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.

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

quivered, a flash

trying to twist your arm into forgiving anyone, but you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out

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.” Cicely gave a

words had struck a chord

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

on the couch. “He’s had a tough time, and it breaks your hearts. You’re anxious for him to

was silence

“If you don’t wanna hear it,

grasped his

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

a sigh of relief and

spring her from jail, but then all news of her

online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz doesn’t care

funds for Diaz Tower’s rebuild or to repay the bank loans, there were sharks circling to

before continuing. “Later

and her poised figure on

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 in the ER several times from overdrinking, just to negotiate with the banks and

resolved when the Ellis family had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family from power.

telling you is just the tip of the iceberg; there were layers of other

incident with Ms. Cicely

things started settling down, he began to withdraw, staying away from the office, eventually shutting himself in his room. At

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

sentence was your way of getting back at him, proving how much you hated him? Or was he still figuring out how

up for a month, unreachable. If Erik hadn’t fallen critically ill, who knows, he

the same posture as before, but now utterly drained. Her gaze was hollow as she stared at the spotless coffee table. In her

Damon frowned. “You didn’t knock the

I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk opened the door and started wailing on me without a word. Damn near killed

added, “Everything in here was handpicked by Ms. Cicely, including that door. It was her

lost in their thoughts, until Kane let out a snort, breaking the

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

him; he wanted her free yet didn’t want her to

emotions battling within her. What would happen if things continued

it was Erik who suddenly became seriously ill, and Seth survived for three years to

this time? There wouldn’t be another illness, nor any desire for someone

Charlie’s approach. It was

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

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

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would be

over the

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

“You think that

passed because of his heart condition, and his mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father. If we must

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

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 in the most torturous path

smile on her face slowly fading. “All of this started because of

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

alone offer such

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

anything—chase, steal, or deceive. Any tactic is fair as long as she’s mine, and by my side as I wish. What’s right?

Damon developed

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

by his rhetoric and then slowly

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

her hand into his large, warm

ever come to choose him so resolutely? When you decided to go to prison, did you have any doubts, or were you certain that no one in the

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

such a powerful duo. I can’t argue

Cicely spun

*

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

in a bedroom for over a month – quite

on endlessly until Kane, who had been sneaking glances, could stand it no longer. He strode

Cicely sighed.

pounding elicited no response. Behind the door, there was

display. Seth slumped against 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

an eternity, a series of knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic, but soft. Still, Seth made no

tranquil as water, seeped through the thick

who had been utterly

blankly into the

She couldn’t possibly

“Seth, open up.”

train of thought shattered, Seth turned his head towards the door, his eyes bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for too

after 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 for the doorframe, but still collided with the man’s chest. Her slender waist was immediately ensnared by his

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