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.

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

quivered, a flash of vulnerability

hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out before you can actually help, don’t

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

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

had struck a chord with

truth, Cicely didn’t hate Seth. She even hoped he was doing well. So her words

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

was silence for

“If you don’t wanna hear it, just go upstairs

Chloe grasped his hand,

was supposed to bring him down? Nobody

Charlie breathed a

to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked down tight. Ms. Cicely was determined to serve her time, and at first,

locked up. The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz

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, there were sharks circling to buy out Diaz International, including the land Diaz Tower stood on, offering dirt-cheap prices. Mr. Diaz said the deal wasn’t done;

continuing. “Later on, Mr. Diaz sold

and her

Diaz family had lived there for generations. Despite renovations, it was the Diaz family’s roots. And 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 start rebuilding the tower we

to oust the Ellis family from power.

is just the tip

that hectic time, I thought the incident with

but two 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 I shoved glucose and water through his door, reminding him daily to eat and

only later I realized what I thought 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

was your way of getting back at him, proving

hadn’t fallen critically ill, who knows, he might’ve died in

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

her, Damon frowned. “You

No sooner had I

by Ms.

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

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 take your son and leave with Mrs.

he wanted her free yet didn’t want

tightened ever so slightly, her emotions battling within her. What would

who suddenly became seriously ill, and Seth

nor any desire for someone else’s

with Charlie’s approach. It was all up to

lowered, and her expression unreadable. Chloe

eyes were on Cicely, waiting for her to make the

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

face a mask of calm. “He’ll come out for me, right? And then what? To prevent this from happening

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That

over

fell open, and he gave Damon a

chuckled, “You think

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 stem from issues the older

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

facets of every situation. The most important thing is to choose what makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in the most torturous path when there’s a brighter, more liberating choice? Only

smile on her face slowly fading. “All of this started because

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

affairs, let alone offer

for a comeback, but found none. “If you were him and Chloe was me, would you still believe what you’re

mine, and by my side as I wish. What’s right? Getting what I want is

couldn’t help 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

his rhetoric and then slowly turned to look at

him up to any other woman. The one I love and cherish should stay by my

and took her hand into his large,

go to prison, did you have any doubts, or were you certain that

moment

are such a powerful duo.

words, Cicely spun around and

*

moving an inch forward. How could they simplify and beautify their words so easily,

a bedroom for over

glances, could stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times before darting away like

Cicely sighed.

no response. Behind the

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 and urgent knocking failed to stir him. It was as if he were a breathless statue, devoid of life,

an eternity, a series of knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic,

and then a voice, tranquil as water, seeped

floor, who had been

he lifted his head, staring blankly into the empty

She couldn’t possibly

“Seth, open up.”

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 long, and perhaps

ignored a 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

of the man who was staring at her in