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 today, so you must have some idea of what’s happening,

quivered, a flash of vulnerability crossing her

but you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta

was sharp as a tack, a woman who’d weathered many storms. Chloe had clawed her way to where she was by

for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry smile.

recent words had struck a chord

he was doing well. So her words came

breaks your hearts. You’re anxious for him to find forgiveness here, as if my

was silence for

on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it, just go upstairs and bring him down.

grasped his

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

unmoved, Charlie breathed a sigh of

jail, but then all news

The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz

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 buy out Diaz International, including the land Diaz Tower stood on, offering dirt-cheap prices. Mr. Diaz said

collect himself before continuing. “Later on, Mr. Diaz

eyes flickered involuntarily, and her poised figure on the couch

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

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

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

incident with Ms. Cicely going to jail

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 door, reminding him

you. Then it hit me, Mr. Diaz fought to keep Diaz International because you

was your way of getting back at him, proving how

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

as she stared at the

Damon frowned. “You didn’t

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

was handpicked by Ms. Cicely,

room fell silent, five people lost in their thoughts, until Kane let out a snort,

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

a tug-of-war within him; he wanted her free yet

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

Erik who suddenly became seriously ill,

nor any desire for

Chloe agreed with Charlie’s approach. It was all up

unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything; after all,

on Cicely, waiting for

unmoved, his brow knitted tightly. “Cicely,

out for me, right? And then what? To prevent this from happening

Kane blinked.

“That would

fell over the

open, and he gave

“You think that would

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

scoffed mockingly, “Mr.

choose what makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in the most torturous path when there’s a brighter, more liberating choice? Only fools would do

fading. “All of this started because of his mother. My dad never loved her, and the so-called

Don’t be surprised if others lose their sanity

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

Everyone knew better than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such leading advice. But Damon’s words

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

tactic is fair as long as she’s mine, and by my side as I wish. What’s right? Getting what

developed a smooth-talking

Kane crack a smile. Damon shot him a look that immediately stifled the

stunned by his rhetoric and then slowly turned to

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

smiled and took her hand into his large,

go to prison, did you have any doubts, or were you certain that no one in the world could love him

her agitation. It took Cicely a moment

such a powerful duo. I can’t argue with you

those words, Cicely spun around and

*

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

away in a bedroom for over a month

sneaking glances, could stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times

Cicely sighed.

response. Behind the door, there was only

collection of potent spirits were on 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 to stir him. It was as if he were a breathless statue, devoid of life, sitting

felt like an eternity, a series of knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic, but

and then a voice, tranquil as water,

on the floor, who had

into the empty room, his dark eyes momentarily

illusion? She couldn’t

“Seth, open up.”

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,

patience 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

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