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.

had been fixed on Cicely 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

fingers quivered, a flash of

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

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

slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry smile. “Let’s hear how

words had struck

Seth. She even hoped he was doing well. So

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 sympathy

was silence

her to sit beside him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna

Chloe grasped his hand, not

She was supposed to bring him down? Nobody

unmoved, Charlie breathed a sigh of

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 to serve her time, and at first, he

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

called in their loans. C&P Entertainment was hit hard by public opinion, all 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 bank loans, there were sharks circling to

himself before continuing. “Later on,

flickered involuntarily, and her

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

Entertainment wasn’t resolved when the Ellis family had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family from power. Between the overt pressure and

What I’m telling you is just the tip of the iceberg; there were layers of

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

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

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.

sentence was your way of getting back at

was holed up for a month, unreachable. If Erik hadn’t fallen critically ill, who knows, he might’ve died in

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

Damon frowned. “You didn’t knock the door

Kane, somewhat agitated, chimed in. “Knock it down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk opened

handpicked by Ms.

people lost in their thoughts, until Kane let out a

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 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

within him; he wanted her free yet didn’t

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

Erik who suddenly became seriously ill, and

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

agreed with Charlie’s approach. It was all

hadn’t moved an inch, her head still lowered, and her expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything;

were on Cicely, waiting for her to make the

unmoved, his brow knitted tightly.

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

Kane blinked.

“That

fell over

and he gave Damon a thumbs-up.

chuckled, “You think that would

towards your father. If we must talk about grievances, they stem from issues the older generation failed to resolve, leaving you and Seth

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

facets of every situation. The most important thing is to choose what makes you happiest. Why

this started because of his

get back at Seth. Don’t be surprised if others lose

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

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

but found none. “If you were him and Chloe was me, would you still believe what you’re

deceive. Any tactic is fair as long 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

but laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking

able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot

and then slowly turned to look at

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

Chloe, smiled and took her hand into

him so resolutely? When you decided to go to prison, did you have

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

powerful duo. I

those words, Cicely spun around and marched

*

at the bedroom door, Cicely gazed at the closed barrier before her, not moving

in a bedroom for over a month

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

Cicely sighed.

no response. Behind the door, there

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 stir him. It was as if he were a breathless statue, devoid of

an eternity, a series of knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic, but soft. Still,

then a voice, tranquil as water, seeped through the thick door, slightly muffled.

had been utterly still, suddenly

blankly into the empty

She couldn’t

“Seth, open up.”

his eyes bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for too long, and perhaps due to the alcohol, he felt dizzy as

being ignored a second time, frowned 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

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