The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“Ms. Cicely, could you please go check on Mr. Diaz?” Charlie asked, with a hint of desperation in his voice.

Cicely narrowed her eyes, her frown carrying a chill. “I thought after all his efforts, he was over it, ready to let me go.”

Charlie swallowed hard, the comely man’s eyes reddening before her. “Yes, Mr. Diaz thought so too. Ms. Cicely, he’s been back from abroad for over twenty days now. He hasn’t shown up around you, has he?”

A tight sensation gripped Cicely’s chest, her fingers curling slightly. After a long silence, she turned her head aside. “So? What’s wrong with him?”

Clutching his fists, Charlie slowly said, “If you go, maybe then we will find out what’s really going on with him.”

Cicely spun around, her gaze piercing as she stared at Charlie. Seconds later, she let out a scoff. “You think it’s fun to play me?”d2

Charlie took a deep breath, his eyes closed. “Do you really think I’d leave my work, and risk my paycheck, just to play a trick on you? Ms. Cicely, you’re the apple of Mr. Diaz’s eye. Would I dare to play you?”

*

Charlie drove Cicely back to her mansion, her expression colder than the frost on a winter’s window.

“He gets you to play the sympathy card just to bring me back home?” she questioned, her tone icy.

Without a word, Charlie drove past the grand gates of Cicely’s Mansion and into the adjacent, more imposing estate. He opened the car door for her, and at the entrance of the villa, a man stood waiting. As she approached, he strode forward and gave her a thumbs-up.

“Well done! I’ve never been so enlightened,” he said with a mix of sarcasm and awe.

Cicely frowned at the burly man before her and took a step back. “What’s this about?”

Kane sneered, turning to admire the splendid villa. “The house is grand, the decor lavish, but it’s all wasted on that asshole living alone.”

Cicely’s brows knitted even tighter. Kane’s crude language was grating to her ears. “Kane,” she warned.

“What? Is it just my language you can’t stand, or do you not like hearing Seth called an asshole?”

Cicely’s expression turned icy.

Kane took a deep breath. “I’m amazed. To think he’d drive himself to the brink of death over a woman.”

Cicely’s fingertips trembled slightly.

“Go inside. Could you at least check if that idiot is still alive?”

Usually, Seth was as cunning as a fox, not swayed by hard or soft tactics, except for Danielle.

In the end, it was all a facade.

What they said about Danielle being the one he held dear to his heart and soul was all a lie. He was just deliberately deceiving a woman’s feelings to make her a willing blood bank.

His methods were damn despicable.

Even if Danielle was a heinous woman, she didn’t deserve this. He should’ve kept things separate.

How did he convince himself to become such a despicable person?

And now, after all his wrongdoing, he suddenly wanted to be a good man. How idiotic.

“Ms. Cicely,” Charlie interjected, pulling her from her thoughts.

She glanced at the villa and pursed her lips. “You two are his trusted assistant and best friend. I doubt my presence will make things go your way.”

Kane suddenly turned, his frown deepening as he looked at her, then he kicked the car beside him in frustration. “For heaven’s sake, just try, okay?! What do you want me to do, get down on my knees and beg?”

Kane was known for his carefree, wealthy playboy antics. No one had seen him this crazed or grim.

Her trembling fingers clenched tightly, the pain sharp in her palm. Without another word, she stepped into the villa, Charlie and Kane following.

The familiar design, furniture, and decorations were all her doing.

The living room was empty.

“He’s upstairs in the master bedroom,” Kane said from behind her. “He’s been locked in there for seven or eight days now. At first, he was dealing with business matters, but these past few days, he’s shut down completely. Not eating or drinking, acting like a lunatic.”

Cicely was called over without any clue of what had happened. Now hearing this, all she could do was frown deeply. “Not eating or drinking for seven or eight days?”

Kane’s face was grim as he gave a dark laugh. “He’s been worse, locked away for a month once, surviving on glucose. He’s tough.”

Cicely’s heart clenched, her eyes trembling before she looked up at Kane. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came out.

Charlie glanced at her, then after a few seconds of silence, took a deep breath and suggested, “Ms. Cicely, I’m sorry we called you here on such a short notice, but now that you are here, maybe we could talk first.”

Cicely’s brow twitched involuntarily. “Talk about what. I don’t want to know too much.”

“Perfect, because I’m curious to hear what’s to be said. Let’s all listen.” A deep, steady voice came from the entrance, and everyone turned to see Damon walking in with Chloe.

“Damon! Chloe!” Kane greeted them, though his enthusiasm was lacking.

Charlie nodded respectfully as well.

Cicely’s face paled, her grip on her purse tightening as she instinctively stepped back, her desire to flee obvious.

gaze had been fixed on Cicely since entering, and upon seeing Cicely’s reaction, Chloe’s eyes flickered slightly. Standing beside Cicely, Chloe looked into her eyes with an intensity that seemed to hold her captive. “You followed Charlie here today, so you must have some idea of what’s happening, right?

quivered, a flash of vulnerability

but you came here to lend a hand,

was sharp as a tack, a woman who’d weathered many storms. Chloe had clawed her way to where she was by learning how to read people

trembling hands, Cicely closed her eyes for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely

recent words had struck a chord with everyone

She even hoped he was doing well. So her words came

let out a scoff before moving to sit on the couch. “He’s had a tough time, and it breaks your hearts. You’re anxious for him to find forgiveness here,

was silence for a

her to sit beside him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it,

Chloe grasped his

stayed put. She was supposed to bring

Charlie breathed a sigh of relief

didn’t want to see him, and he tried everything to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked down tight. Ms. Cicely was

one who had her locked up. The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr.

and money was sunk with no returns. Without the funds for Diaz Tower’s rebuild or to repay the bank loans, there were sharks circling

to collect himself before continuing. “Later on, Mr. Diaz sold the Diaz family

eyes flickered involuntarily, and her poised figure on the

for a hefty price due to its prime location. But it was nowhere near enough to rebuild Diaz International or pay back the bank. Mr. Diaz worked tirelessly, wining and dining, ending up in the ER several

shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to

months, were utter chaos. What I’m telling you is just

with Ms. Cicely

too hard. Mr. Diaz had no spare moment to dwell on unchangeable facts or a woman who despised him. He was always composed, never mentioning you, even indifferent when others did. I thought getting past that chaos without a scratch wasn’t a bad thing, but two months later, when things started settling down, he began to withdraw, staying away from the office, eventually shutting himself in

hit me, Mr. Diaz fought to keep Diaz International because you wanted it; he intended to present it to you as a wedding gift. He fought for the Ellis family, ignored C&P Entertainment, let it fend for

and Isaac’s deaths, or was he feeling your prison sentence was

hadn’t fallen critically ill, who knows, he

into the couch with the same posture as before, but now utterly drained. Her gaze was hollow as she stared at

Damon frowned. “You

somewhat agitated, chimed in. “Knock it down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I

added, “Everything in here was handpicked by Ms. Cicely, including that door. It was her

lost in their thoughts,

moment, Charlie glanced at Cicely, who remained impassive, her gaze lowered. He pursed his lips and said, “I won’t go into details, as I suspect Ms. Cicely isn’t in the mood to hear more. But this time, I think the reason behind all this is still Ms. Cicely. Recently, Mr. Diaz had me lift the travel ban that had been placed on

wanted her free yet didn’t want

battling within her. What would happen if

Erik who suddenly became seriously ill,

another illness, nor any desire for

approach.

still lowered, and her expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything; after all, it wasn’t her

Cicely, waiting for her to make the

and seeing her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly. “Cicely, you’re just going

of calm. “He’ll come out for me, right?

Kane blinked.

“That would be

over the

gave

think

of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father. If we must talk about grievances, they stem from issues the older generation failed to resolve, leaving you and Seth as victims

scoffed mockingly, “Mr. Harper sure has a way with shifting

every situation. The most important thing is to choose what makes you happiest. Why trap

fading. “All of this started because of his

you could use your suffering to get back at Seth. Don’t be surprised if others lose their sanity over emotions too. You could keep this standoff with

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

exclaimed in shock. Everyone knew better than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such leading advice. But Damon’s words were on point. That was just Damon

“If you were him and Chloe was me,

as she’s mine, and by my side as I wish. What’s right? Getting what I want is right. Letting her go, torturing myself like he’s doing now? Since when did he aspire to be

Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine from all his

be able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot

rhetoric and then slowly turned to

I wouldn’t give him up to any other woman. The one I love and cherish should stay by my side. I think no one in this world can claim a purer love for him than me, and I’m the one who wishes

next to Chloe, smiled and took her hand into his

resolutely? When you decided to go to prison, did you have any doubts,

moment to compose herself before she let out a derisive snort

are such a powerful duo. I can’t argue

Cicely spun around and

*

gazed at the closed barrier before her, not moving an inch forward. How could they simplify and beautify

a bedroom for over

to stretch on endlessly until Kane, who had been sneaking glances, could stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times

Cicely sighed.

no response. Behind the

of potent spirits were on display. Seth slumped against the bed, one leg bent, his arm resting on his knee and his head buried in the crook of his elbow, motionless. Even Kane’s sudden loud and urgent knocking failed to stir him. It was as if

series of knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic,

minutes passed, and then a voice, tranquil as water, seeped through

on the floor, who had

his head, staring blankly into the empty room, his

She couldn’t

“Seth, open up.”

his eyes bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for too long, and perhaps due to the alcohol,

door swung open. Her kick met air, and she stumbled

up and looked up into the weary, disheveled face of the man who was staring at