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—”

through the building, as if shaking loose

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

beside Danielle nodded and dragged away the completely broken

and Cicely pushed away from Seth

out to Cicely. “Mom,

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

That one word, “Daddy,” had been a final devastating

Did he know how effortlessly he could corner someone without lifting a

Hugo, and she shivered, reaching out to almost

arms were now empty, and his face was shadowed

sensing the tension, clung to Cicely

morning in the hospital room, cradling Hugo in her arms while Erik lay ill. Seth had offered to have lunch together, but Cicely had

discharge paperwork,

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

Erik’s bedside, his voice brooking

an acknowledgment,

figure on the bed, Seth finally spoke in a

the only sound in the

pursed his lips, his eyes downcast, a wistful smile playing on his lips, revealing a world of desolation and helplessness. “What if she doesn’t want

*

it dawned on Cicely that 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

she was about to leave with Hugo in her arms, the doorbell

there, just outside the door, was Seth. His gaze locked onto

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

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

stumbled forward, right into Seth’s

anger, she was met with Damon’s indifferent shrug as he dusted off

Cicely was speechless.

his gaze, challenging, “What, you

back her anger and forced a smile through gritted

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

Hugo’s voice sounded lost and

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

*

once inside the apartment, Cicely had no more energy to maintain the

the guest bed, she went downstairs to retrieve her passport

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

slightly, she confronted Seth, who stood on the

ashtray and turned to face her, his

response was

gaze lingered on a magazine on the coffee table for a moment, then

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

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

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

pause, he looked away, and his voice husky, “Not

was indifferent, her voice cold,

few magazines on the coffee

narrowed as she almost snatched the passport from his hands.

leave, standing 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

*

Hugo ready, and found his clothes laid out on

pause, she dressed

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

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

I can

carried Hugo downstairs, where Seth glanced at Hugo and slightly tugged at the corner

tiny furrow appearing between his brows. Cicely

wanted to accompany them to the hospital, but Damon

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

straight to the hospital for further detailed

In the afternoon, while the experts continued their detailed discussions, Seth noticed

day, and her tension was now

me take the

slightly, not speaking but her body language showing

soft, his eyes

closer to Cicely, and planted a kiss on her

her eyes reddening

over,” Seth said, extending his arms. “You’re wiped out today. You planning on skipping out on the surgery

that Seth wanted to hold him,

eyes flickered, and she let

eat first. Hugo must be

of food, he nodded vigorously. “Yeah! Mommy, I