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—”

echoed through the building, as if shaking loose dust from

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

nodded and dragged away

the hallway, and Cicely pushed away from

out to Cicely. “Mom,

then remembering Hugo could not

had done it on purpose. That one word,

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

Hugo, and she shivered, reaching out to

were now empty, and his face

clung to Cicely in

but Cicely

welfare center to complete the 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? Just

at Erik’s bedside, his voice brooking no

teeth, muttered an acknowledgment, and

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

motionless, the only sound in the room

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

*

to go. If it had just been Chloe, it might have been fine, but Damon was

dinner, there was no more reason to stay. As she was about to leave with Hugo in her arms,

His gaze locked onto

unmoving at the threshold. Seth wasn’t in a hurry. The two stood facing each other in silence, neither

up from the couch, walked to the door, and disdainfully nudged

right into Seth’s embrace. Her arm instinctively protecting

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 cross

back her anger and forced a smile through

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

voice sounded lost

reached out to take him back, but Seth subtly

*

for tomorrow, once inside the apartment, Cicely had

bed, she went downstairs

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

confronted Seth, who stood on the balcony of the living room,

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

response was a detached

for a moment, then he said, “I’ll go

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

make things easier for you, and you’ll have more

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

shock. After a pause, he looked away, and his voice husky, “Not

voice cold, “You

the passport from among a few magazines on the

as she almost snatched the passport

still for a 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, picking

*

ready,

she dressed

smell nice.” Hugo’s voice was still

new but lacked the stiffness and smell of newness,

I can

glanced at Hugo and slightly tugged at the corner

tiny furrow appearing between his brows. Cicely showed no emotion, not refusing the

accompany them to the

have to worry about anything and could focus entirely on caring for Hugo, not resisting any of

the hospital for further detailed examinations

since it was a specialized exam, and results came promptly. In the afternoon, while the experts

day, and her tension was now

take

speaking but her

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

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

lip hard, her eyes reddening with

Seth said, extending his arms. “You’re wiped out today.

to hold him, Hugo stretched out his arms

flickered, and she

go grab a bite to eat first. Hugo must be

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