The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“Go freshen up; I’ve made breakfast.”

Cicely looked back at her sleeping child, then covered her face with her hands. After a moment of silence, she opened her mouth and asked, “What time is it?”

“6:10.”

Cicely paused, then suddenly looked up. “So…”

Seth nodded subtly. “In just under three hours, Hugo will have his surgery. You’re exhausted. You’ve been up all night, and you skipped dinner.”

Cicely seemed dazed, flashes of her recent dream pricking at her consciousness, and she abruptly closed her eyes. A warm, broad palm rested on her head, and as she lowered her gaze, she saw a pair of expensive leather shoes stop in front of her, the trousers sharply creased.d2

“It’s going to be okay.”

Tears began to well uncontrollably in Cicely’s eyes. She didn’t want this, and she never wanted to rely on anyone, least of all Seth. She thought she could handle the responsibility alone, hiding away, but when trouble struck, she realized she was helpless.

Hugo hadn’t even been taken to the operating room, and she was already falling apart. What would she be doing now if Seth hadn’t come along?

She couldn’t deny that Seth’s presence was her rock.

Seth saw her condition, his hand tightening slightly around her, and he gently pulled Cicely into his embrace. “It’s okay.”

*

When Hugo woke up, he reached out across the bed, but couldn’t find Cicely. Hugo looked confused, as if trying to remember if the past few days had been a dream. After a while, he reached out again to emptiness.

He couldn’t help but pout and climb up on his own. Staring ahead with helpless and confused eyes, he choked down a few sobs and then suppressed the tears in his eyes.

From his time in the orphanage, he had learned to suppress his tears after too many disappointments. Crying would trouble the caretakers, and most importantly, it wouldn’t bring his mother back.

But he believed that one day she would come for him. He just had to patiently wait. His mother wouldn’t like a whiny, naughty child.

After breakfast, Cicely, worried about Hugo, softly pushed open the door, only to find Hugo already sitting up, his lost and confused eyes suddenly fixing on her direction.

“Mommy?” His voice uncertain, his face tense.

“Hugo!”

Hearing Cicely’s voice, Hugo’s lips tightened, and tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

Cicely hurried over and held Hugo in her arms. “I’m here.”

Hugo clung to Cicely’s neck as if afraid of being left behind.

Seth stood at the doorway. It had been so long since he’d seen Cicely show such affection. The proud and radiant girl was also nervous, tender, perplexed, and fearful.

She changed from a girl to a woman to a mother. He had shaped all of this, and yet he was the least entitled to it.

*

At nine o’clock, it was time for Hugo’s surgery. Cicely was ice-cold, holding Hugo tightly, refusing to let go.

“Cicely, you need to put Hugo down.”

Cicely looked troubled.

“Mommy.” Hugo, sensing Cicely’s distress, cupped her face and pressed his forehead to hers. “I know mommy must be the most beautiful mommy in the world, and I really want to see what mommy looks like.”

Cicely’s tears finally fell. “Hugo…”

How could she not hear that her child was comforting her? She felt so useless, letting Hugo comfort her instead.

Hugo pursed his lips, tears swirling in his eyes again. “I’m not scared. Mommy shouldn’t be scared either.”

Cicely nodded fervently, holding back the overwhelming sorrow and fear, kissing Hugo’s cheeks. “Okay, mommy’s not scared. Mommy will be right here waiting for you.”

“Yeah!”

Seth took Hugo from her arms and laid him on the gurney.

Seth’s hand rested on Hugo’s forehead, easily seeing the tension and fear in his eyes. Then Seth gently ruffled Hugo’s hair. “I’ll take care of mommy for you, you just sleep, and when you wake up, I’ll be right here with mommy.”

Seth’s deep voice seemed to carry a magic, calming Hugo’s deep-seated fear. Hugo noticed the hesitation in Seth’s voice but obediently nodded.

Seth forced a smile and stood up straight.

The doctors hurriedly wheeled Hugo into the operating room. Cicely, on impulse, wanted to follow, but Seth pulled her into his embrace.

“Hugo’s going to be okay, right? Seth, tell me that our son is going to make it.” Cicely clung to Seth’s arm, enveloped in anxiety and fear, oblivious to Seth’s momentarily rigid body.

He looked down at her, returned to his senses, and nodded, reassuring her once again. “Yes, he’s going to make it. The best ophthalmologists in the world are in there. They won’t let us down.”

Even though his own heart was filled with worry and anxiety, and he felt every bit of Cicely’s emotions, he couldn’t show weakness in front of her.

in his arms gradually calm down, he led her to a nearby chair to

chest, her eyes fixed on the operating room door, her heart

operating room door opened. The surgeon emerged, removing his mask to reveal a face covered in a

the doctor, Cicely should have rushed forward, but she froze

her in his arms, looked up at the doctor. “How is

and exhaled,

clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, the weight that had been on his heart finally dropping. He turned to Cicely, whose tears had already

tense eyes suddenly blinked, and she nodded. “He’s

and the next moment, she fainted into Seth’s

“Cicely!”

*

One month later.

tip of her nose, stirring her from dreams. The breath that grazed her skin was cooler than one might expect. Her brow furrowed slightly as her eyelids fluttered open to the blurry outline of a familiar, youthful face that gradually sharpened into focus. The boy sitting beside her bed had features of delicate beauty, his dark eyes sparkling like stars twinkling in the night sky

closer and reaching out to gently touch Cicely’s face. “I always knew

to grasp Hugo’s, whispering, “You can see now,

tracing the bridge of her nose. “Mommy’s nose, so

fingers continued their journey to her eyelids.

rested on Cicely’s lips.

with a burst of joy. “Just like

tenderly, her fingertips quivering as they

nodded, nuzzling into the palm of her hand. “I can

Hugo into her arms, examining his face with an intensity born of love

bedside, his expression softening at

up early that morning, eyes wide

in the man’s gaze, Hugo turned his attention to the beautiful woman sleeping beside him,

…

were cleared to return home. Cicely’s complexion had been pale since

clouds. When he grew tired, he fell asleep

long fingers pressing the blanket beneath Hugo’s chin, his

turned her gaze out the window, breaking the silence with a soft confession. “I haven’t figured out how to

at her for a moment before looking down

touched down in

got into the waiting car. Cicely followed closely, expecting to return to Emerald Valley Estates.

passed, yet it still resembled a princess’ castle. Hugo’s eyes widened in surprise as

meant to be yours, so don’t worry about anything else. The people in charge of looking after

Cicely’s eyes quivered softly.

is this our house?”

to live here

that’s where I want to be,” he said, his eyes shining

see things with his eyes, he seemed to be a little more cheerful than before, which brought some comfort

the house next to ours is so big,

her gaze. “Yeah,” she murmured, unsure of what to say.

Cicely kept her gaze straight ahead, holding Hugo

stared straight at him. The

away, Hugo also turned away and stopped looking

the car, quietly observing the brightly lit estate in front of him. He reached for his pockets and realized he didn’t have a cigarette— he was out of smokes.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay

been with the

small smile. “Thank you. It’s good

to face, but

you washed up, dinner will be ready soon,” one of the staff suggested, and Cicely couldn’t help but think that Seth had planned

with her routine. She gave Hugo

see Hugo’s eyes had healed—the director, the teachers, and all the other kids at the

Hugo’s successful surgery, she was overjoyed.

you’re as beautiful as

smiled happily, receiving a compliment from a child that equated her beauty with that of his mom was the

too pleased to hear that, his dark eyes commanding

pettiness was truly eye-opening.

slightly upset head. “Here, I have prepared a gift for you,

different colors of pencils and other drawing tools. Chloe knew that Hugo enjoyed playing instruments, but she had also noticed

were different. He could clearly

the gift, immediately tearing open the

and happy, seemed to disperse the suffocating feelings that had been

taken Hugo to

“Not yet…”

looking forward to

her lips, “I am

Grandpa’s stronger than anyone.

Cicely didn’t respond.

being alive, because it means there’s still a chance to see the people he loves in this world. Cicely, you owe Grandpa three years of

Cicely’s fingertips trembled.

hospital. Erik had been awake for over a month by then. When he saw Cicely, his aged