The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Cicely instinctively took a step back, bumping into Seth who had followed closely behind her.

Seth wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Those people passed by them without a second glance.

Cicely’s eyes softened for a moment, and she straightened up, attempting to step out of Seth’s arms.

Seth didn’t let go. In a low voice, he said, “Cicely, let’s take Hugo to see an eye specialist.”

“No need,” Cicely firmly replied, “Damon has already made arrangements. Tomorrow, I’ll take Hugo myself.”

Seth pondered for a moment, “Alright, if Damon’s arranged it, there should be no issues.”d2

Standing slightly behind her, he couldn’t see her face, but his gaze was fixed on Hugo’s youthful features, which bore a striking resemblance to his own.

Perhaps sensing Seth’s gaze, Hugo, out of curiosity or wariness, turned his blind eyes towards Seth, his gaze filled with caution and inquiry. Such a guarded look brought a slight smirk to Seth’s lips.

Hugo’s eyes furrowed, a clear sign of his displeasure, as he buried his face into Cicely’s neck.

When Cicely turned to face Seth, she found his eyes already on her. She frowned slightly, a muffled commotion catching her attention.

“It wasn’t me! I haven’t done a thing, what proof do you have?”

The voice was familiar. Cicely turned to see familiar bouncers at the door.

“Let me go!”

As Danielle’s voice grew more piercing and clear, she was dragged out by the men. Her pale face twisted in anguish, she was dressed in a hospital gown, struggling despite her evident lack of strength.

Maybe it was their gaze that caught her, but Danielle suddenly straightened up, her struggle turning into a desperate attempt to reach them.

Seth tightened his hold on Cicely, “Let’s go inside.”

“Seth!” Danielle’s cry stopped him, and she ran up to him. “Did you send these men for me?”

Seth remained silent.

A bitter, trembling smile cracked Danielle’s lips, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Won’t you leave me even a shred of dignity? How desperately do you want to destroy every good memory I have of you? I’ve done nothing wrong, Seth. I just loved you. Why must you be so cruel to me?”

“I tolerated your lies for three years, and I donated blood desperately to save Grandpa, nearly half my blood. Yet you sent people to arrest me the day after the surgery?!”

She had thought the revelations of the previous day were the depths of despair, but today she discovered a new abyss.

How easy it was to be hurt, to despair, and to collapse? Was this the pain Cicely had felt years ago? Indeed, it was a tragic thing.

Her gaze slowly shifted to Cicely and the child in her arms. She paused, “Cicely, who are you holding?”

Danielle’s expression was filled with a heavy deathly pallor and madness. Cicely took a step back, holding Hugo close. “That’s none of your concern.”

“Who is he?!” Danielle screamed, her whole body trembling, her face contorting into something fierce.

Hugo, hidden in Cicely’s embrace, furrowed his brow, tightened his grip on her collar, and turned his head to “face” Danielle. “Don’t you dare hurt my mom!”

Danielle’s eyes widened with shock as she stumbled backward at the sight of Hugo’s face.

Hugo, unable to see Danielle’s expression, wanted to stand up for his mom but felt powerless. His little face clouded over with dark anger, mirroring Seth’s own angry expression.

Danielle shook her head, “No, it can’t be. You were in prison… How could you have his child…”

Hugo’s dark eyes “looked” towards Danielle, then after a few seconds of silence, he turned and reached out, fumbling until he found Seth’s sleeve. “Daddy, hug—”

Seth’s heart thudded violently, his eyes involuntarily trembling. “What did you call me?”

Hugo frowned, pursed his lips, and repeated, “Daddy, hug—”

Cicely was also shaken, unable to regain her composure, but Hugo in her arms was squirming, truly wanting Seth to hold him.

Seth looked down at Cicely, and seeing no objection from her, he reached out and lifted Hugo into his arms. Seth held Hugo with practiced ease and natural grace.

Danielle’s mind went blank, her ears ringing. If not for the people on either side, she would have collapsed to the ground.

They had a child together three years ago! What did that make her?

For three years, every beautiful moment she had imagined with him had already been claimed by Cicely.

Was there any joke more ridiculous than her?

She had not been able to compete with Cicely three years ago. And now, after all her scheming, she had lost miserably again.

She laughed and cried at the same time, shaking her head, unable to accept this reality. Yet, the undeniable truth was right before her.

“Ah—”

building, as if shaking loose dust from the

Cicely’s ears, pulling her into his embrace. “Are you not going

Danielle nodded and dragged away the completely

and Cicely pushed away from Seth to look at Hugo in

out to Cicely.

her head with a complex expression, then remembering Hugo could not

it on purpose. That one word, “Daddy,” had been a final devastating

adults? Did he know how effortlessly he could corner someone without lifting

fell on the man holding Hugo, and

now empty, and his face was

the tension, clung to

morning in the hospital room, cradling Hugo in her arms while Erik lay ill. Seth had offered to have lunch together, but Cicely had coldly declined. She held onto Hugo tight, her departure hasty, and her demeanor frosty, leaving no room for Seth to even utter

the discharge paperwork, then packed her belongings, ready to fly out of the country the next

home that afternoon with a grave expression on his face. “Mr. Diaz, Cicely’s passport restrictions have been lifted, but do we really need to lift the lockdown as well? Just in

it.” Seth stood at Erik’s bedside, his voice brooking

muttered an acknowledgment,

bed, Seth finally

only sound in the

downcast, a wistful smile playing on his lips, revealing a world of desolation and helplessness. “What

*

nowhere to go. If it had just been Chloe, it might have been fine, but Damon was back. With Hugo in tow, it was even less appropriate for her

reason to stay. As she

Seth. His gaze locked onto her.

wasn’t in a hurry. The two stood facing each other in silence, neither willing

up from the couch,

right into Seth’s embrace. Her arm instinctively protecting

steadied herself. Turning around in anger, she was met with Damon’s indifferent shrug as he dusted off his hands and

Cicely was speechless.

challenging, “What, you want

back her anger and forced a smile through

behind her, Damon

Hugo’s voice sounded lost

to take him back, but Seth subtly dodged her attempt. “Your passport

*

inside the apartment, Cicely had

the guest bed, she went

stairs, she could faintly smell the scent of tobacco.

Seth, who stood on the balcony of

her approach; he stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray and turned to

was a

the coffee table for a moment, then he said, “I’ll go with

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

continued, “Having me there will make things easier for

hint of a smile on her lips. “If I don’t agree

pause, he looked

her voice cold, “You said you’d give

up the passport from among a few magazines on the coffee table and

snatched

clothes heavy with the scent of tobacco. He sat alone for what seemed like ages, then stood up and, picking up a few

*

ready, and found his

a slight pause, she dressed Hugo

and smell nice.” Hugo’s voice

lacked the stiffness and smell of newness, instead

can smell

and slightly tugged at the corner of

dark eyes following the sound, a tiny furrow appearing

to accompany them to the

have to worry about anything and

went straight to the

specialized exam, and results came promptly. In the afternoon, while the experts continued their detailed discussions, Seth noticed Cicely’s anxious demeanor and led her out of

hadn’t let go of Hugo all day, and her tension was now manifesting

me take the

speaking but her

His voice was soft, his eyes resting calmly on Cicely’s beautiful but

planted a kiss on her

bit her lip hard, her eyes reddening with

arms. “You’re wiped out today. You planning on skipping

wanted to hold him, Hugo stretched out his arms

flickered, and

grab a bite to eat first. Hugo must be starving

eyes were dull, but at the mention of food, he nodded vigorously. “Yeah! Mommy,