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.

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? Charlie said Seth’s

quivered, a flash of vulnerability

you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out

of Chloe. It was pointless. She knew Chloe was sharp as a tack, a woman

moment and then slowly nodded.

struck a chord

She even hoped he was doing well. So her words came off as bravado and

You’re anxious for him to find

silence

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

Chloe grasped his hand,

bring him down? Nobody

Charlie breathed a sigh of relief and

then all news of her was locked

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

Tower needed a rebuild, but the banks called in their loans. C&P Entertainment was hit hard by public opinion, all contracts with their talent were frozen, production deals were stalled, and money was sunk with no returns. Without the funds for Diaz Tower’s rebuild or to repay the bank loans,

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

and her poised figure on the

it sold 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 times from overdrinking, just to negotiate with the banks and scrape together enough to

family had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family

you is just the tip

incident with Ms. Cicely

and life was 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

Diaz fought to keep Diaz International because you wanted it; he intended to present it to you as a wedding gift.

away. Was it guilt over your father and Isaac’s deaths, or was he feeling your prison sentence was your way

unreachable. If Erik hadn’t fallen critically ill, who knows,

same posture as before, but now utterly drained. Her gaze was hollow as she stared at the spotless coffee table. In her clasped hands, now clammy with cold sweat,

Damon frowned. “You didn’t knock

it down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk opened the door and started

in here was handpicked by Ms. Cicely,

lost in their thoughts, until Kane let out a snort,

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 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

he wanted her free

grip tightened ever so slightly, her emotions battling within her.

it was Erik who suddenly became seriously ill, and

be another illness, nor any desire for someone

approach. It was all up to Cicely

and her expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything; after all, it wasn’t her place to meddle too much in other

Cicely, waiting for

most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his

“He’ll come out for me, right? And then what? To

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would

fell over the

he gave Damon a

think that

her obsessive love and hatred towards your father. If we must talk about grievances, they stem from issues the older generation

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

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

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

at Seth. Don’t be surprised if others lose their sanity over

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

affairs, let alone offer such leading advice. But

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

or deceive. Any tactic is fair as long 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

but laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine

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

his rhetoric and then slowly

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

into his large, warm palm. “What a

Cicely, “How did you ever come to choose him so resolutely? When you decided to go to prison, did you have any doubts, or were you certain that

It took Cicely a moment to compose herself before she let out a derisive snort

such a powerful duo. I can’t

Cicely spun around and

*

barrier before her, not moving

a bedroom for over a

stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times before darting

Cicely sighed.

no response. Behind the door, there

rows of glucose bottles and a collection 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

knocks echoed again. They

voice, tranquil as water, seeped through the thick door,

floor, who had been utterly still, suddenly

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

She couldn’t

“Seth, open up.”

train of thought shattered, Seth turned his head towards the door, his eyes bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for too

door swung open. Her kick met air, and she stumbled forward. In a panic, she reached for

into the weary, disheveled face of the man