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.

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

flash of

came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta

was sharp as a tack, a woman who’d weathered many storms. Chloe

nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry smile.

words had struck a chord with everyone

he was doing well. So her words came off as bravado and denial 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 him makes me heartless.

was silence

him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it, just go upstairs and bring

grasped his

bring him down?

a sigh of relief and

want to see him, and he tried everything to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked down tight. Ms. Cicely was determined to serve

The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz doesn’t care about gossip, but then the financial

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, there were sharks circling

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

her poised figure on the

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

Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust

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. Cicely going to jail

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 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

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;

thinking, locked 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 to be

a month, unreachable. If Erik hadn’t fallen critically ill, who knows, he might’ve

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

frowned. “You didn’t

in. “Knock it down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had

here was handpicked by Ms. Cicely, including that door.

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

at 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

was a tug-of-war within him; he wanted

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

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

about this time? There wouldn’t be another illness, nor any desire for someone else’s blood. So, what to

approach. It was all

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

were on Cicely, waiting for her to

seeing her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly. “Cicely,

calm. “He’ll come out

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would be

over

gave Damon

“You think that would

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 generation

scoffed mockingly, “Mr. Harper

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 torturous path when there’s a brighter, more liberating choice?

smile on her face slowly fading. “All of this started because of his mother. My dad never loved her,

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such leading advice. But Damon’s

you were him and Chloe was me, would you still believe what

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

Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine from

to be able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot

rhetoric and then slowly turned to

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 best. This

hand into his large, warm palm. “What a coincidence, so do

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

a moment to compose herself before she let out

are such a powerful duo. I can’t argue with

Cicely spun around

*

at the closed barrier before her, not moving an inch forward.

bedroom for over a month – quite impressive

longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times

Cicely sighed.

elicited no response. Behind the

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

knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic,

passed, and then a voice, tranquil as water, seeped

the floor, who had been utterly

lifted his head, staring blankly into the empty

illusion? She

“Seth, open up.”

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

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

the man who was staring at her in surprise, his