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—”

building, as if shaking loose dust from

Seth covered Cicely’s ears, pulling her into

and

Cicely pushed away from Seth to

to Cicely. “Mom,

shook her head with a complex expression, then

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

the grudges between adults? Did he know how effortlessly he could corner someone without

Hugo, and she shivered, reaching out to almost

arms were now empty, and his face was

the tension, clung to

Hugo in her arms while Erik lay ill. Seth had offered to have lunch together, but Cicely

the discharge paperwork, then packed

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

stood at Erik’s bedside,

teeth, muttered an

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

the room the rhythmic beeping

his lips, revealing a

*

it might have been fine, but Damon was

quiet dinner, there was no more reason to stay. As she was

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

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

already annoyed by Cicely’s “nuisance,” suddenly stood up from the couch, walked to the

into Seth’s embrace. Her arm instinctively

reflexes, Cicely steadied herself. Turning around in anger, she was met with Damon’s indifferent shrug as he dusted off his hands and coldly

Cicely was speechless.

challenging, “What, you want to

anger and forced

behind her, Damon

voice sounded

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

tucking Hugo into the guest bed, she went downstairs to retrieve her

the scent of tobacco. As she reached the downstairs, the aroma

stood on the balcony of the

the crystal ashtray and turned to face her, his voice hoarse from the smoke. “Is he

response was

coffee table for a moment,

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

continued, “Having me there will make things easier for you, and you’ll have more

lips. “If I don’t agree to this, will you take it to

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

cold, “You said you’d

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

almost snatched the

heavy with the scent of tobacco. He sat alone for what seemed like ages, then stood up and, picking up a few

*

early, got Hugo ready, and found his clothes laid out

pause, she dressed Hugo

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

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

can

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

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

the hospital, but Damon

to

straight to the hospital

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

let go of Hugo all day, and her tension was now manifesting

take the

shifted slightly, not speaking but

eyes resting calmly on

planted a kiss on her nose. “Mommy’s

hard, her

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

that Seth wanted to hold him, Hugo stretched out

flickered, and she

a bite to eat first. Hugo must be

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