reigned. Charlie, driving the car, felt the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Mr. Erik had pulled through, but were these two just planning to keep this deadlock? Both so stubborn, how would this end?

Cicely’s hand, resting by her side, was clenched tight. She didn’t trust Seth, or perhaps, she feared a “mishap” more.

Everything from three years ago came without warning, including her worries outside the operating room today, and even now. Even if Seth really did as he said and didn’t come in, she couldn’t predict what else might happen.

If he crossed that threshold, she couldn’t imagine what she’d have to face.

But she had to go back. She had promised Hugo to celebrate with him. No matter how difficult, she couldn’t break her word. Otherwise, her Hugo would be disappointed, sad, upset, and might even cry in secret.

The thought that there might be a chance of that made her heart cramp in pain. Those days of crying in secret were so heartbreaking. She couldn’t let that happen.

With a few visible teeth marks on her lower lip, she watched the car move forward, and the tension in her head grew tighter.

Beside her, there was a rustling sound, but she was too preoccupied to notice. After a short while, Seth’s hand came into view. She looked down to see a long, slender finger holding a half-eaten apple pie.

“You’ll probably have more to eat later, so just have half for now.”

A low, mellow voice filled the car, tinged with a hint of subdued pleasure. Cicely paused, turning to look at the man. In the dim light of the car, she could only make out half of his face. His dark eyes watched her quietly, simply wanting her to take the pie.

She looked back at the pie, her eyes flickering, and reached out to take it. He had said they would celebrate Thanksgiving on the road.

Under his unwavering gaze, she took a small bite. Seeing her eat, Seth allowed himself a small smile, glanced at the remaining half of the pie in his hand, and brought it to his lips.

Charlie in the front seat felt a pang of sadness. He had never seen Mr. Diaz eat apple pie before.

But did this count as celebrating Thanksgiving? It probably did, in a way.

After all, for the past three years, no one had celebrated Thanksgiving with Mr. Diaz, and no one had shared apple pie or a holiday meal with him. Even other holidays, it had always just been him alone.

Cicely felt a wave of sadness welling up, choking her. The pie in her mouth stuck, impossible to spit out or swallow. In the end, she took another bite of the pie, swallowing it down with the lump in her throat.

Soon, the car pulled up in front of Alyssa’s cozy little villa. Seth finished his pie while Cicely still had some left.

The moment the car stopped, Cicely couldn’t wait to open the door and leave. Charlie got out first.

Cicely was stopped by a gentle pull. She stiffened, turning to look at Seth. “You said…”

“Happy Thanksgiving.”

Seth spoke softly, the words stopping Cicely’s words in her mouth and filling her with a sense of shame, as if she had misjudged him.

hesitated for a few seconds but still left him with those cold

of her hand,

into the villa, running back and forth three times to finish

playing with Hugo on the side, and when she saw the toys, she

side, then turned to the room full of guests with a hearty, “Happy Thanksgiving, folks.” But as his gaze swept across the room, it landed on two

lightning bolt had struck him. His expression shifted to shock, his mouth gaping open as he turned

Cicely realized what was happening, it was already too late to do anything but step

his gaze, slowly closing his mouth, shaking his head. “No, nothing, I was just

he had exited the door. It wasn’t until he was in the car for a while that he rubbed his

mansion fade away through the car window, a hint

Diaz.” Charlie’s voice was suddenly

Seth did not respond.

just saw a little boy in

the villa

looks a lot like you. And Ms. Cicely

“Drive.”

impassive response made Charlie pause, but after a few seconds, he understood. Mr.

silent, untangling the mess

you confront it,

a moment. “She won’t even let me drive her now.” If he

you can’t just

long she

made mistakes before, and used the

he felt this way; he

*

car had finally left did she bend

sorry.

swirling but

in Cicely’s embrace, his arms wrapped tightly around her neck, unable

shatter. If not for Seth’s reminder, she would have let

eyes. “This child, he was so well-behaved, just waiting

up with Hugo in her arms. “Alyssa,

love the excitement, especially being around you young ones. Hugo

likes you

such

from crying, melted

for Mommy to share the apple pie? Let Mommy have a

the couch, and upon hearing Alyssa’s words, she

to climb off Cicely’s lap, his dark eyes searching anxiously,

she would keep it for him, but he

Hugo was at an age where he should be exploring the world, and curious about everything. Those beautiful yet unseeing eyes, those hands fumbling in the air, his face a mixture of urgency

welled up as she took Hugo’s hand and kissed it.

Cicely, his eyes filled with

at the half-eaten pie in her hand, a piece Seth had given her, which she had

the pie to Hugo’s lips. “Mommy’s already

took Cicely’s hand, and bit into the

“Is it good?”

smiling happily.

twisted into a

finished the

had saved for him earlier. “It’s almost dinner time, you

and she gently kissed his cheek. “Will

He nodded. “Yes.”

on the couch the whole time, occasionally checking his phone with

reaching out to touch Hugo’s handsome face. “Hugo is so pretty and so well-behaved. He had

briefly, “A

“Yesterday afternoon, Hugo had a high fever, and I couldn’t

missed

out. He probably started feeling unwell then. Maybe he was afraid that if people knew he was sick, they wouldn’t let

she could, she would take all of Hugo’s hardships and pain upon herself.

hadn’t been there for him when he was sick

*

to prepare a feast of dishes, with at least seven or eight just for the

act that seemed to come naturally to her, even though she hadn’t had much practice.

remembered Cicely from the old days—a haughty and pampered little rich girl from P

the pie he’d been pining for before Anya dragged him off to

on Hugo. Anya was there, tearing into the giftwrapping, and although Hugo was curious, he sat obediently, waiting for Anya to show him how to play with the

a mix of tenderness and regret lingered in her heart, a

be wonderful

today?” Chloe

away from

start the paperwork to get Hugo out of

shook her head. “No, I

Chloe cut her off, her gaze cool and steady.

took Hugo to the hospital and ran into him

eyes flickered with emotion. Yes, he had

You can’t deny the fact that he is Hugo’s father, and you

silent, her demeanor

but I can’t yet imagine how Hugo, he, and I would live

empathy, as the pain wasn’t hers. “But since he knows, you and Hugo shouldn’t have to be apart anymore. Besides, having Hugo with you is safer than leaving

clasped her hands

But what should she do? If Seth wouldn’t let

Such a life would

who had been indifferent until now, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention. “The

was rigid. Upon hearing the news, her heart seemed to stop

world went silent. Only Damon’s voice echoed in her

see soon,