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’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 Charlie here today, so you must have some idea of what’s happening, right? Charlie said Seth’s not doing well, and you came,” Chloe stated, her voice calm yet

a flash of

your arm into forgiving anyone, but you came here to lend a hand, right? You

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 read people like

hands, Cicely closed her eyes for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry smile. “Let’s hear how

had struck a chord with

hoped he was doing well. So her words came off as bravado and denial

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

was silence

walked over to Chloe and ushered her to sit beside him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear

his hand, not in

supposed to bring

unmoved, Charlie breathed a sigh of relief

he tried everything to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked down tight. Ms. Cicely was determined

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

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,

her

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

had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the

What I’m telling you is

thought the incident with Ms. Cicely going to jail was being

things started settling down, he began to withdraw, staying

had the time to think about you. Then it hit me, Mr. Diaz fought to keep Diaz International because you wanted it; he intended

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

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

Her gaze was hollow as she stared at the spotless coffee

her, Damon frowned. “You didn’t knock

had I finished speaking than that jerk opened the door and started

handpicked by Ms. Cicely, including that door. It

in their thoughts, until Kane

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

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

so slightly, her emotions battling within

became seriously ill, and Seth survived for three years

wouldn’t be another illness, nor

approach.

still lowered, and her expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything; after all, it wasn’t her place to meddle too

eyes were on Cicely, waiting for her

was the most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly. “Cicely, you’re

eyes, her face a mask of calm. “He’ll come out for me, right? And then what? To prevent this from happening again, should

Kane blinked.

“That would

over the

fell open, and he gave Damon a thumbs-up. Impressive.

“You think that would

“I do. Your father 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 older generation failed to resolve,

she scoffed mockingly, “Mr.

what makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in

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

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.

to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such leading advice.

were him and Chloe was me, would you

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

laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine

atmosphere, it was something to be able to make Kane

and then slowly turned

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 purer love for him than me, and I’m the one who wishes him the best. This trust, I

took her hand into his large, warm palm. “What a

ever come to choose him so resolutely? When you decided to go to prison, did you

agitation. It took Cicely a moment to compose herself

duo. I

spun

*

door, Cicely gazed at the closed barrier before her, not moving an inch forward. How could they simplify and beautify their words so easily,

away in a bedroom for over

until Kane, who had been sneaking glances, could stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times before darting

Cicely sighed.

pounding elicited no response. Behind the door, there was

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

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

as

the floor, who had been utterly still, suddenly twitched

into the empty room, his dark

She couldn’t possibly

“Seth, open up.”

moment before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for too long, and perhaps due to the

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

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