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 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

quivered, a flash of vulnerability crossing her

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

She knew Chloe was sharp as a tack, a woman who’d

then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a

recent words had struck a chord with everyone

was doing well. So her words came off as bravado and denial to the

knew what they 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

silence for

couch. “If you don’t wanna hear

grasped his hand,

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

a sigh of relief

to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was

one who had her locked up. The online backlash was

contracts with their talent were frozen, production deals were stalled, and money was sunk with no returns. Without the funds for

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

flickered involuntarily, and her poised

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 in the ER several

Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family from power. Between the overt pressure and underhanded

chaos. What I’m telling you is just the tip of the

with Ms. Cicely going to jail was

too busy, and life was too hard. Mr. Diaz had no spare moment to dwell on unchangeable facts or a woman who despised him. He was always composed, 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 too. I was worried he’d starve, so I shoved glucose and water through his

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,

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

Erik hadn’t fallen critically ill, who knows,

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

her, Damon frowned. “You didn’t knock the door

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

by Ms.

silent, five people lost in their

behind all this is still Ms. Cicely. Recently, Mr. Diaz had me lift the travel ban that had been placed on her

was a tug-of-war within him; he wanted her free yet didn’t want

battling within her. What would happen

suddenly became seriously ill, and Seth survived for three years

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

approach.

expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t

were on Cicely, waiting for her to make

was the most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly.

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

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would

fell over the

and he gave Damon a thumbs-up.

think that would

passed because of his heart condition, and his mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father. If we must talk about grievances, they stem from issues the

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

makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in the

face slowly fading. “All of this started because of his mother.

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

affairs, let alone offer such leading advice. But Damon’s words were on point. That was just Damon for

searched her mind for a comeback, but found none. “If you were him

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? Getting what I want is right. Letting her go, torturing myself like he’s doing now? Since when

couldn’t help but laugh. Had Damon developed a

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

was stunned by his rhetoric and then slowly turned

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

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

resolutely? When you decided to go to prison, did you have any doubts, or

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

a powerful duo. I can’t

spun around and marched

*

moving an inch

in a bedroom for over a month – quite

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

Cicely sighed.

Behind

rows of glucose bottles and a collection of potent spirits were on display. Seth slumped against the bed, one leg bent, his arm resting on his knee and his head

echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic, but soft. Still, Seth made no

and then a voice, tranquil as water,

floor, who had been utterly

blankly into the empty room,

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 long, and perhaps due to the alcohol, he felt dizzy as he stood, swaying

the door. But just as she did, the door swung open. Her kick met air, and she stumbled forward. In a

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