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.

arms gradually calm down, he led her to a

her chest, her eyes fixed on the operating room

surgeon emerged, removing his

the doctor, Cicely should have rushed forward, but she froze in her chair, unable to

to rise immediately with her in his arms,

and exhaled, “It

been on his heart finally dropping. He turned to

suddenly blinked, and she nodded. “He’s

over her, and the next moment,

“Cicely!”

*

One month later.

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

was locked onto those eyes, unwavering for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, the child beside her stirred, crawling closer and reaching out to gently touch Cicely’s face. “I always knew Mommy must be the most beautiful

to grasp Hugo’s, whispering,

his small hand now tracing the bridge of her nose. “Mommy’s nose, so pretty,” he said, then moved

continued their journey to

they rested on Cicely’s lips. “Mommy’s mouth,

tour, Hugo looked up with a

tenderly, her fingertips quivering as they brushed the corners of

nodded, nuzzling into the palm of

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

expression softening at the sight before

bandages for two days now, but the world was still adjusting to his newly regained vision. He had woken up early that morning, eyes wide open, taking in the

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

…

of observation in the hospital, they were cleared to return home. Cicely’s complexion

world, had his face pressed against the window, marveling at the cotton candy clouds. When he grew tired, he fell asleep in Cicely’s arms, and Seth gently covered him with a blanket.

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

silence with a soft confession. “I haven’t figured out how to live with

looked at her for a moment

plane touched down in

car. Cicely followed closely, expecting to return to Emerald Valley Estates. Instead, the car stopped in front of Cicely’s Mansion, a gift from Creighton for

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

and this place was meant to be yours, so don’t worry about anything else. The people in charge of looking after you inside are the

Cicely’s eyes quivered softly.

our house?” he

like to live here with Mommy?”

to be,” he said, his eyes shining with the same brightness as the

he seemed to be a little more cheerful than before, which brought some

the house next to ours is so big, much bigger than our house,”

she murmured, unsure of what to say. After a brief pause, she spoke in a

later. Cicely kept her gaze straight ahead, holding Hugo in her arms as they

and leaned on her shoulder, his eyes mirroring Seth’s. They stared straight at him. The tranquility

Hugo also turned away

Seth withdrew his gaze. He leaned back against 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

with the Ellis family, greeted them with teary eyes

a small smile. “Thank

face, but

staff suggested,

gave Hugo a quick wash, helped him into clean pajamas, and carried him

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

and Chloe. As soon as Chloe heard the news of Hugo’s successful surgery, she was overjoyed. Now, seeing his beautiful eyes focusing clearly, pure and clean as if sprinkled with stardust, she was both stunned and

as beautiful

receiving a compliment from a child that equated her beauty

hear that, his dark eyes commanding respect

rolled her eyes. This man’s pettiness was truly eye-opening. He had to

an awkward smile, patting Hugo’s slightly upset head. “Here, I have prepared a gift for

knew that Hugo enjoyed playing instruments, but she

were different. He could

tearing open the package and sitting at a small table

the couch as Hugo, carefree and happy, seemed to disperse

you taken Hugo to see your Grandpa

“Not yet…”

must be really looking forward to seeing

her lips, “I am afraid it

looked at her calmly, “Your Grandpa’s stronger than anyone. Besides, it’s your

Cicely didn’t respond.

wouldn’t have let him arrange care for him these past three years. I think, perhaps in his heart, nothing is more important than being alive, because it means there’s

Cicely’s fingertips trembled.

month by then.