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—”

the building, as if shaking loose

covered Cicely’s ears, pulling her into his embrace. “Are you

men beside Danielle nodded and

returned to the hallway, and Cicely pushed away from Seth to look

eagerly reached out to Cicely. “Mom, are you

a complex expression, then remembering Hugo could not see, she added, “I’m

word, “Daddy,” had been

really thinking? Did he understand the grudges between adults? Did he know how effortlessly he could corner someone

gaze fell on the man holding Hugo, and

face was shadowed

tension, clung

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

the discharge paperwork, then packed

his face. “Mr. Diaz, Cicely’s passport restrictions have been lifted, but do

stood at Erik’s bedside, his voice

teeth, muttered an acknowledgment,

figure on the bed, Seth finally spoke in a hushed tone, “Does her

motionless, the only sound in the room the

pursed his lips, his eyes downcast, a wistful smile playing on his lips, revealing a world

*

she had 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

a quiet dinner, there was no more reason to stay. As she was

the door, was Seth. His

at the threshold. Seth wasn’t in a hurry. The two stood facing each

stood up from the couch, walked

off guard, Cicely stumbled forward, right into Seth’s

met with Damon’s indifferent shrug as he dusted off his hands and coldly said,

Cicely was speechless.

gaze, challenging, “What, you want

back her anger and forced a smile through gritted

a “bang,” the door closed mercilessly behind her, Damon not even bothering with a

voice sounded lost and

now in Seth’s arms. She reached out to take him back, but Seth subtly dodged her attempt. “Your passport is still

*

for tomorrow, once inside the apartment,

bed, she

could faintly smell the scent of tobacco. As she reached the downstairs,

who stood on the balcony

approach; he stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray and turned to face her, his voice hoarse from the

was a detached

a magazine on the coffee table for a moment,

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

there will make things easier for you, and you’ll have more time to

fists, a hint of a smile on her lips. “If I don’t agree to this, will you take

pause,

expression was indifferent, her voice cold, “You said

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

narrowed as she almost snatched the passport from his hands. “Thank

long time before settling back on the couch, still wearing his clothes heavy with the scent of tobacco. He sat alone for what seemed like ages, then stood up and,

*

next morning, Cicely woke up early, got Hugo ready, and found his clothes laid out on

slight pause, she dressed Hugo

so soft and smell nice.” Hugo’s voice was still groggy with

brushed the fabric discreetly. Indeed, The clothes seemed new but lacked the stiffness and smell of newness, instead carrying the familiar

can

downstairs, where Seth glanced at Hugo and slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Come have

following the sound, a tiny furrow appearing between his brows. Cicely showed no emotion, not

wanted to accompany them to the hospital, but Damon wouldn’t allow

the airport, then abroad, Seth and Charlie handled all the arrangements. Cicely didn’t have to worry about anything and could focus entirely on

straight to the hospital

results came promptly. In the afternoon, while the experts continued their detailed discussions, Seth noticed

go of Hugo all day, and her tension was

me take the

speaking but her

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

to Cicely, and planted a kiss on her

her lip hard, her eyes

wiped out today. You planning on

him,

eyes flickered, and

to eat first. Hugo must

mention of food, he nodded vigorously. “Yeah!