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.

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

quivered, a flash of

here to lend a hand,

didn’t want to put on a show in front of Chloe. It was pointless. She knew Chloe was sharp as a tack, a woman who’d weathered many storms. Chloe had clawed her way to where

then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry smile. “Let’s hear

had struck

hate Seth. She even hoped he was doing well. So

time, and it breaks your hearts. You’re anxious for him to find forgiveness here, as if my not forgiving him makes me heartless. So, you think, compared to him, I’ve had it easy these years, and I’ve got sympathy to

was silence for

to sit beside him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it, just go upstairs and bring him down. No

Chloe grasped his hand, not in

was supposed to bring him down? Nobody told her she had

Charlie breathed a sigh of

him, and he tried everything to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked down

locked up. The online backlash was

Without the funds for Diaz Tower’s rebuild or to repay the bank loans, there were sharks

“Later on, Mr. Diaz sold the

involuntarily, and her poised figure on

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

C&P Entertainment wasn’t resolved when 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, Mr.

is just the tip of the iceberg; there

the incident with Ms. Cicely going to jail

wasn’t a bad thing, but two months later, when things started settling down, he began to withdraw, staying away from the

was transition wasn’t. He just hadn’t had the time to think about you. Then it 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

away. Was it guilt over your 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

unreachable. If Erik hadn’t fallen critically ill,

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

“You didn’t knock

No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk opened the door and started wailing on me

by Ms. Cicely,

five people lost in their thoughts, until Kane let

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.

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

slightly, her emotions battling within her. What would happen if things continued

ago, it was Erik who suddenly became seriously ill, and

be another illness, nor any

Charlie’s approach. It was all up to

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

Cicely, waiting for her to make

was the most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his

mask of calm. “He’ll come out for me, right? And then what?

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would

over

mouth fell open, and he gave Damon a thumbs-up. Impressive. Was

think

“I do. Your father passed because of his heart condition, and his mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father.

Cicely pause, then she scoffed mockingly, “Mr. Harper sure has a way with shifting

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

stared him down, the cold smile on her face slowly fading. “All of this started because of his mother. My dad never loved her, and the so-called grievances

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

shock. Everyone knew better than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such

were him

do anything—chase, steal, 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

Damon developed a smooth-talking routine

it was something to be able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot him a look that immediately

rhetoric and then slowly turned to

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 can claim a purer love for him than me, and I’m the one who wishes him the

to Chloe, smiled and took her hand into his large,

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 no one in the world could love

gesture betraying her agitation. It took Cicely a moment to compose herself before she let out a derisive snort

are such a powerful duo. I can’t argue

Cicely spun

*

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

in a bedroom for over a month – quite impressive

who had been sneaking glances, could stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the

Cicely sighed.

pounding elicited no response. Behind

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 he were a breathless statue,

again. They were gentle, rhythmic, but soft. Still, Seth

tranquil as water, seeped through the thick door, slightly muffled.

the floor, who had been utterly still, suddenly twitched

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

She couldn’t possibly

“Seth, open up.”

before pushing himself up

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

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