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—”

as if shaking

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

men beside Danielle nodded and dragged away the completely

away from Seth to look at Hugo in his

out to Cicely. “Mom, are

a complex expression, then remembering Hugo could not

had done it on purpose. That one word, “Daddy,” had been

he understand the grudges between adults? Did he

the man holding Hugo, and she shivered, reaching out to almost snatch Hugo

now empty, and his face was shadowed by a faint layer

sensing the tension, clung to Cicely in

but Cicely had coldly declined. She held onto Hugo

discharge paperwork, then packed her

expression on his face. “Mr. Diaz, Cicely’s passport restrictions have been lifted, but do we really need to lift the lockdown as well?

at Erik’s bedside, his voice brooking no

teeth, muttered an acknowledgment, and left the

aged figure on the bed, Seth finally

only sound in the

a wistful smile playing on his lips, revealing

*

it might have been fine, but Damon was back. With Hugo in tow, it

more reason to stay. As she was about to leave with Hugo in her

His gaze locked onto her. “Go

in a hurry. The two stood facing each other in silence, neither willing to

the couch, walked to the door, and disdainfully

Cicely stumbled forward, right into Seth’s embrace. Her arm

reflexes, Cicely steadied herself. Turning around in anger, she was met with Damon’s indifferent shrug as he dusted off his hands and coldly said, “Stay away from my

Cicely was speechless.

lifted his gaze, challenging, “What, you want to

her anger and forced a

mercilessly behind her, Damon

voice sounded

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

*

treatment scheduled for tomorrow, once inside the apartment, Cicely had no more energy to maintain the standoff

the guest bed, she went downstairs to

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

on the

crystal ashtray and turned to face her,

response was

for a moment, then

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

things easier for you, and you’ll

her lips. “If I don’t agree to this, will

After a pause, he

voice cold, “You said

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

almost snatched the passport from his hands. “Thank

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

*

Cicely woke up early, got Hugo ready,

a slight pause, she dressed Hugo

smell nice.” Hugo’s voice

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

I can

Hugo and slightly tugged at the corner of

a tiny furrow appearing between his brows. Cicely

to the hospital, but Damon wouldn’t

arrangements. Cicely didn’t have to worry about

to the hospital for

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

day, and her tension was

take the

speaking but her body language

voice was soft, his eyes

snuggled closer to Cicely, and planted a kiss

bit her lip hard, her eyes reddening with

wiped out today. You planning on skipping out on

wanted to hold him, Hugo stretched out his arms

flickered, and she let

to eat first. Hugo must be

the mention of food, he