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.

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

quivered, a flash of vulnerability

you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out before you

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 she was by learning how to read people like

her clenched, trembling hands, Cicely closed her eyes for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.”

words had struck a chord

was doing well. So her words came off as bravado

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

was silence for

to Chloe and ushered her to sit beside him on the couch. “If

Chloe grasped his

supposed to bring him down? Nobody told

Cicely unmoved, Charlie breathed a

he tried everything to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked

had a field day, claiming he was the one who had her locked up. The online backlash

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, offering dirt-cheap prices. Mr. Diaz said the deal wasn’t done; he

continuing. “Later on, Mr. Diaz sold the Diaz

flickered involuntarily, and her poised

all might know, the Diaz family had lived there 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.

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

those months, were utter chaos. What I’m telling you is just the tip of the

the incident with

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

you. Then it hit me, Mr. Diaz fought to keep Diaz

locked away. Was it guilt over your father and Isaac’s deaths, or was he feeling your prison sentence was your way

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

now utterly drained. Her gaze was hollow as she stared at the spotless coffee table. In her clasped hands, now

frowned. “You didn’t knock the

time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk opened the door and started wailing on

by Ms. Cicely, including that door. It was her

silent, five people lost in their thoughts, until Kane let

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

he wanted her free yet didn’t want her to

slightly, her emotions battling within her. What would happen if

suddenly became seriously ill,

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

approach. It was all

glanced at Cicely, who 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 in other people’s

were on Cicely, waiting for her to

most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly.

“He’ll come out for me, right? And then what? To prevent this from happening

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would be

over

he gave Damon a

chuckled, “You think

“I do. Your father passed because of his heart condition, and his mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father.

mockingly, “Mr.

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? Only fools would do

because of his mother. My dad never loved her, and the so-called grievances

use your suffering to get back at Seth. Don’t be surprised if others lose their

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

knew better than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such leading advice.

found none. “If you were

I wish. What’s right? Getting what I want is right. Letting her

but laugh. Had Damon developed

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

his rhetoric and

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 trust,

to Chloe, smiled and took her hand into his large, warm palm. “What a

to go to prison, did you have any doubts, or were you certain that no one in the world

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

such a powerful duo.

spun

*

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

away in a bedroom for over a month – quite

could stand it no longer. He strode forward and

Cicely sighed.

response. Behind 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

knocks echoed again. They were gentle,

a voice, tranquil as water,

had been utterly still,

blankly into the

illusion? She couldn’t possibly

“Seth, open up.”

bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with the help of

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 weary, disheveled face of the man who was staring