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

flash of vulnerability crossing

hand, right? You gotta at least hear

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

then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry

had struck

well. So her words came off as bravado and

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,

silence for

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

grasped his

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

unmoved, Charlie breathed a sigh of relief

everything to spring her from jail, but then all news

online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz doesn’t care about gossip, but then the financial

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,

“Later on, Mr. Diaz sold the

eyes flickered involuntarily, and her poised

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. Mr.

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

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

with Ms. Cicely

later, when things started settling

Mr. Diaz fought to keep Diaz International because

know what he was thinking, locked away. Was it guilt over your 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

hadn’t fallen critically ill,

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

frowned. “You didn’t

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

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

fell silent, five people lost in their thoughts,

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

wanted her free yet didn’t

emotions battling within her. What would happen if things continued

who suddenly became seriously ill, and Seth survived for three

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

much thought, Chloe agreed with Charlie’s approach. It

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

waiting for her

her unmoved, his brow

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

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would be

fell over the

he gave Damon a thumbs-up.

think

his mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father. If we must talk about

pause, then she scoffed mockingly, “Mr. Harper sure has a way

the multiple facets of every situation. The most important thing is to choose what makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in the most torturous path

stared him down, the cold smile on her face slowly fading. “All of this started because of his mother. My dad never

exactly. It’s 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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

let alone offer such leading advice. But Damon’s words were on point. That

found none. “If you were him and Chloe was me, would you still

as she’s mine, and by my side as I wish. What’s right?

laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine from all

such a serious atmosphere, it was something to be able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot him a look

by his rhetoric and then slowly

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 him than me, and I’m the one who

and took her hand into

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

uncontrollably, a gesture betraying her agitation. It took Cicely a moment

two are such a powerful duo.

those words, Cicely spun around and marched

*

not moving an inch forward. How could they simplify and

locked oneself away in a bedroom for over a month – quite impressive

until Kane, who had been sneaking glances, could stand it no longer.

Cicely sighed.

response. Behind the

leg bent, his arm resting on his knee and his head buried in

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

passed, and then a voice, tranquil as water, seeped through the thick door, slightly

man on the floor, who had been utterly still, suddenly twitched

his head, staring blankly into the

She couldn’t possibly

“Seth, open up.”

his eyes bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up

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

up and looked up into the weary, disheveled face of the man who was staring at her in surprise, his eyes reflecting