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 loose dust

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

and dragged away

returned to the hallway, and Cicely pushed away from Seth

out to Cicely. “Mom, are you

a complex expression, then remembering Hugo could not see, she

word, “Daddy,” had been

understand the grudges between adults? Did he know how effortlessly

holding Hugo, and

face was shadowed by a faint layer of

sensing the tension, clung

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

she went to the welfare center to complete the discharge paperwork, then packed her belongings, ready to

restrictions

at Erik’s bedside, his

an acknowledgment, and

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

the only sound in the room the rhythmic beeping of medical

lips, his eyes downcast, a wistful smile playing on his lips, revealing a

*

been fine, but Damon

was no more reason to stay. As she was about to leave

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

a hurry. The two stood facing each other

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

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

in anger, she was met with Damon’s indifferent shrug as he dusted off his hands and coldly said, “Stay away

Cicely was speechless.

gaze, challenging, “What, you want to

anger and forced a smile through

closed mercilessly behind her,

sounded lost

then that her child was now in Seth’s arms. She reached out to take him back, but Seth subtly dodged

*

Hugo’s eye treatment scheduled for tomorrow, once inside the apartment, Cicely had no more energy to maintain the

bed, she went downstairs to retrieve her

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

Seth, who stood on the balcony of

his cigarette in the crystal ashtray and turned to

was a

for a moment, then he said,

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

for you, and you’ll have more time to look

a hint of a smile on her lips. “If I

After a pause, he

expression was indifferent, her voice cold, “You

passport from among a few magazines on the coffee table and handed

almost snatched the passport from

time before settling back on the couch, still wearing his clothes heavy with the

*

ready, and found his clothes laid out on the

slight pause, she

clothes are so soft and smell

the stiffness and smell of newness, instead carrying

I can

Hugo and slightly tugged at

his dark eyes following the sound, a tiny furrow appearing between his

the hospital, but Damon wouldn’t allow

to the airport, then abroad, Seth and Charlie handled all the arrangements. Cicely didn’t have to worry about anything and could focus entirely on caring for Hugo, not resisting any of

went straight to the hospital for further detailed examinations

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

let go of Hugo all day, and

me take

speaking but

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

planted a kiss

lip hard, her eyes reddening with restrained

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

to hold him, Hugo stretched out his arms

eyes flickered, and she let

a bite to eat first. Hugo must be starving

dull, but at the mention of