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.

quivered, a flash

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

Chloe. It was pointless. She knew Chloe was sharp as a tack, a woman who’d weathered many storms. Chloe had clawed

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

recent words had struck a

was doing well. So her words

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 sympathy

was silence for

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

his

stayed put. She was supposed to bring him down? Nobody told

breathed a sigh of

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

The online backlash was relentless.

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; he didn’t agree, and in the

paused to collect himself before continuing. “Later on, Mr.

and her poised figure on

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

Ellis family had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family from power. Between the overt pressure and underhanded

no, those months, were utter chaos. What I’m telling you is just the tip of the iceberg; there were layers of other

thought the incident with Ms. Cicely

had no spare moment to dwell on 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

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, ignored C&P Entertainment, let

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

Erik hadn’t

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

frowned. “You didn’t knock the door

sooner had I finished speaking than

handpicked by Ms. Cicely, including that door.

their thoughts, until Kane let out a snort, breaking

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

tug-of-war within him; he wanted her free yet

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

seriously ill, and Seth survived for three years

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

with Charlie’s approach. It was all up

her expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything; after all, it wasn’t her place to

Cicely, waiting for her to

was the most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly. “Cicely, you’re just

come out for me, right? And then what? To prevent this from happening again,

Kane blinked.

“That would

over

gave Damon a thumbs-up. Impressive. Was

chuckled, “You 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 must talk about grievances, they stem from issues the older generation failed to

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

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

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

knew better than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such leading advice. But Damon’s words were on point.

none. “If you were him and

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

laugh. Had Damon developed

be able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot him a look that immediately stifled the

was stunned by his rhetoric and then slowly turned to look at

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.

her hand into

smiled at Cicely, “How did 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 world

blinked uncontrollably, a gesture betraying her agitation. It took Cicely a moment to compose herself before she let

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

Cicely spun around

*

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

away in a bedroom for over a month – quite

it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times

Cicely sighed.

response. Behind the door, there was

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

what felt like an eternity, a series of knocks echoed again. They were

a voice, tranquil as water, seeped through the thick

who had been utterly still, suddenly

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

She couldn’t

“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 for too

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 by

composure, Cicely straightened up and looked up into the weary, disheveled face of the man