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—”

echoed through the building, as if shaking

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

nodded and dragged away the completely

pushed away from

out to Cicely. “Mom,

with a complex expression, then remembering Hugo could not

That one word,

really thinking? Did he understand the grudges between adults? Did he know

holding Hugo, and she shivered, reaching out

arms were now empty, and his face was

clung

ill. Seth had offered to have lunch together, but Cicely had coldly declined. She held onto Hugo tight, her departure hasty, and her demeanor frosty,

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

face. “Mr. Diaz, Cicely’s passport restrictions have been lifted, but do we really need

stood at Erik’s

teeth, muttered an acknowledgment, and

finally spoke in a

in the room the

smile playing on his lips, revealing a world of

*

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 was even less appropriate for her to continue

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

was Seth. His gaze locked

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

“nuisance,” suddenly stood up from the couch,

right into Seth’s

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

Cicely was speechless.

“What, you want to

back her anger and forced a smile

mercilessly behind her, Damon not even bothering with a

Hugo’s voice sounded lost

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

*

Hugo’s eye treatment scheduled for tomorrow, once inside the apartment, Cicely had

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

of tobacco. As she reached the downstairs,

Seth, who stood on the balcony of the living room,

his cigarette in the crystal ashtray

was a

coffee table for a

Cicely’s eyes flickered.

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

smile on her lips. “If I don’t

a pause, he looked away, and his voice husky,

was indifferent, her voice cold, “You said you’d give me my

passport from among a few magazines on the coffee table

narrowed as she almost snatched

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

*

morning, Cicely woke up early, got Hugo ready, and found his

slight pause, she dressed Hugo in

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

Indeed, The clothes seemed new but lacked the

can smell

and slightly tugged at

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

them to the hospital, but Damon wouldn’t allow

have to worry about anything and could focus entirely on caring for Hugo, not

straight to the hospital for

quick since it was a specialized exam, and results came promptly. In the afternoon, while the experts continued their detailed discussions, Seth noticed Cicely’s anxious

Hugo all day, and her tension was now manifesting

take

speaking but her

his eyes resting calmly on Cicely’s beautiful but visibly

snuggled closer to Cicely, and planted a kiss on

her eyes reddening

out today. You planning on skipping out on the

Seth wanted to hold him, Hugo stretched out his arms

and she let

go grab a bite to eat first. Hugo must be starving by

of food, he nodded vigorously. “Yeah!