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.

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? Charlie said Seth’s not doing well, and you came,” Chloe

a flash of vulnerability crossing

but you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out before you can actually help, don’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

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

words had struck a chord

well. So her words came off as

knew what they were thinking and 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, as if my not forgiving

was silence for a

him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it, just go upstairs and bring him down. No one’s stopping

Chloe grasped his hand,

bring him down?

Cicely unmoved, Charlie breathed a sigh

to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked down

locked up. The online

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,

“Later on, Mr. Diaz sold the Diaz family

eyes flickered involuntarily, and her poised figure on the couch

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

Entertainment wasn’t resolved when the Ellis family had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust

were utter chaos. What I’m telling you is just the tip of the iceberg; there were layers of other

that hectic time, I thought the incident with Ms.

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

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

was he feeling your prison sentence was your way

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

the couch with the 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

Damon frowned. “You didn’t knock the door

Charlie could respond, 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

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

lost in their thoughts,

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.

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

battling within her. What

ill, and Seth survived for three

what about this time? There wouldn’t be another illness, nor any desire

much thought, Chloe agreed with Charlie’s approach. It was all

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

eyes were on Cicely, waiting for

was the most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his

come out for me, right? And then what? To prevent

Kane blinked.

“That would be

fell over

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

think that would

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

scoffed mockingly, “Mr.

is to choose what makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in the most torturous path when there’s a brighter, more liberating

of this started because of his mother. My dad

your suffering to get back at Seth. Don’t be surprised if others lose their sanity over emotions too. You could

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

comeback, but found none. “If you were him and Chloe was me, would you still believe

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

but laugh. Had Damon developed

make Kane crack a

by his rhetoric and

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

her hand into

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

moment to compose herself before she let out a derisive snort and stood

a powerful duo. I can’t argue

spun around

*

not moving an inch forward. How could

in a bedroom for over a month –

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

Cicely sighed.

response. Behind the door, there

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, but soft.

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

the floor, who had been utterly still,

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

She couldn’t possibly

“Seth, open up.”

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

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

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