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.

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 stated, her voice

fingers quivered, a flash of

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

as a tack, a woman who’d weathered many storms. Chloe had clawed her way to

Cicely closed her eyes for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry smile. “Let’s hear how rough he’s had it

recent words had struck a chord with everyone

doing well. So her words came off as bravado and denial

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 him makes me heartless. So, you think, compared to him, I’ve had it easy these years, and I’ve got

silence for a

on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it,

Chloe grasped his hand, not in

Cicely stayed put. She was supposed to bring him down? Nobody told her she had

breathed a sigh of relief and spoke

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

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

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

paused to collect himself before continuing. “Later on,

her poised figure on

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

banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family from power. Between the overt pressure and underhanded

year, no, those months, were utter chaos. What I’m telling you is

I thought the incident with Ms. Cicely going to jail

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

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,

feeling your prison sentence was your way of getting back at him, proving how much you hated him? Or was he still

month, unreachable. If Erik hadn’t fallen critically

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

her, Damon frowned. “You didn’t knock

down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk opened the door and started wailing on me without a word.

handpicked by Ms. Cicely,

lost in their

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.

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

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

it was Erik who suddenly became seriously ill, and Seth survived for three years to get

be another illness, nor any desire for someone else’s

approach. It was all

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

for her

most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his brow

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

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would

over

and he gave Damon a thumbs-up. Impressive. Was that

chuckled, “You think that would

towards your father. If we must talk about

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

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

this started because of his mother. My

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

better than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such

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

as I wish. What’s right? Getting what I want is right. Letting her go, torturing

but laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine

such a serious atmosphere, it was something to be able to make Kane

rhetoric and then slowly

him up to any other woman. The one I love and cherish should stay by my side. I think no one

smiled and took her hand into his

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

moment to compose herself before she let out

are such a powerful duo.

words, Cicely spun

*

closed barrier before her, not moving an inch forward. How could they

oneself away in a bedroom for over a month – quite

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

Cicely sighed.

elicited no response. Behind the door, there was only

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

echoed again. They were

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

floor, who had been utterly still, suddenly

lifted his head, staring blankly into the empty room,

illusion? She

“Seth, open up.”

himself up with

door. But just as she did, the door swung open. Her kick met air,

up into the weary, disheveled face of the man