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.

She hesitated for a few seconds but still left him with those cold words before turning

of her hand,

villa, running back and forth three times to

on the side, and when she saw the toys, she dragged Hugo

full of guests with a hearty, “Happy Thanksgiving, folks.” But as his gaze swept across

His expression shifted to shock, his mouth gaping

was happening, it was already too late to do anything but step in front of Hugo,

averted his gaze, slowly closing his mouth, shaking his head.

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

through the car window, a hint of longing hidden in

Charlie’s voice was suddenly

Seth did not respond.

saw a little

flickered, glanced at the villa

looks a lot like you. And Ms. Cicely

“Drive.”

Charlie pause, but after a few seconds, he understood.

drive back, Charlie kept silent, untangling the

confront it, Mr.

opened his eyes, silent for a moment. “She

his lip. “But you can’t

she plans to keep

chip. He had made mistakes before, and used the wrong

felt a tightness in his chest, suffocating. Even as a bystander, he felt this way; he could hardly imagine what the man

*

Seth’s car had finally left did she bend down and hug

I’m sorry. Mommy’s

his eyes reddening, tears swirling but not falling. “It’s okay.

buried his face in Cicely’s embrace, his arms wrapped tightly around her neck, unable to hold back

her heart shatter. If not for Seth’s reminder, she would have let Hugo down tonight. Hugo

child, he was so well-behaved, just waiting patiently for you; I’ve never seen a

nodded, standing up with Hugo in her arms. “Alyssa, thank you for today. I’m sorry

excitement, especially being

likes you

Oh, such

from

Mommy have a bite.” The child had insisted on waiting

with Hugo on the couch, and upon hearing Alyssa’s words, she looked

shifted, trying to climb off Cicely’s lap, his dark eyes searching anxiously, hands reaching out into the air. “Ms. Chloe. Where is my

had said she would keep it for him, but he didn’t

curious about everything. Those beautiful yet unseeing eyes, those hands fumbling in the air, his face a mixture of urgency and helplessness, tugged at everyone’s

she took Hugo’s hand and kissed

towards Cicely, his eyes filled with anticipation. “Where

a piece Seth had given her, which she had nibbled

throat and brought the pie to Hugo’s lips. “Mommy’s already tried it; it’s delicious. Now you can taste it

blinked, took Cicely’s hand, and bit into the

“Is it good?”

smiling happily.

twisted into a smile

quickly finished the

she had saved for him earlier. “It’s

his cheek. “Will you eat a

He nodded. “Yes.”

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

“Hugo is so pretty and so well-behaved. He had a fever yesterday and didn’t even

briefly, “A

didn’t intend to hide it, “Yesterday afternoon, Hugo had a high

remembered the missed calls on her

out. He probably started feeling unwell

feelings at that moment. If she could, she would take all of Hugo’s hardships and

for him when

*

of dishes, with at least

act that seemed to come naturally to her, even though she hadn’t had much practice. It was like watching a mother’s

P

the pie he’d been pining for before Anya dragged

giftwrapping, and although Hugo was curious, he sat obediently,

looked at him, a mix of tenderness and regret lingered in

wonderful if Hugo

Chloe suddenly

looked away from Hugo and nodded.

then said, “We should start the paperwork to get Hugo

quickly shook

off, her gaze

took Hugo to the hospital

had

that he is Hugo’s father, and you shouldn’t try to strip him of his rights and responsibilities. It would be easier

her demeanor slowly calming

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

Chloe simply. She could only offer her rational advice, not empathy, as the pain wasn’t hers. “But since he knows, you and Hugo shouldn’t have to be apart anymore.

clasped her hands

she do? If Seth wouldn’t let her go, did she have

life would be too

the future when it comes,” Damon, who had been indifferent until now, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention.

was rigid. Upon hearing the news, her heart

went silent. Only Damon’s

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