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.

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? Charlie said Seth’s not doing

a flash of vulnerability crossing her

into forgiving anyone, but you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out before you

Chloe was sharp as a tack, a woman who’d weathered

a moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave

had struck a chord with everyone

doing well. So her words came off as bravado and denial to the

for him to find forgiveness here, as if my not forgiving him makes me heartless. So,

silence

to Chloe and ushered her to sit beside him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it, just go upstairs and bring him

grasped his hand, not

was supposed to bring him down?

a sigh of relief and

spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked down tight. Ms. Cicely was

locked up. The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz doesn’t care

with no returns. Without the funds for Diaz Tower’s rebuild or to repay the bank loans, there were sharks circling to buy out Diaz International, including the land Diaz Tower stood on, offering dirt-cheap

paused to collect himself before continuing. “Later on, Mr. Diaz

eyes flickered involuntarily, and her poised figure on the couch

rebuild Diaz International or pay back the

Ellis family had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family from power. Between the overt pressure and underhanded tactics,

I’m telling you is just the tip of the iceberg; there were layers of

I thought the incident with Ms. Cicely going to jail was being

months later, when things started settling down, he began to withdraw, staying away from the office, eventually shutting himself in his room. At first, he was still dealing with company paperwork, but then he stopped caring about that too. I was worried he’d starve, so

hit me, Mr. Diaz fought to keep

father and Isaac’s deaths, or was he feeling your prison sentence was your way of getting back at him, proving how much you hated him? Or was he still figuring out how to

up for a month, unreachable. If Erik hadn’t fallen critically ill,

but now utterly drained. Her gaze was hollow as she stared at the spotless coffee table. In her clasped hands, now

frowned. “You didn’t knock the door

Kane, somewhat agitated, chimed in. “Knock it down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk opened the door and started wailing on me without a word. Damn near

was handpicked by Ms. Cicely,

their thoughts, until Kane let

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 her aunt. Ms. Lana has been back for a couple of weeks, and Mr. Diaz has been increasingly agitated. I’m guessing he’s worried that you might take your son and leave

tug-of-war within him; he wanted her free yet didn’t want her

her emotions battling within her. What would happen if

suddenly became seriously ill, and

nor

agreed with Charlie’s approach. It was

hadn’t moved an inch, her head still lowered, and her expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything; after all, it wasn’t her place to meddle too much

waiting for her

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

eyes, her face a mask of calm. “He’ll come out for me, right? And

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would be

over

and he gave

chuckled, “You think

affirmation, “I do. Your father passed because of his heart condition, and his mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father. If we must talk about grievances, they

mockingly, “Mr. Harper

the multiple facets of every situation. The most important thing is to choose what makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in the

of this started because of his mother. My dad never loved her, and the so-called grievances were her

“Yes, exactly. It’s like you choosing to go to prison voluntarily; 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 him, and maybe in a few years, your son will get a taste of these

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

let alone offer such leading advice.

searched her mind for a comeback, but found none. “If you were him and Chloe was me, would you still believe

What’s right? Getting what I want is right. Letting her go, torturing myself

help but laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine from all

such a serious atmosphere, it was something to be able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot him

rhetoric and then

Knowing he loves me, I wouldn’t let things get to where you are today. Besides, 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

Chloe, smiled and took her hand into his large, warm palm. “What

prison, did you have any doubts, or were

blinked uncontrollably, a gesture betraying her agitation. It took Cicely a moment to compose herself before she let out

are such a powerful duo.

words, Cicely spun around and

*

the bedroom door, Cicely gazed at the closed barrier before her, not moving an inch forward. How

for over a month

could stand it no longer.

Cicely sighed.

pounding elicited no response. Behind

knee and his

echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic,

voice, tranquil as water, seeped through the

man on the floor, who had

his head, staring blankly into the empty room, his dark eyes

She couldn’t

“Seth, open up.”

his head towards the door, his eyes bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with

second time, frowned and lifted her foot to kick the door. But just as she did, the door swung open. Her kick met air, and she stumbled forward. In a panic, she reached for the doorframe, but still collided with the man’s chest. Her slender waist was immediately ensnared

looked up into the weary, disheveled face of the man who was staring at her in surprise,