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.

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

hands were clasped tightly, resting against her chest, her eyes fixed on

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

rushed

immediately with her in his arms, looked up at

and exhaled, “It

finally dropping. He turned to Cicely, whose tears had already silently turned her into a weeping figure. “It’s over, Hugo will soon see the

suddenly blinked, and she nodded. “He’s going

next

“Cicely!”

*

One month later.

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

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 mommy in the world,” the

lifted her hand to grasp Hugo’s,

her nose. “Mommy’s nose, so pretty,” he said, then moved to her

their journey to her eyelids. “Mommy’s eyes,

Cicely’s lips. “Mommy’s

with

her fingertips quivering as

into the palm of her hand. “I can

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

expression softening at the

his newly regained vision. He had woken up early that morning, eyes wide open, taking in the crisp details

to the beautiful woman sleeping beside him, her

…

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

new 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

as he tucked the sleeping child in, his long fingers pressing the blanket beneath Hugo’s

her gaze out the window, breaking the silence with a soft confession.

and looked at her

touched down in P

the flight, was still in Seth’s arms as they disembarked and got into the waiting car. Cicely followed closely, expecting to return to Emerald Valley Estates.

castle. Hugo’s eyes widened in

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

Cicely’s eyes quivered softly.

our house?” he asked in

Would you like to live here with Mommy?” Cicely replied with a

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

things with his eyes, he seemed to be a little

ours is so

moment before quickly retracting her gaze. “Yeah,” she murmured, unsure of what to say. After a brief pause, she spoke in a low voice, “We are going

Seth responded several seconds later. Cicely kept her gaze straight ahead, holding

stared straight at him. The tranquility in them was like the

also turned

was only when the two figures entered the mansion’s door that 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 out of smokes.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books

staff, who had been with the Ellis family, greeted them with teary eyes and warm

“Thank you. It’s good to be

eyes danced from face to face, but none compared

ready soon,” one of the staff suggested, and

moment, then proceeded with her routine. She gave Hugo a quick wash, helped him

to see Hugo’s eyes had healed—the director, the teachers, and all the other kids at the orphanage. To everyone’s surprise, Hugo could even accurately name each one

they went to visit Damon 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

you’re as

her beauty with that of his mom was the highest praise

Damon wasn’t too pleased to hear that, his dark eyes commanding respect without anger, “She’s even more beautiful than

This man’s pettiness was truly eye-opening. He had to compete

an awkward smile, patting Hugo’s slightly upset head. “Here,

was a set of art supplies with over a hundred different colors of pencils and other drawing tools. Chloe knew that Hugo enjoyed playing instruments, but she had also

He could clearly transfer anything he saw onto

open the package and sitting at a small table to start

carefree and happy, seemed to disperse

Hugo to see your Grandpa

“Not yet…”

looking forward

am afraid it will overwhelm

her calmly, “Your Grandpa’s stronger than anyone. Besides, it’s your child, his great-grandson—he

Cicely didn’t respond.

I think, perhaps in his heart, nothing is more important than being alive, because it means there’s still a chance to see the people he loves in this

Cicely’s fingertips trembled.

month by then. When he saw Cicely, his