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 if shaking loose dust

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

nodded and dragged away

from

out to

expression, then remembering Hugo could not see,

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

adults? Did he know

fell on the man holding Hugo, and

were now empty, and his face was shadowed by a

sensing the tension, clung to

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

went to the welfare center to complete the discharge paperwork, then packed her belongings, ready to fly out of the

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

Erik’s bedside, his voice brooking no

his teeth, muttered an acknowledgment, and left

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

in the room the rhythmic beeping of medical

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

*

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 for her to continue

was no more reason to stay. As she was

His gaze locked

a hurry. The two stood facing

annoyed by Cicely’s “nuisance,” suddenly stood up from the couch, walked to the door, and disdainfully nudged Cicely from

right into

Damon’s indifferent shrug as he dusted off his hands and coldly

Cicely was speechless.

gaze, challenging, “What,

and forced

“bang,” the door closed mercilessly behind her,

voice sounded lost

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

*

the apartment, Cicely had no more energy to maintain the

tucking Hugo into the guest bed, she went downstairs

scent of tobacco.

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

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

was a detached

for a moment, then

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

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

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

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

her voice cold, “You

from among a few magazines on the coffee table and handed

snatched the passport

with the scent of tobacco. He sat alone for

*

woke up early, got Hugo ready, and

slight pause, she dressed Hugo

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

the stiffness and

I can smell

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

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

wanted to accompany them to the

didn’t have to worry

abroad, they went straight to the hospital for further detailed examinations

the afternoon, while the experts continued their detailed discussions, Seth noticed Cicely’s anxious

Hugo all day,

me take

speaking but her

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

closer to Cicely, and planted a

hard, her

his arms. “You’re wiped out today. You

wanted to hold him, Hugo stretched out

and she

bite to eat first. Hugo must be starving by

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