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.

to hold her captive. “You followed

a flash of

forgiving anyone, but you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least

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

her clenched, trembling hands, 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

had struck a chord with

doing well. So her words came

to find forgiveness here, as if

silence for a

walked over to Chloe and ushered her to sit beside him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it, just

Chloe grasped his hand,

to bring him down? Nobody told her

breathed a sigh of

news of her was locked down tight. Ms. Cicely was determined

who had her locked up. The online backlash

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 buy out Diaz International, including the land Diaz Tower stood on, offering dirt-cheap prices. Mr. Diaz said the deal wasn’t

himself before continuing. “Later

flickered involuntarily, and her poised figure on the

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.

shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family

I’m telling you is just the tip of the iceberg;

time, I thought the incident with Ms. Cicely going to jail

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

I realized what I thought 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; he intended to present it to you as a wedding gift. He fought for the

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

hadn’t

into the couch with 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 cold sweat, her

frowned. “You didn’t knock the door

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

was handpicked by Ms.

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

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 been increasingly agitated. I’m guessing he’s worried that you might take your son and leave with

he wanted her free yet didn’t want her to

battling within her. What would

became seriously ill, and Seth survived for three years to get Danielle’s

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

with Charlie’s approach. It was all up

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

eyes were on Cicely, waiting for her to make

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

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

Kane blinked.

“That would

fell over

fell open, and he gave Damon

think that would

in affirmation, “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.

important thing is to choose what makes you happiest. Why trap

“All of this started because of

surprised if others lose their sanity over emotions

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

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

but found none. “If you were him and Chloe

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? Since when did he aspire to

couldn’t help but laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine from all his

something to be able to make Kane crack a smile.

rhetoric and then slowly turned

loves me, 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

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

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

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

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

spun around and marched

*

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

a bedroom for over a month – quite

seemed to 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 before darting away

Cicely sighed.

Behind the door, there was

his knee and his head buried in the crook of

again. They were gentle, rhythmic, but

tranquil as

man on the floor, who had been

head, staring blankly into the

illusion? She couldn’t

“Seth, open up.”

pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having

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

looked up into the weary, disheveled face of the man