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.

since entering, and upon seeing Cicely’s reaction, Chloe’s 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

quivered, a flash of vulnerability crossing

lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out before you can actually help,

put on a show in front of 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

her eyes for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.”

had struck a chord with everyone

Seth. She even hoped he was doing well. So her words came

anxious for him to find forgiveness here, as if my not forgiving him makes me heartless. So, you

was silence for

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

his

was supposed to bring him

Cicely unmoved, Charlie breathed a

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

day, claiming he was the one who had her locked up. The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz

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

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

involuntarily, and her poised figure on the

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

trying to oust the

no, those months, were utter chaos. What I’m telling you is just the tip

that hectic time, I thought the incident with Ms. Cicely

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

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 Ellis family, ignored C&P Entertainment, let it

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

unreachable. If Erik hadn’t

utterly drained. Her gaze was hollow as she stared at the spotless coffee

“You didn’t knock

sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk

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

five people lost in their thoughts,

I think the reason behind all this is still Ms. Cicely.

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

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

became seriously ill, and Seth survived for

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

approach. It was all up to Cicely

and her expression unreadable. Chloe

on Cicely, waiting for her

unmoved, his brow knitted tightly. “Cicely, you’re

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

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That

fell over the

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

“You think that

love and hatred towards your father. If we must talk about grievances, they stem

pause, then she scoffed mockingly, “Mr. Harper sure

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

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

like you choosing to go to prison voluntarily; you could use your suffering to get back at Seth. Don’t be surprised if others lose their sanity over emotions too. You could keep this standoff with him, and maybe in a

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

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

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

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 all

something to be able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot him a look that

rhetoric and then slowly

her gaze with a smile, softly saying, “We aren’t you guys. Knowing he 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

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

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

gesture betraying her agitation. It took Cicely a moment to compose herself

duo. I can’t argue

those words, Cicely spun around and

*

door, Cicely gazed at the closed barrier before her, not moving an inch forward. How

away in a bedroom for

could stand it no longer. He strode forward and

Cicely sighed.

no 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

knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic,

and then a voice, tranquil as water, seeped through the

floor, who had been utterly

into

illusion? She couldn’t

“Seth, open up.”

before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for too long, and perhaps due to the alcohol, he

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

up and looked up into the weary, disheveled face of the man