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—”

the building, as if shaking

Cicely’s ears, pulling her into his embrace. “Are you

men beside Danielle nodded and dragged away the completely broken

pushed away from Seth to look at

out to Cicely. “Mom,

her head with a complex expression, then remembering Hugo could

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

between adults? Did he know how effortlessly

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

and his face was shadowed by a

clung to Cicely

had offered to have lunch together, but Cicely had coldly declined. She held onto Hugo tight, her departure hasty, and her demeanor frosty, leaving no room for Seth

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

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

it.” Seth stood at Erik’s bedside,

teeth, muttered an acknowledgment, and

bed, Seth finally spoke in a

only sound in the room the rhythmic beeping of medical

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

*

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

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

was Seth. His gaze locked onto

threshold. Seth wasn’t in a hurry. The two stood facing each other

stood up from the couch, walked to the door, and

forward, right into Seth’s embrace. Her arm

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

Cicely was speechless.

“What, you want

blinked back her anger and forced a smile

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

sounded

arms. She reached out to take him

*

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

Hugo into the guest bed, she

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

who stood on the balcony

heard her approach; he stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray

response was a

on a magazine on the coffee table for a moment, then he said,

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

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

her lips. “If I

pause,

cold, “You said you’d give

up the passport from among a few magazines on the coffee table

as she almost snatched the passport from

the scent of tobacco. He sat alone for what seemed like ages, then stood up

*

ready, and found his

she dressed Hugo

so soft and smell

but lacked the stiffness and smell of newness, instead carrying the familiar scent

I can

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

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

to accompany them to the

didn’t have to worry about

the hospital for

promptly. In the afternoon, while the experts continued their detailed discussions, Seth noticed Cicely’s anxious demeanor and led her

let go of Hugo all day, and her

me take the

not speaking but

tired, Cicely.” His voice was soft, his eyes resting calmly on Cicely’s beautiful but

and planted a

lip hard, her eyes

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

hold him,

flickered, and she let

a bite to eat first.

the mention of