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—”

scream echoed through the building, as

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

men beside Danielle nodded and dragged away the completely

and Cicely pushed away from Seth to look at Hugo

eagerly reached out to

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

purpose. That one word, “Daddy,” had been a final devastating blow to

he understand the grudges between adults? Did he know how effortlessly he could

Hugo, and

now empty, and his face was shadowed

tension, clung to Cicely in

had offered to have lunch together, but Cicely had coldly

she went to the welfare center to complete the discharge paperwork, then packed her

returned home that afternoon with a grave expression on his face. “Mr. Diaz, Cicely’s passport restrictions have been lifted, but do we really

stood at Erik’s bedside,

clenched his teeth, muttered an acknowledgment,

the aged figure on the bed, Seth finally spoke in a hushed tone,

the only sound in the room the rhythmic beeping

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

*

dawned on Cicely that she had nowhere to go. If it had just been Chloe, it might have been

As she was about to leave

was Seth. His gaze

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

Cicely’s “nuisance,” suddenly stood up from the couch, walked to the

off guard, Cicely stumbled forward, right into

Damon’s indifferent shrug as he dusted off his hands and coldly said, “Stay away from my doorstep. You’re

Cicely was speechless.

lifted his gaze, challenging, “What,

back her anger and forced a smile

door closed mercilessly behind her, Damon not

voice sounded

child was now in Seth’s arms. She reached out to take him back, but Seth subtly

*

for tomorrow, once inside the apartment, Cicely had no

into the guest bed, she went downstairs to retrieve her passport from

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

on the balcony of the

his cigarette in the crystal ashtray and turned to face her, his voice hoarse from the

response was

for a moment, then he said, “I’ll

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

for you,

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

widened in shock. After a pause, he looked away, and his voice

expression was indifferent, her voice cold,

from among a few magazines

narrowed as she almost snatched the passport from his hands.

a long time before settling back on the couch, still wearing his clothes heavy with the scent of tobacco. He

*

Hugo ready, and found his clothes

she dressed

these clothes are so soft and smell nice.” Hugo’s voice

but lacked the stiffness and smell of newness, instead carrying

I can

where Seth glanced at Hugo and slightly tugged at the corner of

the sound, a tiny furrow appearing between his

to accompany them to the

Charlie handled all the arrangements. Cicely didn’t have to worry about anything and could focus entirely on caring

abroad, they went straight to the hospital for further detailed

In the afternoon, while the experts continued their detailed

go of Hugo all day, and her tension was now manifesting as

me take the

not speaking but her body language

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

Cicely, and planted a kiss on her nose. “Mommy’s tired.

bit her lip hard, her eyes reddening

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

hold him, Hugo

and

go grab a bite to eat

at the mention of food, he nodded vigorously. “Yeah! Mommy,