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.

her eyes with an intensity that seemed to hold her captive. “You followed Charlie here today, so you must have

fingers quivered, a flash of vulnerability crossing her

to twist your arm into forgiving anyone, but you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out before you can actually help, don’t

knew Chloe was sharp as a tack, a woman

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

had struck a chord with everyone

truth, Cicely didn’t hate Seth. She even hoped he was doing well. So her words came off as bravado and denial to

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

silence

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

his

put. She was supposed to bring him

breathed a sigh of relief

Cicely didn’t want to see him, and he tried everything to spring her from jail, but then all news

claiming he was the one who had her locked up. The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz doesn’t care about gossip,

for

continuing. “Later on,

flickered involuntarily, and her poised figure on

due to its prime location. But it was nowhere near enough to rebuild Diaz International or pay

mess at 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. Diaz was also wrestling with

chaos. What I’m telling you is just the tip of the

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

without a scratch wasn’t a bad thing, but two months later, when things

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

was your way of getting back at him, proving how much you

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

slumped into the couch with the same posture as before, but now utterly drained. Her gaze was hollow as she stared at

Damon frowned. “You didn’t

down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I finished speaking

was handpicked by Ms. Cicely, including

fell silent, five people lost in their thoughts, until Kane let out a

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

within him; he wanted

ever so slightly, her emotions battling within her.

ill, and Seth survived for three

There wouldn’t be another illness, nor any desire for someone else’s blood. So,

Charlie’s approach. It was all up to Cicely

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 in other

for her

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

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

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would be

fell over the

gave Damon a thumbs-up. Impressive.

“You think

his heart condition, and his mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father. If we must talk

mockingly,

makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in the most torturous path when there’s a

started because of his

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

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

you were him and

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?

but laugh. Had Damon developed a

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

rhetoric and then slowly turned to look at

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

and took her hand into his

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

took Cicely a moment to compose herself before she let out

such a powerful duo. I can’t argue

Cicely spun around

*

the closed barrier before her, not moving an inch forward. How could they simplify and beautify their words

in a bedroom for over a month

stretch on endlessly until Kane, who had been sneaking glances, could stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times

Cicely sighed.

elicited no response. Behind the door,

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 and urgent knocking failed to stir

of knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic, but soft. Still, Seth made

as water, seeped through the thick door,

had been

head, staring blankly into

illusion? She

“Seth, open up.”

bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for too long, and perhaps due

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

the